Newsletter March 2010

Hopefully spring is on its way; we can start looking forward to warmer weather and working on our vegetable plots. The Food Group have been sent details of some vegetable growing courses and a bee keeping course, details of both later. The Art Group’s drumming session was a reverberating success and another day is planned for later this month.
As Sustainable Ottery is now a Community Interest Company we are looking for a Treasurer to ensure our finances are kept up to date. It’s not an big job as we don’t have that many transactions. Details on how to apply further down.
Sustainable Ottery is very excited about its Reskilling day on the 20th March. It will be a chance to see about learning some of the skills that our parents and grandparents took for granted. See below for range of skills that will be represented but we would love for more volunteers of skills to come forward to show us what can be done.

Reskilling Day: 10 – 4 Saturday March 20th The Institute, Ottery St Mary
Does this sound familiar? - 'I've always wanted to learn how to...' or 'Oh, I wish I could…' or 'If only I could remember how my parents used to...' Well we might just be able to help. We are organising a Re-skilling Day to help you gain all those really useful practical skills that you might have just forgotten or maybe those that you never learnt but always wished you had. There will be hands-on activities and demonstrations of embroidery, D.I.Y. jam making, knitting, quilting, bread-making, growing your own produce, general sewing/dressmaking, pot making, spinning, darning and maybe someone demonstrating home-brewing and bee-keeping and lots more!
All this will be taking place on Saturday 20th March from 10 until 4 at the Institute. It's a free event (thanks to a grant from the Co-operative) and everyone is welcome. The W.I. will be providing refreshments throughout the day so why not come along and make a day of it or if time is short then just pop-in and have a go at whatever takes your fancy. If a zip is broken in a pair of trousers then bring them along and we'll show you how to replace it. You might be able to go home with a jar of jam, a new cushion cover or a shopping bag made by your own fair hands or some vegetable plants to grow at home. If you have any old knitting needles, wool, zips, patterns etc. that you would like to donate then please let us know and we would be happy to collect them or bring them along on the day.
If you have a skill that you would like to share with others then please let us know and we'd be pleased to have you (expenses reimbursed) - the more the merrier. More details from Jill Dixon (01404 811067 or info@sustainableottery.org.uk  (download a poster - ). There are so many talented people out there, let's get-together and share those skills for the benefit of us all. See you there. (Download Poster)
 
Latest on the Supermarket applications
Many thanks to those who lent their support to us outside the Sainsbury’s exhibition last Saturday and to Bob Baker for the banner. Nothing seemed to have changed from the previous exhibition in terms of store size, transport and the car park issue. These are still as horrendous as before. You may recall that unfortunately the Town Council supported the Sainsbury’s application with caveats about the size of the store. However, the size of the store has not changed but their display boards highlighted the Town Council as one of their supporters but no mention was made of their concerns about the size of the store! There were some changes, however, in the form of ‘gifts’ to Ottery including providing the shortfall for the footbridge and a suggested alternative route for the path alighting at Canaan Way rather than near the old Mill and would include two bridges (one over the river and the other over the leat) which presumably would be more expensive because of that. Would it more than the £200,000 they are offering towards it we don’t know. However, Sainsbury’s display boards did say that they would fund the shortfall? They also have kindly offered some seats for the town centre but who would wish to sit there with the predicted increase in traffic and pollution levels in the town centre? Visitors were urged to let their councillors know what they think and we agree. If you have any concerns then the relevant people to address them to are-
 - the Chair of the Planning Committee, Cllr Paul Diviani, Otter View, London Rd, Yarcombe, Honiton EX14 9ND; pdiviani@east-devon.gov.uk
- Ward Councillor, David Cox, 8 Egemore Drive, West Hill, EX11 1UN; dcox@east-devon.gov.uk
- Ward Councillor, Roger Giles, 14 Winters Lane, Ottery St Mary, EX11 1AR; rgiles@east-devon.gov.uk

At the time of writing we still have not heard when the planning meeting will meet to discuss the supermarket applications. However, we think that it will be in the Institute in April, after Easter some time and it will take place on a week day at 2 p.m. - we will of course let you know as soon as we know.
If you want to keep the local shops then shop locally! Don’t forget to use the Ottery Card, now in its second year. Details of the latest offers on our website.

Drum Beats in Ottery
 The first African drumming workshop in Ottery on the 20th of February was a great success with a very well attended session enjoying recreating the beat of Africa. This was one of the very first “arts” activities organised by Sustainable Ottery and shows that there is a real interest in a range of things to do in Ottery. The workshop was great fun for drummers of all abilities, from total novices to the more experienced. The youngest person attending was 7 and he is obviously going to be a talented drummer as he grows up.
 The event was such a success that another workshop has been arranged to take place at the Old Boys School at 2pm till 5pm on the 27th March. The fee will be between £12-15, depending on numbers attending. If you would like to know more please contact Clive on 01404 814217. Drums will be available to borrow, or you can bring your own.
 If anyone is interested in organising an arts activity that doesn’t already take place locally please get in touch with Clive on the number above. Sustainable Ottery now has the legal structure to apply for a wide range of grants, which might allow us to fund activity in the town and villages around. Part of SO’s plan is to increase local arts opportunities, which may be as an audience or a participant. This will cut the amount of traveling people need to do to get a culture “fix” and therefore reduce carbon footprints.

