Many thanks to all those who turned up at the Maltings last night.
We watched two films about peak oil. The first explained how we can expect energy prices to continue to rise, with severe negative effects on our economy and way of life. It talked about the urgent need to build a new, locally-focused economy and relationships. The second film painted a positive vision of how this could be achieved. It showed that although energy costs may rise, it is possible to build a happy, fulfilling life that uses less energy.
What the future holds for Farnham will depend on us.
We now have a core group of more than a dozen people who have committed to be involved in making that positive future happen. And that group has already grown today by two three new people who have got in touch.
In the words of Ben Brangwyn, transition founder who is quoted in Rob Hopkins’ blog today, “We don’t know if this will work. But if we leave it to the government it will be too little, too late. If we do it on a personal level, it won’t be enough. But if we do this as a community, it may be just enough, just in time.”
Yesterday Farnham took the first step.
Garden Cider Company
Farnham Local Food
Farnham Community Orchards (pic)
The story of Electronics
Sign up for our newsletter
In Transition
Greenways Project
transitionfarnham.wordpress.com 
Seed exchanges are one of the things that other Transition groups around the world have set up, and are a very important aspect (I think) for the resilience of any group of people: the ability to have seeds to plant next year, and the ability to share those seeds efficiently and effectively.
So, Transition Farnham will undoubtedly want to do this, and probably start soon.
We also need to make sure we liaise with the Farnham Local Food Initiative (see link in side-bar) and any other local groups who can support/impact this. It may make sense for just one group to do this locally, or it may make sense not to put “all our eggs in one basket.” Either way, we need to have the conversations, build the relationships, and make sure that Farnham as a whole is as resilient as possible.
I think that central to small scale horticulture is a seed exchange system? Growing on balconies/square foot gardening etc. requires very few plants but a good variety of crops. Seeds have a comparitively short ‘shelf life’ and there are often so many in one packet. I would be happy to consider volunteering to set up a seed exchange library and including not only veg and herbs but edible flowers and varieties for companion planting.
Hi Gayle
It was good to meet you on thursday. I was interested to read about your friend who taught animal husbandry and agriculture in Zimbabwe. I volunteered at a women’s craft co-operative in Soweto in the the early 80’s. One of the last few people to get a ‘Soweto pass’ before they were withdrawn due to the increasing restrictions in apartheid South Africa. I am now involved with Garden Africa – a wonderful organisation that works from the ‘bottom up’ to reintroduce traditional horticultural skills that have often been lost due to intensive and GM farming by foreign landowners. Local people often have to import crops for their own food as what they grow (and most GM crops are infertile) is allocated for overseas consumption.
Several projects in London use disused (and non-returnable) builders bags for growing containers. They can be placed on concrete areas and some community projects allocate one per family, the ‘owners’ then free to cultivate vegetables, flowers, herbs ……..whatever they wish. It is also worth finding out more about ‘square foot’ vegetable plots.
It’s all about empowering people to make the changes. We have to believe we can make a difference, and convince others that they can.
Today, in chatting with a friend, I mentioned last night’s meeting. Turns out she taught agriculture & animal husbandry in Zimbabwe before moving here and would be happy to help teach people how to grow their own food crops. She lives in a flat in Aldershot with too little light in the window sills to grow food in pots even, but upon my suggestion is going to approach the landlord to supply planters to grow vegetables for the residents on the large concrete space outside the shops at ground level.
Individuals can make it happen. Together we can make it happen faster, by helping each other. If you would like help contact me through the website.
Well done folks, very exciting to see you are up and running. We look forward to following your progress with great interest….
Rob and all at the Transition Network.