This is a get-together for local transitioners and anyone else who may be interested, organised on behalf of Transition BH Hub.

Venue : Upton Country Park (see http://www.uptoncountrypark.org)

Date: Saturday 31st July

Time : 12:00 noon

We’ll meet on the grass to the north of the house, where there’s plenty of space for a picnic. Please bring food to share.
There’s no handy vicarage, so also bring your raincoat if wet!

Travel: For those coming from the far east, (e.g. Christchurch), it may be cheaper and it will certainly be quicker to catch the train to Poole station and then to walk or cycle around Holes Bay, which has to be one of the loveliest routes on the south coast. There are directions on the website.

Any questions, please let me know.

Cheers,
Theresa.
07958 138053

Some interesting news from the 10:10 campaign (which is a project to unite every sector of society in reducing our carbon footprint by 10% in 2010):

“…Last wednesday the coalition government announced a commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of the entire central government by 10% in a year

The government’s 10% announcement – equivalent to taking 200,000 cars off the road – is a monumental victory for 10:10 and testament to how far the campaign has come in the eight short months since its launch.  http://www.1010global.org/uk/2010/05/new-government-commits-1010.

The 10:10 team are meeting with Chris Huhne (the new energy and climate secretary) - you can add any issues you’d like them to raise here:http://www.1010global.org/uk/askchris.

10.10.10 is set to be the biggest day of climate action yet -SO WHAT SHALL WE DO IN PURBECK TO MARK THE DAY?  Please post your suggestions here….

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! 8.15PM ONWARDS

:O)

A huge thank you to Collette for hosting this event and providing a lovely supper….

Our first reskilling - Wednesday 5th May..
 
Helpers to thank are Pat,Bev, Ann…experienced crafters in knitting, spinning, crochetting and weaving
 
Jean - learnt to crochet/Pat showed Jean how to spin
Tor - learnt to knit and purl
Janine - learnt to knit and purl
Adrianna - learnt to knit and purl
Katie - learnt to follow a pattern, be more confident and hold the needles and wool in an easier way                                                                                                            Sophie -unlearnt/learnt to plain stitch and learnt to purl
Andrew-improved his knitting skills - plain and purl and discussed with Ann re shaping a jumper 
 
and me…that was 11 of us..
 
We shared supper, food and crafts from 7pm - 10.45 pm !!
 
Watch this space there will be more opportunities for reskilling in the future to learn to spin, crochet or knit…or if someone else has a skill they would like to share then please feel free to offer their skill..or if anyone would like to learn something new, then send an email and we will try to find someone that can teach a group of us.
Its all possible !!!
Collette

The Purbeck Environmental Action Team (PEAT) invite you to an evening introducing the Transition movement and explaining how you can help the environment in your home.

• A screening of the ‘In Transition’ film
• Everyone welcome! Free tea and cake
• A talk about the green energy cash-back schemes (renewable energy for your home)

Wednesday 2nd June 2010
7pm for 7.30pm
Leeson House
Langton Matravers

Download the poster here: Langton Transition and Renewal Energy event

Dear all
 
John Thraves and I have got our heads together and organised the cycle maintenance workshop to be held at Wareham Youth Centre. It is quite soon, 16th May, so we need to get the posters (click here to download) around in the next day or two. Poster attached, so please print and display if you have anywhere suitable. This workshop is focussed on Wareham and surrounds. I’ll do the library, newsagents, health food shop. Alison, could you put one up at PDC? Where else would be good?
 
John will be the main tutor and we currently have 2 cycle maintenance competent helpers, Peter Tinsley and Ian Nicol. Another one or two would be great. Anyone out there? Also we need a couple of people at least on the day to represent PEAT, make teas etc. I can’t be there the whole time because of my children. Also would anyone like to make a cake or two? The plan is that the first workshop will be 10 - 10:45 am with 15 mins for refreshments followed by the next one at 11:15 with the same format. Each will be for 7 people + their bikes. I’ve booked the first place! John will demonstrate each technique on his own bike then the participants will carry it out on their bike, helped by the assistants. John and I were going to get things set up at 9ish but helpers could get there 9:30am. Please let me know as soon as possible if you can help.
 
Tania

May 2010:

The bluebells are finally out, the smell of wild garlic is in the air and the sun is starting to feel warmer. This season brings a great feeling of new beginnings and what better time to be embarking upon a long term dream of setting up a Woodland workshop?

You may have seen the Greenwood Workshop at various local fetes and fairs around Purbeck, demonstrating the ancient technique of turning green wood on a pole lathe.

As of this summer the greenwood workshop will be based in a woodland within the Purbeck hills. Using only the wood from the woodland I will be producing my chairs, stools, bowls and spoons using a pole lathe, shave horse and hand tools only (no electricity) just a lot of leg power!

So what is Greenwood working?

Greenwood working is the term given to anything made out of freshly felled wood, ideally within three months of being cut as the piece of wood still has a high moisture content.; this enables it to be easily shaped using hand tools.

