11.30pm – 2.30pm
Wednesday 1 December 2010

Exeter Phoenix, Bradninch Place, Gandy Street, Exeter EX4 3LS

Are you interested in buying fresh local food, organic food or wholefoods? Would you like to buy good food with friends, neighbours or other people in your community? Would you like to find out if buying food with others could save you money?

If so, come along to a free workshop being organised by the Soil Association and Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming. You will have a chance to meet like-minded people, local food producers and find out about what’s involved in setting up a buying group or food co-op.

The lunchtime event (lunch provided!) is on Wednesday 1 December 2010 11.30pm – 2.30pm at Exeter Phoenix, Bradninch Place, Gandy Street, Exter. 35 places are available so book early by emailing tlewis@soilassociation.org

If you can’t make it but are interested let us know so we can plan more events or offer you individual advice.

The idea behind Think Global and Taste Local is to connect as many people as possible with all aspects of local, seasonal and organic food through the enjoyment of the taste of it – esp. those amongst us who cant be bothered to cook or who cannot afford to or who simply see no reason to spend extra time and money buying and cooking – when ready meals from the super market are easier … how does one change an established eating habit – through taste…. If we can manage through the 12 events that we will be doing in various locations to connect the chef, the recipe, the common man, the farmer and the desire to change – that will be a goal reached.. ;)
21st of Nov in the Civic Hall in Totnes, 11-2pm
See poster for more details http://www.earthlinksall.com/food/ThinkGlobalTasteLocalLaunch.pdf

Saturday 13TH NOVEMBER
HARBERTON VILLAGE HALL, South Hams

come and share the abundant harvest of locally grown vegetables and enjoy delicious recipes
dished up by South Devon Community Farming (CSF)

ALSO ON THE MENU!

12 pm : Event opens with presentations your chance to find out about opportunities to take part locally in vegetable gardening ; woodland care ; volunteer work days; farm visits

1.30pm : lunch served .
Enjoy a high quality vegetarian lunch using produce grown
at Beenleigh Meadows Farm, Harberton

Lunch costs: £5 or £3 concessions. under 10s free .
BOOKING ADVISABLE. Phone: Apple Taylor on 01548 521519

The Annual General Meeting of CSF will follow - all welcome
Hear reports of CSF activities and learn how you can support and benefit from farming projects and produce schemes at a site near to you.
www.devoncsf.co.uk

TTT WINTERFEST 2010 on SATURDAY 13th NOVEMBER

FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY Civic Hall, Totnes. 11am – 4pm

Stories, workshops, transition stalls, projects, fantastic soup....the world of transition in Totnes

Applications are now open for the fourth annual Planting Places awards, celebrating top examples of local greenspace across the South West of England. The awards recognise the input of these spaces in supporting healthy, sustainable communities and acknowledge the people who work to make them special. Any public greenspace in the South West of England can be nominated for an award; everything from parks, community gardens and allotments to green routes (ie cycle paths), playing fields and even cemeteries and rooftops. The greenspace can be privately funded, NHS Trust, community, conservation group or council land, but it must be free and accessible to the public, and for public use and enjoyment. This year, ten ‘top example’ winners will be chosen, highlighting how local greenspace can have a positive impact on local communities. Winners will be invited to attend an awards ceremony in March 2011. Planting Places is a partnership project coordinated by Sustainability South West to champion and celebrate local greenspaces and their importance in building sustainable communities. The application form is available at www.sustainabilitysouthwest.org.uk/projects/planting_places/planting_places_awards/ or visit the Planting Places website (www.plantingplaces.org.uk) and click on the ‘awards’ page. Completed application forms must be returned to Sustainability South West by 5pm on 29 January 2011. For more information contact Sustainability South West on 0117 929 0989 or email lynn.gibbons@sustainabilitysouthwest.org.uk.

Applications are now open for the fourth annual Planting Places awards, celebrating top examples of local greenspace across the South West of England.

The awards recognise the input of these spaces in supporting healthy, sustainable communities and acknowledge the people who work to make them special. Any public greenspace in the South West of England can be nominated for an award; everything from parks, community gardens and allotments to green routes (ie cycle paths), playing fields and even cemeteries and rooftops. The greenspace can be privately funded, NHS Trust, community, conservation group or council land, but it must be free and accessible to the public, and for public use and enjoyment.

This year, ten ‘top example’ winners will be chosen, highlighting how local greenspace can have a positive impact on local communities. Winners will be invited to attend an awards ceremony in March 2011. Planting Places is a partnership project coordinated by Sustainability South West to champion and celebrate local greenspaces and their importance in building sustainable communities.

