Oak Street Garden meeting April 11, 2012

Oak Street Garden meeting April 11, 2012

 

people attending:

 

Nick, Ben, Lowell, Renee, Jacoba, Beth, Virginia, Stella, Julia, Lucia, Mike, Mary, Bonnie, Mike, Maryse, Pierre, Myriam, Dorene, Michelle, Holly

 

Item 1:

 

We discussed dates to have key events at the garden for the year and agreed on the following:

 

Summer Tuesday Evenings 4pm-7pm:

Acorn Garden volunteer workbees (starting May 22) facilitated by Loving Spoonful

 

Tuesday May 22, 2012 4pm – 8pm (rain date Thursday May 24th):

Lots will be happening this evening including:

 

Beginner’s Gardening Workshop Pt. 1 ( 6 pm – 8pm) presented by Kingston Community Gardens Network.

 

Acorn Garden volunteer workbee (4pm – 7pm)

 

Grow a Row kick off and Oak Street Gardens seedling sale (4 pm – 8 pm)

 

Garden prep work bee (5pm- 8 pm) – come help fix up some plots that need extra attention

 

Tuesday May 29^th 6pm – 8 pm: Beginners Gardening Workshop Pt. 2. presented by Kingston Community Gardens Network.

 

 

Saturday June 9^th, , 2012 1pm – 4pm (rain date June 10^th ):

planting deadline last chance planting party. Come out and plant out your garden while helping with a few other general garden wide tasks.

 

Permaculture Herb Spiral Workshop (1-4) presented by Kingston Community Gardens Network (built in Acorn garden)

 

Saturday August 11^th, 2012 1pm – 4pm (rain date August 12^th ):

 

Mid summer corn roast and garden cleanup

 

try to prepare 0 mile diet treats

 

Saturday September 29^th, 2012:

Harvest party and garden cleanup

try to make a meal out of food growing at oak street

 

Saturday October 27^th , 2012:

garden cleanup and tilling festival

 

Winter 2012:

Oak Street Garden skating rink???

 

 

Volunteer groups:

After key dates were set the room split into smaller groups to discuss group organization for the year.

 

Julia volunteered to help keep the website up to date

 

Pierre head of grass trimming team – Jacoba Maryse members of the team

 

Myriam- volunteered to head events planning

 

The tasting garden group met and set their own meeting date

 

items to do:

 

• Nick make web sign up sheet for plot care event.
• Get tiller and trimmer maintenance done.
• Set up tiller request form.
• Ask city about compost options.
• add mike to odd jobs team.
• Address the lock problem on the shed.

Site Coordinator Meeting January 17, 2012

Oak Street Garden Site Coordinator meeting agenda January 17th 7pm

Present: Nick Laan, Holly Platz, Tim Lyon, Lowell Cochrane, Maryse Chalifoux, Mike Payne

1. budget update.

We approved Maryse’s budget for 2012, noting that we will need to find some new ways to keep our accounts in the black. There is a 2-yr (and ongoing) shortfall of about $500 that we have met through spending our starting balance, and through grants. We will start the year with a balance of over $800, but, if we don’t get any grants, will end close to zero. We will apply again for city funding, and also for KHS grant for a new bench, but also decided to hold a plant sale as fundraiser, and to make a decision in the summer about raising plot fees.

Tim will plan on organizing the seedling sale to be held the week before the May long weekend. He will communicate information to Nick well in advance of the April 11 meeting. Tim will use the April 11 meeting as a chance to marshal energy and enthusiasm. In Nick’s emails about the April meeting, he will introduce the idea of people donating/purchasing seedlings.

2. volunteer planning for 2012

Nick said that at least a couple of people were ready to drop their plot due to an inability to give 5 hours of service, and wondered if the gardener contract was a bit intimidating in leading with “I volunteered x of my 5 hours last year.” There were many responses, but we all agreed that we won’t know if this ‘forward’ approach works until after next year, and were willing to entertain other options. We discussed using social media to give people more of an idea as to the who and how many were to be at a gathering. We discussed a cash buyout of the hours as a way of appeasing consciences and bolstering the budget. We discussed going from the ‘small team’ approach to accomplishing tasks with email global calls to community action as a way of reinforcing the all-for-one-idea. In the end we took ideas from the what worked best in the most successful groups of last year (communication and tasting garden). We again have the team-kick-off meeting where people can sign up for ways to spend hours (at April 11 meeting). We will have Communications, Grass cutting, tasting garden, Permanent crops, Events, and the rest of the people can just come out to work bees and other calls for help. (oh, and possibly a flower group – see item 6)

We thought that work bees would work better than a composting group.

