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The 'Occupy' movement is an unusual sort of protest. Rather than presenting a clear, defined list of demands, it has been working to provoke a conversation. This is frustrating to some, but it resonates very strongly with Agora's core aims. Our worldwide financial systems are challenged like never before. Radical change seems necessary, but there is as yet no consensus as to what particular policies should be pursued. This is a moment for serious conversation.

As our contribution to this process of re-imagining, Agora is proud to have played a foundational role in the development of the Bristol Pound, a city-wide local currency due to be launched in Spring 2012. Our AGM this year features a conversation about its potential impact on trade in the city. We invite interested people to join us for this event.

The Bristol Pound - about to launch

- a conversation with Mark Burton of the Bristol Pound team, with details of this city-wide local currency and how it aims to affect trading in the city. Incorporating the Agora AGM

Nov 28th 2011, at 7.30pm, 3rd Floor Bush House, 72 Prince Street, Bristol BS1 4DQ

Booking is necessary, contact 0117 9574652 or enquiries@agoraspace.org

For more about the Bristol Pound go to www.bristolpound.org  

Also:

Grow Zones launched as national campaign
The secret to growing food in your own garden isn’t about expert knowledge, space or time – it is about doing it with a group of friends and helping one another get started. Grow Zones has been created to address the challenges facing a new grower with little time, little knowledge and little space. The Grow Zones approach is simple. A team gather, share ideas and expertise, and help one another plan their growing season. They then get together for an easy schedule of Saturday morning visits to each others gardens. Everyone brings any useful tools they have for the jobs that morning and something to share for lunch. The host gets everyone to work on tasks they have planned for their garden, and the morning ends with a real sense of accomplishment and a shared meal. Sounds good? Find out how you can access the kit to make it happen at www.growzones.com 
With thanks to a grant from the Big Lottery, Local Food fund.

The Walled Garden Project opens its doors
The garden of a former vicarage in a tower block estate has been opened as a neighbourhood growing project. Working with groups of local residents including Somali people, asylum seekers, refugees and homeless people, the Walled Garden project aims to reconnect us all with the land, renewing community life and teaching skills in horticulture, food preservation and cooking. This project opened on Dec 11th 2010 and has now completed its first growing season. On site we now have two polytunnels, an outdoor ktichen/workshop space and a roundhouse as a reflective space. The garden won a Bristol in Bloom award this year. More at www.earthabbey.com
With thanks for grants from The Church Urban Fund, the Church and Community Fund, Bristol's Community Challenge Fund, Sovereign Housing Association and Temple Trust.