The application form is available at www.sustainabilitysouthwest.org.uk/projects/planting_places/planting_places_awards/ or visit the Planting Places website (www.plantingplaces.org.uk) and click on the ‘awards’ page. Completed application forms must be returned to Sustainability South West by 5pm on 29 January 2011. For more information contact Sustainability South West on 0117 929 0989 or email lynn.gibbons@sustainabilitysouthwest.org.uk.

Community Spaces is a £57.5 million open grants programme that is managed by Groundwork UK’s Open Grants Department.

The programme helps community groups in England create or improve green, open spaces to enhance people’s quality of life.

Community Spaces is funded by the Big Lottery Fund. Grants start at £10,000.

Information about the programme and who can apply can be found on our Criteria page.

Application forms, guidance notes and further information about the application process can be found under our Apply section.

If you have any queries please email info@community-spaces.org.uk

Programme Closing Date: Friday 07 January 2011, 12 noon.

Thrive is a small national charity, founded in 1978, that uses gardening to change the lives of disabled people.

Thrive publish an e-newsletter, available from http://thrive.createsend1.com/T/ViewEmail/r/C2D5167BE11E7CF4/D1FACA55F751400B44D0DD5392A9C75A

Our activities are varied but focus on championing the benefits of gardening to individuals and organizations, as well as teaching techniques and practical applications so that anyone with a disability can take part and enjoy gardening. A research programme underpins Thrive’s work to provide evidence and improve understanding.

Gardening can help individuals accomplish many things. It can help rebuild a person’s strength after an accident or illness, and can provide a purposeful activity for someone coping with a difficult period in their life.

Earlier this year Transition Town West Kirby did a survey of allotment waiting lists in England. They found that the average waiting list has increased from 49 to 59 people waiting per 100 plots (a 20% increase) and there is no sign that the increase in demand for allotments is slowing down. This amounts to a total number of people waiting for allotments around England is 94,124.

An MP has submitted an Early Day Motion (EDM 687) for debate. To-date 28 MPs have signed the Motion and author of the report, Margaret Campbell, is asking Transition groups around the England to check if their MP has signed the motion and if they have have, thank them for their support and offer to meet with them to discuss the situation in their constituency and if they haven't, to seek their support.

http://transitionnetwork.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=766036b57dc1247e2964584bd&id=b134a43ddd&e=ad6ab207b6

Camel Community Supported Agriculture or Camel CSA is launching a project to get more people growing their own produce.

Following £60,000 in grants, the group launched its Growing Food, Growing People project.

The project aims to promote local food, and connect people with the land where their food is grown.

The scheme was launched at the groups vegetable plot at St Kew Highway.

Camel CSA in action
Over 50 households support the North Cornwall project

Funding for the non-profit project has come from two donations that complete the £60,000 grant.

£47,984 is from the Big Lottery Fund's Local Food Programme and £12,484 from the East Cornwall Local Action Group (ECLAG).

The money will allow the group to invest in equipment to develop and enhance their operations.

New equipment will include three poly tunnels, a bore hole and water tank, irrigation system, sheds, a small tractor, horticultural tools and rabbit-proof fencing.

GETTING STARTED: Food Co-ops and Organic Buying groups
A free workshop and lunch
Tuesday 23rd November 2010
11.30 am to 2.30 pm
Guildhall, High St, Bath
Limited places so please book yours with
alison@sustainweb.org
or phone 0117 9142430

An E-workshop on Starting A Social Enterprise is available for South West based social enterprise businesses. If anyone would like a copy they should email marie.white@co-active.org.uk and give their contact details; name, address, business name, email and phone number and Marie will email the workbook to them.

Co-active are able to deliver this training with a trainer in Cornwall, Plymouth and Torbay. For a flyer with dates for the face to face workshops please contact Jane.

jane2@devonrcc.org.uk 01392 383423

The Federation of City Farms & Community Gardens are running another of our popular community orchard training days this coming November. The day will be a mix of planting theory and pruning practice and is ideal for both orchard novices and those with more experience.

The morning session will be held at Lawrence Weston Community Farm and after a hearty lunch we will travel to Horfield Organic Community Orchard to practice our pruning skills.

Come and learn from the experts, and learn from each other. Spaces are limited and booking is essential.

Date: Saturday, 20 Nov, 2010

Time: 10am to 4pm

Venues: Lawrence Weston Community Farm, Saltmarsh Drive, Lawrence Weston, Bristol, BS11 ONJ & Horfield Organic Community Orchard

Cost: £5 FCFCG members, £10 non-members

To book: contact Caitlyn on the details below.

Caitlyn Jones

Support Worker

Federation of City Farms & Community Gardens

The GreenHouse, Hereford St, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4NA

T: 0117 923 1800

F: 0117 923 1900

E: caitlyn@farmgarden.org.uk

W: www.farmgarden.org.uk

I work Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The Woodland Trust has packs of trees available for free to community projects, including one pack called "Jams, Jellies, Chutneys and Cordials". Perfect for those of you starting up new orchards.

