Reconnect 12 Apr-May 11

local people local events local food local health local environment visit our website: www.reconnectonline.co.uk

ISSUE 12 APRIL/MAY 2011

the green living magazine for Exeter, Plymouth and South Devon

FREE

kids' stuff

Different ways to work and play

please take one and pass it on

Refurnish revisited Repaired, recycled and resold

Ways to wellbeing The natural route to health

Local food

Taste, health and community

Eco homes

Traditional skills given new life

Events diary

Festivals, gigs, exhibitions,

Buzz words

Natural beekeeping up close

local people local events local food local health local environment HoLisTiC MEdiCiNE EXpERiENCEd pRACTiTioNERs WidE RANgE of TREATMENTs pRofEssioNAL TRAiNiNg

EXETER NATURAL HEALTH CENTRE Holistic healthcare in the heart of the city

Health is the fullest expression of you as an individual with the least friction with your environment. it implies adaptation, fluidity, freedom and ease and is truly a blessing.

Here at the centre, we work with you to find the most suitable ways for you to restore and sustain your health. We work from a holistic perspective and with an integrated approach.

Situated just off Queen Street right in the heart of the city we offer a wide range of complementary therapies all provided by respected and experienced practitioners. Our consulting rooms are light and airy and many of our visitors have been delighted by the tranquil ambience of the centre.

BriTisH sCHool of HoMoeoPaTHY Now interviewing for new students for the academic year beginning Sept 2011.

THE PRACTITIONERS: KATHERinE uKLEJA Craniosacral Therapy

Mo Morrish homoeopathic Medicine

AnnA PARiS Traditional Acupuncture

ilse scheuboeck Reflexology, Metamorphic Technique

JuLiAnE PECHT Angel Readings & Energy Healing

LESLEy HARPER nutritional Therapist

isobel ravden Herbal Medicine, Sports Massage & Massage Tuition

HARRiET HoLLingwoRTH Acupuncture & Chinese Healthcare, Reflexology, Sports Massage, Reiki Master

SARAH JAnE HoLT Ayurvedic Massage, Consultations, Reflexology

susan Quayle Reflexology for Pregnancy, Birth & Babies, Hot Stone Massage & Aromatherapy deirdre richards Reiki Master Practitioner, Eastern Face Massage, Therapeutic Bodywork

noRAH CATHERinE MCCuLLAgH Pure Face works, Bespoke Holistic Facials & Skin Treatments for the Body gEoFF gREEn Energy Healing & Counselling

SuE DAviES & KATHERinE BEATTiE Stress & Confidence, Coaching & nLP Therapies

THE DEvon SCHooL oF REFLExoLogy Level 3 Diplomas Spring/Autumn Courses 2011

LouiSE LEwiS Reconnective Healing & Counselling PATRiCiA AnD KARin Pregnancy yoga & Active Birth LiSA TATE Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Aromatherapy & non Surgical Face Lift Mandy coull Reiki Master, Pressure point Massage & Crystal Healing

Professional Massage Training: APNT accredited Massage Diplomas available: Swedish, Remedial, Sports Injury, Indian Head CPD Days: Myofascial Release & Protect Your Body: Extend Your Career www.schoolofbodywork.com info@schoolofbodywork.com 07711 656 011

01392 422555 Centre Manager: Ali Morrish 2

Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

Exeter Natural Health Centre, Queens Walk, 83/84 Queen Street, Exeter, EX4 3RP e: info@enhc.org w: www.enhc.org www.reconnectonline.co.uk

local people local events local food local health local environment COMMERCIAL EDITOR Pete Hardy - 01392 346342 2 Withall’s Gardens, Lympstone, EX8 5JH adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

to the April/May issue.

EDITOR Martin Foster - 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk 45 Punchards Down, Follaton, Totnes TQ9 5FD PUBLISHER Robin Currie - 01392 411630 robin@reconnectonline.co.uk PUBLISHED BY Reconnect Publishing Ltd, 15 Sylvan Rd, Exeter EX4 6EW PRINTED BY Kingfisher Print, Wills Road, Totnes TQ9 5XN. www.kingfisherprint.co.uk ADVERTISING The deadline for our June/July issue is May 6.

Call Pete or Martin and ask them about our new Easy Pay scheme that spreads the cost over 12 months - a 1/8-page ad costs just £41 a month! If you’re new to advertising (or you don’t like the ads you’ve had elsewhere), we can help you write an ad and design it for you.

And, of course, we’ll write the editorial and run it with a photograph to really get the word out there. Call us now to talk it through...

WEBSITE Visit www.reconnectonline.co.uk and you’ll find: • an online PDF version of this issue • advert sizes and prices • details of our magazine stockists • profiles of the Reconnect team To contribute, please email Martin or Pete ECO ETHOS Reconnect is written, designed, printed and distributed locally, using materials from sustainable sources. It is printed using vegetablebased inks and biodegradable fount solution.

The paper is 75 per cent post-consumer waste and 25 per cent virgin fibre (from a sustainable source), chlorine-free and FSC-accredited (www. fsc-uk.org). All by-products of the production and printing processes are recycled. Please recycle this magazine by passing it on to a friend...

COPYRIGHT © Reconnect Publishing Ltd 2009. All rights reserved.

No part of Reconnect can be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher. But do ask – if you’re genuinely spreading the word, we’ll try to help.

The publishers, editor and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services advertised or referred to in this issue, or any errors, omissions, misstatements or mistakes in any advertisements or references

AS promised last time, we have two new regulars starting in this issue.

On page 13 you’ll find Seasonal Eating, in which nutritional therapist Carol Lee talks about the local fruit and veg you can buy fresh from your local greengrocers or farmers’ market – or pick from your own garden. Also trained as a five-element acupuncturist, she then explains how the seasonal produce ties in with what our bodies need.

And finally, she gives us a recipe based on seasonal produce. This time it’s spicy cauliflower soup, which is delicious!

We think you’ll find Seasonal Eating great reading and useful too – let us know.

And I’d particularly like your feedback on our other new feature – my very own Living On Less page, which will occupy the left hand page of the last spread in each issue. Check it out on page 34 this time (another plump and healthy 36-page issue, you’ll notice).

I’ve got plans to cover all manner of theory and practice around the principles and day-to-day experiences of creating a better quality of life on a low income, but I’d love to have your input too.

I don’t believe we’ll see a real shift in society – in terms of reducing our impact on the earth, creating more caring, sharing communities and living more creative and contented lives – until we can reduce our dependence on consumerism and the need for high-income jobs to support it.

In a world of shifting resources and priorities, ‘earn less, live more’ could just be a more secure principle on which to build our lives…

TIME for a short commercial break and news of the Easy Pay scheme we’ve introduced for advertisers.

As well as the usual discount for booking a series, advertisers now also have the option to spread the cost over 12 monthly payments. It means a 1/8page ad runs out at just £41 a month - proving very popular with smaller businesses like therapists.

SOME of you might remember a magazine we published some years ago. Called Connect (see what we did there?), we described it as a ‘positive living’ magazine, and we like to think that same positive vibe lives on in Reconnect.

In the spirit of that positivity, we’ve tended not to go in for a lot of political comment over the years – it’s not easy to talk politics without introducing something of a negative tone (I mean, have you SEEN what’s going on?).

But maybe we’re introducing a sort of anti-politics with my new Living On Less page. In fact, if we

Local food pages 6 - 9

Seasonal Eating page 13

Eco Homes

pages 16 - 18

Going out diary pages 16 - 17

Wellbeing

pages 25 - 33

have any political allegiance in editorial terms, it’s probably to some form of anarchy – not the ‘we’re rioting in the streets throwing bins through the windows of McDonald’s’ kind of anarchy. No, more the ‘well, party politics has done nothing for me in 50 years so maybe we should just give up on all that and instead play a part in making things happen in the community’ kind of anarchy.

And without a ‘Big Society’ logo on it.

Ironic, perhaps, that the ‘power to the people’ we fought for as teenagers might just be coming good some 30 or 40 years later.

Tell us about your community projects and we’ll blab it all over Reconnectland.

That’s the power of ‘proper propaganda’...

Editor

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Editorial: 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

3

local people local events local food local health local environment How green is your biz’s website?

IF you’re in business, you’ll undoubtedly have, or be in the process of creating a website.

But if you’re interested in eco living, and want to distance your business from fossil fuels, have you given any thought to how green your website is?

Exeter-based web and graphic designers Carma Creative have a passion for practical green issues. Their websites are not only designed using green energy but hosted with it too. Solar and wind energy are harnessed to power their websites.

Check their website www.carmacreative. co.uk, where you can find a portfolio of beautiful bespoke and fully customised websites.

Carma Creative’s Phil Pell says they specialise in easy-to-use content management system websites which give you control over updating content and are finely tuned for search engine optimisation.

They also offer design for print services, which include marketing, logo, newsletter, publication and annual report design.

Carma Creative can advise you about sustainable design practices, eco-friendly print, print marketing wastage and how you can more effectively target through email marketing.

Call for a chat on 01392 431382

Outdoor fun for kids at Sharpham IF you’re looking for ways to keep the kids off the computer this Easter holiday, check out the exciting outdoor activities lined up by Sharpham Outdoors.

From Monday – Friday, April 11-15, they’re offering five full-on days of fun, including nature exploration, fire lighting, storytelling, star-spotting, woodland skills and more. Each activity has a different theme and costs £25 a day (plus £10 if it includes a sleepover).

If you like early starts, try Dawn Chorus, a 6-10am walk through the Sharpham estate with an expert on hand to identify birdsong and point-out the natural wonders along the way. It costs just £8 for adults, £4 children, but booking is essential.

Find out more about these and all Sharpham events at www. sharphamtrust.org, and to book call Erica on 01803 732542 or email admin@sharphamtrust.org.

Steiner schools regroup in ‘free’ campaign PARENTS and staff at Exeter Steiner School are regrouping after learning their bid for Free School status has been delayed by the government.

Currently all but one of the country’s Steiner schools are fee paying, but the government is considering bringing a number of Steiner schools into the state system under its Free Schools policy.

The school has been campaigning to win backing for its Free School bid but this week learned they had been withdrawn from the application process.

But the Exeter school is not thought to be alone. Other Steiner schools throughout the UK are believed to be in the same situation.

Jenny Salmon, the Exeter Steiner School Administrator, said the decision meant they now had time to reconsider their application and to make a better and stronger case.

Jenny said they planned to run a conference later in the year to muster support from the local community and, rather than being disappointed, they

now had more time to ensure their application would be successful.

The School is appealing for supporters to log on to their website and register their interest - www.exetersteinerschool.com.

“The more interest the school can demonstrate, the better its chances of

being able to obtain Free School status,” said Jenny.

The school’s May Fair is on May 14, 11am - 4pm, when you can expect attractions including delicious food and inspiring craft stalls.

Call 01392 427200.

Find a more fulfilling career with Jeff’s advice

Jeff Sleeman (left) with client James Russell who moved from IT support to yoga teaching

4

DO you dread the prospect of work on Monday morning? Or perhaps you are out of work, making endless applications for vacancies you don’t really want? Maybe it’s time to think more creatively about work…

Life coach Jeff Sleeman from Exeter specialises in helping people to make the transition out of unemployment or uninteresting jobs and into more fulfilling work.

His clients have included one man who made the transition from being an IT support technician into a yoga teacher, another who has gone from a routine administrative post to training as a horticulturalist and a third who switched from a nine-to-five office job to working for the Eden Project.

Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

“The key,” Jeff says,”is to find something that excites you. If you have a real passion for a particular subject - whether it’s writing, baking cakes, book keeping or climbing mountains - you can make a living out of it.

And by doing what you really love you will bring a level enthusiasm to your work that means you are almost guaranteed to succeed.”

For anyone thinking about making a career change, Jeff is organising a series of seminars and an initial public meeting which will be held in the music room of the Exeter central library on Wednesday 27 April at 7.30pm.

Admission is free. For more information, please call Jeff on 07977 272174, or email contact@jeffsleeman.com

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

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Garden of herbal learning SOUTH Devon herbalist Frances Wright has created a “vibrant and beautiful environment” in which to learn about herbal medicine.

The Althaea Herbal Healing Garden is set in a south-facing field overlooking a valley in countryside that has changed little over the centuries, with ancient woodlands and a network of green lanes, providing abundant medicinal herbs, just three miles from Totnes.

A circular herb garden has around 60 species of medicinal herbs, with mosaic paths based on the four elements, and seating alcoves.

The site also includes a consulting room, dispensary and teaching space, accommodation for students (bow-top wagon and yurt), camping space and a vegetable garden that provides food for student meals.

Lay teaching includes day courses (May 16, 23 and 30), weekends (May 20-22) and week-long

To find out more about us

www.carmacreative.co.uk

Herbal medicine experiences Cultivation and harvesting of medicinal herbs, making tinctures, infusions, ointments and more.

Off-grid permaculture site near Totnes.

Camping facilities, plus yurt, caravan, chalet, etc.

All meals provided using garden produce.

Professional qualification available.

Taught by qualified herbalists. email: greenlaneherbs.frances@virgin.net One-day courses: May 16, 23, 30, June 6 Weekend courses: May 20-22, July 22-24 Week courses: May 15-22, July 18-24

courses (May 15-22), and a part-time professional course in herbal medicine will be available soon. Home study modules will be interspersed with seminars and tutorials at the garden.

Call 0772 0440 866, email greenlaneherbs.frances@virgin.net.

Althaea Herbal Healing Garden 07720 440 866 www.greenlaneherbsco.uk

The Contemporar y College of Homeopathy B r i s t o l

Putting Health Back In Your Hands

Have a hoot at Bovey T THERE’S a whole day of Easter family fun lined up at the Edgemoor Hotel, in Bovey Tracey – and it’s all in aid of the Barn Owl Trust.

Starting at 12noon, on Easter Sunday, April 24, there are children’s games, stalls, face painting and live music.

Evening entertainment starts with the aptly named Ashburton band Owl House, followed by the legendary Noel Harrison (yes, THAT Noel Harrison), and rounding off with blues and rockabilly from another local band, Broken Biscuit.

The afternoon costs £3.50 a child (adults free) and evening tickets are £8.50.

Call 01626 832466 and visit www. barnowltrust.org.uk.

01392 431382

No messing on nappy site EVEN if you’re convinced real nappies are the way to go for your baby, you’re still left with a hugely complicated market to navigate before you can find what you want at a price you can afford.

Long-established local heroes in the campaign for real nappies are The Totnes Nappy Company, and they have just launched a new website that’s stuffed with all the information you need to make an informed decision. Check it out at www. totnesnappycompany.co.uk (see home page, above).

If, on the other hand, you’d rather talk face-toface, drop in at one of their chat-and-advice events, known as Totnes Nappuccinos, 10am-12noon on the last Thursday of the month at the Methodist Church Hall.

Or you can phone the lovely Ali on 01803 867316 or 07976 328480.

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We offer an enviable training with internationally renowned teachers and supervision in our busy teaching clinics

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or chat to Kate for more information tel: 0845 603 2878 www.conhom.com Editorial: 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

5

local people local events local food local health local environment

www.macroschool.co.uk

A NEW Real Food store in Exeter, Exmouth farmers’ market, a toast to English Wine Week at Sharpham, community projects... there’s so much on our busy Local Food pages, you’d better just start reading it now. And don’t miss our new Seasonal Eating column on page 13. If you have any tasty morsels for us, email editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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FRESH, LOCAL & SEASONAL FOOD

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Real

Café, Bakery & Store Opens March 2011 Paris Street, Exeter www.realfoodexeter.co.uk 6

RF ad.indd 1

Real Food staff (from left to right), Ian (assistant manager), Sally (general manager), Sima (cook) and Kelly (staff supervisor). Below: before opening.

People’s city food store opens for local business A GREAT day for Exeter and a milestone in the fight to champion local food - that’s Reconnect’s verdict on the opening of the city’s community-owned Real Food Store.

The shutters rose on the new shop in Paris Street on March 30, just as Reconnect was hitting the streets.

The store is funded by £150,000 worth of community shares, with over 300 investors.

Director David Mezzetti says: “It’s a mark of the terrific faith by our investors in the concept of Real Food, which we only launched to the public last June.”

The idea has taken two years to reach the opening day with the aim of promoting affordable and sustainable food, reducing transport, creating employment and encouraging environmental links, with priority given to local and seasonal produce.

The store includes an independently owned and operated bakery run by Emma Parkin.

Said Emma: “Traditional bakers are fast disappearing from our high streets and with them a lifetime’s worth of skills. But we know there are appreciative customers.”

Emma is also planning some bread making classes for the summer.

Hungry passers-by and office workers will be able to buy take-away rolls plus local pies and pasties. Those with

a bit more time to spare can enjoy a table in the sunny first floor café, which will double as a meeting area.

