Building a Map of Stories
‘The art of storytelling is one of our last remaining democratic spaces’. This quote from Elif Shafak resonates with our ambition to capture some of those fascinating local stories which far too often only reach a few people.
Over the years, Sustaining Dunbar has collaborated with numerous national agencies and networks committed to sustainability and tackling the climate emergency, from Zero Waste Scotland and Nourish Scotland to Scottish Communities Climate Action Network. The latter has recently employed a ‘Story Weaver’ to run workshops to help people tell their stories effectively. A number of these stories have been edited into podcasts in collaboration with various groups and individuals.
We have been lucky to work on a series of three What If? podcasts which showcase some great local initiatives and people. You can listen to them by clicking on the word ‘podcast’. You will be taken to a dedicated website where you will need to press ‘play’. Podcast 1 offers a chance to hear about the life and resonance of conservationist John Muir from Duncan Smeed, Liz McLean and Jo McNamara who share their insights. Podcast 2 focuses on cooking with the Community Carrot and Hannah Ewan’s reflections on local food whilst Rosie Harrison delves into a topic of repair and renewal with the East Linton Repair Cafe. The final Podcast 3 provides a glimpse into the working of the Belhaven Community Garden through the eyes of two volunteers, Tim Greene and Naomi Barnes.
In the meantime, Rosie Harrison, who has been coordinating East Linton Repair Cafe since Spring 2020 and which Sustaining Dunbar was so happy to support, embarked on a journey of interviewing some local heroes and creating her captivating videos.
Her first video focuses on two innovative fishermen from Dunbar Harbour talking lobsters, sustainable fishing and future. The Second video presents two Tyninghame residents who share their passion for organic growing, shortening food chain and community involvement in reducing waste.
In October we invited a local film student Joseph Flower to capture Belhaven Community Garden on camera. Joseph’s film, which showcases many of the volunteers involved in the project, offers a beautiful, poetic summary of the ongoing labour of love.
We are keen to work with local people interested in volunteering to help make podcasts, films, and photographic portraits of the place. We are particularly interested in collaborating with other local groups able to help gathering and sharing local stories and news widely.
Please get in touch if you have a story to tell or would like to volunteer to help us find them.
