Hello Transitioners,

Season's Greetings from TTR! This month we are bringing you some festive Transition cheer with our Christmas party! This year it's held with Reading Friends of the Earth and Berkshire Greenpeace invited and replaces our usual monthly meeting. As the mercury drops, we are focusing on Draughtbusters this month - if you or someone you know has a draughty house then read on below to find out how we can help! Also, we are starting a bit of research into Local Economy schemes - if you're interested let us know! Repair Cafe are having a break this month, they are back next month on Sunday 15 January at rLab.

Elsewhere around Reading, there's Reading Green drinks for social fun times, Econet Christmas tree sale for ethical, local trees and sign up now for permaculture course starting next month at RISC.

Here's a summary of what's on:

In Transition:
TTR Christmas Party - Monday 12th December
Draughtbusters - we can fix your draughts and help reduce your energy bills
*New opportunity to get involved* - Reading Local Economy schemes
Repair Cafe - Sunday 15 January 2017

Around Reading:
Reading Green Drinks - Tuesday 6th December
Econet Christmas Tree sale - Saturday 10th December
Permaculture Design Course - Saturday/Sunday 21/22 January 2017
 

Transition Town Reading Christmas Party: Monday 12 December, 7:30pm at RISC Room 1.

The Transition Town Reading Christmas Party will be taking place on Monday 12 December in Room 1 at RISC, London Street from 7.30 - 9.30pm. Come help us celebrate another successful year in Transition! We'll be joined by Reading Friends of the Earth and Berkshire Greenpeace, and please bring along food to share. 

Draughtbusters - we can fix your draughts and help reduce your energy bills!

DraughtBusters has helped over 200 households in Reading to save energy through draught proofing and by giving advice on how to manage heating systems. The vast majority of this work has been carried out in the homes of the increasing number of people living in fuel poverty in our town.  On average our clients save £120 p/a and all of them are now warmer in their homes. For more details see the DraughtBusters website: http://readinguk.org/draughtbusters/  The service is offered free of charge - donations for materials are welcome.

We are looking for more homes in the Greater Reading area to draught proof - if you or someone you know is interested then get in touch by contacting DraughtBusters directly via their contact form.

DraughtBusters will also be running workshops next year at Reading Repair Cafe on Sunday 15th January and Sunday 19th February. People will be able to get advice on energy efficiency at the event, with practical hints and tips on draughtproofing and insulating their homes. More details to follow in January.

Reading Local Economy schemes as part of Reading Climate Change Strategy

As part of the Reading Climate Change Strategy, Transition Town Reading was earmarked to:

- Conduct research into local outlets that would consider trading in a Reading pound to strengthen the local economy

- Support local economy to explore methods used in UK towns and cities to increase local identity and build number of local businesses

Alex is going to start looking into potential local economy schemes and potential businesses in Reading. We would like to get together a team of interested people to work with on this. If you'd like to be involved then contact Alex at treasurer@transitionreading.org.uk

Repair Cafe at rLab (Unit C1, Weldale Street, RG1 7BX) : Sunday 15 January, 12-4.30pm

Repair Cafe is having a well earned break in December. In January they'll be back at rLab (Unit C1 Weldale Street, RG1 7BX), and there'll be a workshop on draught proofing and reducing condensation in the home (see DraughtBusters above).

Bring along your broken items to be re-cycled, refreshed and refurbished! Throw it away? NO WAY! Bring it to Repair Cafe! Also if you have your own creative project (e.g. sewing, knitting, Raspberry Pi) you're welcome to bring them along to work on!

Repairs include:

Electronics
IT
Mechanical items
Toys
Sewing, clothing and fabrics
Tool sharpening
In fact, if it’s broken, bring it along and our team of ready repairers will give it a go!

Home made cake, tea and coffee all in plentiful supply.

Everything is free but donations are very welcome to help keep repair cafe (and homemade cake!) going.

If you'd like more information contact us at repaircafe@transitionreading.org.uk and see our website for details of future events www.readingrepaircafe.org.uk
 

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Reading Green Drinks, Tuesday 6 December, 6:30pm at Global Cafe, RISC 

If you work in the green or ethical sector or just have a passion for those issues, GreenDrinks is for you.

Come along to the Global Café from 6.30 to 8.30pm to meet like-minded people for a chat over a drink or two.

There’s no need to book - just turn up on the evening. But if you’d like to sign up for monthly meeting reminders, email the local co-ordinator, Kathryn McCann, at kathryn@katcreative.co.uk. For more details see http://www.greendrinks.org/berkshire/reading
 

Econet Christmas Tree Sale, Saturday 10th December, 9.30am-1.30pm at Caversham Court (RG4 7AD)

Scots pine Chistmas trees harvested as part of the management of local heathland for sale, as well as holly, mistletoe, cones, willow Christmas wreaths and natural decorations.

The event also includes BBOWT, RSPB and Fairtrade stalls with cards and gifts, and local honey and beeswax products from Reading & District Beekeepers

Permaculture Design Course, starting Saturday/Sunday 21/22 January 2017 as RISC

Permaculture Design Course (PDC) to be run at the Reading International Solidarity Centre (RISC), over 6 alternate weekends beginning on Saturday/Sunday January 21st/22nd (2017). There are also optional extra field-trips available, visiting projects in mid-Wales.
http://www.permaculturedesigncourse.co.uk/?event=6-part-pdc-risc-reading

Permaculture is a positive, powerful and solutions-based approach to design, offering perhaps our most powerful tool to accelerate our collective evolution to a sustainable existence. Directly modelled on nature, permaculture takes you beyond sustainability to abundance.

Focus is also given to how we can apply permaculture principles to designing within the urban environment that most of us live in, e.g. living in a large town such as Reading.