Community Market: 27th March 9.30 – 12.30, The Institute.
Easter Goodies at Sustainable Ottery’s Community Market. Stock up with eggs, fabulous cakes and fudge for Easter, with organic meat and locally produced vegetables for the big family Easter dinner!
Everyone’s welcome to come, browse and chose Easter presents. Why not arrange to meet up with friends over refreshments provided by the WI.
The next market is on Saturday 27 March 9.30am – 12.30pm at the Institute in Yonder Street.

News from Otter Valley Harvest Hub
The Harvest Hub Community Interest Company is one year old this month. In this, our second year at Escot walled garden, with more members we are expanding our growing area and will be growing more crops. More organic, local food for local people!
The walled garden at Escot is a wonderful resource for the people of Ottery, Talaton and other nearby villages- and provides a great opportunity for us to demonstrate our commitment to sustainable local food. But more than this, the Hub is spreading the word about permaculture, which has so much to offer in response to Climate Chaos, Peak Oil and globalisation. Why not join us- and help us build this very practical contribution to genuine sustainability. Further information available from PHIL 851048 philfoggitt@gmail.com or CHRISTINA 814086 christina@davidwilkinsacd.co.uk

‘Big Tidy Up’ in Ottery
Once again, the Ottery In Bloom team are arranging a Keep Britain Tidy "BIG Tidy Up". They are
at 10am on Saturday 13th March 2010 at the Station Yard, St Saviours, Ottery St Mary. Can you spare some time to help? They are looking for as many volunteers as possible to help us beat last years total of 30 Bags.

Situation Vacant
Sustainable Ottery is in need of a treasurer. If you would like more information or would like to volunteer for this role (unpaid !) then please e-mail info@sustainableottery.org.uk with the names of two referees please. This is not an onerous job involving the occasional trip to the Post Office and cheque-writing!
 
Other Upcoming Events 
Introduction to Beekeeping course in Bradninch: 6th & 20th March
Sorry, this is too late for the first day on 6th March but the second day of this three-day course is on 20th March in Bradninch, the third day is a practical one, date and location to be notified later. Please email Gail Hickson at gail@devonrcc.org.uk to reserve your place, and then return your booking form with deposit as soon as possible. Please follow link to poster and booking form.

Vegetable Growing Courses at Styles Barton, Whitestone, Exeter
On 30th March and 6th April: These one day training courses will show you how to design your garden so that you are maximising your growing potential, including growing vegetables on a rotational system, sowing and planting techniques and successful cropping. Gail Hickson, Community Council of Devon, School Hut, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter EX2 4QB.
Tel: 01392 383443 Fax: 01392 382062 email: gail@devonrcc.org.uk
Also on 6th April another one day training course will illustrate simple soil science, plant growth, cropping techniques, plant raising and an introduction to fruit. Details for Gail Hickson as above.

Safe Use of garden Machinery
The ‘Safe use and Simple Maintenance’ of garden equipment training session will beheld on 27 April 2010 at Bicton College. It will cover the ‘common’ garden machinery - strimmers, hedge trimmers, and lawn mowers – domestic-sized machines, and hand tools – spade, fork, rake. Details for Gail Hickson as above.

East Devon Green Party Meeting – Wednesday 31st March 7.30 p.m.
A meeting with Sharon Pavey of the East Devon Green Party in Ottery St. Mary – venue t.b.c.

‘Any Questions’ meeting organized by Vision Group for Sidmouth
This will be an 'Any Questions' evening at which the prospective Parliamentary candidates for the East Devon Constituency will comprise a panel to take questions from representative groups and members of the public, at All Saints' Hall, All Saints' Rd, Sidmouth at 7pm on Wednesday 14th April.

The next SO monthly Steering Group meeting is on Thursday 18th March 7.30pm, URC Hall, Yonder St (the hall directly behind the URC church opposite the Co-op).
 
Please pass on this newsletter to any contacts you have. If you have been sent this by a friend, please e-mail info@sustainableottery.org.uk adding `subscribe’ to the subject line. If you would like to be removed from the mailing list, please let us know. And if you currently receive a paper copy of this newsletter but could receive it electronically (which is cheaper and more environmentally friendly), please send us your e-mail address.
See www.sustainableottery.org.uk for further details of our events and activities.

Skills Audit Database
To enable Sustainable Ottery to communicate better with its supporters we wish to enhance our database. If happy to do so, please could you fill in the requested details below and return, so that in future Sustainable Ottery can make better use of its hidden talents.

Experiences and skills.- don’t hide yours under a bushel, we all have something to offer. Here are a few suggestions:

Name: Post Code:
E-mail: Telephone:

EXPERIENCES & SKILLS:
Delivering leaflets Accountancy/bookkeeping
Food preservation Campaigning
Garden share, land available Organising events
Livestock rearing Poster design
Permaculture Public speaking
Putting up posters Running meetings
Seasonal cooking Writing up minutes
Staffing stalls Town planning
Tree planting Fund raising
Vegetable growing Advertising
Catering Group Facilitation
Creative activities Renewable energy
Coaching & counselling

Please tick one or more boxes and return via this email address (newsletter@sustainableottery.org.uk) or via SkillsAudit@sustainableottery.org.uk . If we have omitted a skill that you are able to offer, feel free to write it in a space provided.

If returning this skills survey in paper form then please could you drop it into Roberts Hardware shop for collection.