Info, news & debate
Recent Posts

Community-led housing – what’s different about mutual home ownership societies (MHOS): interview with Paul Chatterton of LILAC
We talk with Paul Chatterton of LILAC community in Leeds about what’s different when it comes to mutual home ownership societies in community-led housing.

How to build a low-cost, high-performing living green roof
Sigi Koko of Down to Earth Design shares her top tips for building a low-cost, high-performing living green roof.

Not just for vegans: low-impact family festivals in 2019 from Vegan Events UK
We hear from the team behind a host of new UK events and festivals putting veganism firmly in the limelight in 2019 from Scotland to Devon.

A ‘Transcender Manifesto’ for a world beyond capitalism
Dil Green shares a Transcender Manifesto for groups to develop networks of transcendent social relations for a world beyond capitalism.

How to make a windbreak: the best trees and shrubs to use
We learn about the best trees and shrubs to use to make a windbreak for your garden or smallholding with Nick Mann of Habitat Aid.

The European Straw Bale Gathering is coming to Yorkshire for 2019
The European Straw Bale Gathering is heading to the UK for the very first time in August 2019. Learn all about it here.

How do we grow the ‘co-operative commonwealth’? Interview with Pat Conaty
We talk about growing a co-operative commonwealth in the second part of an interview with Pat Conaty, senior research fellow at NEF and Co-operatives UK and author of the Resilience Imperative, with Michael Lewis.

From folk music to pheasants with Scarlett Penn of WWOOF UK
Scarlett Penn of WWOOF UK recounts an illuminating evening of music and debate, after encountering a pheasant-shooting party in a Shropshire pub.

Want to be a Planning Manager with the Ecological Land Cooperative?
The Ecological Land Cooperative is looking for a part-time Planning Manager, with an application deadline of 15 April 2019.

The barriers to growing the co-operative economy: Graham Mitchell of CoTech, part 2
In Part 2 of our interview with Graham Mitchell of Co-Tech, we talk about growing the co-operative economy and the barriers we might face.

Free online course: Toward Co-operative Common Wealth MOOC
Calling all activists, practitioners and policy-makers! We share news of a masterclass in movement building in the form of a massive open online course (MOOC) starting on 25th March 2019.

Plants for bees in late winter: how your garden can help them through
If it’s warm in February the bees will be in trouble. Nick Mann of Habitat Aid explains how you can help with plants for bees in your garden.

What are ‘the commons’ in the 21st century? Interview with Pat Conaty
We meet Pat Conaty, senior research fellow at NEF and Co-operatives UK and co-author of the Resilience Imperative, to discuss ‘the commons’.

Interested in earth building? Come to EBUKI’s mini Clayfest 2019 in Wales!
Rowland Keable of Earth Building UK and Ireland shares news of a mini but mighty Clayfest 2019 with the theme of building confidence in clay.

The benefits and challenges of natural paints with Sigi Koko
Sigi Koko outlines the pros, cons and considerations when it comes to making non-toxic natural paints from the simplest of ingredients.

Building a co-operative train line: Alex Lawrie of Go-op
An interview with Alex Lawrie about his attempts to launch Go-op, a co-operative train line linking south west England with the Midlands.

The surprising benefits of harvesting wild foods – more than you’d expect!
Emily Fawcett and Charlie Loram of the Old Way look at some of the less obvious benefits of harvesting wild foods as our ancestors did.

A guide to WWOOFing: 10 top tips from Scarlett Penn of WWOOF UK
Anybody considering going on a WWOOFing adventure for the first time will benefit enormously from these 10 tips compiled by Scarlett Penn of WWOOF UK.

How I hitch-hiked across the Atlantic to visit US co-ops: Cath Muller of Radical Routes
Today I’m talking with Cath Muller of Radical Routes, Cornerstone Housing Co-op and Co-operative Business Consultants. This is part 1 of our conversation, about her visit to Catalan co-operatives, and hitch-hiking across the Atlantic to visit US co-ops.

How to make your own natural paints with eggs
A great project to try with kids, natural builder Sigi Koko shares her best recipes for how to make natural paints with eggs.