Highland

 We are experimenting with a new type of Newsletter system - you can either sign up to have it emailed to you or you can read online here.  There's also a link from our Facebook page.

If you have stories or news that might be of interest to TBI members and supporters why not email us?  The next newsletter will be published in June.

This feed was drawn from the Transition Black Isle website

Interested in helping with our Million Miles Project? TBI is looking for a full-time project officer for our three-year project to help Black Isle residents reduce their car usage, and we also need a part-time PR consultant and Bookkeeper.

The Million Miles Project hopes to reduce the annual distance driven by Black Isle folk by a mere 1% - or a massive Million Miles, depending on which way you look at it! We’ll be looking at the things that stop people using bikes, lift-share schemes and public transport, and trying to make them easier and more fun.

The Travel Project Officer will take overall control of the project, arranging events, liaising with other interested parties, managing part-time staff and co-ordinating volunteers. The PR Consultant will over-see the marketing and communications side of the project, and the Bookkeeper will maintain financial records, including PAYE and monthly reports against budget.

If you’re interested in any of these positions, we need applications by 20th April. Send a CV and covering letter, or in the case of the PR Consultant or Bookkeeper posts, a proposal setting out your background, your proposed approach to the work, and an estimate of fees. Applications should be sent to Martin Sherring, Stoneybank, Culbokie, IV7 8JH.

There’s more information available on the website:

Background to TBI and the project
Travel Project Officer job description
PR Consultant brief
Bookkeeper brief
Grant application as sent to Climate Challenge Fund
Cost analysis accompanying the CCF grant application

For even more information, phone Martin Sherring on 07730 927518 or Wendy Price on 07719 620559
 

This feed was drawn from the Transition Black Isle website

 The Members Meeting for March will be focussed around transport and has not been organized far ahead because we were unsure how our bid would fare with the Climate Challenge Fund. Our proposal is that we should get together socially on Monday March 26 in the Station Hotel, Avoch at 7.30pm.

We hope all who come will consider how low a carbon impact their journey to the meeting need be. Could you walk? Could you cycle there? Could you car‐share to make the meeting?
Could you arrive by public transport (yes possibly, but get home afterwards must be a near impossible task for everybody). In thinking out what is involved in NOT getting a car out, we can mentally join those who for one reason or another are not allowed to drive or do not have a car. At the meeting we can discuss our own transport views, and we will outline how the Transport Black Isle project is conceived with the first activities focused in Muir of Ord, North Kessock and Fortrose .

Obviously we would like to draw more people into making the outcome of a million road miles saved a reality. Do talk to neighbours and friends and see if they would be prepared to join us for the next three years at least!neighbours and friends and see if they would be prepared to join us for the next three years at least!

This feed was drawn from the Transition Black Isle website

 You can read our latest newsletter HERE

This feed was drawn from the Transition Black Isle website

We've just heard some fantastic news, the grant application for our "Million Miles" sustainable travel project has been approved by the Climate Challenge Fund. The project will run over three years, and aims to reduce Black Isle residents' annual car mileage by a mere 1% - or, astonishingly, a million miles a year.

There's going to be a lot more detail in the coming months, but the first things are going to be to appoint a project officer, and to complete the survey of current travel attitudes we've already started - see the inserts in Chatterbox and Muir Mutters.

Watch this space and dust off your bikes!

This feed was drawn from the Transition Black Isle website

Spring comes to Cromarty Market on Saturday (10th March) with over 20 varieties of seed potatoes - sold individually and cheaper than the shops!  The swap your seeds stall returns as well and the health and fitness zone, and we have much improved our food offering with a revamped and improved TBI veg stall offering produce from a variety of local producers.  Dundonnel Smoked Salmon from Dingwall are making their debut appearance, and there will be plants from Mary Henderson.

Soup and sandwich lunches this month will be supporting the Allt na Criche Summer Camp for young people.

Don't miss it!

