East Kent Transition Gathering in Deal today

Some of transitioners at the Landmark Community Garden

We had a successful Transition gathering today here in Deal. We had over 30 people from Faversham, Whitstable, Dover, Canterbury, Folkstone, Sevenoaks and good showing from Deal.

The theme for the afternoon was community food growing and specifically how you get the community enagaged. Much of the afternoon was a mix of tea, cakes and informal sharing  on how to make our projects more sucessful.

We used some permaculture principles to look at the issue of engaging our communities. Some very useful side discussion on role/impact of finance; inspiration from New Zealand and some very inciteful perspectives from all of the growing projects in the region; local geography of where the projects were and how public a space; The impacts of the recession and world without economic growth on individuals, households and our community and how more direct access to skills and food can reduce those impacts.

Many thanks to Jo Barker for faciliating us, Sue and Kath from Deal Fairtrade for the fairtrade produce, Mike at Deal Town Hall for arrangements and DWI welcome team of Vicki, Charles and Rose and all those who donated cakes.