Zero
Zero, a community hub cum zero waste shop with focus on climate.
ReSpace in action, a large empty retail unit, recycled on behalf of the local community, run by volunteers, lots of little areas suitable for informal meetings, a small stage to host talks, a little eatery (but by no means a coffee shop), a zero waste area (but so far no stock), a seed bank, books, visual displays.
Very much work in progress, my thoughts should therefore bear that in mind.
Please no, the sweets, the only stock in the zero waste zone, focus on quality, loose nuts, cereals, grains, muesli, rice etc. In addition, washing up liquid, shampoo. Never loose coffee beans. They oxidise.
Olive oil and rapeseed oil is a possibility, but I have reservations. It very quickly goes rancid. I would rather see high quality cold pressed, extra virgin, rapeseed oil and olive oil in bottles.
I buy green olive oil in Athens, it is the very first pressing, and it will have a provenance of where it came from.
A visit to Hisbe in Brighton to check out what they do, is a must.
Serious thought needs to be given to an in-house coffee shop. But not easy. Needs a crowd funder to buy or lease a decent espresso machine (cheap machines a waste of money). Then need a skilled barista or baristas. Would there be baristas in Guildford willing to put in a few volunteer hours? They in turn could show others how to, a valuable life skill. Next it would need planning consent for A3 use. Currently a bean -to-cup machine, a stop gap but by no means ideal. I was though pleasantly surprised to find sourcing specialty coffee from a roastery in Brighton. If source locally, try Coffee Gems in Farnham.
ReSpace: We recycle materials, why do we not recycle people and buildings? A planning designation, owner pays no businesses rates, peppercorn rent, building brought back into productive use. For the owner, if the building in use, it does not deteriorate.
It was depressing, COP26 a complete and utter failure, delegates fly in in their private jets, largest delegation oil and gas industry, climate activists not invited, attacked on the streets by the police. We are now on course for 2.5C rise in global warming.
