These courses introduce the basics of Permaculture and show how this approach can be applied. These courses are run regularly.

16-17 January 2010

For full details & online reservation please visit: http://www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk

Brighton Permaculture Trust is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

A two-day course. 9.30am -5pm both days

Course(s) with places available:
Saturday – Sunday 17-18 Oct 2009
Thursday – Friday 12-13 Nov 2009

This course will introduce the basics of permaculture and show how this approach can be applied.

Venue

Stanmer Park (near University of Sussex), Brighton and other venues in and around Brighton.

This month the G8 Summit agreed the first steps towards a
significant global strategy on climate change by agreeing that global warming
temperatures should not exceed 2C of 1900 levels and that member nations will
work towards an 80% reduction of green house gas emissions by 2050. The USA has
taken a major step-change in its attitude towards the climate and President
Obama who chaired the discussion stressed that the issue of climate change could
no longer be ignored and that we should look towards December and Copenhagen.

This is positive news for the environment and energy
industry. It shows a real commitment at last, by the world’s most powerful
nations to act to arrest global warming and this commitment can only add to the
industry’s growth. But how are we going to supply the world with renewable
energy?

When Dr. Czisch first published his ideas outlining a
European “Supergrid” a few years ago, in which he explored a concept to supply
the continent’s electricity demands by using only the renewable energy
technologies that are now available, the world didn’t take much notice. However
now, European policy-makers, as well as the global business community, are
gradually taking note of the significance of his ideas.

Mark Vidler, Energy Group Manager at Allen & York
Environmental Recruitment took the opportunity to speak to Dr Czisch on a recent
visit to the UK:

Mark Vidler –
What is the Supergrid and why is it important to us?
Gregor Czisch – We are faced with the
fact that Renewables are not steadily producing; there are fluctuations
depending on where you are in the world, what the climate is, whether it is
summer or winter for example. In the longer term we need steady, smooth
production of energy which can be employed to cover the demand at any time. In
order to achieve this to best effect it is important to expand the range of
energy sources, to have a strong mix of climate zones and to expand the km2 of
land for wind and solar energy. In summary the creation of a Supergrid, a place
where ‘the world’ could feed its renewable energy into, would solve the problems
of source intermittency and smooth out the production to a consistently high
level.

MV – Who will
be the main beneficiaries?
GC –
The main beneficiary is the climate, because the Electricity
sector is currently emitting about 50% of the world’s carbon emissions from
fossil fuels. The Supergrid – preferably a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)
Transmission System – will only be fed by renewable energy sources and would
therefore ‘clean’ the environment significantly.

Consumers would also benefit, firstly because it would be
cheaper and because they are getting fully renewable electricity.

Lastly the economies of some countries would benefit. If we
think about establishing wind and solar farms in Africa for example, then there
could be investment made in these countries and so they could profit from an
extra growth in their economy and significantly reduce their unemployment by
exporting parts of their energy to European countries.

International corporate business would also benefit as they
have the potential to invest in global energy production and fight climate
change which could ultimately be very costly for them.

MV – What in
your view is preventing this from happening?
GC – There are many players, firstly
the decision makers – The first applications for the concept of the renewable
Supergrid – as it resulted as being the best solution from my research – were
made in late 2001 and it has been very difficult get the facts in front of the
politicians to create awareness and crucially to give them the correct
information on the huge potential of this shared international and
intercontinental grid.

The utility companies, who have their own grids and own
production, often resist strong links to other countries and competitors.
Consequently they will not lead on this at least not as a fast approach, however
I believe that if the politicians lead the corporate organisations would have to
follow and ultimately might also benefit.

Ideologists and de-centralists are also looking at this from
a ‘small is beautiful’ perspective and nothing else. They fight the large scale
renewables, which are sometimes far away from the consumer, believing the home
grown production is better.

MV – How
financially viable is this?
GC –
There is a simple answer. If the international system is properly designed the costs
of renewable electricity are not higher than the today’s costs of electricity.
Therefore it basically is absolutely viable.

A key to this is provision of capital outlay provided by
financial backers such as governments and corporate business. An internationally
agreed feed-in tariff (e.g. the amount of money a renewable energy producer is
paid for the energy they supply to the grid) that guarantees that the costs of production and
transmission are covered would be extremely helpful to attract investment. If
you have good tools for investment based on loans renewable electricity will be
cheaper than supply from oil, gas and coal with their fluctuating prices.

MV – Do we
have the right skills?
GC –
All the necessary technology is there, some parts have to be
adapted to the highest HVDC voltage available today e.g. the circuit breaker
necessary for a meshed HVDC system. Another engineering project will be
developing the cables for this voltage to connect under the sea between
countries. However, no crucial part of the technology is missing and there is no
question that we have the right skills for the job.

Summary 
GC –
Really it is all about co-operation between energy supplies and
political backing groups and countries. Increasing awareness and knowledge are
crucial and I am confident we are moving in the right direction. If I could make
one change now it would be the introduction of an international feed-in tariff,
which I believe would make a huge difference.

Appearing
this month on the shelves in WH Smith and Borders nationwide, new eco-living
directory BOOK OF GREEN is the most comprehensive guide for everybody to
genuinely and easily green their lifestyles.

With
the general public currently becoming more receptive to living a more
eco-friendly life, this completely free guide points the consumer in the right
direction – it includes hundreds of approved ethical providers in a wide range
of sectors including business services, health and beauty, home and garden,
green energy, travel, parenting and food & drink.  All the companies
in the directory are in some way mostly or completely environmentally friendly,
sustainable, fair trade, organic,  ethical and socially responsible.