Nick will contact the FCRC and try to book April 11 or some other evening that week.

Nick should put the names ofgroups onto thetask groups onto the agenda again at the april 11 meeting.

Lowell to investigate poll or social media way of allowing people to know if a happening at the garden is something they just can’t miss!

3. finishing up the document we started at the last meeting (attached)

Lots of discussion, with good consensus that we want a document that establishes the intentions and transparency of the arrangement, and also the opportunities for annual reporting that will allow us to showcase the great work that is being done in the MTG.

Mike to revise based on discussion and circulate to group to allow for thought and perhaps further editing. Final approval desired at next meeting.

Tim will work on developing a yearly report/garden planning template for the MTG tenant.

4. removal of excess raised garden bed by Q.E. / Lovingpoonful / City / future home?

done

5. plans for Tasting Garden #2

Plan will be for Lloyd’s QECVI class to have the run of tasting garden #1 (at the front (NE)), and for the Tasting Garden group to take on the new plot at the opposite end,

Nick to contact Lloyd

6. longer term planning for garden shape / fixtures – how about a bench along the East / West path for walkers to stop and look at the gardens; does anyone know where the bench we had under the tree has gone?

We all liked the idea of a bench, but decided that it should go under the tree because it’s such a lovely place to sit and it is easier to secure. We also hoped that someone might like to spend volunteer time planting or hanging flowers.

Mike to apply to KHS for grant for a bench.

7. getting permanent signage on actual composters to educate folks r.e. how to fill the bins

We agreed this would be desirable – that the signs be there and that they be fixed to the bins.

Communication team to be tasked with this at April 11 meeting.

8. plans for a seedling starter shed for the Market Training Garden on the South side of the shed

We agreed there was no money in the budget for it now, but that we should develop plans and a budget and perhaps mount a donation campaign on the website.

Tim to give a sketch to Lowell who will improve the sketch. Tim will then do a budget. Lowell will put the campaign on the website.

Nick will inform/ask Danita.

9. which community organizations are returning, who is leaving, any new to invite/accept? (Native Youth Garden, Lovingspoonful+ OEYC want to come back, what about Q.E. + L.C. highschools?)

Tim told us that the Native Youth Garden and OEYC want to come back. Holly said LS is back for sure.

Nick will inquire at QECVI.

Tim will keep asking Doug at LCVI.

I think Tim and Holly said they would make some other inquiries – ISKA, Literacy?

10. re-state our plans for reorganizing gardens which end up underwater + delegate who + how

We decided not to do any digging or order any more soil to fill in the low plots. We decided not to offer discounts on those plots or let any go fallow.

We decided to just see how it goes. If people are really unhappy we’ll accommodate them by giving them the money back for their eastern-most portion.

Nick will inform people who get those plots that they can be wet in the spring.

11. repairing wheelbarrows / sink / other hardware

We will repair the one barrow wheel, but not until the first work-bee where it is required.

Should go on Odd-Job worklist (Nick? Maryse?)

12. new tools needed?

Stirrup hoe

Someone can buy it midsummer when a deal comes up– and notify the group.

13. establishing that the green hoses stay on the outer path for use on far gardens – do we agree that they don’t need to be put away between use during the growing season?

Agreed to this.

Should be mentioned at the meeting April 11.

Rain Barrel meeting

September 15th 6:30 PM

People attending meeting:

Mike

Nick

Maryse

Pierre

Tim

We discussed options for installation of the 4 new rain barrels.

We decided to:

• keep the 2 barrels we already have where they are
• add a screen to the current 2 barrels
• get flat limestone or patio stones to properly level the current 2 barrels
• put the 4 new barrels on the south side of the shed.  They will act as a heat battery for our proposed seed starter. Seed starter will have a plexiglass roof a small frame and roll down plastic sides (to be discussed and budgeted in more detail later).
• connect all rain barrels by disconnect-able tubes connected to the tap at the bottom of each barrel.  This creates one big reservoir that can be pumped by hand pump from both end barrels.
• add shelves to the south side of the shed for the purpose of starting seeds. (Tim to submit a plan for this in October).