For more information visit http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/plant-trees/help-advice/Pages/trees-for-communities.aspx

Getting Started:
How to set up a food co-op or buying group in your community
FREE workshop and lunch!
11.30pm – 2.30pm
Tuesday 16th November 2010

Exeter Phoenix, Bradninch Place, Gandy Street, Exeter EX4 3LS

Are you interested in buying fresh local food, organic food or wholefoods? Would you like to buy good food with friends, neighbours or other people in your community? Would you like to find out if buying food with others could save you money?

If so, come along to a free workshop being organised by the Soil Association and Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming. You will have a chance to meet like-minded people, local food producers and find out about what’s involved in setting up a buying group or food co-op.

The lunchtime event (lunch provided!) is on Tuesday 16th November 2010 11.30pm – 2.30pm at Exeter Phoenix, Bradninch Place, Gandy Street, Exter. 35 places are available so book early emailing alison@sustainweb.org or tlewis@soilassociation.org and requesting a registration form. If you can’t make it but are interested let us know so we can plan more events or offer you individual advice.

Community-run food buying groups come in all shapes and sizes including buying clubs, bag or box schemes, stalls or shops, and sell a variety of foods such as fruit and vegetables, organic wholefoods, home-made bread or local meat or dairy produce – in fact anything the community wants.

Thanks to funding from the Big Lottery through the Making Local Food Work programme free advice is now available on everything you might need to know about setting up a community food co-op, such as finding suppliers, buying equipment or recruiting volunteers.

More information, including a toolkit showing how to get started is available at: www.foodcoops.org.

Further buying group guides on setting up groups in schools, universities and workplaces are available at: www.soilassociation.org/obg.aspx

Get free support to help you apply for a share of £7m to develop
community and social enterprises which can run rural services in
the future.

Rise – the "voice for South West social enterprise" is offering
help with funding opportunities in the region for rural
enterprise and services. If you're in the area, could it be of
interest to your project?
For more info click here http://www.rise-sw.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1140

Just wanted to say good luck to the new Community Projects Officer at HogCO!
Jo Winterburn

HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust
Grants are available to support charities that are concerned with the preservation of wildlife and the environment.



General Fund: Grants of between £250 and £5,000 are available.



The Martin Wills Fund: Grants of between £2,000 and £25,000 are available. Exceptionally grants of £50,000 have been made.



Extended Description:



The HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust offers support to charities which are registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales.



The Trust has two main funds:

The General Fund: Supports general charitable activities across a range of issues.
The Martin Wills Fund: Supports activities pertaining to environmental and wildlife issues.
The General Fund seeks to support smaller charities which may benefit more from support.



Applications to the General Fund are accepted on a rolling basis.



Applications to the Martin Wills Fund must be submitted by the end of the Trust's financial year, running from 01 April to 31 March.



Key Criteria:



Criteria for both funds are as follows:

Charities registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales.
Funds for revenue, project expenditure and capital are accepted.
Eligible Expenditure:



Eligible costs are those associated with projects which fill the key criteria and that can make a real and measurable impact.

Restrictions:



For both funds, grants are not available to:

Applicants that have had previous financial assistance within the last eighteen months.
Individuals.
Retrospective activities or projects.
Application Procedure:



Applicants must submit an application form online. For more information, including access to the online application form, go to: http://www.hdhwills.org/ or write to:



Mrs W E Cooper
HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust
Henley Knapp Barn
Fulwell
Chipping Norton
Oxfordshire
OX7 4EN

Tel: 01608 678051
E-Mail: hdhwills@btconnect.com

Cheriton Fitzpaine shop invite you to their
Free Local Food and Drink event
Saturday the 26th June
Cheriton Village hall
2pm-5pm

Rookbeare Ice cream from Cheriton Fitzpaine -tastings
Miles (tea/coffee) from Minehead -
Endacott Bakery from Okehampton
Simply Sausage from Pennymoor - free tastings
Sampford Courtney Cider Co - Free tastings
Come and shop locally
socialise with your
community

Prize draws and special
offer stall - bargains

event hosted by the village shop, celebrating local food! 2-5pm
watch this space!

Horticultural Cropping Tool The Soil Association has developed a basic vegetable planner using Excel to help you with initial planning for crop and business planning. For more information about the cropping tool, please contact: Ben Raskin T: 0117 314 5185
E: braskin@soilassociation.org

The current difficult economic climate and uncertain political situation means many community farms and gardens need extra help to secure funding. As a result, the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens has set up a trial scheme which allows members free access to a grants search facility with Funderfinder.