Education will also be a part of the store’s remit and event officer Sarah Collier is putting together a programme of talks, films, social events and outings for investors and customers alike.

Said Sarah: “We’re delighted Jane Cope, a Topsham artist, has agreed to display some of her work during the first few weeks.

“We’re also putting together information and images of our regular suppliers for shoppers.”

The Real Food Store, bakery and café is at 11-13 Paris Street, EX1 2JB and will be open Mondays to Saturdays, 8am to 6pm.

See www.realfoodexeter.co.uk.

Keeping the ‘local’ in local shop REAL Food’s faith in the word ‘local’ was firmly supported when they carried out a survey prior to opening at the end of March.

Over three quarters of the people returning questionnaires said that ‘local’ was the priority for products, well ahead of certified organic, fair trade, free range and seasonal.

Almost half the people questioned said they planned to use the store

Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk 17/1/11 22:52:36

once a week, 22% said a few times a week, 21% said several times a month.

Store manager Sally Partington says she is keen to show people that there is plenty of fresh food around, even at this time of year.

Sally and her staff are more than happy to explain how to prepare and cook vegetables that customers may not be familiar with.

local people local events local food local health local environment

Community farmers enjoy first taste of local meat THE dream that was a community farm in the Devon countryside is now a working reality.

Teams of volunteers have been rearing livestock, planting fruit trees and preparing the land, and have already seen some return for their hard work.

Six pigs arrived before Christmas and were reared for meat but didn’t quite make the festive tables. They were eventually ready for sale in January.

Their first supply of meat was sold for £5.85 per kilo and advertised through the village shop and on the farm’s own website.

Viv Derek, one of the organisers, said a further four pigs had now arrived three gilts and a boar - all Tamworth Crosses.

These will again be grown and then sent for slaughter in about three months time.

Just before Christmas the farm took possession of a flock of 18 Wiltshire Horn Sheep - 17 ewes and a ram.

Viv explained that some of the flock’s lambs will be retained to extend

numbers and others will be sold for meat.

Very soon the farm plans to add chickens to its growing family of livestock.

The horticulture group is also busy and was planning to plant out its stock of early seed potatoes as Reconnect was going to press.

An orchard planting day was held in February where 66 new fruit trees were added, including 50 apples, eight pears, six plums and two cherries.

The volunteers, who normally meet on the first and third Saturday of each month, have made a plea for tools and equipment of all types.

They have also asked for somewhere to shelter and have tea breaks, particularly at lambing time, and would like to hear from someone who could let them have a static caravan. They can arrange collection.

If you wish to help or get involved call Viv on 01404 823461. http://farm.broadclyst.org

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Ashburton’s Upmarket Market!

NOW OPEN 5 DAYS A WEEK

TUESDAY TO SATURDAY Open all day

By popular demand, our well-established, under - cover Local Produce Market is now open 5 DAYS A WEEK in Tuckers Yard, Chuley Road, Ashburton TQ13 7DG. Come along and enjoy an easy, friendly shopping experience...there’s a host of award winning locally produced meat, organic vegetables, cakes, bread, cheese, flowers, preserves, ice cream, fresh fish, Fairtrade goods, handmade baskets, jewellery, textiles, greetings cards and even more.

TEAS/COFFEES every day, LIGHT LUNCHES on Thursdays, BARBEQUE LUNCHES on Fridays and Saturdays. Free parking right outside the door!

Exmouth farmers’ market, above, and one of the stall-holders, below.

Pictures first published in TTE’s March 2011 newsletter

Market benefits from town centre revamp THE new revamped Strand Gardens in Exmouth could be just the ticket to give a boost to the town’s farmers’ market, which is now running every two weeks instead of once a month.

The move is being run as a six-month trial for the stallholders who have been using the town centre venue for 13 years.

“We definitely think it’s worth giving it a try,” says Nick May, chairman of the Exmouth Farmers’ Market Association and proprietor of the Bread of Devon stall.

Nick said it worked well in the newly revamped setting, which has only recently been cleared of contractors’ equipment.

The new fortnightly markets will be open between 9am and 1.30pm every other Wednesday. Future dates

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

include April 6, April 20, May 4 and May 18.

Nick said they would be broadening their appeal by adding some new stalls including wet fish, smoked fish and hot Caribbean food to take away.

Editorial: 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

7

local people local events local food local health local environment

Toast English Wine Week at vineyard’s local party FOR many vineyards, English Wine Week means a few extra tours and maybe some nice bunting – but, as you might expect, they do things a little differently at Sharpham, near Totnes.

During the week (Saturday, May 28 – Sunday, June 5) the Sharpham winery will be home to working local artists, an exhibition of artwork supplied by local galleries and a range of local musicians.

“It’s all part of the Sharpham ethos,” says retail and tourism manager Steve Mackinlay. “We believe that a true celebration of our wine should involve the local community. That way we give local people a great time, promote local artists and musicians – and also sell our products.”

Last year’s English Wine Week celebrations at Sharpham

Last year’s week-long event attracted more than 2,500 people and this year is already looking even bigger.

Visitors will be able to see top local sculptors and portrait artists actually creating their work, and many more artists will be represented in an exhibition of work provided by local

galleries, including Davidson Fine Art, White Space Art and The Bowie Gallery. Local musicians will include students from Dartington.

“Sharpham wines are among England’s finest and we want to celebrate that,” says Steve, “but we also want to create something different – something people wouldn’t normally expect to find here.”

Wine and food lovers will still be well catered for, of course, with special menus in the restaurant and

a range of tours, including Vine to Wine, Trek and Taste and the very special four-hour Sharpham Experience.

Sharpham is also unusual among vineyards in that visitors arrive by so many different means.

Says Steve: “People arrive on foot – we’re a beautiful 50-minute walk from Totnes – and bike, by boat from Dartmouth and Totnes, as well as by car.”

Visit www.sharpham.com and www.englishwineweek.co.uk.

Community growing gets a little help from its friends

Nursery puts down new roots THE plan was simple: Growers, the organic plant nursery, would close down at their old site at the end of last season… and re-open at their new site, right next to Riverford in Yealmpton, in time for this season.

And that’s exactly what they’ve done – but as always they had to contend with the weather.

“The rain early in the year held up the building of the infrastructure on the new site,” said Joa Grower, who runs the business with her partner and part-time school teacher, Charlie.

“The whole move took place in the pouring rain, turning the site into a mud bath, but luckily we

8

have a lot of good friends who generously helped us.”

One part of the plan has had to change.

“We’ve built an 8ft x 10ft shed as a temporary office

because the strawbale building we’ve planned has had to be postponed until the end of the growing season – right now we’re just too busy growing plants!”

They have found time for a grand opening, though – these things should be marked.

So on Saturday, April 2, they will be opening the doors and offering live music, entertainment and fun for all the family – plus some discounts and special offers.

And the really good news is that despite “all the chaos of the move” nature has waited for nobody – “this year’s plants are coming up and looking great,” said Joa.

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THERE’S no doubting the many and varied benefits of community food projects – they produce local, affordable and seasonal food, of course, but perhaps just as importantly they bring together the community at the same time.

There’s no disputing either that the will to run these groups is strong and growing.

But there’s often still something missing – a little expert advice, support and (dare we say it?) often funding.

And that’s where Home Grown – Community Owned (HogCO) comes in. HogCO is a five-year programme, funded through the Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food scheme, set up by the Community Council of Devon (CCD) in 2009 to promote food growing initiatives.

CCD Chief Executive Jay Talbot sees HogCO as “recognising the groundswell of people seeking to take more control over their own futures - and growing food is central to this.”

Current HogCO projects include community

gardens, composting, livestock, bee-keeping, seed-saving, orchards and allotments.

Working with the Dartington Hive Alive group, for example, who are promoting natural beekeeping methods, HogCO helped fund materials for the groups to construct hives.

With the Dartington Trust Abundant Life garden, HogCO has helped facilitate public meetings and worked with the group to design the plot.

And in Newton Abbot, HogCO is helping the Transition Food Group to work with a permaculture designer to create an inventive vision for their land.

Over the next five years, it is envisaged HogCO will expand to 70 groups throughout Devon, in the process creating a robust network of mutual support.

Jane Pickard of HogCO sees the project as an opportunity for everyone to realise “just how much fun, and how important growing our own food is.”

Visit www.hogcodevonrcc.org.uk.

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

local people local events local food local health local environment

Listening to the sound of naturally happy bees THERE are many motivations for keeping bees, not least of which is the sheer wonder of watching them do what they do – and doing our bit against colony collapse syndrome (where beekeepers find hives deserted, or dead), as well as varroa and other bee diseases.

But for many beekeepers, including Jessie Watson Brown, who looks after the bees at Embercombe, Natural Beekeeping is the way to go.

“We want to fully support and serve the wellbeing of the bees,” says Jessie, “and our long-term vision is for a resilient, healthy, self-reliant bee population, adapted to our local environment and no longer so dependent (as most, if not all, colonies seem to currently be) on keeper intervention. “ Phil Chandler, author of The Barefoot Beekeeper (see www.biobees.com) has been a great source of knowledge and support at Embercombe and teaches on their beekeeping courses.

Tastethe the Taste Experience!

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Fine English wines & cheeses, produced from our Estate on the banks of the River Dart.

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Said Jessie: “We chose to try top include bar hives (TBHs) - designed as a more Alfresco dining in summer.

natural choice - hoping to support the bees towards resilient wellbeing, while using minimal intervention www.sharpham.com and non-chemical methods.

“Along with Phil’s sharing, and our reading numbers of books, we have tried to really listen to and observe the bees and their needs.”

Embercombe currently has 10 hives - four TBHs and six Dadants acquired from Buckfast Abbey.

TBHs allow the bees to build comb as they need for both worker and drone, rather than in foundation and frames. Their construction mimics a hollow log, which is the natural choice for wild honeybees, and most inspections can be carried out with less disruption to the carefully created atmosphere within the hive,.

Says Jessie: “In my opinion, the TBHs are easier to use. Simple design, build and operation avails these hives to all those who, similarly, would like to offer support to the bee in real practical ways.

We would rather see 50 people caring for two hives than one person ‘farming’ 100 hives.”

Embercombe beekeeping courses, with Phil Chandler, are on May 20-22, June 10-12 and July 22-24, and run from Friday 5pm to Sunday 4pm. They cost £150, including camping and organic food (yurt accommodation £35 extra).

ENTERTAINMENT Visit www.embercombe.co.uk (or ask about beekeeping at our Midsummer Fair at Embercombe on June 18).

01803 732203

Fine English wines & cheeses, produced from our Estate on the banks of the River Dart.

FineTours English wines which & are available include a wine tasting. cheeses, produced from Alfrescoon dining summer. our Estate theinbanks

of 01803 the River732203 Dart.

Tours www.sharpham.com are available which include a wine tasting.

Alfresco dining in summer.

01803 732203

www.sharpham.com

FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW

ANIMALS

Documentary offers food for thought THE way we eat has changed more in the last 50 years than in the previous 10,000 years.

That’s just one of the thought provoking statements in the film documentary Food Inc, which is being screened by the Exeter branch of the Green Party on April 9.

The Oscar-nominated film tackles

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the faster, fatter, bigger, cheaper ethos of the world’s food industry.

The screening takes place at Broadclyst Victory Hall at 2pm followed by refreshments. Tickets £2 in advance and £3 on the door.

Call Henry on 01392 469334, 07974 373554. henry.gent@ btinternet.com.

Editorial: 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

9

local people local events local food local health local environment

NEWS and views from across the local energy scene - including the (almost) full story of the Government’s new incentive for users of renewable heat systems

Charity splashes out on hydro power unit TV presenter Adam Hart Davis has officially opened the new hydro power system at the Devon Wildlife Trust’s Exeter HQ. The turbine has a 5kW rated capacity and will meet most of the charity’s electricity needs during the working week, and any excess power produced over weekends and evenings will be sold back to the national grid.

The official opening, which included

10

guided tours of Cricklepit Mill, was held as part of National Science and Engineering Week.

The hydro electric project was possible thanks to funding from Renewable Energy 4 Devon, the EDF Energy Green Fund, and the Big Lottery Fund - BRE Community Sustainable Energy Programme.

Find out more about Devon Wildlife Trust at thei website, www.devonwildlifetrust.org.

Helping the environment and the bank balance

Meditations on biomass

DEVON families who have taken the plunge and turned their roofs into micro generation plants are now reaping the rewards.

Mark and Dee Sandham from Exmouth are just weeks into the new installation on their home. Dee, a retired teacher, said the installation had exceeded her expectations.

“We believe we can pay it back in 10 years and it’s a brilliant way of getting our money to work for us,” she said.

Both Dee and Mark have a particular interest in the system since Dee is a graduate of environmental science and Mark is a retired electrical engineer.

The couple have 16 panels, generating a maximum 3.2kWh. The biggest domestic system that would attract the tariff is 4kWh. “In our first week we earned £14.50 in feed-intariff, and saved on our electricity bill too. We can expect similar benefits for 25 years,” said Dee. Their installers were Chris Rudge of Seaton who have been adding systems to family homes in East and South Devon for over five years.

Said Dee: “Many, like us, cannot believe that oing the right thing for the environment can be so lucrative.”

THE tranquility of life at the Gaia House meditation centre will soon be disturbed less often by visiting oil tankers as work continues to install a woodchip-fired biomass system.

The 200kw boiler and accumulator tank will be housed in a specially landscaped boiler house and will be plumbed into the house’s existing system of radiators.

The biomass boiler will replace two oilfired units and it is hoped they can buy woodchip from local sources to further reduce their carbon footprint.

Visit www.gaiahouse. co.uk

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Heating gets its incentive IT’S not often these days that the Government announces it’s going to hand out dosh but the Department of Environment and Climate Change has finally announced its plans to support the purchase and use of renewable heat systems.

Yes, it’s been quite a journey - and thank you all for sharing it with us – but we do now have some details of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

Although we still don’t know the full story…

Basically, the RHI is very like the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) that’s currently payable on PV panels.

The deal here is simple: to encourage people to install and use renewable heating systems, the Government will give you money towards buying it and then pay you for the heat you produce (which, obviously, you also use).

That’s it. The Government will GIVE you money. To do something you wanted to do anyway. I know, we were a little suspicious too…

The RHI tariff hasn’t yet been set (a consultation document will be published some time after May this year) and will not be introduced until October 2012. Once announced, though, the payments can also be claimed by anyone who has installed a renewable heat source since July 15, 2009 – providing they meet the eligibility criteria.

So what type of systems are eligible?

Top of the list are biomass boilers (woodchip or log-fuelled boilers, but not log stoves) and solar thermal panels (the ones that heat the water). Also included, though, are ground source pumps, water source heat pumps, on-site bio gas combustion, deep geothermal,

energy from municipal solid waste and injection of biomethane into the grid.

Some of these systems are commercial and/or industrial, of course, and RHI tariffs will be paid in the non-domestic sector from “sometime after July 2011”.

Do you get the feeling the Government are hedging their bets with these timeframes?

So, how much do we get? Well, installation payments are likely to be around £300 for solar thermal panels, £950 for a biomass boiler and £1250 for a ground source heat pump. These figures aren’t yet finalised, though, so these are the industry’s best guesses.

Note too that to qualify, your system must be fitted by a MCS-accredited installer – a band of tradespeople who must now be breathing a massive collective sigh of relief, as Elaine Ewer of Elaine’s Stoves explained: “Installers have had to work very hard to get MCS accreditation – even their office procedures have to meet really high standards. At last their hard work is being rewarded.”

Elaine is of course delighted the details are at last being revealed.

“It gives people the chance to sort out systems over the summer and get in before next winter,” she said. “With many oil-producing countries looking increasingly unstable, more and more people are looking to source their domestic fuel from the UK.” All this has been revealed just days before we go to press, so with Elaine’s help we’ll be looking into it more for the next issue – watch this space.

Contact Us Now To Find Out More &

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Expires 31/3/2011 E&OE. £500 inc vat off installations over £15,000 or £350 inc vat off installations over £10,000 or £250 inc vat off installations under £10,000

Transition villages hold energy fair A GROUP of Devon villages, which have got together to form a Transition group, are holding an event to promote all things to do with making and saving energy.

The Sustainable Villages Energy Fair will include companies selling solar, wind, heat pumps, as well as local food producers, cycle shops, and a publisher of walking guides.

They are also inviting speakers, including Gabriel Wondraush on The Future of Solar, and will be showing films.

The Energy Fair, at Uffculme Secondary School (just off J27 on the M5) and open to everyone (“As long as they don’t fly longhaul…” says an organiser), is on May 21 and entry is free.

Sustainable Villages is a voluntary not-for-profit community group, incorporating Sampford Peverell, Uffculme and surrounding villages in Mid Devon.