This feed was drawn from the Transition Black Isle website

On 27TH February Transition Black Isle arranged an open evening for its members in and around Muir of Ord, as well as other locals interested in ways to improve the resilience of the village.

The evening started off with a showing of sections of a DVD produced by Transition Scotland Support. The first section showed the types of activities carried out by transition groups throughout Scotland, and set out the “Transition Vision” – starting from the idea that we should be taking steps to reduce our dependence on oil and other fossil fuels, but developing that logic to support anything that makes our communities more self-reliant and less dependent on external factors.

For the second half of the evening, smaller groups discussed specific aspects of sustainable community life:

• Travel
• Energy
• Food

It was good to focus on the needs and wishes of this community.  The groups were full of great ideas and excellent suggestions, with volunteers and action points to move them forward, so we look forward to seeing these sparks catch fire! Watch this space!

We are planning a similar meeting at Fortrose at 7.30 pm on 14th March in Seaforth Lodge, Station Square.

This feed was drawn from the Transition Black Isle website

 Hot on the heels of our Tattie Day last Saturday and our open meeting at Muir of Ord comes our latest event where you can find out more about us and what we are about.  This time the venue is Fortrose on 14 March where there will be a short film followed by delicious home-made puddings and discussion about what practical action we can take ourselves to help make a better future for us, our children and grandchildren...

unmissable!

This feed was drawn from the Transition Black Isle website

HUNDREDS of people descended on North Kessock to peruse the north’s biggest selection of seed potatoes on Saturday.

Organisers were astonished by the enthusiasm and sheer volume of people who rushed to select their spuds in when Potato Day opened on Saturday afternoon.

A total of around 400 people poured through the doors of North Kessock Hall for the event run by Transition Black Isle.

There were 60 varieties of seed potato on sale, ranging from the oldest known British variety available - Fortyfold, from 1836, to some of the newest, such as Trixie, from 2010.

Three times more tubers were sold than at last year's inaugural potato day at Culbokie. More than 80% of the stock went, with half the varieties selling out completely and nearly 1,500 paper bags were used by customers.

Buyers were impressed by the atmosphere of the event and delicious food, cakes and refreshments, as well as the vast array of potatoes on offer.

Susan Kruse of Strathpeffer said:  “There’s been a great atmosphere, with people talking and sharing advice and it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to choose from such a great variety of potatoes.”

“It’s been great fun - absolutely fab!” said allotment holder Diana Gray from Inverness. “I loved the chat and all the people mingling, trying to figure out which kinds to pick.

“Variety is the spice of life and I’m now looking forward to the excitement of watching all my seed tatties grow, from earlies through to the later varieties. Then there’s the joy of discovering all the different flavours and textures when you eat them.”

Lady Julia Mackenzie from the Black Isle said she would definitely be returning to next year’s Potato Day. “It’s a very good event and I am totally in favour of what Transition Black Isle is doing,” she added.

The remaining tubers will be available for people to buy at March's community markets in Cromarty on Saturday 10 March and Culbokie on 17 March. Among the 25 varieties available will be the popular salad spud Anya, which didn't arrive in time for Potato Day.

Organiser Agric Hadron said: "It's been hectic - and great to see the enthusiasm. People have come from all over the Highlands - Tomatin, Forres, Tain and beyond. I guess we'll have to do one every year after this. Big thanks to the local Black Isle growers who've supported tattie day."

This feed was drawn from the Transition Black Isle website

 The February Newsletter is just out.  You can read it here

This feed was drawn from the Transition Black Isle website

Turbine Development Contract

£90 per day for a total of 170 days.

Contract will complete by February 2013.

The successful contractor will be expected to commence

work within four weeks of award of contract and the contractor

will have a base at Westend Community Centre, Firhill, Alness

Alness Transition Town Group is seeking an experienced self-employed renewable energy practitioner with a proven track record in community renewables project development.