What we need to do this fall

• Move out current seed starter before October 16th
• Ask people to donate old patio stones or large flat limestone rocks
• level the ground behind the shed

August 2011, Site Coordinator Meeting Minutes

Oak Street garden site coordinator meeting minutes

Date: August 24, 2011

people present : Nick, Mike, Maryse, Tim

item 1 fall dates

we agreed to have the fall cleanup party on October 16^th 3pm to 6pm with dinner at 5. with the rain date being the next Sunday.

Items to do at this event

• cleanup garden
• compost workshop
• rototilling plots in fall as opposed to spring
• get Rudy to do bed prep workshop
• bring chickens as a educational event

action items

Nick- talk to event planners, compost, and rototiller teams, advertise this as the registration date

mike- get permission to bring chickens for education

item 2 market training garden documentation

we agreed that Tim would write up a summary of what happened at the garden this year and it will be added to the website.

We went over the document prepared by Susan and answered many questions (document with answers int will be attached). We still need to go over one item on this list and it is in regards to how the job is renewed after the first 3 years.

Action items:

Tim to prepare a summary of progress at the market training garden this year in November

Tim to follow the new procedures we outlined int he documentation

the site coordinators to work together and continue finishing the drafting of this document.

Item 3 Kingston blooms

we were given the option to be entered in the Kingston blooms edible garden category but were only given 2 days notice.

Tim- get the form from Sue Hitchcock and see if Landon would take pictures. If possible this will be submitted if not we will consider it for next year.

Item 4 things that worked this year

• grass trimming went very well
• tasting garden was excellent
• new signs at the garden
• a start from permanent crops
• shed light
• rain barrels

things that need improvement

• flooding of new row
• compost organization need more workshops and maintenance
• events team – needs a leader
• need system to organize workshops for what people want to volunteer
• need to move lumber out of garden from second accessible bed
• need to plant herbs in accessible bed next year.

Other things we need to do

• better organize who we send thank yous to
• ideas – qe
• -native garden

item 5 plans for next year

• start using a scythe to hay grass in field or see if city would bale for us?
• Remove 4-5 plots from the map that are too flooded possibly offer them up as partial extensions to other plots
• add to registration form _This year i did _ hours of volunteer work for the garden and I agree to do 5 or more next year.
• Not going to expand next year but focus on improving and engagement.

Meeting Minutes May 7th, 2011

Garden meeting May 7
location: Oak Street Garden
People at the meeting:
Tim, Eartha, Maryse, Pierre, Nick, Dennis, and many more.
Dike Building/Ditch Digging
Discussed:  Strategies to stem the spring tide in order to have half-decently dry garden beds to work on in a more timely fashion.
Accessible Garden
QECVI kids to cut wood for an 8x4x2 garden box and assemble on accessible garden site OR ppl can put their own together
Agreed that AG will be where the hay bale is (to the east of the tasting garden close to the road)
Activities for garden work bee
Move metal poles from west side of shed so rain barrels can be put along side of shed – a number of new rain barrels will be acquired and there was discussion on the best way to get water out of the barrels and protection from mosquito using the rain barrels as nurseries.
There was an update on the Cedar posts and a cedar posts work bee proposed.
Proposed Workshops for Garden Opening Celebration
1.  Alternative to tilling (i.e sheet mulching)
2. The Joy of Composting
Other items:
100 wooden stakes from Mary? It was decided that we would take them all, use what we need and then make surplus available to other gardens.
Re:  $$ for workshops – Susan B. Tim has planned several and the Community Gardens Network will be hosting several – some at OSG and elsewhere.
Not enough for all workshops
Looking for sponsors
Invite any potentially interested party who might want to fund a w/s to Opening (see 2 w/s slated for Opening)
Sue will send invites re:  w/s
Could also get $ if went to do s.t. with Pathways – Sue and Tim will follow up
Re: communication team – Nick needs to organize a meeting
Have had 2 wheelbarrows donated
NOTE – need a hose reel/cart (Maryse will shop for hose reel and patio stone)
Lowell working on sign for compost ($ from Rotary Club)
NOTE – confirm with Dorene and Lloyd re: making of signs
What tools do we need? 2 more long-handled shovels ( ? ), 1 more fork – Tim will organize shed and take inventory in shed this coming week and create a list of what is needed
Tim has sketch of 2nd Tasting Garden
Reminder to plot holders not to use compost if your plot is older and has received compost in the past as it is needed for new beds.
Re:  budget will hopefully ( ?)
How to help Eartha and Edward with the Children’s Activities Set Up and Clear Out.