“We have many different interests and try to follow these up with activities and events under the sustainable theme,” said a spokesman for the Sustainable Villages.

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“We’ve run one-day workshops on basket weaving, knitting, tool sharpening and other traditional skills, we’ve held Apple Days, and we are hiring a thermal camera (above) to photograph houses to show up areas of heat loss. “ To find out more, email Gary Cook at gary@grindons.co.uk.

Modern and Classic Stoves, HETAS Modern Modern and and Classic Classic Stoves, Stoves, HETAS HETAS accredited, Full installation service, Free accredited, accredited, Full Full installation installation service, service, Free Free quotation, Flues and Chimneys quotation, quotation, Flues Flues and and Chimneys Chimneys www.DevonFires.co.uk www.DevonFires.co.uk www.DevonFires.co.uk

Editorial: 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

11

local people local events local food local health local environment Atlas shows way back to wellbeing THE benefits to your health of keeping your neck and back in good shape have been well documented for years but headaches and migraines can now be treated by a relatively new method only discovered 15 years ago.

In some people, a bone at the base of the skull can become displaced and can even be out of alignment from birth.

This Atlas bone carries not only the weight of the skull but also helps the body to balance and has control of the spine.

Atlas practitioner Marie Casalini says: “Many people’s Atlas is out of place, rotated forward and left, causing a variety of problems.

Fortunately, it is now possible to relocate the Atlas to its correct position using the AtlasPROfilax method.”

This technique was discovered and developed in Switzerland by Rene Claudius Schumperli, who was himself painfully affected by a misaligned Atlas.

Marie says the whole backbone tries to compensate for the imbalance causing significant adverse changes to the posture.

Call Marie on 01342 303279, email marie. atlas@yahoo.co.uk or visit www.marieatlas. co.uk.

Quirky art HIVE is a group of local artist friends drawn together by what they call their “mutual love of the quirky, marginal, wobbly and uncertain.”

Their first exhibition, Collywobbles, features paintings, drawings and prints at the Birdwood House Gallery in Totnes, May 9-14.

Call 01363 877667 or email harrison_sam@ hotmail.com.”

New novel The Global Sacred Sound Meditation performed by Kevin Goulding and Martyn Rudin at Quest 2010.

Questing for sustainable lifestyle A SUSTAINABLE living message will be sent out by organisers of this year’s Quest Natural Health Show to the 5000 or so visitors expected to attend the three-day event.

A sustainability tent is a new focus for the July show and will include activities by Embercombe, the local centre of inspiration near Haldon, who will also join forces with Reconnect in June to stage the Midsummer Fair.

Embercombe has engaging, fun activities planned and talks about easy ways to grow your own food. Other local initiatives featured include one to encourage visitors to get involved in such things as carbon composting and the Transition movement. A local company with cycle-powered machinery will be showing how much energy our everyday gadgets need.

QUEST 2011 July 7-11 Newton Abbot racecourse Quest has been running 16 years and has established itself as a national event. This year the three days start on July 7. As usual, Quest’s Newton Abbot Racecourse site features a range of taster sessions in a vast array of therapies, including Feldenkrais, Shiatsu and Thai massage together with lessons in didj, chanting and angel healing.

This year also features daily sessions in Biodanza and Tantra – a perfect chance to delve deeper into dance or the healing power of Tantra.

Other speakers include David Hamilton, who will talk about his new book The Contagious Power of Thinking; Barbara

Village gig THE small village festival with a big heart, Beesounds, returns this year over the weekend of June 17-20 (although of couse you might be busy on the Saturday see page 18).

Based at Beesands, on the coast near Torcross, the weekend features a ceilidh, workshops, concerts, a Matt Havrey gig and solstice bonfire celebrations.

To find out more and to book (essential), email underwoodorganic@ onetel.com or call Valerie Belsey on 01803 866916.

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Meiklejohn-Free leads her shamanic journeys; Malcolm Stern works with The Courage to Change and Christa Mackinnon leads a session on Remembering the Godess.

The racecourse site will host over 120 exhibitors, featuring local artists and craft workers, therapists, authors and the latest developments in natural health products.

Thai food has been added to the various stalls offering healthy eating options this year.

Advance tickets: daily £7.50, child £4, full ticket £20, child full ticket £12, camping £9 per person, child £4 Call 01803 762289 or visit www.questuk.co.uk.

Praying for Rain to play at Quest THIS year’s Quest natural health show is seeing the welcome return of two festival giants - folk bands Seize the Day and Praying for Rain (left).

The bands are part of an extensive line-up of musical offerings over the four days of the show at Newton Abbot racecourse starting on July 7.

Quest regular Lucinda Drayton from Bliss will be playing with a new line-up offering a special concert for Quest featuring Celtic melodies and songs that touch the heart.

Lucinda is accompanied by musician Marcus Cliffe.

The show also offers new sounds in blue grass and sacred music.

AUTHOR and driving force behind the creative writing programme Fire In The Head, Roselle Angwin, has just had a novel published.

Set in Devon and involving all manner of environmental and spiritual goings on, we urge you to check it out. Visit www. indigodreamsbookshop .com/#/roselleangwin/4548104337

Spring show BUDLEIGH Salterton Art Club are holding an exhibition on Spring Bank Holiday, May 30, from 10am-5pm, at Budleigh Salterton Public Hall.

The show will include the work of local artists and children shortlisted for the Britain in Bloom competition, plus children’s creative area and refreshments.

Reveal all...

IF you run or attend gigs or events that haven’t yet made it into Reconnect, that’s because you haven’t told us about them!

Email us the details of June/July events before May 6 and we’ll get them into our diary listing and maybe even write a story. Email editor@ reconnectonline.co.uk.

Open studios THERE’S another chance to see the work of local artists, and meet the artists themselves, during Totnes and Dartington Open Studios, May 2730. Find out more at www.totnesopenstudios. co.uk.

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local people local events local food local health local environment

Seasonal Eating

Teaching creativity with sustainability

Our new Seasonal Eating feature takes a close look at produce in season and how it can make a difference to your health and wellbeing CHOOSING to buy and eat local seasonal produce has become the thing to do. We know it is cheaper and better for the environment, and we also know it ‘feels’ right and we feel healthier if we do it.

Traditional Chinese Medicine believes our energy or meridian system has the same rhythm as the seasons. So if we eat with the seasons we are nourishing and satisfying ourselves far beyond the physical, helping to create health and harmony in body, mind and spirit.

In terms of the energetic year, spring is a time of dynamic energy and rapid growth, a time when the concentrated energy of the winter time is released and transformed into fresh growth, new ideas, plans and aspirations for the coming energetic year. What we see in our gardens, window boxes and veggie plots is mirrored within us.

What to buy There’s plenty around: caulis, asparagus, lettuce, kale, spinach and rhubarb – visible signs of the rapid growth and dynamism of spring energy and such a welcome contrast to the deep, dark roots of winter.

How to enjoy it We can just enjoy the fresh abundance of choice (and maybe try the recipe below), or you could be more adventurous and try a spring cleanse.

In the spring time the longer, lighter, warmer days mean we have more energy available for cleansing and

April 11-15, parent and child workshops, blacksmithing, pole lathing, clay winning.

The Potting Shed, Western Barns, Ashprington TQ9 7EE 01803 865033 www.pottingshedworkshop.com

Kate Harris

Life Coaching & Self Esteem Specialist

Cool caulis! clearing away the winter cobwebs.

Also, energetically, the liver, the body’s detoxer, is particularly ‘lively’ in the spring, meaning that cleansing power is on maximum setting!

A basic spring cleanse can be as simple as cutting out or reducing one of the more challenging food and drinks in your daily diet (coffee, wheat, alcohol or dairy, for example) and then drinking more water. If you want a bigger cleanse, try adding some vegetable juices and cutting out more of the challenging foods. Or you could try mixing apple, cucumber and spinach together.

But beware - there is only so much cleansing the liver can deal with at once, and any surplus rubbish will circulate in the blood for a while, making you feel lousy, and then go back into the cells again - more haste, less speed.

Spicy cauliflower soup THIS spring recipe combines cauliflower with antioxidant-rich spices, which have potent protective qualities against many chronic diseases and the general ageing of the body. Cauliflower, which is a small head of many compact flowers, is rich in potassium, folic acid and vitamin C. It is about 25% protein and one of the brassica family of vegetables that is said to have cancer preventing qualities.

The ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil;1 medium cauliflower, cut into florets; 1 shallot, peeled and chopped,1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed, 1 heaped tbsp mixed ground spices (cumin, cinnamon and cardamom), 1½ litres vegetable stock, 2 tbsp crème fraîche, a dash each of Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and Tabasco; salt and pepper, 1 tbsp coriander or parsley leaves The method Gently sauté the cauliflower florets, shallot and garlic in a heavy pan.

Add the spices and let it cook for a few minutes. The florets should be cooked but still have some crunch. Lift out half the florets, then add the stock to the rest and boil until the remaining cauliflower is soft. Blend in a liquidiser, along with the crème fraîche, Worcestershire sauce, a few drops of lemon and Tabasco. Season. Serve with the whole florets and chopped coriander or parsley. Enjoy!

Reconnect’s Seasonal Eating is written by Carol Lee, a Nutritional Therapist who has also trained as a 5 element Acupuncturist. Carol offers one-to-one consultations and runs workshops and courses in holistic nutrition. Call her on 01363 82794 or visit www.naturalfoodschool.co.uk

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COMING UP Raku day - Saturday April 2, 10-4pm and Easter holidays

Individual and group sessions using cognitive behavioural therapy and life coaching near Totnes, South Devon. Many years experience in the NHS, qualified Occupational Therapist BSc (Hons), member of Health Professions Council.

SELF ESTEEM & STRESS MANAGEMENT LIFE COACHING TASTER DAYS held in relaxing farmhouse setting.

For further information contact Kate Harris:

t: 01803 847674 m: 0777 949 6240

www.kateharris-lifecoaching.co.uk

The Sharpham Trust upcoming events with sharpham outdoors Booking:

Spring Explorers For children aged 8-11, April 11-15, 10am-5pm

Call Erica on 01803 732542 or email: admin@ sharphamtrust.org

Full days of Easter holiday fun, including storytelling and woodland skills - £25/day + £10 sleepover

Visit our website for details of this and other Sharpham events in 2011

For children aged 5-9, May 7–June 4 (six-week course)

Saturday Forest School From wild food to fire lighting and making pinch pots - with a free taster on May 7 - £90/six sessions

www.sharphamtrust.org

2011

Passionate Presence events with

Katheryn Trenshaw

“Katheryn’s work is powerful, effective, illuminating and has freed the way I approach my work and my life.” Donna, USA

Are you ready for real freedom? Dare you step into your deep connected power and really be here now? Are you ready to open your heart and love?

There is nothing to change. It is not about self-improvement. It is simple.

Upcoming: May 14 - 15 London June 10 - 12 • July 1 - 5 (Residential Retreat) • July 7 - 10 (Quest)

01803 863552 • info@ktrenshaw.com www.ktrenshaw.com

Editorial: 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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Eco homes

Whitethorn Woodcraft

Eco Homes brings together everything you need to create a sustainable home - including, this time, local artists, a unique carpenter/designer and a return to Refurnish. If you want to be part of our next Eco Homes section, email editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

07546 552880

Is it time to get Up Close with Westcountry artists?

Traditional and Contemporary Designs in Wood All wood from local/ sustainable sources Commissions taken whitethornwoodcraft.co.uk

USING local people and materials is a crucial part of creating the sustainable home – so why not use locally created art and craftwork too?

There are galleries full of local work across the region, of course, but for consistently high quality work from the pick of Westcountry makers (and some of the best from around the UK too), the Devon Guild of Craftsmen in Bovey Tracey takes some beating.

Their current exhibition, Up Close, features prints from 32 selected artists, the majority of whom are from the South West.

And because all the work is presented in identical 18inch-square frames, it can easily be envisaged hung on that wall next to the window (you know, where it would catch the morning light).

Prices are relatively affordable at £90-200 and unframed editions are also available for less.

Printmaking is a massively wide genre, of course, and many techniques are represented in the exhibition, from Mokuhanga woodcut to sun-exposed cyanotype – the latter from Jo Bowen, who lives on a farm on the Exe estuary and uses her own herbs and the rays of the sun to create prints.

Look out too for a print called Wendy and the Wolf by Emma Molony, who used laser-cut, digital processing and old photos from original film combined to conjure up the magic of a traditional fairy story.

Up Close, with, above, Sharon Bishop and, below, Jo Bowen

Coming up in May (May 7 – June 19) is an exhibition of work by John Maltby and Breon O’Casey.

Both exhibitions are open 10am-5.30pm and entry is free.

Find out more on 01626 8322233, or visit www.crafts.org.uk.

Come and see a wide range of eco-friendly household & natural beauty/skincare products, plus second-hand toys, equipment and clothes for babies and children.

Also, a selection of beautiful artwork by local artists. Do you have something you would like to display, donate or sell?

Email: littlegreenshopbow@gmail.com

The Little Green Shop 14

Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

Tel: 01363 82464 Marsh Lane, Bow EX17 6LB (Opposite the Co-op on the A3072 and along Burston Lane)

Open Wednesday to Friday 10am - 2pm www.reconnectonline.co.uk

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WESTCOUNTRY WATERBEDS Guildhall Shopping Centre, Exeter Call Brian on 01392 411212 Learn more on www.water-beds-uk.com

A garden studio on which Stefan worked as carpenter, designer and consultant

High quality carpentry with built-in design skills IT’S nothing unusual for a person’s eco outlook, or even their profession, to have been inspired by time spent with a parent as a child.

And for Stefan Batorijs (below), of Glorious Good Wood, it was a spark that lit a fire in his heart.

“When I was a child, my father made some of our furniture and I would be in the shed ‘helping’ him,” said Stefan. “He would often bring home reclaimed pieces of timber and de-nail them ready for re-use.

My job was to straighten the nails so he could reuse those too.”

So recycling is in Stefan’s blood (much of the timber he uses comes from the recycling centre and from skips) and he says his business, Glorious Good Wood, “is about taking a different approach to materialism.”

“I place a higher value on traditional skills and service,” he says, “working closely and ‘care-fully’ with the client, with cutting edge technologies and contemporary design practice.

It’s a greener more holistic approach - I service my van myself, use biodiesel, offset my carbon footprint and minimise waste.”

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Stefan says trees are like friends to him, he never uses rainforest timber and only buys from FSC sources with a chain of custody.

“Carpentry combines practical skills with creative flair. Wood softens an environment and adds character to buildings, both internally and externally,” says Stefan.

“Interior design rarely takes into account the use of recycled materials or the need to use sustainable or eco-friendly products, so I decided to offer traditional high quality carpentry with an interior design service advising on insulation, renewables and energy saving technologies combined with beautiful, luscious colours, textures, fabrics and materials.”

Last year, Stefan trained with the Green Register (www. greenregister.org.uk), a Bristolbased organisation set up in 2000 to promote sustainable building practices across all disciplines of the construction industry, offering expert and impartial training and a comprehensive events programme for architects, designers, engineers and construction professionals and self builders.

So what’s next for Stefan and Glorious Good Wood?

“Completing my interior design degree, collaborating more with architects, putting some soul back into buildings, lobbying for a ban on rainforest timber,” he says.

And with the increasing price of fuel driving the trend to work from home, Stefan plans to offer either off-the-shelf or bespoke garden offices with insulation, broadband and even a woodburner, cedar shingles and maybe room for a sofabed – “think hi-tech Hobbit house,” says Stefan.

Call Stefan on 01364 652162 or email Stefan@batorijs.eclipse.co.uk

WELLNESS THERAPY COUCH. More information?

Call Susie at Sienna Therapies on 01326 218021.

Special discounts for therapists and Reconnect Readers.

Editorial: 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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Eco homes

Home goods with a conscience THERE are several reasons for buying secondhand furniture and household goods.

It’s cheaper, of course whether that’s all you can afford, or all you choose to pay. Editor Foster will definitely be revisiting Refurnish on his new Living On Less page.

You might also argue (we would) that there is enough stuff in the world. No sooner is it wheeled off production lines as the latest musthave consumables, then it’s being shoved into landfill as yesterday’s cast-offs.

And if you’re looking for yet another reason, if you buy secondhand furniture and household goods from a Refurnish, you will also be helping to finance a not-forprofit operation that provides valuable, confidence-building workplace experience and training for struggling young people and adults with mental health problems.

There are Refurnish centres right across Reconnectland – at Ivybridge, Newton Abbot, Paignton and Totnes (and Tavistock if you fancy a trip into foreign lands) – and as well as 35 permanent staff, they also give work to around 50 volunteers over the year.

These include young people who haven’t yet managed to find their place in the world of work and adults with support needs – support that is provided by a recently employed volunteers manager and assistant.

