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Transition Town
Ed Thompson
Totnes is a market town at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England. It dates back to AD 907 when its first castle was built, today the town, with a population of around 7,000 is a thriving center for music, art, theater and natural health. It has a sizable alternative/new age community, and is known as a place where one can live a bohemian lifestyle.
Totnes has become a Mecca for sustainability studies due to its establishment as a pioneering Transition Town. The Transition Town concept emerged from work of agriculture designer Rob Hopkins. He looked at across-the-board creative adaptations in the realms of energy production, health, education, economy and agriculture as a ‘road map’ to a sustainable future for the town. The idea has been adapted and expanded in Totnes, his home town, since 2005.
Transition Town Totnes (T.T.T) has become a dynamic, community-led charity that is strengthening the local economy, reducing the cost of living and preparing for a future with less oil and a changing climate. They have a large local support base and have contributed over £1 million to the local