Book
of Green is intended to show everybody how to easily reduce their carbon
footprint, live a healthy lifestyle and make  a personal positive 
impact on the environment by integrating truly ethical products and services
into their daily home and family lives.

With
an initial print run of 30,000, the guide comes in a handy A5 format and is
printed in vegetable inks on 100% recycled paper.  An online flip magazine
version is also available at www.bookofgreen.com 
 Book of Green will be available in WH Smiths this July, attached to the
front of Permaculture Magazine as well as distributed across the UK in high
street eco stores, online eco stores, and at events during the summer as well
as at the Eden Project and the Kent Eco Village, the Kent Show by The
Ecologist, July 17-19.

Book
of Green is co-founded by Sue Jueno (founder of Allthingseco) and Katie Keegan
(founder of One Green Earth),
 whose combined experience of 6 years in the eco/ethical business arena
has given them the experience, knowledge and contacts to create a guide for
green living which everybody can trust.

“Being
green is more than reducing the threat of climate change, it’s also about
ethical trading and personal health.  The companies found within Book of
Green provide solutions across all sectors through their products &
services to help build a positive foundation for your family’s future
generations,”  says Katie Keegan.

“With
credit crunch in mind and a passion for promoting green shoot businesses we
have made Book of Green extremely affordable to advertisers and free to the
public to show off exceptional companies that are solving environmental
problems and that will be leading us into the future,” says Sue Jueno.

London. 31 May 2009. Ryan Frank’s ‘Isabella’ stool will be exhibiting at Pulse 2009 Earls Court.
The totem pole style stacking stool now includes a new ‘multi-coloured’ felt and a new ‘brother’ stool to add to the family.
The Isabella stool is made entirely from straw and wool. Drawing
inspiration from traditional hand carved African seating, but wanting
to avoid the use of exotic hard woods, the stools are made from a solid
section of ‘Strawboard’.
Strawboard is a sustainable formaldehyde-free material made from
compressed straw an agricultural by-product. The straw profile is then
wrapped in wool felt, making a more comfortable, tactile product, and
also allowing for a broad range of colours. 
‘Spruce’ a ‘felt-free’ version of the stool spices up the re-launch of this now in-demand stool.

‘Spruce’ offers a more budget, rugged option.
Keeping the same iconic shape, but constructed from  a solid section of
FSC certified Spruce ply wood, ideal for heavy-duty usage.
Isabella recently won ‘Most sustainable product’ 2008/09 at the Hidden
Arts annual award, received an Honorable Mention at the annual Green
Dot Award 2008, and has been selected by the National Design Museum of
New York for inclusion in the next Design Triennial exhibition.

The stools can be stacked on top of each other
when not in use, allowing for efficient use of space, as well as
creating a striking totem pole structure.
The Isabella range is in production with acclaimed design consultancy
‘Pli design’ and is currently being distributed in the UK and Europe.
The ‘Zilka’ clothes hanger range made from reclaimed British
newspapers, will also be on display and available in a range of earthy
colours.

Read on to see more pictures!

 

Brighton
Permaculture Trust runs a variety of courses from hands-on gardening
to a diploma in permaculture design. We also hold special events such
as Green Architecture Day.

Read on to find out about our up and coming events in 2009.

GREEN
ROOFS - A two-day course

13-14
June 2009 (New
date)

Learn
about green roofs and how to build them. Includes hands-on experience
and site visits.

FOREST
GARDENING -
A two-day course

4-5 July
2009 (New date) 

How
to grow fruit, nuts, salads and perennial vegetables as a low
maintenance, highly productive garden ecosystem. Includes a site
visit.

NOW
TAKING BOOKINGS

SCYTHING -
A two-day course

19-20
September 2009 (New date)

Learn
how to mow lawns, meadows and even scrub land and also how to make
hay.

NOW
TAKING BOOKINGS

The date for this year is Sunday 5 October from 10am – 5pm. in the Market Hall, Abergavenny. We have backing from Fairtrade Wales as well as local businesses and Abergavenny Council. There will be plenty of local and regional press coverage as well as BBC Wales.

Last year saw a huge attendance and we will increase this year. Stalls last year included – Love Zimbabwe, Goodies from the Gambia, Bag- Age, Bryn – y – Cwm project, Smouldering Sage,Biltong 2 U,Tropical Forest, Fairtrade Abergavenny & Crickhowell, Tools for self reliance, VSO, etc.

We also had fantastic catering from Scrumptious catering and Taste Zimbabwe. We will be having the Fairtrade fashion show again and the drumming workshop from Dave Roberts. Also, hopefully the amazing Chrys Blanchard and Abercapella. We have a school group performing African Dance and hope to be bringing over from Zimbabwe Sam Mtukudzi son of Oliver (Tuku) the most well known Zimbabwean artiste.

There will be a childrens area this year with face painting and a bouncy castle. Music and entertainment will be going on all day and there will be lots more to announce as we get nearer to the date. I realise that it is still relatively early, but it would help us enourmously if those who are interested in taking a stall this year could let me know as soon as possible. Looking forward to seeing you all in October.

Kind Regards,
David and Martha Holman.

Email: fairsfairfairs@mail2world.com
Telephone: 07879400897 / 07774608215 / 01873854055