Refurnish prices vary according to quality and demand. Regional manager David Banks said: “We’ve got a lovely pine table with matching chairs in at the moment, all in really good condition, which will go really quickly.

“But we price things to sell, so if you’re looking for something a little unusual, you can find a real bargain.

A sofa that’s been here for a while will be priced at a tenner just to shift it.”

All electrical items are checked by qualified engineers. Washing machines (big sellers at Refurnish), for example, are checked on all programmes and temperatures, and fridges are left running for as long as it takes to ensure they keep their cool.

All electrical items over £50 (cookers range from £50 to around £120 for a halogen unit that would have cost over £500 new) have three-month warranties, and anything under £50 has a one-month guarantee.

All Refurnish stock is donated, mostly by private households who just want rid of it but don’t want the hassle of getting it to a recycling centre.

“We will collect anything that can be resold,” explains David, “even if it needs some repair first. We can always

ReFURNISH...

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16

All electrical items are checked before being sold

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your home with furniture and appliances at prices you can afford* Making space for new furniture?

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fit new parts, but it must be cosmetically good to sell.”

But they will also accept old washing machines, cookers and driers beyond repair – providing they are dropped off to them.

Refurnish are also offering the perfect home-maker package – tell them you have, say, £500 to spend, give them an idea of what you like, and they’ll find you a washing machine, cooker, fridge, sofa, table and chairs, double bed and bunks.

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County show serves up a feast of local producers THIS year’s Devon County Show in Exeter is championing local food and drink producers even harder than ever with a huge Food & Drink Pavilion packed with local food producers.

Visitors to the show on May 19-21 at Westpoint, can shop for a meal or stock up the larder with the impressive range of delicious goods on offer and enjoy a snack or meal washed down with local beer, cider or fruit juice.

Show Secretary Ollie Allen said: “This element of the show gets bigger and more popular every year. The pavilion offers the most fantastic way to ‘taste and try before you buy’ - such a great selection of local producers really does make it a real pleasure to shop local.”

Among the top chefs and cooks in the cookery demonstration theatre is Merrilees Parker, a chef, food writer and TV presenter; she co-presented BBC Two’s ‘Anything You Can Cook’ with Brian Turner and later became the resident cook on Housecall.

Joining the celebrity line-up is Adam Henson, one of BBC TV’s Country File presenters and a Cotswold farmer. He will be at the show on Friday (May 20) and will be involved in a wide variety of activities including joining the Devon Young Farmers’ Clubs debate panel.

The subject of the debate this year is ‘Feed The Future’.

MBS fair

Anyone passionate about native breeds of livestock will enjoy seeing Red Ruby Devon Cattle at the show this year. There will be about 100 of these animals exhibited at the show.

Other attractions will include alpacas, the hugely popular bees and honey marquee, vegetable growing, a dog show, country skills demonstrations and traditional crafts.

In addition there is non-stop and traditional entertainment in six rings around the 92 acre showground.

There’s family fun with the daredevil Bolddog Lings motorcycle display team, a seven-a-side rugby tournament involving the rugby academies from Exeter, Plymouth and Truro, Titan the robot will be wandering the avenues entertaining visitors with his range of musical numbers (on

Friday and Saturday), top showjumping, scurry driving, axe racing, sheep racing, vintage tractors and steam engines.

Fun4Kidz, the popular children’s feature, is even bigger this year offering hands-on activity for lively youngsters; everything from planting seeds to baking bread, colouring wellies, weaving willow wands, seeing chicks hatch, and petting Crealy’s tame animals.

Once again children go free on Saturday and, for the first time, this year senior citizens are eligible for the buy-one-getone-free offer on all three days of the show. Additional savings are available if tickets are bought in advance. Call 01392 353700, email info@dschow.org, visit www.devoncountyshow.co.uk.

EVENT organiser Tim Barrs is taking his Mind, Body, Spirit Fair to Totnes following on from the success of his Torquay event in February.

The fair is on Sunday, May 15, 11am-4.30pm at Totnes Civic Hall, Totnes.

There will be about 40 stands on the day, offering everything from tarot and clairvoyance through to complementary therapies and craft stalls showcasing the best local talent.

Admission is free. If anyone would like to take part or be considered for future fairs, please contact Tim on 01803 664827.

Visit www.bodymindspirit. org.uk

Call to artists EXETER Phoenix is calling for “emerging and mid-career artists” to submit work for Exeter Contemporary Open 2011.

The closing date is Friday June 17. Download entry guidelines and application form at www.exeterphoenix. org.uk/galleries/open, or email galleries@ exeterphoenix.org.uk.

No newts is bad newts for new project HAVE you got an ultra rare Great Crested Newt in your garden pond?

Despite all the frogs and newts we’ve got crawling around our back gardens, amphibians are actually one of the most threatened creatures on earth.

So to help conserve one of the UK’s rarest amphibians, the Devon Reptile and Amphibian Group (DRAG) has set up the Great Crested Newt Project. And now they want to hear from anyone with a Great Crested Newt in their pond.

Great Crested Newts are much larger (up to 17cm long) than the small newts (around 10cm long)

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more commonly found in our ponds. Their bodies are dark brown to black with a warty appearance, and male Great Crested Newts can be identified by the jagged crest running along their back.

Newts have a similar life cycle to frogs and toads, hibernating through the winter months and returning to breed in ponds in the spring.

If you think you’ve seen one in your garden, DRAG ask you to email Julia.clark_DRAG@hotmail.co.uk or call 01626 834422 with the location, post code and date of the sighting.

Editorial: 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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Come and see everything you love about Reconnect

All the fun of the fair - and more!

IT’S a match made in heaven!

Reconnect is your friendly green magazine – packed with local news and spreading the word for green and sustainable organisations, businesses, arts and wellbeing practitioners.

Embercombe is a beautiful venue and an energetic and wonderful bunch of people dedicated to running courses, workshops and events.

Together we are creating the ultimate fun day out, packed with food, events, music, stalls, games, food, activities, stands – and did we mention food?

Put it in your diary now – Midsummer Fair, at Embercombe, near Exeter, on Saturday, June 18, 10am-5pm. Never mind that big family wedding, or the start of that world cruise – cancel everything and come and play!

So let’s look first at what Reconnect is bringing to the party…

Our aim has always been to create a live version of the magazine, so everything you find in these pages, you’ll find at the Midsummer Fair.

All our regular sections will be represented, for example – renewable energy companies, local food producers, green businesses producing sustainable products and eco services for your homes… and something special for the wellbeing practitioners.

The Wellbeing Village will include a selection of natural health practitioners, offering affordable taster sessions in wonderful tipis.

The Transition and sustainable living groups will be there too, of course, along with local artists and craft makers, displaying and selling their wares – and some will be running workshops so you can learn how to make your own.

And then there’s Embercombe’s massive contribution…

Midsummer Fair, Embercombe, near Exeter, Saturday, June 18

Aside from the beautiful venue itself (stone circle, organic veg garden, compost loos, lake, woodland and rolling green hills), Embercombe will add everything you’d love to find at a traditional village fair.

So there will be two giant shire horses ploughing all day; insect trails; pond-dipping; craft workshops and bushcraft skills in the woods; hay-making; forging; tractor rides; canoeing on the lake and tours of the beautiful 50-acre site with broad-leaf woodland, wild flower meadows and wild-life lake.

Is this quick taster making you hungry?

On the day you’ll be able to sample Embercombe’s famously scrumptious organic food, including ingredients from their own circular garden - sizzling pizzas from the outdoor ovens; wild meat and veggie BBQ;

Embercombe’s freshly-picked strawberries; ice cream; waffles and pancakes and the fabulous summer café with mouthwatering home-made vegan cakes; cream teas; sparkling elderflower and a bar serving local and organic beer, wine, cider and soft drinks.

Suitably refreshed, how about trying your hand at traditional games like tug o’ war and their annual Great Welly Throwing Competition. Or dip your toe into some of Embercombe’s programmes in free taster workshops - whether it is to consider becoming a beekeeper or to develop your innate leadership skills.

The Midsummer Fair is a celebration of the land on which we live, work and play; a chance to find out how you could live a more sustainable life; and a whole stack of fun…

How to get there - and how to get in free!

AS we’ve said elsewhere, we want anyone to be able to come along and enjoy the Midsummer Fair so entrance is FREE – if you don’t bring your car. There are lots of ways of getting to the Fair…

By bus: take a bus to Haldon Racecourse or Haldon Belvedere and catch the Park and Ride service that will run every 10 or 15 minutes on the day.

By foot: get that same Haldon Belvedere service and it’s then a pleasant 1.3-mile walk along the

18

lanes – or park at the Haldon Hill racecourse and walk through the Haldon Forest.

By car: or, if you must go by car, use the park and ride service - park at Haldon Racecourse for just £2.50 and jump on the free bus service to Emerbercombe. If you turn up at Embercombe in your car, it’ll cost you £7.50 to park.

Look out for a detailed ‘How to get there’ panel, with all the bus service details and maps, in the June/July issue of Reconnect.

Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

See you there!

Booking a stall...

If you want to book a table or stand at the Midsummer Fair, get in touch now! Tables in our Green Marketplace are just £25 for the day (or bring your own gazebo and have a 10’x10’ outside plot for the same price); a big stand in the Eco Living hall is just £100; and wellbeing practitioners can book a tipi for only £15, plus 20% of your takings or put up your own gazebo for just £10, plus 20%.

We’ve kept the prices low because we just want to get people involved in this celebration of what Reconnect and Embercombe are all about.

Call 01392 346342/346204 or email editor@reconnectonline. co.uk or adverts@ reconnectonline.co.uk to make your booking.

Lending a hand...

We’ve been putting the word out to friends of Reconnect, asking for help to set things up in the days leading up to the event.

But if we missed you, and you’d like to get involved, please get in touch – editor@reconnectonline. co.uk or 01392 346204.

We can’t offer any money (this is a free event, after all!), but you’ll be working with some very friendly people, it’ll be a lot of fun and… well, a little hard work is good for you!

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

- LIVE at the Midsummer Fair, Embercombe, Exeter!

A place, an organisation Embercombe’s Suzy Edwards explains...

EMBERCOMBE is a place and an organisation.

It exists because we live in a time when the choices we make today determine the way our children will live tomorrow. And making the right choices depends on our vision and courage - ours and that of others in the communities where we live and work.

Young or old, rich or poor, over or under worked, happy or miserable, Embercombe believes every single one of us is needed to make the difference.

Embercombe invites people and organisations on a journey to discover their own potential as leaders. Engagement with the land is the key to their work.

Our team of consultants have many years of experience in education and personal and organisational transformation.

We run programmes for adults and provide bespoke courses to all sorts of organisations, including businesses, charities and colleges seeking sustainable change through team building, executive leadership and personal development.

Individuals can participate in The Journey programme, volunteer or attend free Friends’ Working Weekends.

Embercombe runs an education programme for schools. With small children, we sow a seed of awe and wonder to nurture a deep and life-long love of nature.

For older children and teenagers, it is an outdoor classroom of infinite possibilities, bringing the school curriculum to life through hands-on science, crafts and creative expression.

Young adults are invited to explore today’s global challenges in experiential ways and gain confidence to live life authentically and effectively by participating in the Catalyst course for 18-25s.

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Revolutionary Thinking Was the key to Humanity’s spiritual evolution discovered by a famous scientist over 400 years ago, but then completely overlooked?

Go to www.heliocentricity.co.uk to find out

Editorial: 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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local people local events local food local health local environment

Workshops crafted for parents and kids THREE top local crafts people have got together to run a series of parent and child workshops, from April 11-15.

Potter Richenda Macgregor will be clay winning (digging it up) and making ceramic bugs (all extremely messy and squelchy and creative too); the multi-talented woodworker Doug King-Smith will be pole lathing and carving; and blacksmith Simon Summers (he was on the Edwardian Farm programme on TV) will be

THINKING OF TRAINING TO BECOME A pROFEssIONAl COUNsEllOR? Do you want to meet the proposed new regulation, training requirements ?

Our CpCAB and NCFE accredited courses include: ■ level 2/3 Introductory ■ level 4 Foundation ■ level 5 Diploma ■ level 5 and 6 post qualifying ■ A range of CpD days With various centres across Devon, attendance can be evenings, weekly, intensive or weekend monthly residential.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ring Graham on 01626 776113 07868 842658 or email: experientialdiscovery@talktalk.net

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DISC VERY offering Counselling, Training and supervision.

doing Celtic copper bowl making using repouse embossing (no idea, ask him - sounds good, though) .

Says Richenda: “The workshops have been designed as a response from parents wanting to learn along side their children.”

Call: Richenda on 01803 865033 or 0752 8351 431, (or visit www.pottingshedworkshop.com) ; Doug on 0797 6589 927; or Simon on 0779 1511 941.

When young people look for more than just a job SO many people, it seems, want to put pressure on today’s young people. Aside from the current nonsense surrounding uni fees, there’s always a still greater push for young people to develop a career (and the economy-stoking lifestyle that goes with it).

Eventually, most of us realise there’s actually more to life than just ‘getting a job’ and we discover ways of helping to shape the things in life that really matter to us. For some that can take years. For others, sadly, realisation comes too late…

But now there’s a course that helps 18-25 year-olds to discover and develop what they need to play a more active role in the world.

A sister course to The Journey, which we’ve featured before, Catalyst is run by, and at, Embercombe, the centre of inspiration near Exeter (and the venue for our Midsummer Fair

on June 18 – end of commercial break).

Said Elizabeth Gorla, who co-leads the five-day residential programme: “Catalyst offers the chance to meet diverse yet like-minded people; to find your voice and your place in the world today; and to develop the kind of skills and capacities needed to meet life like an adventure.”

If you’re aged between 18-25 and that appeals to you, there are still a few spaces on the next course (April 17-22) and two more courses in July and September.

If you want to play a part in helping young people discover their potential, Embercombe are looking for sponsors and education partners.

However you want to get involved, call Elizabeth on 01803 864 593, or 07454 772 234, and to find out more (and watch an inspiring short film) visit www.catalystcourse.co.uk.

Make your own soup - and spoon!

ATTEND a new Trees for Health workshop in April and you’ll not only learn how to make delicious and nutritious nettle soup, but also how to make a wooden spoon to drink it!

Nettles and Spoons runs 10.30am-2pm at the Underwood Discovery Centre in Beeson, South

Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

Devon, followed by Woodland Wild Food on May 8 and Spring Wild Food Forage and Feast on May 15.

All workshops are £12 (£4 children).

Call Liz Turner on 01803 732545, email info@treesforhealth.org, or visit www.treesforhealth.org.

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

local people local events local food local health local environment Jazz festival returns to Plymouth Barbican THE Barbican International Jazz and Blues Festival is back in Plymouth, from April 29-May 2 – and it’s hotter than ever.

Now in its fourth year, the event takes place over the four days of the first May Bank Holiday weekend.

The festival brings together local and international acts from across the spectrum of jazz and blues and headliners this year include piano man T J Johnson, keyboard crooner Joe Stilgoe, sax-funkers Porkchop and US guitar bluesman Michael Roach.

Local band highlights include Becca Langsford launching her new album, blues player Vince Lee, slide guitar man Thomas Ford and his band the Dirty Harmonies, gospel soul-singer

Mama Tokus and jazz diva Louise Parker.

Excellent young jazz and blues musicians are included in the programming, ensuring that the next generation of musicians are supported and showcased.

“The festival’s developing and we’ve got a programme of quality for this year,” said festival director Dan Thompson. “We’ve got a Jazz Village this year which is brand new.

It’s going to be packed with stalls and music too which will really add atmosphere to the Barbican and give more to our Festival-goers.”

Check out the full programme at www.barbicanjazzandbluesfestival. com.

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Shiatsu Discovery Weekends Car sharers, left to right, Jodie Owens, Gina Small and Vicki Walsh

Reasons for a car-full (pt1) CAR sharing is making more sense all the time as the price of fuel continues to rocket and Carsharedevon now has more than 7,500 people signed up to its website.

Carsharedevon is a free service which allows people in Devon and across the south west to find others to share their journey, either taking turns with the driving, or giving someone a lift in exchange for a contribution to the fuel costs. It is commissioned by Devon County Council in partnership with Plymouth and Torbay Councils.

According to the latest figures from Liftshare.com, the largest carshare network in the UK, the typical commuter who car shares every day saves around £800 a year and those who manage to fill all their spare seats can save more than £2,000.

But saving money – and the planet – aren’t the only reasons for car sharing.

Alex Lannin, who lives in Ivybridge and works at Pynes Hill in Exeter, registered with Carsharedevon.com in 2007. He is currently sharing with four people he found through the system, who all work in the Exeter area.

Alex said: “Car sharing is a great way to save money and help the environment, but it also makes the

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journey pass a lot quicker because you have more people to talk to along the way.

