MVCGC Meeting - February 1, 2010

Notes from Mid-Valley Community Garden Cooperative for February 1, 2010

Attendance: Gerry Terwilliger, Patti Overstreet, Fran Suiter, and Gayle Shugars
Guest: Doug Pratte ASLA, Landscape Architect with Basalt Methodist Church in Holland Hills
Discussion centered on the Basalt Methodist Church’s property in Holland Hills, an organization which might be interested in a community garden. Doug Pratte, a member of the congregation, was present to talk about the possibility. There is plenty of parking for access to where the garden could be placed. The property consists of three acres with one-third utilized by the Church and grounds and the rest sloped pasture land.
Ditch water is free and there is a pump. Holland Hills has its own metro district. The Church doesn't have any money budgeted to contribute to the garden, but through the congregation it could get people together for time and materials. There would also need to be talks with the HOA in Holland Hills to get their approval. Patty talked about DOW and their practice of contributing fencing for local gardens.
Gayle talked about the Glenwood Springs community garden. It started with 40 plots and they got $30,000 worth of fencing from DOW.
Doug, a landscape architect, said that at the Methodist church, the strip closest to irrigation might be the first developed and then see how much room was needed to expand the garden later on. He indicated that he thought the Church would not mind if some of the irrigated lawn could be used. The Church was concerned about the expense. Patty talked about renting plots for $25 to $50 per plot to offset expenses as other gardens do throughout the valley. Gayle noted that in Glenwood they used community service programs, such as the work-ender program in Garfield County, to dig plots and she thought Sopris Engineers donated time, while local contractors constructed a tool shed, etc. So there was lots of donated time and materials.
Gerry gave a Southside Park update saying that the president of the park homeowners association would be sending out an email to see if there was interest in a community garden.
Fran gave an update on Blue Lake indicating there was only a little interest there at this point. Only 4 individuals responded to the newsletter inquiry and of those only one was interested in helping in the planning process. It may take some time to generate enough interest. Gayle noted that it took three years to get the Glenwood Springs Garden going, even though they may lose the site for a driving range.
Gayle talked about the community garden summit she attended along with Patty Overstreet and Gerry Terwilliger and noted a garden group may be established down the road as a group of all community gardens in the area. Gayle also talked about The Wasatch Gardens handbook that has been written from which we can source valuable guidance from. She also learned that Glenwood Springs is raising funds for the garden and will be offering interesting public programs.
Finally, Gerry brought out a plat for Homestead and we looked a various plots designs and sizes. He said he needed a pamphlet that instructs all gardeners in Basalt and the plat later in February for the Basalt planning department. Fran would rework the sample guidelines we have for the Homestead garden.
Our next meeting will be Monday March 1, 2010 @ 7pm
Chaffin Light Real Estate - Midland Ave. Basalt, Co.