At the greenwood workshop, I concentrate on bodging -or chair making as it is referred to today. The process begins with a freshly felled log, which is riven (split) down the grain using a froe (type of axe). The corners of the section are then trimmed off using a side axe, from here the piece of wood is held in place using a device called a shave horse; this allows you to trim the log further into a cylinder with a draw knife.

The final shaping and decoration is done on the pole lathe. Components can be steam bent, the fire for which is fueled by chippings from the workshop floor so nothing goes to waste. Once the chair or stool is assembled I oil the wood and weave the seat out of rush.

Finished chairs will be on display during Purbeck Art Weeks. Come along and watch the process at Rollington Barn – or get stuck in and have a go yourself!

Plans for the future include charcoal burning, woodland management and regular courses in Greenwood working so watch this space…. or visit my website on www.greenwoodworkshop.co.uk          Toby Hoad

Skill-sharing -learn a new craft
Wednesday 5th May
7pm
Veg Soup Supper & cake

Knitting/crocheting/spinning
I have a few spare needles and wool
Please bring your own if you have them
Pat, Ann, Bev and Collette will try their best to help you !

RSVP 01929 422832 or cdrayson@tiscali.co.uk

Crabapple Cottage, The Hyde, Langton Matravers-bus stop in the village or please park in the main road

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For all Transition Groups in Dorset

Hi..we have a wonderful opportunity!

Gaunt’s House Summer Gathering - Thursday 5th – 8th August would like to invite Transition initiatives/workshops/speakers to their festival. Gaunt’s House is in beautiful, peaceful surroundings just outside of Wimborne.

All being well there will be a Transition Marquee for ‘Open Space’ meetings and information.

Gaunt’s House are offering 4 weekend free tickets for those happy to oversee the Transition Marquee and a free day ticket for anyone offering to run a workshop or a reduction in the price of weekend ticket

So far workshops offered are:

Glenn : Forest Schools – Woodland Workshop, Toby : Pole Lathe – Green Woodworking, Louise : PEAT- children’s woodland/environment workshop, Derek: Energy Talk, Linda (TTD) Open Space,

The showing of Film ‘In Transition’, Angie, Collette (Down2EarthYurt): Spinning, weaving, crafts, eco books, Bongari Wilson: Aerated Compost teas

It won’t matter if we double up with similar workshops, but it would be useful to know which day you would like to help

For further info please contact Collette (PEAT – Purbeck Environment Action Team) cdrayson@tiscali.co.uk

Thanks for your support!

Collette (Drayson) PEAT and Tom Read (Gaunt’s House)

Something a little different to show the diversity of projects around Dorset…. enjoy….. :o)

COLE STREET FARM COHOUSING COMMUNITY
 THE THRESHOLD CENTRE
Cole Street Farm, Cole Street Lane,
Gillingham, Dorset SP8 5JQ
www.thresholdcentre.org.uk
info@thresholdcentre.org.uk
01747 821929

NEWSLETTER – Spring 2010

Happy New Year to you all – a little late but heartfelt all the same!
Thanks for your continued support and interest in our project.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIVING AT THE THRESHOLD CENTRE
Our community is constantly evolving and opportunities for newcomers to
join us arise from time to time.  As you know, we are a friendly
cohousing educational community with a sustainable living ethos near
Gillingham, Dorset, and the first group to offer affordable housing in
conjunction with a local Housing Association.
Members can live here either as owners, part owners or rental tenants of
the units, depending on availability.  We also have rooms in the main
farmhouse available for short/medium term self-catering stays for those
who wish to get a taste of cohousing in action.
We welcome people interested in exploring co-housing or community, and
people who just want a break in the beautiful Dorset countryside.
Prospective residents are very welcome to come for a weekend at our B&B
rates, to see if the place would suit them for a longer stay.

For Sale: private two bedroom cottage. Contact Nancy Winfield,
nancywinfield@hotmail.co.uk for further details or phone 01392 211794.

Shared equity via East Dorset Housing Assn: a one bedroom cottage is
available. Contact Amanda Pearson on aep123@hotmail.co.uk for details.

For private rental: currently we have a large en-suite bedroom available
in the farmhouse, contact Caroline Sharman on 01747 821929. The rent in
the farmhouse is £80 per week, which includes bills. As well as their
bed-sitting room, guests can use the sitting and dining rooms in the
farmhouse, enjoy the large courtyard garden, and will share the
farmhouse kitchen
For rental via EDHA. From September there will be a one bedroom unit
available. For details contact Amanda Pearson on aep123@hotmail.co.uk

If you are interested in any of the above, or would like to go on our
list for future vacancies, please get in touch. We seek residents who
would enjoy being part of a supportive community and would join in
shared activities – these include running workshops, some meals,
meditation, gardening and social time.
See our website for more information.

