Zero Som, Yeovil
The Bedminster team went to Yeovil today to show LILI’s “Low Impact Living exhibition” as part of Somerset Together’s Zero Som event.
Zero Som offered people in & around Yeovil the chance to learn more about general & local options for doing things differently, in more sustainable, ‘low impact’ ways. The Yeovil Innovation Centre was full of stalls run by people involved in council / statutory initiatives, volunteer projects & local businesses and the front car park was full of electric vehicle options as well as information from the police & fire service. Everyone you might wish to have sharing ideas, offering information & working together was there … except the people of Yeovil!
Whether it was lack of awareness, or interest or just the glorious sunshine, we don’t know but we came away disappointed about the missed opportunity for people wanting to know more. Just for starters there was great info & practical examples there on local food groups & co-ops, allotment gardening (with lots of seasonal fresh produce on display), and we had demos of solar thermal hot water, solar electricity & clay paint making.
For those who did come they got one-to-one attention & queries & discussions ranged from questions about whether compost loos smell (check out for yourself in the store) to the properties & weight of our recycled plastic slate-look roof tiles. There were also some great stall holders to share info with & we’ll be following up with Caroline for support & tips on the new food group / co-op about to start in the Bristol Green Store.
All in all it was a great day & we even had steam coming out of our solar panel it was so hot 
Interestingly, out of 60 councillors, most of whom had apparently expressed enthusiasm for this event, only 6 turned up – which doesn’t seem to be an example of leading from the front or following through on rhetoric but perhaps there were good reasons that kept people away.
You can view the Low Impact Living exhibition in the Bedminster shop during opening hours, or check the LILI website for more information & free downloadable factsheets
