Rob Hopkins: Transition Cookery

2008 the Transition Handbook was published, because when transition began, people came to Totnes and asked how to do it - so TN came up with The twelve steps. 

Now that things are developing and moving forward, the twelve steps are being updated. 

The Twelve steps for those new to the process are: 

• form a steering group and plan its demise
• awareness raising
• lay the foundations
• form working groups
• Great Unleashing
• develop visible practical manifestations of your projects
• facilitate the great reskilling
• create a bridge to local authority
• honour the elders
• let it go where it wants to go...
• EDAP - energy descent plan

What are the benefits? The order is not stuck, but there is a methodology to work from. 

What are the limitations? Some groups haven't followed the order on purpose. Rob commented that early groups fin them useful to have something to work form, but get a bit stuck on the order. Also, what happens when you've done your EDAP? DO you pack up and go home?

Rob's solution is pattern language - which has stages, but is wider and more full. The language should be more alive, and more relective of what's going on. A good way to tell people about this is to use cookery analogies - these are ingredients that can be mixed to create delicious transition communities. Although you need to follow the steps to make a successful cake, you can use creativity and flair in your choice of flavour. 

Problems and solutions

There are currently 64 patterns, each of which aims to address a particular issue that groups come up against. People are invited to put their input into each of these patterns - to make this truley powerful, the patterns need our stories, our case studies, and our voices.