The key goal of this contract is to develop the business case, legal agreements and consultations with statutory and community organisations to enable further progress towards a planning application.

For contract specification and further details contact: Helen Houston, CDO, Alness Heritage Centre, 102 – 106 High Street, Alness: alnesspartnership@alness.com

CV and letter of application to include contact details of two relevant referees should be sent/emailed to arrive by Friday 16 March 2012.

This project is being part funded by the Scottish Government and European Community Highland Leader 2007 – 2013 Programme and by the

Scottish Government CARES Loan Scheme.

THE final touches are being put to plans for Potato Day at North Kessock Hall on Saturday afternoon.

A list and description of the varieties on offer is now available here for those wishing to peruse the options in advance and a printed list will be available on the day.

More than 50 kinds of seed potato will be available, including modern, traditional and heritage varieties, all priced at 10p per tuber.

A tasty array of food will also be on offer so arrive hungry!  As well as baked potatoes, there will be a vegetarian and beef curry from local indian chef Marie Faulke and hot and cold drinks available throughout the afternoon. 

Potato Day will run from 1pm - 4:30pm and follows on from North Kessock Market from 10am to 12noon. 

For further information contact Agric Hadron by e-mail or on 07519 535484.

This feed was drawn from the Transition Black Isle website

Transition Black Isle has donated 30 books on gardening to the Highland Council's Public Library in Fortrose.   These are now out on the shelves for people to view or borrow - just in time for the 2012 growing season!

This feed was drawn from the Transition Black Isle website

Loch na Mhoid Community Garden is the venue this weekend for a short course on permaculture and forest gardening.  This is a rare opportunity to learn how to turn your vegetable garden into a self-regulating ecosystem, which will grow delicious food and 
also be beautiful, efficient, good for wild life, highly productive and easy to maintain.

Over 3 days, Ludwig Appeltans from Earth Ways will be introducing permaculture, forest gardening and organic growing principles.  He says, "Together we will make a plan to transform your garden into a rich, self-regulating habitat; a natural haven that nurtures and sustains people and wildlife alike."

Dates & Time: Sat March 17, Sun March 18 & Sat March 31 2012
from 10 AM to 16.30 PM

Loch na Mhoid Community Garden, Black Isle.
Car sharing can be organised
Sliding scale £75 - £90, Concessions available. 

Only 10 places available - to register, contact Ludwig:
www.earth-ways.co.uk info@earth-ways.co.uk 07760142495

This feed was drawn from the Transition Black Isle website

 Homegrown - Supper and film screening CANCELLED

Unfortunately for reasons that are not clear to us, Take One Action have been forced by legal action in the US to cancel the planned screening of film Homegrown, by director Robert McFalls, at the Cromarty Old Brewery on Wednesday 29 February at 7:30pm.

Transition Black Isle is very disappointed about this as we have all been looking forward to it. Homegrown is the true story of one family living ‘off the grid’ on an organic urban homestead in the heart of Pasadena City, California. On less than a quarter of an acre, they harvest over 6000 pounds of produce every year, feeding themselves and their friends, making their own biodiesel, and harnessing solar power for pretty much everything else.
What sets them apart is how they take what is familiar to so many – time, space and relationships in the city – to make something grow that most of us wouldn’t have thought possible… until now.
The 52 minute film was described by one reviewer as "an intimate human portrait of what it’s like to live like ‘Little House on the Prairie’ in the 21st Century.”

We are in discussion with Take One Action and hope to rearrange this event for another date as soon as possible

This feed was drawn from the Transition Black Isle website

 A PLETHORA of potatoes will take centre stage at a unique event in North
Kessock on 25th February.
 
More than 50 varieties of seed potato will be available for budding
gardeners to buy at Transition Black Isle’s potato day in North Kessock
Village Hall from 1pm to 4:30pm.
 
