Dartington’s international environment college Schumacher is currently working with the UK’s first transition initiative Transition Town Totnes to bring innovative ideas around the very real issues of climate change and life after peak oil into the hands of the community.

Schumacher College attracts experts in sustainability and social justice from around the world – who come to hold workshops and courses on the latest sustainability issues.

Director of Schumacher College Karen Blincoe said, “Schumacher College and Transition Town Totnes have a unique relationship where the latest sustainability theories can be taken directly from the classroom and applied to environmental projects in the local community.”

To celebrate this relationship Transition Town Totnes and Schumacher will be jointly running an Open Evening on 7 May, where local and international experts will be represented.

Cathrine Sneed (founder of The Garden Project in San Francisco, USA which offers structure and support to former offenders) will be talking about the experiences and benefits of disadvantaged individuals working together on the land.

She will be joined by Christian Taylor from South Devon Community Farming who will talk about why and how Totnes can and is responding to climate change and fuel depletion through local food growing projects.

Noni Mackenzie, of Transition Town Totnes, who will also be attending the meeting said, “Local food growing helps to build community cohesion, as well as being an essential productive agricultural response to the threat of climate change. We are looking forward to hearing Cathrine’s inspiring experience and hope that this will stimulate local interest in Community Supported Agriculture Schemes.”

Press are invited to attend the Open Evening on 7 May at 8pm at St John’s Church, Bridgetown where they can meet Cathrine Sneed and Christian Taylor as well as representatives from Schumacher College and Transition Town Totnes to discuss the projects both are currently running and the impact they have on the Totnes community and international community.