Rob Hopkins on Permaculture and the Kinsale College May 21, 2008
Posted by Graham in : Kinsale, Permaculture, Transition Towns , 1 comment so farTo mark the end of an era and the retirement of John Thuillier as director of the Kinsale FEC, Zone5 has managed to secure this exclusive and enlightening interview with Rob Hopkins who founded the unique 2-year course in Practical Sustainability 7 years ago. Thanks also to Rob for sending on some photos from the early days of the course which I have placed though the interview along with some recent ones from the past year.
When did you first move to Ireland?
I moved in September 1996, from Bristol. I had just finished my degree and my second child was about 6 months old. From a house in the middle of Bristol to a mouse-overrun farmhouse up a lane near Skibbereen. I had lived in cold houses before, but this one was COLD. From the moment I arrived though, I absolutely loved it. (more…)
Transition Town Kenmare May 2, 2008
Posted by Graham in : Peak Oil, Transition Towns , add a commentThere was a great turn out for the first meeting to start the Transition process in Kenmare, Co. Kerry, which took place Thursday night May 1st at the Brooklane Hotel.
The meeting was organised by Oonagh Comerford who did a great job in inspiring people to come out. I gave a short talk about Peak Oil, the Kinsale college and permaculture, and how the Energy Descent Plan came to be written, sowing the seeds for the Transition network in the UK and now Ireland. We also watched an Australian documentary Four Corners- Peak Oil? which includes a trip to Ballydehob and an interview with Colin Campbell. It was great to see a thicket of hands go up when I asked how many had home gardens- Kenmare is clearly well placed and ahead of the game in that respect. And there is already a small group who have started a community garden so congratulations all for that. Discussions during the meeting included asking how much land precisely would each person need to feed themselves- “five acres and a cow” was one response- to what might we substitute for wheat as supplies decline. There will be a follow-up meeting on June 4th when the film The Power of Community- How Cuba Survived peak Oil will be shown -we promise!
Convergence 13: Transition Strategies April 10, 2008
Posted by Graham in : Powerdown, Transition Towns, community , 4commentsLast weekend saw the Community Powerdown Symposium at the 13th Convergence Festival at the Cultivate Centre in Dublin.
Opened by John Gormley, Minister for Environment, Heritage and local Government, this landmark event was attended by about 100 people and saw the beginnings of a fledgling Irish Transition Network with a meeting of over 60 representatives from about 15 towns around the country interested in starting the transition Process.
Left: Minister John Gormley opens the Powerdwon Symposium; Right: Ben Bragwyn, Daniel Lerch, Megan Quinn, Jonathon Dawson (more…)
Kinsale Spring Fair March 31, 2008
Posted by Graham in : Transition Towns, community , 2commentsI was back down in Kinsale at the end of the Easter break on Saturday for the Transition Towns Spring Fair.
Organised by permaculture students and members of Transition Towns Kinsale with Kinsale Tidy Towns, it consisted of a market with stalls selling local produce in the town, with exhibits, talks, Transition TV and more stalls in the Temperence Hall.
In particular it was great to see the newly formed Kinsale Food Co-op with freshly baked cakes and wholefoods with a presence in the market.
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