“I probably save about £1,400 per year through car sharing and would highly recommend it.”

For some people, it can mean the difference between working – and not working.

Stuart Borthwick from Princetown, on Dartmoor, is branch manager of a building society in Bideford but hasn’t been able to drive since he suffered a seizure last May – and DVLA rules say he can’t drive for 12 months.

He now gets a lift to Torrington and shares a journey from Bickington to Bideford with Penny Povey.

Stuart said: “The journey from Dartmoor to Bideford would be near on impossible without this service.

I will offer a lift for my journey as soon as I’m allowed to in around 100 days.”

Ann Goodridge, Bob Hunter and Carina Boyce leave their cars in a long stay car park in Plymouth and share every day to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital. Ann joined Carsharedevon.com in 2008 and has recently completed her 450th car share journey. She estimates that she and her car sharers each save £168 per month on fuel alone.

Visit www.caresharedevon.com and join up now.

Buckyette Farm, Totnes TQ9 6ND Tel 01803 762593 Email: info@devonshiatsu.co.uk

Two inspiring days of learning and experiencing Shiatsu 21/22 May

Back by Popular Demand!

Craft & Holistic Fair May 15th 11am-5pm Civic Hall, Totnes

Clairvoyants, Healing, Tarot, Complementary Therapies, Craft Stalls, and much more...

FREE Admission www.bodymindspirit.org.uk Tim Barrs Poster2 land.indd 1

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Editorial: 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

21

local people local events local food local health local environment

Dartmoor Centre

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Advanced Diploma in Counselling First Certificate Counselling, Diploma Supervision, Dip ChildrenYoung People For details of all courses : Sandplay, CPD, Please visit www.safespaceforcounselling.com or speak to Ken Rabone Director of Training Training only 01297 440630 Email : office@safespaceforcounselling.com

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RECONNECT’s diary brings together green, community and other non-mainstream events from across the area - if it’s interesting, we’ll tell you about it. But first we need to hear about it, so if you’re involved in an event coming up during June or July, and you think it will interest Reconnect readers, send details to: editor@reconnectonline.co.uk.

APRIL FRIDAY 1 UNTIL MAY 15 The Count of Monte Cristo (Island of True Stories), in the gallery at Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, www.exeterphoenix. org.uk, 01392 667080 UNTIL APRIL 30 Tim Ellis exhibition at Spacex Gallery, Preston St, Exeter, 01392 431786, www.spacex.org.uk Ed Welch, songwriter, The Flavel, Dartmouth, 01803 839530, www.theflavel.org.uk Saturday 2 Devon & Cornwall Linux user group meeting, Shoreline bar, Paignton seafront, 2.30-5pm, www.dcglug.org.uk/events Raku day, The Pottingshed, Ashprington, 10am-4pm, www.Pottingshedworkshop. com, 01803 865033

Sunday Shopping Fairs 2011

The Exmouth Pavilion The Seafront, Exmouth 10.00 am to 4.00 pm Sunday 27th March Sunday 17th April Sunday 1st May Sunday 29th May Sunday 26th June Sunday 24th July Sunday 21st Aug Sunday 25th Sept Sunday 16th October Sunday 20th November Sunday 4th December Art, Crafts & Gifts Presented by LOCAL craft workers A real change from the high street

FREE ENTRY A Shopping Experience Exmouth Craft Fairs 01395 263495 www.exmouthcraftfairs.com

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MONDAY 4 Transition Town Exmouth umbrella meeting, 7.00pm, Exmouth Town Hall, all welcome, pdennes@hotmail.com, 01395 279965 Gasland, Transition Town Totnes film screening at Barn Cinema, Dartington, 8pm, www. transitiontowntotnes.org Biofuels or bio fools?

Q&A with a Greenpeace researcher, Café Scientifique, Exeter Phoenix: 01392 667080, www. exeterphoenix.org.uk Tuesday 5 Make do and mend group, Exeter Phoenix, 01392 667080, joe@kidsknits.co.uk Wednesday 6 Exmouth Farmers’ Market, 9am-1.30pm, Strand Gardens, twobrocks@talktalk.net, 01395 260119 Transition Homes, Transition Town Totnes, Totnes Methodist Church, 8pm, www. transitiontowntotnes.org/ THURSDAY 7 Richard Herring: Christ on a Bike – The Second Coming, Exeter Phoenix,

Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

Gandy Street, 8pm, www.exeterphoenix.org.uk, 01392 667080 Blackheart folk music, The Flavel, Dartmouth, 01803 839530, www.theflavel.org.uk SATURDAY 9 Food, Inc - film screening, Broadclyst Victory Hall, Broadclyst, Exeter, 2pm, £2 in advance, 01392 469334/ 07974 373554, henry. gent@btinternet.com, in aid of East Devon Green Party Plymouth LETS market and get-together, 2-4pm, Notte St, Central Plymouth 01752 706552, info@plymouthlets.org.uk SUNDAY 10 Spring Fungal Foray with Dr Christian Taylor, Battery Gardens Heritage Centre, Brixham, 10am-1pm, book on 01803 606035, www. countryside-trust.org.uk History and mystery of Dartmoor, guided five mile walk, book on 01297 23822, www.devonwildlifetrust.org MONDAY 11 Spring Explorers Sharpham Sustainability, for children 8 – 11, 10am-5pm, Sharpham Estate, 01803 732542, www.sharphamtrust.org TUESDAY 12 Spring Explorers Sharpham Settlers, for children 8 – 11, 10am-5pm, Sharpham Estate, 01803 732542, www.sharphamtrust.org WEDNESDAY 13 Spring Explorers Underwater Worlds and Wonderlands, for children 8 – 11, 10am-5pm, Sharpham Estate, 01803 732542 email: admin@ sharphamtrust.org The Century of Self, Transition Town Totnes film, Dartmouth Inn, Totnes, 7.30pm, www. transitiontowntotnes.org THURSDAY 14 AND FRIDAY 15 Spring Explorers Woodland Explorers, Storytelling and Stars, Natures Calendar, for children 8 – 11, 10am5pm, Sharpham Estate,

01803 732542, www.sharphamtrust.org Easter Baking for Kids, Community Kitchen, Occombe Farm, 10.30am12pm, 2-3.30pm, 01803 606035, www.countrysidetrust.org.uk WEDNESDAY 13 Nettles & Spoons!

Workshop, 10.30am-2pm, at Underwood Discovery Centre, Beeson, 10.30am2pm, 01803 732545, www.treesforhealth.org FRIDAY 15 Fitzwilliam Quartet, Newton Abbot and District Society of Arts, at Courtenay Centre, Newton Abbot, 7.30pm, www.nadsa.co.uk Slightly Fat Features, vaudeville show, The Flavel, Dartmouth, 01803 839530, www.theflavel.org.uk SATURDAY 16 Dawn Chorus, Sharpham Estate, 6-10am, book on 01803 732542, www. sharphamtrust.org SUNDAY 17 Get to know a tree – willow, with Trees for Health, at Sharpham Estate, Totnes, £40, 01803 732545, info@treesforhealth.org TUESDAY 19 Rockpool Mission: Crazy Crab Hunt, The Seashore Centre, Goodrington, 12.30-2.30pm, no booking required, 01803 606035, www.countryside-trust.org.uk Wednesday 20 Exmouth Farmers’ Market, 9am1.30pm, Strand Gardens, twobrocks@ talktalk.net, 01395 260119 FRIDAY 22 Dig for Victory in Occombe Farm’s new wartime allotment, 10.30am – 12.30pm, free but booking essential, 01803 606035, www. countryside-trust.org.uk Navigating the night sky, Sharpham Estate, 9-11pm, 01803 732542, www.sharphamtrust.org Barn Owl Trust Eggstravaganza, The Edgemoor Hotel, Bovey Tracey, www.barnowltrust. org.uk, 01626 832466

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local people local events local food local health local environment

FRIDAY 29 UNTIL MAY 2 Barbican International Jazz & Blues Festival, festival village on Commercial Wharf, Plymouth, www. barbicanjazzandblues festival.com SATURDAY 30 UNTIL MAY 8 3 Media Mix, oil paintings, textiles and handmade books, Harbour House gallery, Kingsbridge, 01548 854708 www. harbourhouse.org.uk Foraging, natural products and fun, Sharpham Estate, 2-5pm, 01803 732542, www.sharphamtrust.org Annual plant sale, All Saints Church Hall, Exeter Road, Exmouth, www. devonwildlifetrust.org

MAY SATURDAY 2 ‘dance-at...’ Ashburton Town Hall. 13th anniversary, 8.15-11pm, http:// creativedevon.ning.com/ events Avocet Rail Line 150th anniversary, www. avocetline.org.uk/ SUNDAY 3 UNTIL MAY 5 Nocturnal Nature at Sharpham, 5-9pm, 01803 732542, www. sharphamtrust.org Continuum Movement Day with Cherionna Menzam at Totnes, http:// creativedevon.ning.com/ events Wednesday 4 Exmouth Farmers’ Market, 9am-1.30pm, Strand Gardens, twobrocks@talktalk. net, 01395 260119 THURSDAY 6 Uncut Poets: Norman Jope, 7.30pm, Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, www.exeterphoenix.org.uk, 01392 667080 SATURDAY 7 UNTIL JUNE 4 Into the Woods – Saturday Forest School for children 5-9 years, 01803 732542, www.sharphamtrust.org ‘dance-at...’ Ashburton Town Hall, Barefoot Boogie, http://creativedevon.ning. com/events

Kitchen, 10am-4pm, booking essential, 01803 606035, www.countrysidetrust.org.uk Plant sale, Poltimore House for Broadclyst Community Farm, all day, http://farm.broadclyst.org Woodland Wild Food workshop, 10.30am2.15pm, Great Hill Wood, Chillington, 01803 732545, www.treesforhealth.org MONDAY 9 UNTIL MAY 14 Collywobbles, paintings, drawings and prints by Sam Harrison, Ian Harbour and Su Scotting, Birdwood House Gallery, Totnes, 01363 877667, harrison_ sam@hotmail.com Transition Town Exmouth Umbrella Meeting, 7pm, Town Hall, all welcome, pdennes@ hotmail.com, 01395 279965 TUESDAY 10 AND WEDNESDAY 11 Nocturnal Nature at Sharpham, 5-9pm, 01803 732542, www. sharphamtrust.org UNTIL MAY 15 Diary of an Artist with Tony Hyson, Harbour House gallery, Kingsbridge, 01548 854708 www.harbourhouse.org.uk SATURDAY 14 Community Market, Crediton Town Square, www.creditonfarmersmarket. com May Fair at Exeter’s Steiner School, 11am 4pm, 01392 427200, www. exetersteinerschool.com Steeleye Span’s Peter Knight and band, fundraising folk at Harberton Parish Hall, 8pm, 01803 845251, www. harbertonfolk.co.uk The Recipe Exchange, exhibition at Spacex Gallery, Preston St, Exeter, 01392 431786, www. spacex.org.uk SUNDAY 15 Spring Wild Food Forage & Feast, with Trees for Health, 10am 2pm, Follaton Arboretum and village hall, Totnes, 01803 732545, www. treesforhealth.org Craft and Holistic Fair, Civic Hall, Totnes.

Free admission. www. bodymindspirit.org.uk.

TUESDAY 17 UNTIL MAY 22 The Roger Dennis Studio Painters, Harbour House gallery, Kingsbridge, 01548 854708 www. harbourhouse.org.uk

SUNDAY 8

Wednesday 18

Eastern Mediterranean Feast, workshop led by chef and former BBC producer Gabrielle Jackson, Occombe Farm Community

Exmouth Farmers’ Market, 9am1.30pm, Strand Gardens, twobrocks@ talktalk.net, 01395 260119

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

FRIDAY 20 Until Sunday 22 Natural Beekeeping with Phil Chandler, the Barefoot Beekeeper, at Embercombe, near Exeter, clare@embercombe.co.uk 01647 252 983 Occombe’s Wildflowers in the Evening, meet Occombe Farm Community Kitchen, 7.15-9.15pm, booking essential, 01803 606035, www.countrysidetrust.org.uk SATURDAY 21 Until Sunday 22 Sharpham Bioblitz, Sharpham Estate, 01803 732542, www.sharphamtrust.org

Diana shares her view of the island OIL paintings by Diana Booth (whose Burgh Island is pictured right) forms part of an exhibition at Harbour House gallery in Kingsbridge. 3 Media Mix also features textiles by Jill Cooper, and printmaking and handmade books by Caroline Barker, from April 30 – May 8. For details of other Harbour House exhibitions see the diary listings or visit www. harbourhouse.org.uk.

SUNDAY 22 Get to know a tree – hawthorn, with Trees for Health, at Sharpham Estate, Totnes, £40, 01803 732545, info@treesforhealth.org Mind, Body and Spirit Fair, 10am-4pm, Exmouth Pavilion, 01827 703709.

TUESDAY 24 Tom Wainwright: Pedestrian, Bristol-based writer and performer Tom Wainwright. 8pm, Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, www.exeterphoenix. org.uk, 01392 667080 WEDNESDAY 25 Until June 5 Island Artist with Emma Carter, Harbour House gallery, Kingsbridge, 01548 854708 www. harbourhouse.org.uk

www.macroschool.co.uk

THURSDAY 28 Uncut Poets, featuring Sally Douglas, 7.30pm, Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, 8pm, www. exeterphoenix.org.uk, 01392 667080

international

MACROBIOTIC

Totnes, Devon

school

Introduction to Macrobiotics Day 10 June @ £75 16 Sept

You will learn how to create delicious and healthy food!

Looking After Your Health 4 day intensive

4th - 7th October @£350 inc. lunch & supper You will leave the course with a new understanding of how to look after your health.

Tel. 01803 762598 info@macroschool.co.uk

Thursday 26 Until June 3 Exmouth Festival, www. exmouthfestival.org.uk Transition Town Exmouth Local Food Potluck Supper, Telfer Centre, Exmouth Community College (Gipsy Lane site), 7-9.30pm, free, jane.habermehl@ talktalk.net SATURDAY 28 Until June 5 English Wine Week, art, music and food (and wine), Sharpham, Totnes, www.sharpham.com, www. englishwineweek.co.uk Navigating the night sky, Sharpham Estate, 9-11pm, 01803 732542, admin@sharphamtrust.org Monday 30 The Reskilling Tent, free recycling craft workshops with Transition Town Exmouth and Exmouth LETS. 12 noon-5pm, Manor Gardens, www. transitiontownexmouth. co.uk/.

TUESDAY 31 Walk on the Wild Side, Berry Head National Nature Reserve, 10.30am12.30pm, booking essential on 01803 606035, www. countryside-trust.org.uk

Editorial: 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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local people local events local food local health local environment

What a funny old time (again) Financial tweaks that are not hitting the headlines...

SOMEHOW it always surprises me I want to write ‘what a funny old time’ whenever I start a new article. But it is again. Although ‘funny’ mightn’t be the obvious word.

The coalition government is putting into operation quite a few financial shifts, some of which they mentioned when seeking to get elected (and a few which didn’t seem to be high up their agenda).

These measures include the obvious things like the increase in VAT, the horrible fuel price increase and the consequential cuts in pay rises - one of the results of which is the loss of so many jobs.

There is also the deduction of local council assets, which will result in a cut of their services - as well as the rather capitalist assumption that things can therefore be privatised and will somehow be either cheaper or more profitable. Or both.

But in addition to these familiar and much debated measure, there are others which seem to be sliding in without too much media coverage. Things like the maximum amount you can pay into your pension annually being decreased from £255,000 to £50,000. This probably won’t have much effect on most of us (unless you manage Barclays Bank, of course), but other changes include an increase in the contributions you have to pay into final-salary pension schemes in the public sector – although retirement income may be falling.

Another change is making things even less attractive for those about to start receiving their pension.

Let me explain. Normally, when you retire you use the assets in your pension fund to purchase an annuity (which will offer a whole-of-life income).

The problem is, the amount you’ll receive depends on your current age, how long you’re likely to live and on interest rates - which are at a forty-year low and, although they’re likely to increase in the coming few months, they will still be historically low.

This is why there’s an alternative known as ‘drawdown’. This means the assets in your pension can remain invested in the stock market while you authorise a regular encashment to provide you with a monthly income. Meanwhile, the overall value of your pension will (hopefully) stay stable or grow slightly. So, when interest rates recover sufficiently, you can convert it into a more attractive annuity.

One reason why ‘drawdown’ has been so attractive is that, until recently, this was allowed on a fiveyear contract and the amounts taken out could be greater than those from annuities.

But that is now being cancelled. So, unless you’ve already done it, you no longer have the option of taking a ‘drawdown’ out of your pension. Duh! Are there more changes? Oh yes, loads. Such as the scrapping of the ‘green ISA’ plan. Yes, that really affects me - even more than the pension stuff.

