Our “initiating group” is collection of about a dozen of us from diverse fields who got together because we had a common insight: that the world needs to pay attention to our oil dependency and make some significant changes soon, or things are going to get out of control in the very near future. For some of us, the driving force was on the knowledge that oil is running out (hence the term “peak oil”), and that there are some pretty hefty economic and social imbalances that will occur when it does. For others, the passion was more about the negative environmental impact our petroleum dependency has been creating (climate change). For others (like myself), while the other two areas are certainly a part of my personal concern, it is more of a spiritual issue. And by spiritual, I simply mean that has to do with our own humanity.

Our dependency upon oil has made us disconnected from the Earth and the ultimate Source of Creation in just so many ways. Most of us in “developed” nations (an irony) don’t grow our own food and have become dependent upon big businesses and mass transport (i.e., supermarkets, trucking, air freight) for the very basics that keep us alive. In the past, all we were dependent upon was the weather for our “daily bread”. But nowadays, we are dependent not only upon the ever-changing weather patterns, but also upon oil, but global economies, foreign policy and corporations. What a vulnerable place in which to be! And to me, as someone who works with people and their emotions on a daily basis in my work as a life coach and teacher, I know the emotional and physical impact of long-term vulnerability. People begin to feel helpless. Helplessness leads to fear. Fear leads to depression and even disease. It can also lead to violence and crime.

Furthermore, being dependent upon food from distant places means that we rarely, if ever benefit from the full nutritional value it has to offer, as it loses both its richness (what to speak of its flavour!) every day it is away from the farm. We have also lost the tendency to “eat with the seasons” and hence we are “out of synch” with our planet, and quite possibily hampering our immune system as a result. And this is not even taking into account the amount of pesticides, genetic modification, hormones, etc., regularly being used within the agriculture industry. Is there any wonder why there are just so many immunity related diseases, including cancer, rampaging our western society in recent decades? The truth is, every single one of my blood relatives in my parents’ generation (roughly 1920s-1990s) died from cancer, and not ONE of my blood relatives in my grandparents generation died from cancer (roughly 1880s – 1980s… yes, they lived longer lives overall).

But lastly, and I feel most importantly, we have lost our emotional and spiritual connection to the Planet on which we live. How do I know this? Because, frankly, if we had a deep love for Mother Earth, we would never even dream of littering, consuming non-degradable products, pumping oil out of the earth, messing with the food supply, dumping waste into our beautiful water supplied, strip the land and forests…. Well, you get the idea. If you love someone, you would not abuse them in this fashion.

So how in the world did we as a society allow ourselves to become so helpless? It’s not the “fault” of big business. We have surrendered our power to this system we, as a society, have created. If we keep pointing fingers at big business and government, we are only deepening our dependency and helplessness.

To me, the core need is for us to fall in love again with our World, and cultivate a loving relationship and harmony with her, the way cultures did in the past, before we brought petroleum-based economy into our lives. It’s not that we should toss out all our technology; it’s that we should find a way for it to work with our planet and not against it. It cannot come simply from making laws and resolutions. It can only come when we FEEL that connection as a society.

And for me, the one thing I have been doing is a “Garden Share”, where I have opened up my back garden to a local musician and Alexander Technique teacher, Rosamund Hoskins, who had no land, and she is growing fabulous vegetables on it. These past few months I have been delighting over the incredible courgettes, potatoes, carrots, corn, spinach, rocket (and more) and now am looking forward to the leeks, peppers and other delights (you can see one of our courgettes here).

What is even more amazing is that this little project has stirred the hearts of several other people. Many of Rosamund’s friends and relatives have donated seeds and starter plants (and tips!). My downstairs neighbour, who has the garden in front of mine, has given us HIS plot to grow more food. He regularly helps with weeding, and comes out to speak with Rosamund when she’s working. Here’s a man whose wife died a couple of years ago and he has been very isolated ever since. When he comes to work on the garden, he’s full of life and personal stories, and you can see it is a really healing activity for him.

