SusWoT News – 19 Feb 2013

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SusWoT News

• Open Meeting – 7:30pm on Thursday, 21st February at Northcote Scout Hut, Great Brockeridge. We are inviting you to bring along ideas and/or products that you make or do for yourselves at home instead of buying in shops. Cake bakers are especially welcome! Are you a great grower or preserver? Are you crafty (foxes need not apply!). Do you have some special thrifty tips?
• SusWoT social – this Friday, 22nd February, is the monthly social at the Victoria in Chock Lane. Do come along for a drink and a chat.
• Local Produce Market – this Saturday, 9am-1pm, 23rd February, GP surgery car park. Come along and stock up on a great selection of fresh, locally produced meat, fish, cheese, bread and more.
• Would you like a fruit tree in your garden? Very small native trees at 50p a go for front gardens that can be available at the March Produce Market if we have more than 30 orders. Larger fruit trees – Pear or Apple – that we can take orders for through the summer to be collected at the October Market. £20 a go 2-3 years old in pots, instructions on planting etc. Let us know at suswot2050@gmail.com.
• Here’s a handy guide to the 10 easiest-to-grow vegetables for those who aren’t so confident in their growing skills.

News From Other Local Groups

• Bristol Friends of the Earth AGM February 25th with Clir Gus Hoyt (Green) on Food, Energy and his role in the mayor’s cabinet – YHA Harbourside, BS1 4QA (near Arnolfini). Brief formalities at 7pm, followed by talk at 7:30 – all supporters welcome, at 7pm or feel free to join us just for the talk and ‘next steps’ breakouts if you prefer.
• See http://www.bristolfoodnetwork.org/ for all the latest news from Bristol Local Food Network including details of the Get Growing Trail on 8-9 June, a “live supermarket-free” challenge and details of the Big Dig, an multi-city initiative to encourage urban community food growing – come along to one of these sites on March 16th to help get ready for the coming growing season and find out more.
• ‘Vegucate Bristol’ – a local community in Bristol that promotes the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle. They have an upcoming 6-week film series. The screenings take place every Tuesday evening from April 2nd to May 7th (6:30 – 10pm) at the Polish Club in Bristol. See poster for more details. Also, Happy Mondays will headline VegfestUK Bristol on Saturday May 25th 2013 – further info available on http://bristol.vegfest.co.uk.

Issues and Campaigns

• Find out more about Enough Food for Everyone If … campaign – http://enoughfoodif.org/.
• It’s a pretty common sentiment that single-use plastic bags aren’t much more than a nuisance that pollute the environment. That’s why most countries in the U.K. have added a small surcharge on carriers to help phase them out — except England. There is a petition to sign to send to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to add a compulsory charge for plastic bags.
• Fairtrade Fortnight 25th Feb-10th March. Support for Fairtrade is increasingly relevant as the need for sustainable farming, paying suppliers fairly, and transparency in our food systems become ever more pressing. Please see www.bristolfairtrade.org.uk for details of the fortnight.
• 4-10 March is Climate Week – more details here.