Tim presents proposal for use of Tiller

The third person on the Tilling Use and Maintenance Crew is Pierre.
Group agreed to meet the following Saturday, May 14, hoping the rain would abate long enough to hold an Opening Celebration and Work Bee.

Permanent Crops Meeting Minutes March 31, 2011

Oak Street Garden Permanent Crops meeting

March 31, 2011

8:00 p.m.

Present: Ian, Meredith, Nick, Megan, Mary, Sarah

Regrets: Bonnie, Porsche, Tina

Current Plants:

• Black Raspberries – 4-5 mature plants planted by fence on north side of shed
  • Will need trimming, Ian is looking after them
• Asparagus – was planted last year and moved
  • Will see how it does this year’
  • In thin strip on south side of shed
• Rhubarb – 6 plants in thin strip
  • One more plant from the tasting garden
• Raspberries – in thin strip
  • Are barely hanging on, will have to see how they do this year

Plans:

• Strawberries in patch north of shed even with first plots
  • Plants to be donated, Mary has some that she believes are everbearing and Nicholas and Megan have some that are June
• Blueberry Patch – extend thin strip south of shed to accommodate blueberry patch
  • Megan and Nicholas to look into cost of blueberry plants from Green Barn Nursery as they have plants coming in May from them already
• Grapes – to go on fence, need to find out where Tim has cucumbers so that we don’t interfere with them.
• Herbs – find out which ones tasting garden is getting and then have discussion about what else is needed for a perennial herb patch
  • Megan to send list of herbs that tasting garden is putting in to group

Other items:

• Need compost for new spots – Nick to talk to Maryse and Mike about getting compost
• Nick and Ian to scope out space to widen for blueberries and put down cardboard to kill the grass on Saturday.
• Find out if we are getting straw in Spring
• Need to clearly mark permanent crops so that mower does not take them down like last year.
• Will plan next meeting once we know when we will be getting plants and when compost is available

Tasting Garden meeting minutes March 13, 2011

Tasting Garden Meeting Minutes,

March 13, 2011

 

Present: Megan, Dorene, Tina, Adam, Tara, Susann

 

Regrets: Renee, Kelly, Kamin, Catherine, Rachel

 

The meeting began with a review of last year’s Tasting Garden provided by Megan: (Note: additions from the Mar. 13 meeting are in red)

 

What went well:

• Didn’t need additional soil
• Things grew well with very little effort
• Tasting garden communication book in shed
• Rotating weeks worked well
• Peas/cucumber were good
• Herbs did well
• Beets did get taken even though growing underground

Lessons learned:

• Cucumber and melons are not good next to each other
• Not as many beans needed
• Lettuce needs to go in earlier. Tara donated a mixed variety packet of heritage seeds she had purchased from the Moucks.
• Carrots were overshadowed by beans, etc… Request some sand for the garden (as well as compost and straw) so that the soil can be mixed with sand before carrot seeds are planted.

What to learn for/do next year:

• What goes next
• Basket/milk crate – to put veggies that are ready in and make available for people to just take (perhaps at sign)
• Mesclun mix?
• Carrots could be put in box
• Rosemary over winters (don’t pull out at end of season – sorry!!)
• Rhubarb needs sign that says don’t pick for a year – Dorene will provide. Suggestion that rhubarb be planted in the permanent garden.
• Artichokes got picked as well
• Nasturtium – could plant more
• Tomato – planting in other direction, needs a new spot – where bush beans were
• Better spacing for eggplant, beans and peppers
• More signs.
• Tomatoes need better staking
• Meet 2-3 times throughout summer for training (i.e. care of tomatoes, herbs, plants some are familiar with but others are not)
• Broccoli needs to go in ground earlier – use variety that continuously produces
• Kale and potatoes would be good additions. Chard as well.
• Fencing for tasting garden
• Put signs up when things are ready. Suggestion that we use the bulletin board to post when vegetables are ready
  • Use sheet from Tasting Garden notebook – re-useable signs might be a possibility
• Soap and water spray. Zucchini did well until the insects got them and the squash bore wiped out the squash. Tina said the larvae can’t eat through butternut squash, but that variety takes up a lot of garden space.