I cannot tell you what a delight it was when I took my 4-year-old grandson out to our garden and “picked dinner” with him. It was magic sticking my hand into the earth and pulling up a lovely potato. I feel it is an essential part of his education, and something I never had when growing up (in the US) in the 50s and 60s.

I am so inspired by this simple project of sharing a garden. It “ticks” all the boxes for me: spiritual, economical, environmental, nutritional AND societal. It not only re-establishes our connection with the Earth, but it also helps to build community as well, which is something we humans desperately need.

I believe our Transition Bedford (or any Transition Town project) can only take place if each of us as individuals connects to a particular project or idea that makes their own heart sing. For me, I am organising to go speak at some of the Bedford Schools later this autumn, about the idea of the Transition Bedford Garden Share project. My idea is to “match make” children and their parents with seniors in the community, who might have a garden and the “wisdom” for growing food, but not necessarily the physical strength or money to do it on their own. Think of how much such a simple idea could change our town, at so many levels.

If you know of anyone (either families with young kids or seniors with wisdom and a garden), please drop me a line via the contact form at http://spiritauthors.com/contact

I am also meeting with the media students at Bedford College in early October, about making a documentary film about our fledgling organisation, in hopes that it will inspire other Bedfordians, as well as other towns, to take ownership of the future of our planet.

Of course, Shane is right. We are in need of “new blood.” This project called Transition Bedford CANNOT happen with a handful of people who meet at the local pub every few weeks. It has to be something owned and embraced by the entire town of Bedford. If you want to get involved in any way shape or form, please do contact me using the form above.

According to a Wikipedia article on the subject, combustion, or burning, is a sequence of exothermic chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant, accompanied by the production of heat and conversion of chemical species.  In my understanding, most fuels are carbon based and the gases produced by combustion contain a large amount of carbon dioxide.  I would imagine that much of the waste material to be burnt at the Covanta incinerator would be carbon based too.  I would imagine that burning it would generate a huge amount of carbon dioxide.

I know for a fact that carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas.  The carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which, before man started to produce it on an industrial scale, was augmented by volcanos and forest fires, has had a profound effect on the earth’s climate since the dawn of time.  When the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increased the earth’s temperature increases.  This effect is known as the greenhouse effect.

Knowing all this, I would have imagined that the proposed Stewartby Incinerator would generate a huge amount of carbon dioxide, along with small quantities of other more pernicious and poisonous gases, and that it would have a very damaging effect on global warming, as well as a very damaging effect on the air quality in Stewartby, Bedford, Ampthill, Flitwick and the surrounding villages.

I would have thought that a giant waste incinerator in Stewartby would do a huge amount of environmental and ecological damage.  The newspaper reports seem to be telling me this isn’t so.  For example:  There was an article in The Independant newspaper, on Sunday 1st August, entitled: UK may have to import rubbish for incinerators.  This article describes the damage incinerators can do.  However, the last paragraph of the article quotes a Defra spokesman who seems to be telling us that generating electricity by burning waste is a good thing.

I would like to say I understand all the discussions of this matter in the media.  Regrettably, I do not.  All I know for sure is that I do not like this proposal.  If I ask myself the question: “If I could afford to leave Bedford, were this project to go ahead, would I do so?”  The answer is yes.  I would be sorry to leave.  I have made a lot of very good friends in Bedford, since I came here in April 2006.  However, I would not trust the air quality in Bedford if I had a giant waste incinerator on my doorstep.  This would especially be the case if the incinerator was working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as this one is expected to do.

What is more, the area around Stewartby and Marston Vale is fast becoming an area of great natural beauty.  Do we really want to see this spoilt with the building of some dark, satanic mill right in the centre of it?  We have the wonderful Millennium Country Park. in Marston Moretaine.  We have the Ampthill Forest and the beautiful Maulden Wood.  These areas are encouraging (and preserving) a wonderful array of native flora and fauna.  These areas could become a wonderful tourist resource, as well as remaining a source of refreshment, relaxation and recuperation for the residents of Bedford, Flitwick, Amptill, Clophill and Maulden.  Do we really want to see this wonderful area of natural beauty destroyed with the sight of, and the fumes from, some gigantic waste incinerator?  I know what my answer is.  My answer is no.