New Recruits!
Our next batch of newcomers have now arrived. Linda P (as opposed to
Linda J  - already resident) has joined us regularly on our garden/work
weekends, so we are delighted she has now become a full-time member and
look forward to her teachings on permaculture and gardening generally.
She is full of ideas for uses of our land and systems for sharing the
work. Julie and Richard are also here now and Richard has been hard at
work sorting out the initial biomass problems. We look forward to
singing with Julie,  experiencing workshops with Richard and hearing
their travellers’ tales as they are fresh back from visiting other
communities abroad.

National Cohousing Events
Alan Heeks and Amanda Pearson (both residents here at Cole Street Farm)
will be involved at this event on Saturday April 24th
International cohousing experts to visit London in April.
Charles Durrett and Kathryn McCamant, the award-winning Californian
architects who pioneered cohousing in the USA and wrote the cohousing
‘bible’, will be guest speakers at a UK Cohousing Network Conference on
Saturday April 24th in London. The programme will include lessons from
20 years of cohousing in the USA, project management and design &
reports from established and developing cohousing projects in the UK.
Workshops will include overcoming obstacles, legal & finance, governance
and more.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all those
individuals and groups in the process of planning their own cohousing
project and also for those just contemplating cohousing.
Fee £25.pp.
For details email: info@cohousing.org.uk.
Full programme details www.cohousing.org.uk
Additional cohousing events in April featuring McCamant and Durrett are
also planned.

ECOS trust Sustainable Building Seminars – Two events in April
Sustainable Building Materials - health, carbon, life.
Tuesday 20th April. 9am - 4.45pm. Great Bow Wharf, Langport, Somerset.
Fee: £160 plus VAT (£188 inc.)
The seminar is for Housing Association development managers, building
professionals including architects and quantity surveyors, materials
suppliers and purchasing managers, building contractors and anyone in
the industry who wishes to know more about sustainable building materials.
Make Mine an Eco Home - helping to make your home better for you, your
pocket and the environment.
Wednesday 28th April. Great Bow Wharf, Langport, Somerset.
Fee: £96 plus VAT (£112.80 inc.)
This interactive seminar is for homeowners, self-builders, landlords and
anyone else wishing to get great ideas and a good grounding in how to
carry out a sustainable building or refurbishment project.
 For further information, to download a flier and to book your place
online visit the Ecos events webpage at www.ecostrust.org.uk. or tel.
01458 254349

EXTRA EVENTS AT THE THRESHOLD CENTRE
We will soon have a beautiful new downstairs meditation room (thanks to
Peter and Bill for all their hard work) and, as well as using the space
for meditation and therapy treatments, plan to hold regular events
encompassing wider aspects of sustainability.

TOWARDS 2012 weekend course.
We are fortunate to have two remarkable spiritual teachers from New
Zealand staying with us in May, husband and wife team the Reverends
Helen and Polaris Eggers.  They are holding a 2-day workshop here on the
15/16 May entitled Enlightenment and the Human Energy Field.  This will
be a stimulating and mind-expanding weekend!  We hope you will join us.
Cost £95.
Helen will be offering individual healing sessions and soul readings at
the Threshold Centre throughout May.  For more information and bookings
contact Linda Joyce on 07973 529245.  Their website is
www.way-of-the-heart.org

Subsequently we intend to hold monthly day workshops under the TOWARDS
2012 theme.  Contact Linda or Caroline 01747 821929 for more information.

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS – 2010
The cohousing and work weekends have proved very popular this year, so
please book early to avoid disappointment.
Cohousing Workshops :
These are residential and run from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon.
They provide an opportunity for individuals or groups to experience life
in a cohousing community for a weekend, at the same time learning how to
go about setting up a project. They are very popular, so book early to
secure a place.  2010 charges:  £140 for course, lunches, snacks and
evening meals.  B&B £25/£35 per night, depending on location.
April 23-25: June 11-13: Sept. 10-12: Nov. 12-14

Gardening/Work Weekends
We offer bed and board in exchange for your help and it’s not all work!
 Arrive in time for Friday supper if you can, otherwise early on the
Saturday.
May 28th-30th: July 16th-18th: Oct. 15th-17tth.

Open Afternoons for Visitors/Enquirers
These take place on the Sunday afternoon of the work weekends from 2-4pm
(see previous item).  A chance for enquirers and potential joiners to
have a look around, ask questions about cohousing and enjoy a cup of
tea. There is no charge, but donations are welcome.

Open Lunches
These take place on the first Sunday of each month from 12.30 – 3pm. An
informal gathering with a chance to look round and meet the residents.
Please let us know (on 01747 821929) if you would like to come, and
bring vegetarian food to share.

Meditation
We hold open meditation on the first Thursday of each month from 8-9pm
offering meditation and visualisation techniques suitable for all levels
of experience. Please let us know (on 01747 821929) if you would like to
join us. There is no charge, but donations are welcome.

With best wishes from us all,
Jane, Luke, Sarah, Amanda, Peter, Monty the dog, Caroline, Bill,
Michael, Gay, Andrew, Linda P, Julie, Richard,  John and Jamie, Alan,
Linda J, and not forgetting Muriel.