Since there will be two tasting gardens this year, one at either end of the Oak Street Community Garden, we will request that our budget be doubled to $200.00.

 

List of vegetables to be grown this year:

 

• potatoes onion
• carrots bush squash
• radishes lettuce
• beets running nasturtiums
• tomatoes (put near eggplant & zucchini)
• peppers kale
• spinach marigolds
• bush & pole beans basil
• snap peas leeks
• chard Brussels sprouts
• cucumbers celery
• turnips cilantro
• rutabaga parsley (come up from last yr.?)
• chives (should come up from last year)
• borage (Tina says it should be planted on either side of strawberries, if you’re planting strawberries)

 

Combinations that grow well together:

 

• Beans and potatoes
• Turnips & peas
• Zucchini, lettuce, and celery
• Beans & squash (in July, plant squash between the bean rows)
• Plant thyme around the Brussels sprouts to keep the soil loose

 

 

The plots at either end of the garden can be mirror images of each other or some changes can be made ie plant patty pan in one and zucchini in the other .

 

Action Items:

 

• Tina will pass on list of plants that we want the seed starting group to get started on (8 tomatoes, 12 peppers, 6 cucumbers, 8 basil, 4 brussel sprouts, 2 celery, and lots of lettuce for both gardens).
• Tara will ask Cate, from Seed Sanctuary, about whether we can get the rest of the seeds we need from there (Snap peas, Chard, Zucchini, Radishes, Bok Choy, Rutabaga, Borage, Rosemary) – we also need seed potatoes and dutch set of green onions but not sure that Cate provides those??
• Dorene will speak with QECVI teacher about whether the students could do some work on turning the soil in April, getting climbing fence up and planting of early seeds (snap peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes ).
• Tina will explore buying cedar posts advertised on kijiji for entrance to each garden (will need 10 posts) and as tomatoe stakes (need 8).
• Megan will ask Nick about when and whether we are getting compost and pass on our feedback about the signs we need the sign making team to make. Signs that will be useful include PLEASE PICK CAREFULLY, PLEASE TAKE ONLY WHAT YOU NEED, STILL GROWING, READY TO PICK and also large signs at either end of the tasting gardens, which state the purpose of the Tasting Gardens.

 

Also, for those who weren’t at the meeting, we set our first workbee for May 15, 2011 at 1:30 to get some more plants in the garden and do final planning for how we are going to care for the gardens over the summer. We are still looking for a communications coordinator – is there anyone who was not at the meeting who would be willing to take this job on?? (I believe it will be primarily making sure that we schedule and know about meetings and that information is relayed to Nick for dispersal to entire garden).

 

 

Meeting minutes February 16th, 2011

February 16th, 2011  6:30
Oak St Garden Meeting
Present;  Nick L,  Eartha, Susan B,  Sarah, Maryse, Pierre, Doreen, Mary M, Barry k
Regrets:  Tim, Mike, Lowell, Michelle

QECVI at the garden – use of space (nick)
Lloyd (at QE) contacted Nick; wants space at the garden to plant, but know that kids are off as of June and has low expectations for their participation through the summer.  Question: Should they have own garden or work on new tasting garden?  We agreed that having them work with the tasting garden group is best.  Nick will talk with Lloyd and let him know that they will be working with the tasting garden .  Nick will also confirm with him about making the fencing for the tasting garden.  Doreen will coordinate with Lloyd and the Tasting garden group to make it all happen.

Workshops for the year + Schedule + ploughing match –planning ideas a dates (Nick)
Workshops.  Tim is interested in hosting workshops this year.  He has four ideas so far – will tie them in with Market garden Tuesday night pot-lucks. His ideas are   Composting, Scything, and… two more.  He plans on July and Aug to hold workshops every week.
Brainstorming suggestions;  having someone in to critique gardens, organic pest management, companion gardening, seed saving,
Nick has a couple of other people who want to run workshops in summer.