I am not the only one who thinks this waste incinerator is a very bad idea.  Here are some links to other people and organisations who feel the same way, people and organisations who are fighting to stop this plan from going ahead:

The Marston Moreteyne Action Group

The Facebook page for residents against the Covanta Incinerator at Stewartby

Tim Hill – Liberal Democrat Councillor for Wootton, Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick

I would like to join them in opposing this scheme.  I would urge you to do the same.

Equipment
The good news is, you don’t need any fancy equipment for this one. I am using a Tribest “personal” smoothie maker, and I imagine a good blender would also do the trick. For me, my personal smoothie maker is perfect because I live alone, and there is no waste or leftovers. It’s also extremely energy efficient because it is tiny, and you only need to run it for a few seconds to make your soup. The recipe below is for ONE serving (about 12 oz/400ml). If you have a larger blender/smoothie maker, and want to make more soup, just increase the amounts as desired.

Note: If you don’t have organic veg, or you don’t have whole spices to grind, you can still make this recipe, but really the taste is completely different. And if you think you don’t have time to make this, my TOTAL preparation time was LESS THAN 5 MINUTES!

Ingredients
First of all, I highly recommend getting your produce from a local organic farm. I just started ordering a weekly fruit and veg box from Riverford organic. They deliver it fresh right to your door. I have to tell you, the asparagus was SO tender, it was like eating a completely different vegetable from anything I’ve ever had before (and the humus I got from them was simply to die for!).

• 50 gm organic tofu (about 1” x 3” x 3” block)
• 6-8 stalks organic asparagus
• ¼ bulb organic fennel
• ¼ teaspoon black peppercorns
• ¼ teaspoon Himalayan salt
• ¼ teaspoon whole cumin seeds
• 1/8 teaspoon powdered kelp (optional; I add this to boost my sluggish thyroid as it’s rich in iodine)
• 1/2 teaspoon extra virgin organic olive oil
• 1/2 cup water. The water should either be room temperature or slightly warm, if you prefer warmer soup. Do NOT use very hot or boiling water, as it will expand in the blender AND it will also kill off the nutrients.

How to make it:

• Grind peppercorns and cumin seed with a mortar and pestle (you can use powdered, but it simply isn’t the same!). Set aside.
• Cut tofu into 1/2” chunks and put in blender cup. Put in just enough water to cover them.
• Blend tofu until it is a smooth cream.
• Chop asparagus and fennel into small enough chunks to get around the blade of the blender. Put into blender and pulse until chunky.
• Add ground pepper, salt, cumin, kelp and olive oil. Blend for 30-40 seconds.
• Your soup is READY to eat! If it’s too thick, and some water (slightly warm if you want warmer soup).

This is awesome with a couple of slices of toasted no-yeast rye bread with humus. What a TASTE!

Ok…  so why am I really talking about soup?

Environment: Earlier this year, I took a “10/10″ pledge in which I vowed to cut my fossil-fuel consumption down by 10% in the year 2010. You might think reaching this goal is a diffcult thing to acheive, but something as simple as making raw organic asparagus soup can help you get started. How?

• If you buy your organic produce from a local farm, like I did, you are saving on “food miles” as they are not being flown to you from the other side of the planet. It’s even BETTER if it comes from your OWN garden.
• Coming from the local farm, and not the local supermarket, there is NO packaging or waste at all. Even the little bits of veggies that I didn’t throw into the smoothie maker I put into my compost bin, and it will be helping to grow vegetables in my back garden later this summer.
• Running a little 200 watt blender for 40 seconds takes a LOT less energy (and costs a lot less money) than cooking a pot of homemade soup on the hob for 20-30 minutes, so it’s very economical, too.

Health: Eating veggies that are local means they are fresher, and packed with nutrients. The longer the gap between when your fruit/veg has been picked and when you consume it, the more nutrients are lost. Also, eating with the seasons (as organic farms provide you only season produce) will also improve your health, as it puts your body “in synch” with your environment, giving your greater immunity.

