As the Transition movement spreads like wildfire, Green Books have launched a new imprint ñ Transition Books’. The first publication under its wing is Local Food: How to Make it Happen in Your Community, by co-authors Rob Hopkins and Tamzin Pinkerton.

The book proposes ñ as one of the most fundamental aspects of building resilience to the effects of economic recession, climate change and peak oil ñ that developing local food networks is key to creating a secure future. What is more, it shows that re-establishing closer relationships with what we eat, will strengthen communities and lead to improved well-being.

Outlining the history of locally-based food systems, the authors put these traditions in the modern context and present the essential principles. The book offers a practical guide to starting up, getting others involved and choosing the best approaches for your neighbourhood.

Across the scale, from home gardens to allotments and community supported agriculture schemes, effective and innovative methods are explored for growing, sharing and trading produce within a locality. These approaches reduce dependence on the global market. There is guerrilla gardening’ for example, which involves making use of common land, such as traffic islands or car parks.

Different skills are also highlighted, such as preserving, baking bread at home or eating wild food. Advice from experts appears throughout the book, alongside tried and tested examples from various Transition initiatives and communities around the world.

There is an upbeat feel to Local Food, as it demonstrates that in order to thrive, we should work together with diverse approaches and adapt to where we are.

Local Food: How to Make
it Happen in Your Community
by Tamzin Pinkerton and Rob Hopkins
ISBN: 9781900322430 Price £12.95
Contact: Green Books, Foxhole,
Dartington, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6EB
Tel: +44 (0)1803 863260
Website: www​.greenbooks​.co​.uk

Co-author Tamzin Pinkerton
Photo: © Stephen Prior