Chancellor George Osborne had made a commitment to allow individuals to take a stake in the low-carbon economy – the equivalent of gilts but with the holdings funding the state-backed green investment bank. Good idea? You betcha!

Congratulations, George!

The only problem is, it isn’t going to happen - which means the green economy will probably lose the anticipated investment of two billion pounds a year.

Any particular reason for scrapping it? Well, yes, it was regarded by the Treasury as being competitive to the private sector, which they don’t want to do because they’re private sector capitalists.

Although they do allow conventional gilts…

Tired and emotional? Moi? Well, I am looking at the possibility of supporting and developing a series of green holdings which aren’t traded on the stock market – although this isn’t currently allowed by the FSA. And I am going to keep running the Making Friends With Money workshop (which isn’t about capitalism, but about authenticity). And I’ll display Robin’s Ceramics at the Midsummer Fair and elsewhere (you can check out my website www. robincurrie.co.uk). And what else? Well, I’m staying on as a genuine green IFA, so you can give me a ring for genuine financial advice. At least for the foreseeable future…

Robin Currie is an Independent Financial Adviser and a specialist in green, ethically-screened and environmentally-sensitive funds. For an appointment, call Robin direct on 01392 411630 or email robin.currie@barchestergreen.co.uk.

For details of Making Friends with Money, visit www.makingfriendswithmoney.co.uk or by calling Sharn Kern on 01392-346336

A celebration of wood GIVEN the recent outcry that forced the Government to reverse plans to sell off UK woodland, it was with impeccable timing that the Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World (CCANW) in Haldon Forest Park, near Exeter, recently announced its year-long Tree Culture programme.

Celebrating the value and beauty of trees, it coincides with the United Nations International Year of Forests, which aims to “raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.”

Work by British wood sculptor David Nash, above, features in the centre’s exhibition at Haldon, which runs until late September.

Find out more at www.ccanw.co.uk.

YES! YES! YES! NEW WORKSHOPS THIS YEAR…!

Making Friends With Money (which isn’t to do with finances, but to do with reality) Most frequent words to describe people’s reaction: EXCELLENT. PROFOUND. AWESOME. EXHAUSTING BUT EXHILARATING. INTENSE. JOYFUL AND TOUCHING. see the feedback on the website.

Not bad, eh? If you want to change your life, sign up

1 & 22 May in Exeter • 19 June & 10 July in Totnes • 24 July & 14 August in Plymouth

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Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

local people local events local food local health local environment New ways to communicate

WELCOME to Wellbeing, WITH its unique mix of professionally written stories, advertisements and classified section, Reconnect’s Wellbeing section has become THE place to find out what’s happening on the local natural health scene.

Like the rest of Reconnect, Wellbeing is entirely dependent

on YOUR input. So if you want to spread the word about the complementary health or personal development service you offer, do please get in touch.

We’ll give you all the help you need to put an advertisement together (at a price you can afford) and we’ll write the

editorial too. Call Pete now for help and advice on 01392 346342, or email adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk.

Finally, it would really help us if, when responding to advertisement or editorial, you could mention that you saw it in Reconnect. Thanks!

The Lotus Loft yoga and alternative therapy centre in Exeter.

The haven of peace in the bustling centre of a city THE newly-opened Lotus Loft is a haven of peace and tranquility in the centre of the bustling city of Exeter.

Jax Vessey is the inspiration behind the new yoga, body method and alternative therapy centre.

Her venture offers a variety of yoga classes and pilates-based classes suitable for all abilities and experience in a relaxing, calm environment overlooking the beautiful trees, plants and

grassed areas of Southernhay.

Covering the top floor of a stylish Georgian building, the centre has large windows on three sides providing space, light and warmth with a comfortable changing area and both male and female facilities.

It is fully equipped with yoga mats, blocks, bricks, straps and blankets.

Jax has been a devotee of yoga since her teens and has been

teaching in Exeter since 2002.

The Lotus Loft is available to hire on an hourly basis. Please contact Jax on 01392 437997 or email jax@lotus-loft.co.uk for more details, prices and availability.

The cost of hire includes the use of mats, blocks, bricks, straps, fitness balls and blankets. Refreshments are also available at a small additional cost.

Visit: www.lotus-loft.co.uk.

Supporting your journey - to greater awareness Find the Peace and Harmony that lies within yourself Connecting with your Soul’s Intention

07738 681483 Incorporating Energy Healing and Spiritual Counselling 07738 681 483 iessaiah@yahoo.co.uk iessaiah@yahoo.co.uk www.witnesstobeing.com

CARMELLA B’Hahn’s background is in challenging the outmoded paradigms surrounding birth and death (she is both a birth and grief counsellor with a difference).

But her new project is very different – and also came about in a very different way.

“I awoke with a lightning jolt at 4.30 one morning to a formed plan,” says Carmella, above.

“As if I was downloading information, I scribbled in the half light: ‘run Conscious Communication trainings - six oneday workshops at an affordable cost that can stand alone or as a whole, using material I have never shared before; write one, if not two, books on the subject that will be enhanced by the participants’ experiences; become a Conscious Communications Coach’.”

Although the project is new, developing communication skills are nothing new for

Carmella. She says: “I couldn’t speak as a child and because of this silent start I have made it one of my missions to learn how to communicate well. Now I want to align mind, heart, body and emotions and to become fluent in an inclusive language of unity rather than separation.

“Participants can experience the unusual material I have to offer and be part of a grand experiment to co-create new ways of communicating.”

The course will run JuneDecember this year at Bowden Community in Totnes (of which she is a co-founder).

For more details, see her advertisement, call 01803 867005, or email carmella@ solacealchemy.com.

Visit the Wellbeing Village THERE’S a chance to meet some of the wellbeing practitioners who feature in Reconnect at the Midsummer Fair at Embercombe on Saturday, June 18.

The Wellbeing Village will be a gathering of tipis and other structures where you’ll be able to try affordable tasters of natural health therapies. And all against the backdrop of the beautiful, natural surroundings.

If you would like to take a space in the Wellbeing Village (and they are VERY affordable), do please get in touch.

Email adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk, or call 01392 346342.

CONSCIOUS COMMUNICATION TRAINING Bowden House, Totnes

with Carmella B’Hahn

June 11: Introduction: New Paradigm Communication July 9: Language as Energy Sept 10: Spring-Cleaning Speech & Heart/Mind Fluency Oct 8: Authenticity, Centering & Synchronicity Nov 12: The Group Field & Other Realms Dec 10: SoulSpeak & Intimate Presence

£35 minimum per day. Come to all or any. carmella@solacealchemy.com 01803 867005 Individual Coaching Sessions also available

BE THE CHANGE YOU’RE SEARCHING FOR

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Editorial: 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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local people local events local food local health local environment

Jeff Sleeman Life and Career CoaC h Find your life’s work with the

‘Love to Work’ Seminar Six half day workshops in Exeter commencing May 2011

plus FREE Introductory public meeting Wednesday 27 April 7.30pm Exeter Central Library Music Room For information call 07977 272174 or email: contact@jeffsleeman.com www.jeffsleeman.com

The Lotus Loft

is an Exciting New Yoga, Body Method & Alternative Therapy Centre in the heart of Exeter.

Covering the top floor of a stylish Georgian Building the Lotus Loft offers a variety of Yoga and Pilates based classes suitable for all abilities in a relaxing, calm environment overlooking the beautiful trees of Southernhay.

The Lotus Loft is also available to hire on an hourly basis, please contact Jax on 01392 437997.

2nd Floor, 25 Southernhay East, Exeter, EX1 1QP

www.lotus-loft.co.uk

A unique workshop that will bring Spirit into your daily life with

Anna Gatmon, founder of Towards Wholeness with contributions from

Financial victims need spiritual advice too SPIRITUAL guidance can be as important as financial advice as we all feel the brunt of the current cuts.

With the austerity measures taking hold, more people will be struggling and having to cope with stress, depression and loss.

Healer and spiritual mentor Iessaiah (right) says that in order to help, it is essential that affordable treatment is available.

Now her private practice has been

Are we ‘too busy’ to care?

WE now have the most sophisticated means of communication, with mobile phones and the internet, but generations are gradually losing touch with each other.

Pressures of work and other commitments mean that keeping in touch with our children and our parents is getting harder.

A survey for Mature Times, who polled 3,000 members of the post-war baby boom generation, found many were “too busy” or lived too far away to see their ageing parents as often as they would like, leaving many with a sense of guilt.

With the population set to age dramatically over the coming decades, the UK is expected to have 38 people over retirement age for every 100 in work, up from the current 25.

The poll of 55-60 yearolds found one in 20 spoke to their parents only once every two or three months, while one

Rosalind J.Turner of Walking to Meet Ourselves

Live a Spiritually Guided Life A weekend workshop for women in November 2011 To find out more, contact us: Anna: contact@towardswholeness.com www.towardswholeness.com Rosalind: 0117 3309024 www.walkingtomeetourselves.co.uk 26

opened for healing as a drop-in clinic upstairs at Cafe Green Ginger in Ashburton on a donation basis.

She said: “With all

the changes occurring around us, there has been an increase in symptoms due to a shift in energy which is adjusting to a spiritual shift.

“People need both support and understanding to help them through the changes, to unwind and re-charge.”

Her drop-in clinic is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10.30am3.30pm on a minimum donation of £15.

Call 01364 649599.

Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

in 10 had not seen their parents for at least a year.

Liz Allen, who runs a befriending service in Totnes called Good Company, says it is about bringing the community feeling back into our towns. But she emphasised it was not just about families, it is about neighbours looking out for each other.

She said: “People live on their own more these days and often don’t get out much.

Neighbourliness seems to be happening less and less.”

Liz said this lack of neighbourliness was never more obvious than during the recent heavy snow.

She praised the transition movement, which she said was attempting to bring back the caring neighbourly attitude once again.

As well as offering company to the elderly through conversation and listening, or by being a partner to play cards and board games etc, Liz also runs exercise classes for the elderly.

Call Liz Allen on 07505 901390.

local people local events local food local health local environment Reiki healer works with dermatologist A SOUTH` Devon Reiki healer has worked with a dermatologist from Torbay Hospital to examine the effects of Reiki on psoriasis.

The recently completed two-year pilot study, on 30 volunteers, was led by associate specialist dermatologist Dr Tessa Frost and coordinated by Reiki healer Moira Jamieson.

Dr Frost says she believes the results were significant enough to suggest Reiki healing could benefit psoriasis but noted that this was a very small pilot study and a large randomised

trial is needed. Moira added: “I am delighted with the outcome and extremely grateful to the funders, the Newton Abbot Hospital League of Friends, for the opportunity to carry out research into using a complementary therapy to treat such a debilitating and under-publicised condition.”

She hopes the results will encourage more people who suffer with psoriasis to explore Reiki healing, either for treatment or to learn it in order to treat themselves.

Go deeper with deep breathing THERE’S something refreshingly simple and reassuringly fundamental about a therapy based entirely around one’s own breath.

And there’s a strong additional appeal to a therapy that teaches a technique or exercise you can take away and use in daily life – particularly when it offers the possibility of deeper revelations beyond the immediate physical effects.

It was these features that attracted Reconnect editor Martin Foster to Transformational Breathing.

“I was conscious of not breathing deeply enough,” said Martin. “Transformational Breathing therapist Les Elms, right, says most people use only 15-20% of their capacity – I never realised I was so shallow!”

Martin uses breathing as an entry point to his regular meditation sessions and realised there was great potential there.

He said: “The connected breath technique, which creates a circular in and out-breath cycle, came very easily with Les’s help, as did the relaxed physical state – the first level.”

In fact, there are innumerable physical benefits to be had from this opening of the chest, breathing more expansively to get more oxygen into the system, including boosting the immune system and increasing energy levels.

The second, mental/emotional level is the result of the connected breath process raising the vibrational frequency, which allows the release of buried emotions –a process which is aided by “body mapping”, using acupressure points and techniques.

“There were certainly points which felt very tender when my breath was connected,” said Martin.

“And I did become emotional during my second session and I certainly felt a sense of release afterwards; it’ll be interesting to see if that has brought about any lasting changes in me.”

The experiences and effects of the third level are more open to individual interpretation, says Les. “For some people, this connecting to breath is a connection to spirit – or to whatever people feel themselves connected to,” he said.

Martin says he will continue to use the connected breath technique.

“Just five minutes in the morning and at night is very calming,” he says. “It’s a great way of getting out of the head and into the body and good preparation for meditation too.”

Call Les Elms on 07828 566553, email leselms@ f2s.com, or visit www.breathsouthwest.com.

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Take a deep breaTh...

Learn how to use the power of your own breath to overcome stress and re-energise your body

Transformational breathing Les Elms • leselms@f2s.com www.breathsouthwest.com

07828 566553

Core Process Psychotherapy An approach that draws on modern Western Psychotherapeutic understanding and the wisdom and compassion of Buddhist psychology

Sally Purdy

Find a place to just be IN an age where there is such emphasis placed on ‘doing’ (producing, developing, achieving, improving, etc), a therapy relationship can help address the balance by providing a valuable space to ‘be’ or to explore what that might mean for us.

Sally Purdy, above, who holds an MA in Core Process Psychotherapy, says: “A good therapeutic relationship can provide: a space to safely unfold and relate our often complex experiences with a skilled and accepting ‘other’; a regular and predictable time to check-in with how we are; an opportunity to be truly heard and met in our experience; and, with time and space to reflect, a chance to breathe a measure of fresh perspective into some of our experience.”

Sally believes that one popular misconception – now breaking down – is that psychotherapy is somehow for the weak.

Says Sally: “Choosing to enter into a therapeutic relationship often requires substantial courage and a personal commitment to consciously facing and knowing oneself.”

Sally has a home-based practice in Totnes. Call her on 01803 840355.

Mark Craig MA

Colin Sutton MA

01803 865672

07811 285875 01392 758107

Totnes

Exeter & Plymouth

Registered Psychotherapists

Innersound Innersound Wellness Centre

Wellness Centre

Innersound Innersound Wellness Centre Wellness Centre

Innersound Wellness Centre

QiQiEnergy Energy Treatments Treatments&&Classes Classes Qi Energy

Exeter, 6AP Exeter, 84Longbrook Longbrook St, St, EX4 EX4 6AP Qi84 Energy Treatments & Classes Qi Energy +44(0) (0) 1392433 433 330 330 +44 Treatments & 1392 Classes Treatments & Classes Exeter,www.innersound.org 84 Longbrook St, EX4 6AP www.innersound.org Exeter, 84Longbrook Longbrook St, 6AP EX4 6AP Exeter, 84 St, EX4 +44 (0) 1392 433 330 +44(0) (0)1392 1392 +44 433433 330330 www.innersound.org www.innersound.org www.innersound.org

Editorial: 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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local people local events local food local health local environment Mana Harmony

Profound Holistic Healing Empowering Love Peace Well-being Personal & Spiritual Development Workshops 1-1( by Donation)

Lin Lovel (Natural Healer & Personal Development Facilitator) (MA,PGDip,CQSW,Dip PA, Cert Ed) Tel 01752 301078 07948756104 email mana_harmony@live.com www.manaharmony.co.uk Radiate With Aloha (Love)

Gently releases stress and tension held in the body.

Stimulates the body to heal itself.

Hugh Cochrane

Sessions in Totnes & Exeter www.bsrdevon.co.uk Please call 07941 612419

Treatment offers help for heroes HEROES returning from war zones are being offered free chiropractic care from a charity formed only last September.

South Devon chiropractor Gareth Noble, based in Kingskerswell, near Newton Abbot, has joined the team known as Hands for Heroes - Free Chiropractic Care for War Veterans.

The new initiative aims to raise more than £3 million worth of free chiropractic care for serving and retired veterans who have been involved in the Iraq and Afghanistan operations.

The charity was started last September by a group of chiropractic patients, including servicemen and women, who knew there were many benefits both mental and physical to this natural, non-invasive type of health care.

Gareth Noble, of Noble Chiropractic, says he thought the charity made good sense because he had seen so many people benefit from the treatment and he has a passion for helping people improve their quality of life.

For details of the charity visit www. handsforheroes.org or call Gareth on 01803 873746.

Julie Potter in the Lemon Acupuncture Clinic

A slice of life at Lemon THE Lemon Acupuncture Clinic in Newton Abbot celebrated its first anniversary in March this year.

Founded by Julie Potter, who practises there with fellow acupuncturist Darren Stoyle (right), it has already grown into a natural health centre, offering a range of therapies - particularly good news for locals who might be missing the recently closed Newton Abbot Natural Health Centre.

Julie and Darren studied acupuncture at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine in Reading, and are licensed to practice Traditional Chinese Medicine and Five Element Acupuncture.