“Last year’s Potato Day at Culbokie proved immensely popular, and lots of
people have been asking when we were having another one,” said Transition
Black Isle convener Maggie Dove.
 
“There are lots of different kinds of potato to try as well as a range of
old favourites, and the fact they’ll be available by the tuber at 10p each
makes it easy and cheap to experiment with growing different varieties.
 
“Local gardeners will be on hand to give advice and information on potato
varieties and growing. It’s all about getting together and sharing tips
and experiences. Refreshments will be available throughout the day and
we’re looking forward to a lively and sociable event. Potato Day follows
on from North Kessock Market from 10am - 12noon so people can come and make
a day of it.”
 
Entrance to potato day is free to members of Transition Black Isle and
under 16s, and £1 for adult non members.

This feed was drawn from the Transition Black Isle website

 Julian Paren, currently vice-convenor of Transition Black Isle, has circulated the latest newsletter to members:

January letter to Transition Black Isle members

This is a quiet season of the year as we heat our houses and make as much of the limited daylight as we can. Seed catalogues and the anticipation of Agric’s potato day keep us looking ahead to the time when the land is more fruitful. This is a good time to take stock on our personal ambitions for living more sustainably, and exploring ways of introducing our Transition ideas to the wider community.

Next week on January 30 there is a great occasion for TBI members to meet up again and take part in the event A Question of Vegetables where our inspiring experts will take questions on how to get the best from our gardens and allotments. I am sure we all have some tips to pass on and it will be good to see how much our panel share the same approach for increasing our independence from the supermarkets.

The Community Markets across the Black Isle are providing a weekly focus for talking to stallholders and for purchase of food and crafts direct from the producer. In these recessional times we are grateful for their attendance and hope that TBI members will continue to visit the markets. Please pass on to your friends your positive experiences of the markets, so that more people may support them. Last week’s Out of Doors programme on BBC Radio Scotland reported on stalwarts of these markets. First, Anne Thomas (TBI Director) discussed the proposed link road through Whin Park in Inverness that developers feel is necessary to provide a through connection from the Southern Distributor Road across the River Ness. Then the photographers whose stall includes their “Coffee Table” book on The Black Isle -Eilean Dubh, spoke feelingly about the scenery, wildlife and attractions of our area.

Next month we should have feedback from the Climate Challenge Fund about our Transport project that was described at our Members’ Evening in November. Last week The Energy Savings Trust organized a meeting in Inverness for Community Groups to see how their objectives in carbon reduction could be met with participation from groups like TBI. This meeting was attended by three TBI Directors (Martin, Wendy, Julian) and provided useful networking with The Climate Challenge Fund and with groups from Lochaber, Sleat and Applecross who had secured large amounts of funding through community-led initiatives. I hope the meeting will have positive outcomes for TBI.

My own conversion to the needs for a sustainable lifestyle came through my scientific work on ice cores and the glaciology of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, while working for the British Antarctic Survey. I am giving an illustrated talk for Resolis Community Arts at the Resolis Memorial Hall on Friday 17 February at 7.30pm entitled Going South – the Antarctic Experience. The evening will be an audiovisual extravaganza, but the reasons why the world should not ignore the science and why we need to plan a sustainable future will be the take-home message. Tickets are £5 on the door.

I look forward to seeing you in the near future. Do come to A Question of Vegetables our “Gardeners Question Time” on Monday 30 January at the North Kessock Mission Hall.

Julian Paren
Deputy Convener, Transition Black Isle
 

This feed was drawn from the Transition Black Isle website

 Transition Black Isle has reported a hugely successful year in 2011.  It has now become a Company Limited by Guarantee and a registered charity and new members are still joining - proving that the group is becoming a long-term part of the local scene rather than a flash in the pan!

There are currently 112 members of whom 54 have transferred to the new company. Membership renewals are due at the end of March, so now is the time to bring your membership up to date if you haven't done so yet!
 

This feed was drawn from the Transition Black Isle website