SCOTT considers the power of transition after he joined the community of dragons in Totnes to support the growth of five new local businesses.
I came to Reconnect with some background knowledge. I have experience of wellbeing and mindfulness, I know a bit about permaculture and agro-forestry, eco homes, and I am a big supporter of environmental issues. Having trained in catering I know about local produce and healthy eating. But, what I didn’t know much about was transition and sustainability. Transition Town initiatives began in 2006, and we all know Totnes is world renown, having been there from the start. But this was off my radar with my time being dedicated to festivals. Fundamental to transition is local resilience and regenerative development, where local people take ownership of projects and build new networks through their social economy. Transition Town Totnes and the Reconomy Centre are at the centre of creating a strong local economy, and an incubator of sustainable, resilient, and inclusive businesses. It’s a model that’s been replicated around the world, offering a way out for small rural towns who are being left behind by globalisation. Each year there is a chance to be part of a transition community in action at the annual Community of Dragons event in Totnes. This the seventh year of the event sees the community of Totnes and district helping young local resilient businesses grow. Unlike the Dragons Den TV show there weren’t just a handful of investors offering money for a stake in their company. Instead everyone in the room was able to offer financial and non-financial investment. The event is timed to take place during Global Divestment Week and offers real opportunities for investors to use their money closer to home and put it to work creating a vibrant and healthy Devon economy. There were a few familiar faces there. The evening of cultural shift was hosted by Katie Tokus from Sharpham Trust, and Transition’s Jay Tompt and Hal Gillmore, and began with stories of success from previous enterprises. These included many of those who feature in Reconnect articles including CSA Farm (see page 20), The Kitchen Table, Wild & Curious, Grown in Totnes, New Lion Brewery (see page 18), and Transition Homes (see page 21). Those in the audience included previous pitchers who were also able to offer guidance to those hoping to take their businesses to the next level. The five minute pitches were made by Bob Mehew from the Apricot Centre at Huxhams Cross Biodynamic Farm (see page 6), Emily Reed from Black Bee Combe, Richenda Macgregor from Studio 45, Al Tompiste of Woodland Presents, and Jay Jacoby from Yew Media. We heard about a forest ‘nest’ – a mobile structure and performance space which Woodland Presents hope to see providing forest events and reinvigorate woodland culture. Heard about resilient native ‘black bees’, and a bespoke personal legacy film company that could provide personal stories as a digital heirloom. Learned that Bovey Tracey is home to the largest clay producer in Europe and plans to start a ceramic and pottery open plan learning college to train a new generation of potters. I also found out what a ‘biodynamic Stirrer’ is, handled population wheat and yin-yang beans and heard plans to create a pool of loanable farm machinery. All delivered a fascinating insight into their businesses and their wants from their local community. The audience offered the local entrepreneurs their time, their skills, and their assets. It was during the offers of entrepreneurial support that this community of transition really shined. It was inspiring to see all the community offer their support to these new businesses. There was offers of help, food, parties, kegs of beer, technical know how, sponsorship, pledges of funds, of freezers, offers of experience and services, to build websites, to mentor, to child mind, to provide wood, to build, to paint, and even offers of accommodation. Pledges to loan machinery, to help with training, to volunteer, and I got carried away too, offering each business an article in a future issue of Reconnect. John Elford of the Totnes Pound revealed the recipient of the annual Totnes Pound award of £100 to the enterprise project that best embodies the spirit of Totnes innovation to Huxham Cross, and also gave a £21 note to all the other pitchers. It was truly fantastic to see the citizens of a community displaying such neighbourliness to new business schemes. The Community of Dragons showed me that when local people come together a vibrant, healthy economy can grow, providing opportunities for young people and new life for our High Streets. I look forward to finding out more about ‘Reconomy’ projects in future, and I’ll ensure they’re highlighted inside these pages, it’s what Reconnect is all about.