Julie is also a licensed homeopath and Darren practises Thai Yoga Massage, Tui Na Massage, and is a Reiki Master.

The Lemon Acupuncture Clinic is also home to Anne Ashton, founder of the Newton Abbot Health Centre, who offers counselling, psychotherapy and

supervision, and Heather Conway offering homeopathy.

Free initial discussions are available, and also 30 minute taster sessions for £10 in some therapies.

Call Julie Potter on 01626 212382 (www. lemon-acupuncture. co.uk), Darren Stoyle on 07940 174076 (www.darrenstoyle. co.uk), Anne Ashton on 07896 968518, or Heather Conway on 01626 779054 (www. a2zhomeopathy.co.uk).

Finding sustenance in mindfulness SUSTAINING Ourselves With Mindfulness is a four-day residential course at Sharpham House, near Totnes, for anyone who feels “in need of rest, renewal, reflection and inspiration”.

Course leader Sarah Delfont defines mindfulness as “a practice of meditative awareness of the present moment” and says the course is suitable for those new to mindfulness and those wishing to refresh their skills.

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Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

She said: “It integrates mindfulness practices with outdoor activity and time to step out of the competing demands of life, allowing our creative inner-resources to regain momentum.”

The next course is from May 11-15 and costs £450, with concessionary places available for the voluntary sector, education and health care professions.

Find out more on the Sharpham Trust website, at www.sharphamtrust. org, or call 01803 732542.

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people

events

food

Town hosts three MBS fairs Training for vital pre and FOR anyone with an interest in alternative therapies or the paranormal, Exmouth Pavilion will be the post-op care place to visit during three Mind, Body and Spirit events being staged this year.

Organiser Kath Groom is bringing her friendly team of psychics, clairvoyants, mediums, numerologists, aura photographers and trade exhibitors to the town on three Sundays in May, July and August and is looking for other local people who wish to book a stall.

A theme of either earth, air, water or fire will run through each of the events and each is supporting a charity linked to that theme. On May 22 it is Help for Heroes, representing earth. July 3 is in aid of the Devon Air Ambulance representing air and August 28 is for the RNLI representing water.

Said Kath: “We are dedicated and committed to bringing awareness, enlightenment and fun throughout our events, and we invite you to join us.

“Our aim is to offer high quality service and a diverse range of attractions by bringing together some of the most skilled, talented and gifted mediums, clairvoyants, therapists and exhibitors at our events.”

Stall holder enquiries welcome on 01827 703709 or 07798 933136 email kath.groom@ntlworld.com or www.mbsevents.co

Healing those cut love ties THERE’S more to love than meets the eye And unconditional love is such a powerful force it causes us to radiate a pulsating energy from our core (Chakra) which is picked up as magnetic charges by those close to us, says healer Lin Lovel, pictured right.

Lin, a natural intuitive energy healer and tutor, says that scientific research shows we connect to those we love by an invisible energy cord that attaches to the heart.

She says: “The longer we love, the stronger the cord becomes. When we break the cord through cutting off our love ties, we may experience pain on an emotional and physical level. Dis-ease literally comes from a lack of love.”

Lin has holistic personal and spiritual development courses running throughout the year.

Go to: www.manaharmony.co.uk email linlovel@hotmail.com. Tel 01752 301078.

GOOD post-operative rehabilitation techniques – and , ideally, strengthening and balancing before the op too – can have a dramatic effect on the outcome, says Totnesbased injury and rehabilitation specialist Michael Newman.

He said: “Surgery will often take place without any preoperative exercises being given to the patient, and with little post-op consultation between surgeon and therapist . This can reduce the success of the operation and make it difficult to regain full function after the op.”

Michael has been flown to US, Hong Kong and Europe to treat professional athletes – before and after ops and in full consultation with the surgeons.

“It has shown me just how much can be done,” says Michael.

In the autumn, Michael is running a Level 4 Diploma in Remedial and Sports Injury Rehabilitation, aimed at any practitioners working with injuries, such as massage therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors.

Call 01803 866259, or visit www.devon schoolofsportsmassage .co.uk.

The subtle process of energetic diagnosis DIAGNOSIS is obviously a crucial stage in the treatment of any condition. And in acupuncture it’s a subtle process that continues well into the treatment itself.

Acupuncturist Mark Edlund-Plater explained how he works in relation to a recent case – a man we’ll call John, who has Parkinson’s Disease.

He said: “As with every new client, I first formed a picture based on the Chinese medical model – for example, there was a yin deficiency of the kidney and liver, which is often the case with Parkinson’s.

“John’s constitution type is fire and he had low fire energy, resulting in problems with circulation, temperature regulation and the nervous system.

Also as expected with Parkinson’s, his kidney energy was low.”

As Mark worked on a course of treatment, he continued to assess John’s condition in great detail,

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each time refining his treatment.

“I was getting a sharper picture all the time,” said Mark. “After two or three appointments, the precise nature of his condition had become crystal clear, making the treatment easier – and, therefore, more effective.

“After six treatments, John said his condition had improved by 40% – a dramatic and satisfying result for a degenerative illness like Parkinson’s for which the prognosis was poor.”

Mark, who works at Totnes Natural Health Centre and Fountain For Health in Teignmouth, can apply the same system of diagnosis and treatment to any condition and has successfully treated a wide range of conditions, including headaches, neck and back problems, stress, depression, digestive disorders, PMS and arthritis. Call him on 01803 862803/07506 179808, or email mark.edlundplater@gmail.com

health

environment

Psychotherapy Plymouth ‘Learning is ever in the freshness of its youth, even for the old’

Waterloo Well-Being Centre, 191 Devonport Road, Stoke, Plymouth PL1 5RN.

Aeschylus

THERAPY ROOMS TO RENT IN PLYMOUTH Rooms to rent in newly refurbished therapy centre in Plymouth.

Suitable for both individual and group therapy.

We welcome therapists who are passionate about their work and looking for a dedicated and professional therapeutic environment.

To rent space call 07966003872 or email info@psychotherapyplymouth.co.uk

NATURAL HEALTH IN NEWTON ABBOT Julie Potter BSc (Hons), MBAcC, RSHom Traditional and Five Element Acupuncture Homeopathy 01626 212382 www.lemon-acupuncture.co.uk

Darren Stoyle

BSc (Hons), MBAcC Traditional and Five Element Acupuncture Thai Yoga Massage, Tui Na Massage 07940 174076 www.darrenstoyle.co.uk

Lemon Acupuncture Clinic 19 Lemon Road, Newton Abbot TQ12 2BA

My pain started to decrease immediately. Friends were surprised mostly, then interested and amazed at the results when told of the very gentle treatment.

Please try it, this is the route to take, I did and I’m glad. jean, 65

50% OFF

initial consultation Includes: Full exam ■■ case history ■■ digital scan ■■ follow up appointment ■■

www.noblechiropractic.co.uk Tel : 01803 873746 Email : info@noblechiropractic.co.uk 23a Fore Street | Kingskerswell | Devon FREE ample parking.

Early morning & late evening appointments.

Registered with the General Chiropractic Council.

Member of the United Chiropractic Association.

Editorial: 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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local people local events local food local health local environment Recognition and release

TRAINING COURSES Y. Also Retreats abroad and (open to all)

RIQTA

RIQTA

&

FOR PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING TRAINING COURSES regular workshops – TORQUAY. Also Retreats abroad and Pilgrimages to the Holy Land. (open to all)

&

FOR COUNSELLING TRAINING COURSES g skills & Concepts – part timePROFESSIONAL – Level 2 – introduction to counselling skills & Concepts – part time – Retreats Skills – part timeAlso – 10 months –

& 10 regular workshops – TORQUAY. weeks – commencing May 2011 abroad and Pilgrimages to the Holy Land. (open to all) Level 3 – Certificate in Counselling Skills – part time – 10 months – RIQTA

commencing July 2011

FOR PROFESSIONAL TRAININGskills COURSES& Concepts & Level 2 – introduction toCOUNSELLING counselling t time. – commencing May 2011 regular workshops – TORQUAY. Also Retreats abroad and Certificate in CBT – 10 part time. – commencing May 2011 part time – 10 toweeks – months commencing Pilgrimages the Holy Land. (open to all) May 2011

practice of Counselling – part e 2011

Children & Young people – 12 eptember 2011

urses, or any of our workshops,

iqta.co.uk – 01803 315075

Level2 4– Diploma in The theory andskills practice of Counselling – part introduction to counselling & Concepts – part time – LevelLevel 3 –21Certificate in Counselling Skills time – commencing 10 weeks months – commencing May 2011June 2011 part time – 10 months – commencing July 2011 Children &time Young Specialist Diploma in in Counselling CounsellingSkills Level 3 – Certificate – part – 10people months– –12 months part time.

– commencing September 2011 commencing July 2011 Certificate in CBT

10 months part time commencing 2011 For further on these or May any of our workshops, Certificate in information CBT – 10–months partcourses, time. – commencing May 2011 contact:

Level 4 Diploma The theory and practice of Counselling – part Level 4 Diploma in The in theory and practice of Counselling Info.riqta@btconnect.com – www.riqta.co.uk – 01803 315075 time 21 months – commencing June 2011 r 2011 and February 2012 part time 21 months – commencing June 2011

safe pilgrimage to the HOLY Holy Land Pilgrimage – October 2011 and February 2012 Specialist Diploma in Counselling Children & Young people – 12 nal and/or professional NEW! in We Counselling can now offer a 10 day safe pilgrimage to the HOLY Diploma Children months part time. – commencing September 2011 & Young people ligious beliefs, and forSpecialist those who LAND – this can be for your personal and/or professional group, sightseeing and learning 12 monthsFor part time commencing September development, for–those who have religious beliefs, and for2011 those who further information on these courses, or any of our workshops, e - with a full itinery and tour wish to tour Israel as part of a safe group, sightseeing and learning contact: e – for further details contact history with wonderful architecture with a full itinery and For further information on these courses, Info.riqta@btconnect.com – www.riqta.co.uk – 01803 315075 tour nnect.com guide – It is an all inclusive package – for further details contact or01803 any 315075 of our workshops, contact: or info.riqta@btconnect.com Holy Land Pilgrimage – October 2011 and February 2012

Info.riqta@btconnect.com www.riqta.co.uk – 01803 315075 NEW! We can now – offer a 10 day safe pilgrimage to the HOLY LAND – this can be for your personal and/or professional development, those who have religious beliefs, and for those who HOLYfor LAND PILGRImAGE wish to tour Israel as part of a safe group, sightseeing and learning October 2011 and February 2012 history with wonderful architecture - with a full itinery and tour guideoffer – It is a an10 all inclusive package – for further contactLAND now day safe pilgrimage to details the HOLY 01803 315075 or info.riqta@btconnect.com

NEW! We can – this can be for your personal and/or professional development, for those who have religious beliefs, and for those who wish to tour Israel as part of a safe group, sightseeing and learning history with wonderful architecture - with a full itinerary and tour guide It is an all inclusive package – for further details contact 01803 315075 or info.riqta@btconnect.com

Hélène Demetriades

Experienced Transpersonal Psychotherapist & Counsellor BACP Accred.

Metamorphic Technique Practitioner Counselling & Psychotherapy I help you to move through patterns of self-rejection to come home to yourself.

Releasing body stress IF ever a treatment was perfectly named, Body Stress Release (BSR) is surely it.

BSR practitioner Hugh Cochrane, above, explains that over time our body tends to lock-up to protect itself from life’s stress overloads – whether big one-off events like car crashes or gradual processes such as continual bad posture.

Says Hugh: “This tension can often persist for years and even interfere with the nervous system, contributing to other problems like migraines, back pain or high blood pressure.

“Body Stress Release is a gentle complementary therapy that assists with the release of built-up stress, tension and all sorts of associated problems.”

Hugh, who offers sessions in Totnes and Exeter, trained at the BSR Academy in South Africa, where it was originated more than 20 years ago.

Call him on 07941 612419, or visit www. bsrdevon.co.uk.

“Hélène works with infinite compassion and patience, listening on levels which I could never begin to imagine myself. She becomes the most magical mirror in which I can see myself more clearly” Metamorphic Technique A simple practice in which I use a light touch on the sides of your feet, hands and head, acting as a catalyst to your life-force.

“The philosophy of the Metamorphic Technique of bringing about one’s potential in life has manifested itself in mine in a profound way within the last year.”

Location: Dartington www.helenedemetriades.co.uk Tel: 01803 868 655

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SO much of our personality is made up of our past and so many of our thoughts, beliefs and conditioned patterns of behaviour are hemming us in and hampering our lives.

According to Helene Demetriades, below, if we can recognise these perceived limitations and release them, we give ourselves much-needed breathing space and freedom to live our lives.

Helene works as a transpersonal psychotherapist and counsellor and is also a Metamorphic Technique practitioner. She believes we are ruled by what has happened to us in our lives so far.

She says: “If we stop, just for a moment, and leave everything behind, we discover, quite simply, a ground of being in which all these risings and fallings form and dissolve.

“Having made this discovery our lives open up in a whole new way. There is a new lightness and a new depth of participation in life.”

As a Metamorphic Technique practitioner Helene uses a light touch on the feet, hands and head, acting as a catalyst to a recipient’s life force.

Call Helene, who works in Dartington. on 01803 868655, or visit www. helenedemetriades. co.uk.

Find the leader inside you FEW of us would question our need for mentors, leaders and healers. But Yehuda Tagar, founder of Psychophonetics, says we all have the potential to find those roles within ourselves.

“Psychophonetics is based on Rudolf Steiner’s Psychosophy,” says Yehuda. “It is a new form of holistic counselling, coaching and psychotherapy; a unique method of enhancing self-awareness and renewing the whole human being - body, life energy, soul and spirit.”

The Persephone Institute of Psychophonetics is running a talk and experiential workshop, Introduction to Psychophonetics, in South Devon (venue to be confirmed) on June 10 and 11.

The new foundation year started in March, in Stroud, Gloucestershire, but late entry is possible through the introductory weekend on June 17, 18 and 19. The second intensive starts shortly after on June 21.

Call 07920 100794, email uk@psychophonetics. com, or visit www.psychophonetics.co.uk.

Core Process Psychotherapy supportive, respectful and confidential.

Sally Purdy MA, B.Soc.Sc. Welcoming your enquiries on:

(01803) 840355 • Some concessions currently available • Insured • Working toward UKCP accreditation

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

local people local events local food local health local environment

School makes good move THE British School of Homoeopathy took a major step by moving its HQ from Bath to Exeter - but the relocation has proved to be highly successful.

The school has integrated with an already busy Exeter Natural Health Centre in Queen Street, Exeter.

Mo Morrish explained that their fouryear professional training course runs over 11 teaching weekends a year, with students being able to use the school throughout the month for tutorial support, supervision and extra clinical work.

Students can also use the school’s extensive library for quiet study.

Said Mo: “Our school has been

established 25 years and offers excellence in clinical training in homoeopathy and is fully accredited with the Society of Homeopaths.

“Our aim is to provide students with the skills and tools they need to build healthy and busy practices.”

The school is now interviewing for new students for the academic year beginning in September and is offering two taster days on Sunday April 17 and Sunday June 12 when prospective students can meet the staff and students and sit in on some of the classes. There is also a first aid workshop on Friday May 13.

Call Mo or Ali Morrish on 01392 422555 or email bsk@enhc.org.

TRAINING/CPD FOR BODYWORK THERAPISTS With top professional tutor Michael Newman D.Ac,L.C.S.P (Phy)

FORTHCOMING COURSES INCLUDE: Pressure points and moxibustion therapy - May 14 Rehabilitation exercises for specific injuries - July 2 Coming soon: beginners’ massage course.

All courses in Exeter or Totnes - full details at www.devonschoolofsportsmassage.co.uk

DEVON SCHOOL OF SPORTS MASSAGE

01803 866259 / 0784 6614420

info@devonschoolofsportsmassage.co.uk

01803 862803 | 07506 179 808 | mark.edlundplater@gmail.com

Press put under pressure HOW do you convince the masses of the efficacy of your alternative treatment – particularly if it’s one where the sceptics have a head start?

What better way than to get a journalist on your couch and send him away converted to your cause with the tools to spread the word.

After a phone call to Reconnect Towers and a good many questions from commercial editor Pete Hardy, he was on his way into Exeter to see Qi Master Ben Burningham of Innersound.

Just 15 minutes on the couch and all the creaks and cracks earned during 58 years of having a nose to the grindstone were beginning to reveal themselves.

Qi treatment comes from Korea where Ben did his training, and dates back thousands of years.

Ben uses acupressure and sound to stimulate blood circulation and to unblock energy flows.

“He began with my stomach, which was initially quite uncomfortable,” said Pete.

“Soon it was clear that either my diet or lifestyle - or both - were giving Ben some unwelcome side effects.

