Startacus takes a look at the Greeniversity
by Startacus Admin
Since we’ve featured a series of posts on the green economy recently and we also love our makers, crafters and upcycling posts - Greeniversity seems a perfect subject to tell you all about....Wanna find out more? Read on...
According to a recent Greeniversity survey called the the “Endangered Skills Register” the list of endangered everyday skills that are under 
threat of near extinction include: Sewing, Soup making (really?!), Wiring a plug, Making homemade jam, Repairing a bike puncture, Knitting, Identifying common birds, Car maintenance – the basics, DIY at home e.g. hanging wallpaper, putting up a shelf and Willow weaving...
In fairness, in a poll undemocratically undertaken by the Startacus team, our results showed a broad mix of can do’s, can’t do’s, and not a chance can I do’s, so we can fully appreciate that these are valuable skills that are on the decline.
So what’s Greeniversity?
Co-ordinated nationwide by Peterborough Environment City Trust, Greeniversity is for adults who want to learn something new and learn some new skills, in a classroom / workshop type environment.
So the type of skills that your mum and dad’s probably have at their disposal, the type of tasks you kinda shrugged about when you were being shown, and the type of life skills that in hindsight you wish you had learnt about - be it at school or from your folks..
The ‘Green’ part of the title, one assumes is used because most if not all of the above means using the tools already at your disposal and the products that are literally on your doorstep. Subsequently the more ingenious we are with the things we already have - the less will be our need to buy and produce new replacements, when we have the skills to repair and make ourselves.
As the Greeniversity guys highlight on their website: “Greeniversity is a skill share initiative that gives people the opportunity to teach or learn ‘green skills’ from bike maintenance to beekeeping, to use in their local community. The initiative will be working with Transition groups around the UK. Almost all Greeniversity classes are free thanks to volunteer teachers and free use of venues. There may be a suggested donation or small charge to cover the cost of some classes – although this will always be stated in the class description before you sign up. Greeniversity classes are taught by adults in your community who are so keen about their skill, hobby or knowledge that they want to share it with other people. Maybe you could be a Greeniversity teacher!”
So whether you reckon you could be a student or a teacher, we think this rather nice initiative is worth a little gander at to see what is available close to where you live. Startacus - The Self Start Society, isn’t just about those of us starting those big or small business ideas, but supporting anyone startin’ somethin’ productive full stop, and perhaps going to the Greeniversity (or other projects like this) might be the stepping stone you need to to take be a fully fledged self starter in ‘that thing’ you end up loving going forward!
If you like this post you might also like....
- Richard Boothmans guest posts on the green economy and spotting entrepreneurial opportunities
- City Unrulyversity is a free pop-up University with an aspiration to “inform, inspire and empower” the next generation of Entrepreneurs
- Jen Gale's guest article on Startacus highlighting her quest to make do and mend, and buy nothing new for a whole year
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Published on: 10th August 2013
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