Ploughing match – tiller training.  We agred it would be good to have an early tiller training day, lots of people come out, lots of training and teaching. Is it working now?  Should we have two on site for the day? Date – aim for Sat May 7th  Date to be firmed up closer to date based on weather/mud conditions.

Someone signed up for small engine maintenance.  Nick will follow up with them.

Opening day:  Eartha volunteers to be part of planning for fun events for that day.  Kids mural., other activities.

Tentative:
May 7th Ploughing match and opening
May 28 or 29 Last Chance Planting Workbee
July 16  mid season party  – bigger event – sprinklers and watermelons

Sept.      Harvest Party  TBA
Oct.      workbee end of October  TBA

Nick is hoping that volunteer groups will work as committees – to organize their own workbees and do the promotion. etc.

Volunteer jobs – any additional needs? (nick)
Nick named and described each team/task looking for feedback.
Susan will make sure that donations from individual gardens as well as Acorn and market garden are more streamlined this year including sending out reminders for option to have others harvest your garden for donation
Discussion – do we need the compost team revisited – more people?  Do we need more compost bins?  Neither Tim nor Lowell are here to elaborate on composting strategy or plans.

We think that composting team should be increased to 5 people to handle all the work.

*composting committee should make a comprehensive sign to guide people through composting.  Should be posted on back of shed.  Nick will pester Lowell to put information together

Financial update + budgeting for groups for the year (Maryse)
There is an outstanding (possibly) bill for $572 for compost – Maryse will contact Mike and Beth to find out about invoice for that. She is holding the $572 back until this is settled.  The cost of Rototiller expenses needs to be discussed and clarified with Tim and Beth.
1161.00 remaining but about $950 already allocated for this year.  This leaves $223 remaining unallocated for this year.
**  This figure will change based on the proposed grants below**

Suggestion that’s we sould have mulch (2-3 times per summer) as a standing item in the budget – Maryse will follow up with Mike re how to get this.  It might not cost us anything.

Grant applications (Susan)
Susan will follow up with mike re our OPIRG status.  – Are we still a working group and so can we still apply for grants through them even if they can’t insure us?

*Hort Soc – $250 for tasting garden – Doreen will write it up.

*Rotary – due end of next week (Feb 25th) :  Susan will write it up.
Signs – tasting gardens, compost. What kind of materials?  Heavy duty plastic?  Tasting garden signs should be more rustic.
Pierre will follow up with Lowell re his ideas for signs   and with pricing out materials, etc.   Pierre will get some prices from sign makers in time for Susan to write grant proposal.
Signs:  compost, tasting gardens, 4-5 signs please respect personal gardens,
Probably use corro-plast for some?

*City Comm Garden network: $500 (any time)  Nick will research and write it.
We will apply for 2 Wheelbarrows, good hose and reel, hose wand, rototiller maintenance and gas
Odds and ends for garden maintenance .

Accessible bed discussion (Susan and Tim)
Susan has written grant for accessible bed and storage bench; if it comes though it will be placed near end of middle row; united way day of caring will build it;  when not in use by someone who needs it, we will plant herbs and flowers.

Tasting garden fence and signage (tasting garden people)
Kingston  Hort Soc grant; labour assisted by QECVI kids; as discussed above.

Permanent crops team goals for this year (nick)
Brainstorming about possible crops for this garden;
Asparagus, berries, herbs –oregano, chives, thyme, sage,
Grapes (from Doreen)  Discussion of whether to put grapes near picnic area or in permanent garden?  Decide grapes behind picnic area; herbs near fence behind existing permanent garden.
Tree?  Sour cherry tree?  Plum? Worries about location and shading.  Decided no tree this year
Decide to go with grapes, herbs and currents as this years goal.  North of blackberries, along fence.
Future plan for orchard to the south or north of the garden proper.
Unanswered Question:  Do we need more people for this?

Insurance (Susan)
OPIRG can no longer insure us.  Insurance will cost $275 through city.
Nick will follow up with permit and insurance with city.