“Whatever he had discovered deep in my lower abdomen was manifesting itself in burps and

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

belches from Ben. He told me this was all part of the process of releasing and unblocking.”

The treatment is given over about 15 minutes, lying down fully clothed, and involves quite forceful prodding of the fingers into the body’s main energy points on the abdomen, arms, legs, back, shoulders and neck.

Trained practitioners such as Ben, who are referred to as Masters, also use a whooshing sound as they probe. It’s this whooshing or whistling which is most likely to bring out the sceptics.

But as Ben explained, it’s the sound that helps to direct the energy impulses from the Master into organs and cells and helps to clear blockages and restore energetic balance.

Said Pete: “After the treatment I felt calm and a little dizzy. The following day I was a little drowsy but within 48 hours my energy levels were much improved.

“Like many therapies – acupuncture included – I think the patient will benefit from repeated treatments, so a return visit is on the cards.”

Contact Ben at exeter@ innersound.org. 01392 433330. www.innersound.org.

PsychotheraPist anorexia - DePression - Phobic anxiety

Andy White

bsocsci (Psych) Dip rF. Dip Psychosynthesis.

Dip adv hiPs. Dip adv ex Psych. andy is a highly qualified psychotherapist with over 20 years’ experience. andy is a published author - Going Mad to stay sane. a psychology of self- destructiveness (Duckworth 1996) and the Living Dream (self and society 2001). andy is also an internationally recognised teacher and is currently director of the Gnostic circle, a school of philosophy and psychology based in exeter, which runs a variety of workshops for the general public and a one-year diploma in transpersonal Psychology. andy has premises in chulmleigh and exeter 01769 581 720

Editorial: 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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local people local events local food local health local environment Arts & Health

Counselling

INSIDEr Art

We are running the following courses in Exeter in 2011 ART IN MENTAL HEALTH: A Foundation Course in Art Therapy ARTS & HEALTH COURSE: Participatory Visual Arts Short courses in Sandtray Therapy, Dance Movement Therapy, Creative Writing and Narrative & Story Making Approaches For more information visit the website www.insiderart.org.uk or e-mail info@insiderart.org.uk Befriending

Health centres

Good Company

Exeter Mind and Body Clinic

A refreshing new service for Central Exeter

Are you or someone you know feeling isolated or in need of company?

I can offer conversation and listening, reading aloud, computer help, music appreciation or be a games partner.

Would you like to be a part of it?

Liz Allen - 07505 901390

There is still some rental availability at this discreet and well-managed venue with two well appointed therapy rooms and a group/training room.

Contact for more information: Cathy Towers 01395 278 437 or 07989 564660 www.exetermindandbody.com

Counselling

healing

Totnes area • Free initial interview •Reasonable rates • CRB checked

Cathrin Wildwood Sexuality Therapist

Counselling individuals and couples for any issues related to sex, intimacy and relationships www.sexualitytherapist.co.uk hello@ sexualitytherapist.co.uk Tel: 07870 888141

Cave House Healing Retreat June / July and September A magical week of nurturing, healing and inner exploration in a cave house in rural Andalucia. Be totally looked after, relax and connect with your inner wisdom under the guidance of David Boldick a very experienced healer and teacher.

Visits to lakes, mountains and local markets.

Email:davidboldick@hotmail.com phone 07831 336762 www.cavehealingretreat.com

hypnosis

LONDONCOLLEGE COLLEGE OF OF LONDON CLINICAL HYPNOSIS CLINICAL HYPNOSIS Exeter CPPD inExeter Clinical Hypnosis Course dates available on line PG Cert - MSc AllStart coursesDate: accredited

by Thames Valley September 24th University 2009 For more information, and to get a prospectus visit the website www.lcch.co.uk Phone 01297 20144

CPPD in Clinical Hypnosis

hypnotherapy

Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy Clinical Hypnotherapy

Helping you to take control of your life

Help with Anxiety, Depression, Habits, Phobias, Confidence, Insomnia, Pain and more Clinics in: Exeter ~ Sidmouth ~ Axminster ~ Seaton

PG Cert - MSc

Michelle Hague BA(Hons)Cert ed D Hyp PDC Hyp PDCBHyp MBSCH 01297 20144 or 07761 773563 www.takecontrolofyourlife.co.uk

Advertising

Journeying

All courses accredited by Thames Valley University

For more information, and to Grow your business get a prospectus visit the with Reconnect website www.lcch.co.uk advertisement this size can Phone An 01297 20144 cost just £27.50 a month 5% discount for prompt payment FREE editorial and FREE ad on our website Find out just how easy it is call us now on 01392 346342 or email adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

A Journey Round the Year 2011

The Bridge between Shamanism and Therapy A series of Journeying Days following the natural cycle of the year. This course gives you a gentle space, time and powerful techniques to access your connection with the earth and with yourself allowing you to deepen your sense of strength, purpose, grounding and direction.

From 10 am to 4.30 pm, at the Friends’ Meeting House, Pavilion Place, Exeter Saturdays, 5 Feb, 12 March, 14 May, 11 June, 6 Aug, 24 Sept - 2011 Cost: £50 per day, £40 per day if four or more days are booked together.

Some concessions available.

To book please contact: Louise Page, Tel: 01392 860509, E-mail: louise.page@campion.f2s.com

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www.reconnectonline.co.uk

local people local events local food local health local environment Lineage adverts Qigong

QIGONG Summer Camp on Dartmoor from August 5-14 with Brad Richecoeur, Daverick Leggett and Friends. A fantastic nine days camping in a stunning meadow, on the edge of the moor, with a great group of people, playing with Qigong, community, nature, celebration, clear night skies, long summer days and awesome food. Telephone: 0845 3305086 or visit www.qigong-southwest.co.uk for more information.

Psychotherapy

EXPERIENCED and qualified psychotherapist welcomes individuals and couples for confidential sessions in Halberton near Totnes. Lucia Capaldi BA (hons) UKCP. For an initial free meeting call 01803 840424 mob: 07809 441 519. www.luciacapaldipsychotherapy-devon.co.uk.

Property for sale

PRETTY two bedroom semi-detached stone cottage in quiet hamlet in rural Brittany, with attached stone building for possible two bed conversion and large barn set in two acres. 68,000 euros. Contact 07896123473 or abhayajit@buddhafield.com.

Gardening services

SHIRLEY MARTIN Gardening - garden design, planting plans and maintenance.

South Devon area. Contact Shirley on 01803 732134.

WORKSHOPS AND COURSES DIARY Every Tuesday

QIGONG at The Mint Methodist Church with Brad Richecoeur, 5.30-7pm.

Suitable for all levels. 0845 3305086 www.qigong-southwest.co.uk.

Every Friday

QIGONG at St Johns Church Hall, Totnes with Brad Richecoeur, 10-11.30am. Suitable for all levels.

0845 3305086 www.qigong-southwest.co.uk Every Tues and Thurs

DROP-IN Healing Clinic on Tues and Thurs see Iessaiah Upstairs, Cafe Green Ginger, Ashburton; min donation £15, between 10.30am - 3.30pm. 01364 649599

May May TBC

LOVE to Work Seminar by Jeff Sleeman.

Six half-day workshops in Exeter.

For information call 07977 272174.

Email: contact@jeffsleeman.com www.jeffsleeman.com Friday 6 - Sunday 8

WILD FOOD and seaweed residential, Monkton Wyld Court, Charmouth, Dorset, £215, www.monktonwyldcourt.org

April

Saturday 7 – Saturday June 4.

Monday – Friday 11-15

SATURDAY Forest School. Children aged 5-9.

Six week course from wild food to fire lighting and making pinch pots. With a free taster on May 7 - £90/six sessions. Sharpham Outdoors. www.sharphamtrust.org. Erica tel 01803 732543 or email admin@sharphamtrust.org

SPRING Explorers, children 8-11 from 10am to 5pm. Full days of Easter holiday fun. £25/day plus £10 sleepover. Sharpham Outdoors. www.sharphamtrust.org.

Erica tel 01803 732543 or email admin@sharphamtrust.org Saturday 16

WILD FOOD forage and feast 10am-4pm, 37 Smithfields, Totnes, £30, www.wildhearth.co.uk Saturday 16

CHILD Bereavement & the Impact of Grief

by Patricia Williams, Iron Mill Institute, Exeter. Call 01392 219300, or email info@ironmill.info for more information.

Monday 25 - Wednesday 27

THE Art of Qi – Qigong and The Jian (Sword) From £199 to £249. Sharpham House, Totnes, Devon. Learn to connect with Qigong and become ‘at one’ with the Tai Chi sword.

Wednesday 27

LIFE and Career Coach Jeff Sleeman.

Free introductory public meeting, 7.30pm Exeter Central Library Music Room.

Saturday 30

QIGONG Sword workshop at South Brent Village Hall with Brad Richecoeur and Juliet Odgers 10am-5pm. Call 0845 3305086 or visit www.qigong-southwest.co.uk for more info.

Saturday 14

TRAINING/CPD for bodywork therapists – pressure points and moxibustion therapy, Exeter or Totnes. Devon School of Sports Massage. 01803 866259 / 0784 6614420. info@devonschoolofsportsmassage.co.uk Saturday 14 Sunday 15

PASSIONATE presence events with Katheryn Trenshaw. 01803 863552 info@ktrenshaw.com. www.ktrenshaw.com Saturday 21

TRANSACTIONAL analysis taster day

by Julie Hewson. Iron Mill Institute, Exeter.

Tel: 01392 219300. info@ironmill.info Saturday 21 - Sunday 22

TWO inspiring days of learning and experiencing Shiatsu. The Devon School of Shiatsu, Totnes. Tel: 01803 762593.

Email: info@devonshiatsu.co.uk Monday 23 - Sunday 29

QIGONG Sword Retreat with Master Zhixing Wang at Seale Hayne, nr Newton Abbot.

0845 3305086 www.qigong-southwest.co.uk

the green living magazine for Exeter, Plymouth and South Devon

Reach out to the heart of South Devon with an advert in Reconnect Placing a lineage ad in our Wellbeing section could not be easier just fill in this form and send it to us. Your ad can cost as little as £17.

Your wording ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Name .................................................................................................. Tel .......................................................................................................

Lineage ads cost 85p a word - minimum of 20 words. Count up words and send us a cheque payable to Reconnect Magazine to 2 Withall’s Gardens, Lympstone EX8 5JH or leave your number and we’ll call you to pay by card.

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Editorial: 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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local people local events local food local health local environment

Living on less...

Never mind the width, feel the quality...

NOW I really don’t want to waste your time. There’s probably loads you should be doing instead of reading this.

So, if you’re happily working really long hours, thriving on all that pressure, and earning loads of money that you spend on all manner of goods and holidays, and you find that whole process really satisfying and joyful… please move along.

There’s nothing to see here.

If, on the other hand, you’re not at all happy about working really long hours, you’re struggling under the stress of it all, and much of your money seems to go on goods, services and holidays as compensation for (or as an escape from) a life that is ultimately dissatisfying and unrewarding, read on...

This could be the day things start to change.

Or at least the day you start to think maybe they could.

I should say right away, I am not a lifecoach, qualified or otherwise.

Neither do I pretend to offer any great spiritual wisdom - or even any minor spiritual wisdom.

And I certainly don’t have all the answers – to anything at all.

Ask my accountant.

All I offer is my own life experiences (from big-buck, high-consumption lifestyle to hugely satisfying shoestring existence), a bookcase and hard-drive stuffed with research material (I’ve been gathering information on this subject for some years now) and daily contact, through Reconnect, with a whole load of other people who

Feeling the financial pinch? In the first of a new series of regular articles, MARTIN FOSTER argues that maybe life should be more about the things we really value than the things we’re working so hard to buy...

Poor reception... recognise the value of a ‘spend less, live more’ philosophy.

On this page in each issue, I plan to expand a little, and probably ramble on a great deal, about ways of creating and living a less material, more sustainable lifestyle; a way of living that is more creative and less destructive, more sustainable and less wasteful and more fun and less stressful. Most of the time.

It’s never going to be stress-free, of course. Who would want to live like that? Life is a multi-stranded series of ups and downs, after all, and some of it we have little or no control over anyway. It’s that unpredictability that keeps things exciting.

But shifting the emphasis from quantity to quality of life does give

you back some of the power that big business, big markets and big politics have taken away. Live on less, free yourself from the insatiable demands of mainstream consumerism, and you will definitely feel empowered. Ok, you won’t be able to afford (or be inclined to take on the necessary credit to buy) flashy new three-piece suites or the latest model of car (actually a carefully repackaged version of the previous model). But how important is that, really?

Spend less money on buying a lifestyle and more time engaging with family, friends and the community around you and you won’t have time, or the inclination, for luxury product shopping – you’ll have people to see, stuff to create, things to make happen.

But before I go any further, and before you turn the page saying ‘Yeah, right, all very worthy but I’m not giving up books and good food and great music and creating a lovely home to live like a monk, you sad peasant’ (or something similar – maybe you’re a little more charitable), just hold on a minute.

I am not saying we should forgo all material comfort, cut ourselves off from modern culture or somehow fight the natural drive to nest-build.

Far from it.

I’m simply suggesting we can enjoy the really good things in life - fine local produce, a welcoming and truly homely home, the wealth of entertaining and inspiring arts, all of it – without buying it all off the peg, off the shelf or off the internet

(or, even, off the back of a lorry).

And, therefore, without having to do a job we don’t like to finance the whole process.

Around now, you might be wondering if all this anticonsumerism is really such a wise policy for a magazine funded entirely by advertising – am I not advocating amputation of the very limb that proffers sustenance, perhaps?

Well, no, because I’m not saying don’t buy stuff, I’m saying buy less stuff. And, more importantly, buy stuff that’s got some integrity – made using sustainable materials by people who put some skill and love into the process; stuff grown or made by local people; stuff that will last and/or can be repaired.

And, of course, stuff that’s been recycled, restored or repaired.

So there you have it – or at least you have an introduction to it. Future issues will look at various aspects of life, from The Womble Principle to time management (I know, I know, but really it’s not dull and it will work for you); from Cut-price Culture to Cooking with children (organic ones, obviously); from DIMY (do-it-mostlyyourself) to green(er) motoring.

If (sorry, when) I get organised enough to sort a FaceBook page, you’ll be able to follow, and contribute to, more ramblings there.

If not, or in the meantime, do please email thoughts, reactions and threats to editor@reconnectonline.co.uk.

Next time, m’dears.

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people

events

food

health

environment

THE GRANARY at WoolsGRovE CouRT the complete Mid Devon workshop/conference venue

Glorious Mid Devon location * Traditional building full of character * Modern facilities * Kitchen and reception areas * Plenty of parking * B&B for residential courses * Excellent public transport links * Perfect for workshops and conferences * Available by the hour, day or week/end * Two minutes to country inn

and qigong

for energy and well being

The Art Of Qi – Qigong and The Jian (Sword) 25th to 27th April.

From £199 to £249.

Sharpham House, Totnes, Devon Learn to connect with Qigong and become ‘at one’ with the Tai Chi sword.

FREE trial class offer

Woolsgrove Court Health Centre, near Crediton

01363 84226 www.woolsgrovecourt.co.uk

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Try a free class with us anytime in Exeter, Plymouth, Newton Abbot, Kingsbridge, Kingsteignton, Honiton, Totnes, Okehampton or Pensilver (Cornwall).

The Big Chi – Tai Chi, Qigong and Ancient Wisdom 8th to 11th July.

From £55 to £349.

Sharpham House, Totnes, Devon A long weekend celebration with lots of Tai Chi and related disciplines.

Day tickets, cmaping and residential places available.

See us on Body in Balance TV (Sky 275)

www.taichination.com T: 0845 257 2142

Editorial: 01392 346204 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

35

STILL INTERESTED IN MAKING MONEY AND SUPPORTING THE ENVIRONMENT? Quite right too! Virtually all of us need genuine, authentic financial products rather than things that are about making a profit, irrespective of what it costs the rest of the world.

And, interestingly, the good ethical investments out-perform the sector average.

So if you want proper advice about finances and have personal ethics and environmental criteria, guess what?

Give me a call!

That’s me. Robin.

The Green Money Man in the West of England who runs wonderful workshops and does bizarre ceramics.

Still a qualified IFA and still available!

BARCHESTER GREEN INVESTMENTS SERIOUS ABOUT MONEY, SERIOUS ABOUT LIFE ON EA RTH

Call Robin Currie on 01392 411630 15 Sylvan Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 6EW • mob: 07973-533352 e-mail: robin.currie@barchestergreen.co.uk • www.barchestergreen.co.uk workshop website: www.makingfriendswithmoney.co.uk ‘wierd ceramics’ website: www.robincurrie.co.uk www.greenmoneyman.com 36

Independent Financial Advisers regulated by the Financial Services Authority.