Funderfinder is a small UK charity producing online searches for grant-making organisations, specialising in information and advice about charitable trusts and foundations that fund in the UK. All our members can now access Funderfinder through the FCFCG website. The process for setting up your search is simple:



1. Login to the Members Zone of the FCFCG website at www.farmgarden.org.uk by using the Members Login box on the homepage.
2. Once you have logged in, click on the Funderfinder link and you will be taken to the Funderfinder screen
3. Create a Username and Password for your group
4. Then follow the on-screen instructions and start searching for grants



Please note you can only access Funderfinder through the FCFCG website. There is a limit to the number of searches available, so the facility is subject to a 'fair use' policy, to allow all FCFCG members a chance to take advantage of this offer.



Your nearest FCFCG regional development staff member can help with any enquiries about how to use the Funderfinder search. (See the Contact Us page of the FCFCG website to find your nearest FCFCG office).

Simply Governance
An overview of the structures, systems and processes concerned with running a sustainable community food enterprise. Suitable for development workers and members of the governing body of a community food enterprise.
24th June - Plymouth
See Cooperatives UK website for more details www.mlfw.co.uk/training

As a past participant on a ‘Survive & Thrive’ event I am writing to you to highlight our most recent opportunity and one that we are especially excited about!



Are you considering taking on or developing an asset? Are you confused about the relative merits of leases, licenses or freehold? Are you keen to ensure viability not liability? Our latest event on 11th May in Devon is essential! http://www.thrivingenterprises.net/events/trade-secrets



In partnership with the Ethical Property Foundation, we will be leading a one-day learning event that will give rural community organisations unparalleled access to the legal know-how behind the negotiation, purchase and development of assets. From community parks and farms to more traditional building-based projects this learning event will set you on the right course, feeling confident and well informed about your next steps with a network of support to hand.



With legal expertise from two top property lawyers specializing in charity and community activity, the Ethical Property Foundation (major source of advice and help) and the Development Trusts Association, this is Survive & Thrive’s most intensive learning event to date!



The day will include



Legal Overview – Cutting through jargon and explaining the basics to ensure a clear understanding as a starting point


Workshops – Tailored activities to deepen and consolidate your understanding


Q&A Session – Your chance to access top property lawyers with your own queries and concerns


Business Planning Masterclass – A session in which we focus on your project and how you can ensure that it will be ‘viable not liable!’


Networking – Facilitated and informal sessions to encourage a broad network of support and contacts


Lunch – A delicious home made vegetarian lunch served in a farmhouse kitchen! You will also have the opportunity to take a stroll around the grounds of this beautiful social enterprise in the heart of the Devon Countryside.


When? Tuesday 11th May 9.30am – 4pm



Where? Middle Coombe Farm Near Tiverton ( a 10 minute drive from Tiverton Parkway Station or Junction 27 of the M5) http://www.coombefarmwoods.co.uk/index.php The event itself will be held in a converted cider barn and the location is rural so please wear sensible shoes!



Cost? This event is free to rural community organizations in the South West and travel bursaries are available to cover the cost of travel. For those whose job it is to support rural community organizations the cost is £75.



How do I Book? Here: http://propertylaw.eventbrite.com/

People's Millions Re-launced

The Big Lottery Fund has announced a new funding round under its People's Millions Initiative. Through the People's Million's, BIG wants to fund projects that transform the local environment or provide opportunities or facilities to allow people to take part and enjoy their local area. BIG are particularly interested in supporting community-based projects that can show that they will increase community involvement or help people who are most in need. In 2010, a total of £3.8 million will be available to support up to 5 projects within each of the 18 ITV regions, plus 18 runners up. The maximum grant will be £50,000 plus VAT. Funding will be mainly for one of capital costs and could include improvements to land, for open spaces or allotments, other forms of landscaping, buying land or temporary buildings, construction work, improvements to access, fixtures and fittings and the purchase of equipment. Organisations that can enter the People's Millions include voluntary or community groups, public bodies such as local authorities, schools, or statutory health bodyies and social enterprises.



The closing date for applications is 12 noon on the 14th May 2010.


http://www.peoplesmillions.org.uk/

Exchange & buy your vegetable seed for 2010. Seed potatoes and onion sets. All at discount prices.



SEEDY SATURDAY

Saturday 13th Feb, 11.00a.m. to.3.00p.m.

Bovey Methodist Hall

Le Molay Littry Way

Bovey Tracey

Free Entry

Homemade Soup & cakes, tea & coffee

Raffle on the day

HogCO is looking for some land on behalf of the Ashburton Community Land Co-op project. If you have anything that might be suitable please contact us. HogCO will work with both parties to reach a mutually beneficial agreement, providing professional legal, planning and other advice as needed. Please contact Jo or Sophia if you can help.

HogCO are always on the lookout for individuals or groups who may be able to support our commuity groups in a professional, or voluntary capacity. If you feel you could help please contact us.