Spirituality: There is something very spiritual about getting closer to Source by eating organic, local, fresh and uncooked. I don’t think I will ever go 100% raw, but I have to tell you, when you eat something like this, you feel like you are tasting the Sun and the Earth, and that’s pretty special. It helps you feel connected, and lets you know that you are safe in this big, vast Universe.

Fun and Creativity: It’s actually pretty cool to make up new concoctions. I make up something new every day. I had a delicious melon and plum smoothie before. Sheer nectar! In fact, what’s so neat is that just about ANYTHING you toss into the smoothie maker can be turned into something really tasty and interesting. Experiment and set yourself free!

Closing thoughts
Today, I found out yet another close friend of mine (this time, it’s someone from Transition Bedford) has breast cancer. Mind you, this particular woman is one of the most health conscious people I know, so if it can happen to her, it can happen to anyone. I do believe the high incidence of cancer in today’s world is due to us being just so disconnected from the Source of life, both in our food, and our state of being in general. Our failing health is a symptom that we human beings are craving a return to a more natural state of living in harmony with the Earth. And the good news is, I firmly believe it is “do-able.”

I took the 10/10 pledge because I love our Planet, and I also believe our dependency upon petroleum is simply a recipe for disaster, for so many reasons.

Let’s not consume THAT recipe. Instead, let’s start (un)cooking up our own recipes. I’ve done many things this year to make good on my 10/10 promise. If you do only one thing this year and nothing else, start off by making a pledge to buy local produce. Or better yet, how about starting a vegetable garden in your backyard? I’ve just done this with the help of a neighbourhood woman, as part of the new “garden share” project we at Transition Bedford are hoping to get going this year. But more on that another day.

Lynn Serafinn

GWC was started in May 2008 as a means to support local holistic wellness businesses, and to provide a forum where people can join together to learn about each others’ values and beliefs, and form friendships and partnerships. The focus from the onset has been to build an inclusive, holistically-minded community and to provide information to the public about health, environment, and overall wellbeing of mind, body, spirit, society and world.

Now 18 months old, the Global Wellness Circle is going through some exciting changes.  Originally a small business, GWC are now in the process of applying for CIC status (Community Interest Company/Social Enterprise), and the Bedford chapter have established a firm link to our Transition Bedford initiative. That means, whereas GWC used to have a policy of drawing only from its paid membership for its speaker rota, they now are inviting (and encouraging) volunteer speakers from Transition Bedford OR other Transition Towns to speak as a representative of their initiative and the Transition Town movement in general, to share whatever valuable skills or information they have with the group.*

GWC have active chapters in Bedford, Milton Keynes, Cambridge and Hemel Hempstead, and should be getting Northampton and Dunstable up and running by February 2010. They welcome anyone and everyone to attend their events (membership is NOT required to attend), and hope that with the addition of Transition Town members, they will become an even more vibrant and exciting group, working together for a better future.

To see the kind of events GWC help to promote, check out their November 2009 events listings at http://www.global-wellness-circle.com/events/events_listings/2009/GWC_events_1109.html The listings include a wide range of events such as GWC evenings, local workshops, training, speakers, community events, exhibitions, radio shows, parties and more, all in the central UK area. All events focus on health, wellbeing and natural lifestyle, and include activities for children, families and adults.

For more information about GWC, or to enquire about becoming a speaker, kindly contact Lynn at lynn@global-wellness-circle.com. You are also invited to subscribe to the GWC mailing list at http://www.global-wellness-circle.com, so you can receive both their events listings and their newsletter, “All is Well”, every month.

Wishing you WELL,
Lynn Serafinn
Founder, Global Wellness Circle
Chair, Transition Bedford

* If you are a member of a Transition Town group and would like to speak at a GWC meeting, it is expected that you will come as a representative of your TT initiative, as opposed to representing your private business. If you do wish to promote your private enterprise (e.g., a green or holistic business you own), you are most welcome to consider becoming a practitioner member of GWC.