Zero Carbon Castle

On Saturday 6th March ZCC and our Bedford in Bloom friends (BTCV, Kempston in Bloom, Taste Real Food, Transition Bedford) will be holding the first food growing event planned for 2010 – Seed Sharing Saturday. The event will be held at the Bunyan Free Meeting Church on Mill Street Bedford in the main hall and will start at 9.30am and finish about 12.30pm. Some simple free refreshments will be available on the day.

The idea is that anyone wishing to donate seeds (all types) either send them to: BTCV (FAO: Jill Ferry), Taylor House, 99 Ashburnham Rd, Bedford MK40 1EA prior to the event so they can be packaged up and made available at the start of the day or bring them along on the day. After the event, seed swapping can continue via this website for those growers who want to continue to widen their planting varieties. Details of how this will work will be posted shortly. In the meantime, you can begin to sort your seeds out and put them into envelopes clearly marked with the plant/vegetable type, the variety, any specific details (like expiry date or heritage or organic) and your name and any contact details if you wish to provide them.

So come and join us on the 6th for a warm cup of something and a biscuit and pick up some free seeds!

If you would like to display a poster (pdf) in your community or organisation, please click the link below.

seedexchangeposter rev1 jan10

Love you bike day! Is your bike sitting in the shed feeling neglected and in need of some TLC? Not sure how to fix those little problems or get your bike into shape? Well on Saturday 11th July we have the event just for you! Transition cycles will be doing three free bike maintenance workshops. Also, the police will be security stamping bikes and there will be a family cycle ride along Route 51 with prizes and freebies for those finishing the ride! Bring a picnic and refreshments to enjoy in Willington.

If you can help by delivering some leaflets to advertise the day, then either comment on this blog or email  zerocarboncastle at hotmail.co.uk

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Bedfordshire’s – Introduction to permaculture design

Permaculture ethical and design flower

A weekend course to introduce the basics of permaculture and show how this approach can be applied.

Date
Saturday 4th July; 9:30 start – Sunday 5th July 4pm finish.

Venue
Yelnow Organic Farm, Church Lane, Odell, MK43 7AD, North Bedfordshire.
Surrounded by Odell Great Wood             10 miles from Bedford & Northampton

Course tutor:
Hannah Thorogood

Who is the course for?
The course is open to anyone. No prior knowledge of permaculture is needed.

Find out all the details about the course here.

Chris Watson and Emma Goude, producers of The Transition Movie, out filming in Totnes.

If you haven’t already seen it, the film the Age of Stupid will be showing again in Bedford on the 28th of May, see below for details. A second film “In Transition” will be premiered on the 23rd of May. The first showing of the film will be held at the Transition Towns annual conference but in true eco-fasion, you wont have to get into your gas guzzler or even on your push bike to see it. In fact the TT annual conference sold out months ago. However the film will also be streamed live. Tune in here at 1.45pm on the 23rd of May for you free, low carbon viewing.

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Herb planting at Rothsay roundabout in 2008

Saturday 9th May 2009
1pm start at the Herb Garden on the Rothsay
Road and Castle Road roundabout

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Sydney burning – scene from the film

For all those who haven’t seen this film, see the trailer here. It will be screened on April the 14th at Friends meeting house at 7pm, 5 Lansdowne Road, Bedford. MK40 2BY. Directions are available here.

Bedfordshire features quite heavily in this film, specifically the planning application for Poddington Windfarm.

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ENERGY CLINIC FOR ALL YOUR HOME ENERGY ILLS
Energy efficiency made easy for residents! And the Great low energy light bulb give away! Drop in for free light bulbs! This is a one day event to explain the practical and easy ways to make your home more energy efficient! We’ve brought together local professionals, trades people and regional energy experts to explain home energy problems in older properties and practical ways to improve their efficiency. The day will consist of a series of ‘drop in’ talks, demonstrations and films with questions and answer sessions. If you want to save money and CO2 this is the place to be!

When: Saturday 14th March 11.00am until 3.30pm

Where: The Ent Shed Gordon Arms Castle Road

Prior registration: no

Cost: Free

Drop in for one or some of the following sessions:

11.00 – Current home energy use in Castle Ward – a short overview of the 2008 carbon footprint survey results – by Shane Hughes (ZCC)

11.15 – Energy use in your home – a case study of energy use in a Victorian property in Castle Ward – Mark Thompson (Home Energy Assessor)

12.00 – Home energy efficiency and what can I do today to improve it – Energy Saving Trust

1.00 – Window maintenance in Victorian properties – what you can do to improve efficiency of your windows – The Sash Doctor

1.30 – Renewable technologies for your home and community – where will our energy come from in the future? – Renewables East

2.15 – Solar hot water systems – a case study of a Bedford property – Hazel Mitchell (Bedford resident)

2.40 – Micro hydro turbine on the river Ouse and possible community ownership (Shane Hughes)

3.00 – Close

Every month we run a film night at the Ent Shed. The films cover a wide range of climate change topics and are sometimes short and other times long! Here are a few interesting films which you may find enlightening or even compelling! If you come across an interesting film, then let us know and we’ll consider adding it here.

The Most Terrifying Video You Will Ever See (Real Title)

10 minute short that might convince even the most stubborn climate skeptic of the need to do something.

Green Streets

The Guardian newspaper and British Gas have collaborated to challenge a number of UK communities to cut their carbon emissions. The prize is £50,000 to a green community project.

Our launch was happily a very successful and special day. We had lots of things going on and here are some photos showing what we achieved…