Glass Eye have given us a great leg-up by documenting the launch of the 400 Fruit Tree project and editing it into a fantastic web video which you can watch below.

In just over 6 short minutes Nuala Roche and her team have magically captured what I believe transition is all about. That is, community groups coming together with Local Authority, Schools and Businesses to implement a practical project that reduces carbon in the face of climate change, builds resilience in the face of peak oil and, as an added bonus, strengthens community and is fun to do !

Admittedly the project is a small step, but a step in the right direction none the less. As Malcolm Noonan points out in the piece, there is no reason why projects such as these couldn’t be rolled out throughout the country.

Imagine an Ireland where every town is replanting orchards, developing community gardens, setting up local energy supply companies, re-establishing coppice woodlands for a world without oil and re-skilling ourselves for a low-energy, resource-lean world.

Although the economy has fallen of a cliff and all is doom and gloom this positive future is ahead of us should we choose to accept it. localisation is the inevitable outcome of peak oil. The only question is whether we embrace the opportunities and manage the transition creatively and with foresight or keep our heads in the sand and let it unfold as a series of chaotic and tragic crisis.

But enough of the transition talk – I hear you say. Sit back and enjoy this lovely intro to the 400 Fruit Tree Project.

You can read more on the project here and download the brochure here.