Transition Chesterfield

Paul Clarke, Director of Incredible Edible, will be giving a talk in Chesterfield on 14 May, detailing how the experience of Todmorden can be replicated in other towns. Over the last three years, the Yorkshire community of 15,000 people has enthusiastically embraced the idea of food security and self sufficiency, and transformed itself both physically and behaviourally to dramatically increase the amount of food grown within the town.

The idea started with two women secretly planting rhubarb in a decorative planter near the bus stop in 2008, and has grown to incorporate plantings on school grounds, cemeteries, and motorway verges; conversion of flower beds in front of public buildings to vegetable plots; an ‘egg map’ of local chicken-keepers; over 500 fruit trees planted around town; educational projects centred around growing, cooking, and food history; and a plan for a full-scale fish farm at the secondary school. 

The UK as a whole has become more dependent on food grown overseas in recent years, particularly fresh fruit and vegetables. At the same time, wherever food is grown, it is increasingly oil-intensive, from mechanised planting and harvesting to oil-based fertilisers.

Recent increases in the price of oil have put the spotlight on the concept of ‘Peak Oil’, the idea that at some point, the rising demand for oil will meet the decreasing supply, as oil reserves are depleted. The increasing amount of agricultural land turned over to production of biofuels will put additional pressure on food prices.

Local campaigners around the world, from Chile to South Korea, are looking to Incredible Edible as a model for increasing community resilience in the face of fuel scarcity and rising prices.

Transition Chesterfield is hosting Mr Clarke’s talk, and will follow it with a brief summary of their achievements and plans in encouraging local food production.

The talk is free of charge, and will be held in the Market Hall Assembly Room, S40 1AR, at 2.00 pm. After a tea break, the Transition Chesterfield AGM  (described below) will be held in the same venue.