Winter Wellness Festival (Nick)
This is at the Wally Elmer centre/Rideau Heights Ps.  Loving Spoonful will have a booth there promoting various programs.  We (OSG) don’t’ want to have a booth there as we aren’t looking for more members and it is outside our neighbourhood. s

Meeting Minutes September 25, 2010

Oak Street Garden Meeting Minutes September 25, 2010,

Item 1 Stealing at the garden
Some people have been coming at night and harvesting items from the garden. Some have claimed that they thought it was all tasting garden others have been more rude and confrontational. We opened up the discussion for some possible solutions
Discussed ideas:
- Put a box of free food near sign
- Find out who the people are and pursue further action
- Encourage these people to get on the waiting list and get their own plot
- Have a tasting garden at both ends of the garden
- Install a motion activated spotlight on the shed
- Improve the signs at the garden so that tasting gardens are more clear

It was agreed that we would work on the signage, extra tasting garden, and spotlight.
Action Item: Lowell to look into spotlight
Action Item: Communication team to make more signs and improve current signs
Action item: Nick to make sure space is left for a new tasting garden at the other end of the garden.

Item 2 grass trimming at the garden
This summer we had some trouble keeping the smaller pathway well trimmed at the garden. We have identified a few problems. The weed whacker is large and not easy to use for smaller people we also need to have a better scheduling system for next season.
Discussed solutions:
- make sure all grass trimming volunteers are strong
- put wheels or a strap on the trimmer (wheels were thought to be cumbersome)
- get more mulch so people can block out grass
- set up a trimming schedule next year so that each trimmer only trims 2-3 times in the season and each person has assigned weeks.
Action item: Mike to get more hay at the garden before the October 23 cleanup. Mike also to get roughly 6 bales of hay each season delivered to the garden. Mike to also get topsoil delivered at the garden next year.
Action Item: Pierre to look into getting a shoulder strap for the trimmer

Item 3 Rain Barrel
The new rain barrel has low flow so we discussed two options.
1. Create a platform to raise the barrel on in order to get better pressure from the tap at the bottom.
2. Install a hand pump at the top of the barrel.

Action Item: Pierre to price the two options with a budget of $100 dollars. He will decide which option works best and carry forward with the project.

Item 4 Tiller
In the past we have had trouble getting all plots tilled in the spring in a timely fashion. This is usually a timing of the tiller training or a broken tiller. It was decided that we would try to have a tilling event on the weekend in the spring called the “Oak Street Plouging Match”. This may be an event where we encourage more than one tiller to be present at the garden.
Action Item: Nick to make sure the ploughing match is on the calendar of events.

Item 5 Next garden event,
We decided to have a garden cleanup event this year in order to encourage people to prevent the grass from growing in their plots. The idea is to have some time to clean your own plot and time to clean the communal plots. The date was set for Saturday, October 23, 2010,

Item 6 Roles
Maryse is going to take on the role of treasurer from Beth
Michelle is going to take the role of secretary from Nick

Site Coordinator Meeting June 21, 2010



Oak Street Garden Site Coordiator Meeting

June 21^st at Oak Street Garden

People attending meeting:

Mike, Susan, Dawn, Maryse, Nick, Lowell

Item 1: Pile of stuff by the shed and composters:

It was agreed that we want to clean this area us for ascetics and safety. The poles by the shed are to either be used or stored in the rafters of the shed. The old composters are to be dismantled and replaced by simply a large compost pile where large objects such as corn and sunflowers can be left to decompose. The plan is to remove any garbage from the area by truck during the last week of July.

Action: Tim to clean up poles and composter team to clean up compost

Action: Nick and Mike to arrange a truck to remove items which have no place at the garden.

Item 2: Garden Contract reviewrom spreading further, crews

The group went over the current garden contract which is to be updated by Nick and posted for feedback.

Action: Nick to update the contract as discussed during the meeting and get feedback from the rest of the garden.

Item 3: Discussion of future spending

We listed as a group some things we would like to spend money on in the future when funds are available.

Items:

long picnic table for group gatherings

straw for use as mulch

gravel path from street to allow accessible access to garden.

Lawn mower

trowels and hoes

Item 4: Volunteer jobs

It was noted that we should probably add more people to the grass trimming team and that we should assign one person to small engine maintenance and repair.

Item 5: City Grand and Picnic Table

Mike is going to apply to the city for the garden grant. The plan is to buy a large picnic table to add to the group gathering area at the garden.