East Suffolk Permaculture Group Newsletter

Halesworth & Blyth Valley Centre

The Feasibility Study will be complete by the time you read this.

The final draft plans showing sites, space requirements, costs etc were on public display at Halesworth Library on March 12 & 13^th. If you missed that we are trying to find somewhere to put a permanent display in Halesworth.

Now we need to find about £3 million.

Kindle Co-op

It has been a whole year since I first wrote about the Self Build Project and much has happened, not least that close friendships have been made.

We have Architype (architects) helping us, at risk, to get our costings together to finish the Business Plan. The Business Plan is probably our most important document, as this will be used to get grant funding, land, etc. It is a big job but we are getting there.

We are also busy talking to various people. We’ve talked to planning and they haven’t said "absolutely not", which is the best we could hope from them at this point. Outline Planning permission is going to be a problem as this will cost over £2,000. We are seeing about having this waived as we are a social need project.

Both housing and planning are wanting proof that there is a housing need in Walpole. We’ve explained that "here we are and need housing, therefore, does that not prove the need?", but more is wanted. We need some sort of survey. So we are looking into this. An important point is that we need to fill the available houses-to-be, and have a waiting list. This we hope should definitely establish the need. We are going to put articles in the local papers.

The preliminary approach to European Funding has been well received. English Partnerships are not interested, as they prefer projects on brown field sites. There are many different funders and we are in the process of finding and approaching them.

There is a lot of bureaucracy to go through and sometimes it feels very slow, but we always knew it wouldn’t be easy. The project progresses faster than it seems sometimes and it all looks very favourable. Lucietta

Suffolk Solarcentric 

Are launching a bi-monthly magazine in which other groups can enlighten the public as to their meetings and practices. The Magazine will be on sale in small shops. The first issue will be free!

Later issues of this 24 page A5 size booklet will probably be sold for £1. Contributions based on sustainable lifestyles will be welcomed from readers. Peter

Stepping Stones

Stepping Stones is a community project that uses the therapeutic benefits of gardens and gardening. It is a member of the Federation of City Farms and community Gardens.

This project motivates people to get actively involved in all aspects of setting up and running a sustainable community garden.

It aims to produce a range of quality products related to the main activity of organic gardening.

They aim to create an environment that gives equal access an involvement to those who may be experiencing disabling health problems.

Stepping Stones seeks to work with other local organisations that are working towards protecting the environment using methods that are economically and ecologically sustainable. (sounds like us).

Garden activity days – Monday & Thursday. Volunteers Welcomed

Is anyone interested in organising a Permaculture Group visit/outing?

Stepping Stones Gardening Project

The Nursery, Stone Common,

Blaxhall, IP12 2DT

I attended a Suffolk Volunteers Assn. "MOT" session in Saxmundham. It was very interesting and got me thinking about a range of issues about how voluntary groups work and achieve their objectives.

They will be starting a series of workshops focussing on 12 key aspects of how an organisation works soon. One of the reasons for the MOT was to assess the need for such workshops and when and where would be the most convenient place. I’ll report when the dates are announced. Nigel

I did not enjoy Cindy's mention of our bulging water tanks in last months newsletter.... little did she know they were empty. At least the mention has got us to do something about them! Last summer they were brilliant even though it was the wettest summer season for several years. It was the first winter that brought us problems. As the tanks cooled down they attracted gallons of condensation that collected in pools as if we had a leak. We realised the tanks had to be emptied and this is how they were when last month's newsletter arrived.

To guard against the symptom we have put a polythene sheet underneath the tanks while he actual solution seems to lie in better ventilation. The polythene sheet was not easily achieved as the tanks each still had about 10 gallons of water in them making them very hard to disconnect and move.
Ventilation is now required and any suggestions for a rain proof vent on the top of an arching corrugated iron roof are eagerly awaited.

On a more positive note the greenhouse is now almost finished with all of Jenny's ex-greenhouse glass looking magnificent in its new home! There will be room for two hammocks inside so if we are not in when you come visiting you know where we will be! Graham

The World Land Trust are applying to the Millennium Commission to create an award scheme for community educators and communicators to travel to and work on various projects in the rainforests of Belize. In order for the programme to be a success they need to know what potential participants may require from such a programme. Please contact the World Land Trust for a questionnaire, which leads to an application form if the WLT get the award. Which could lead you to Belize.

World Land Trust Blyth House, Bridge Street. Halesworth. 01986 874422