Local author and food activist Colin Tudge at Carbon Cutters on Feb 15th!!

On Weds Feb 15th we are lucky to have Colin Tudge to talk to us about How to Feed Everyone Everywhere. He is the inspiration behind the recent Oxford Real Farming Conference and the author of a new book "Feeding People is Easy". He is part of a revolution in the way food is produced!
You can hear him and the people from Cultivate and catch the excitement of the new food movement on this week's Food Programme here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b019rd9c
Cultivate launched in Oxford last Monday. You can join the revolution with a minimum investment of £100 - if enough people in Abingdon join, the veg van will come every week to somewhere near you and bring local fresh veg, and as a member you will get a 10% discount for life!  See  http://www.cultivateoxford.org/
Hope to see you on Feb 15th at 7.30pm at St Ethelwold's House! ... Read this ...

January 17 Meeting: Claire Morris at the Durban Climate Talks

This month we are very excited to join forces with Abingdon Peace Group to hear Claire Morris, recently returned from travelling overland from Nairobi to Durban for the UN Climate Conference, tell us about her first-hand experience of the effects of climate change in Africa, and the Youth for Eco-Justice training she received in Durban. Read Claire's blog from Africa here A one-off chance!
Note this month's meeting will be on TUESDAY 17th January, not Wednesday as usual, and will be in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS, not at St Ethelwold's House.

... Read this ...

Cultivate Oxford - a new way to feed Oxfordshire

At last, what we have been waiting for! A way to connect food producers in the area with the local population. Follow the link below to find out more, and please fill in a survey here to show your support: http://www.cultivateoxford.org/survey

cultivate

www.cultivateoxford.org

Cultivate is about new ways of feeding Oxford. We are a not-for-profit social enterprise that will bring fresh, local, organically-grown food direct from farmers to the city and surrounding communities. Our five-acre market garden and other small farms nearby will provide the produce sold in our mobile greengrocery, the Cultivate VegVan, which will set up wherever communities want it.

... Read this ...

How to Meet Future Energy Needs Locally

Our next meeting is on Weds 16th November at 7.30pm when we will be thinking about how Abingdon can meet its energy needs in the future. Of course a large part of the equation is reducing the amount of energy we need, for instance by draught-proofing and "cocooning" our houses so we don't waste energy heating the great outdoors.. we will be launching our campaign to take infra-red photos or thermal images of the outside of some Abingdon houses to see where the heat is escaping. Would you like us to photo your house? Email us on carbon.cutters@googlemail.com if you would.

We will also be hearing the latest about the Abingdon hydro scheme (click on the picture above left for more details). And of course eating home-made cake and meeting like-minded people over a cup of tea or coffee. Do join us. ... Read this ...

LOCAL EXCELLENCE MARKET THIS SAT 29th! 9.30 - 2.00

Do come and look for the ACC stall at the Local Excellence market this Sat. It will feature the latest info about Abingdon Hydro, and a display about the Thermal Imaging Camera owned by the VoWHDC and on-loan to community groups in Abingdon until Christmas, so that we can all see where our houses are losing heat. We will also have our usual foodie treats, and a demonstration of an amazing device which peels, cores and slices your apples at the turn of a handle! What could be better! ... Read this ...

Apple Day in South Abingdon Children's Centre

 Bridget of GYO veg and John of the Drayton Road allotment association seemed to be having fun...

 ..as did Nicola Blackwood who helped plant the first apple tree for the community orchard we hope will take root in the Caldecott School field...

 ..while local author and apple expert Ruth Ward diagnosed all the apple varieties brought to her and was not stymied once. You can watch the video of the local news on 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-15327064 ... Read this ...

Apple Week in the Community Shop and Apple Day next Saturday October 15th!!

The Community Shop in Bury Street (where SpecSavers was) is a hive of activity this week with the apple press busy every day and the Abingdon Hydro model whirring.

Come and donate your windfalls, or stay and watch them being pressed into juice and take some home!

Next Saturday 15th October between 11 and 3 we will be in South Abingdon Children's Centre (next to Caldecott School!) for our first Apple Day. Come and join in the fun!

You will be able to:

·      Sample fresh apple juice

·      Try, and buy local produce

·      Enjoy a home-made soup, roll and apple crumble lunch

·      Explore a fire engine

·      Try veg printing, apple bobbing, etc.

·      Meet the MP and Mayor

... Read this ...