Mid-Valley Community Garden Collective meeting minutes: November 1, 2010.
Present at the meeting were Gayle Shugars, Patty Overstreet and Gerry Terwilliger
Gayle opened the meeting by reading the minutes from the last meeting (August 2nd) and noting that this was our one year anniversary.
No changes were made to the minutes.
HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY GARDEN
Patty discussed the responses to the survey she had sent out to the Homestead gardeners. Tana Davis and Annie Wilkinson indicated they would not be participating in the garden next year. Two gardeners are leaving, Chante Floreani and Lyndal Williams, leaving 3 ½ plots available. All other respondents to date indicate that they will be returning. Annie Roskam’s response was very positive and she suggested more sharing of produce, which was also an idea of Patty’s. Annie thought that the sign with rules that the TOB installed was not very welcoming. We discussed moving the sign to the back of the garden and putting a more welcoming sign at the front.
Scott Condon’s article “Give Peas a Chance” was referred to and a link will be sent to the gardeners. This article was about his experiences in the Homestead garden.
The idea of having an automatic watering system was ‘floated’. It was generally thought that this was not a good idea. It would reduce visits by the gardeners and some gardens might get ignored for a long time, permitting weeds to take over. It would also reduce the community aspect of people watering the plots of others when needed, either by request or by observing that a plot looked dry.
It was discussed for next year a load of compost would not be needed. Probably few tools are needed. Also, better steps would be good. Next year the compost pile should be moved. The plot fee should be reduced because of not getting trucked compost and most everything else is purchased or installed.
HIGH SCHOOL OUTREACH
Fran, Patty and Gerry participated in outreach at the Basalt High School during parent teachers conferences on October 27-29. A few contacts were made, but overall it went quite slowly. In retrospect, it was a difficult venue to capture attention and if efforts are made like this in the future, perhaps ‘free’ cookies or candy would help. The parents arriving were focused on getting to their conferences and paid scant attention to anything else. Fran is going to follow and try to reach one or two of the contacts made.
ROARING FORK LEADERSHIP
Gerry reported on the possibility that the RFL will take on establishing a CG at the BHS. He related that he was going to give a presentation on November 5th to the RFL as a ‘project sponsor’ and asked that everyone come if possible (Gayle and Patty attended). Also, if the project got accepted, there would be an all day meeting on December 3rd with the RFL group that he would not be able to attend. Gayle and Patty thought they would be able to.
OTHER BUSINESS
Gayle said that the Lazy Glen greenhouse was to be removed and wondered if there would be a use for it at the High School. It is quite dilapidated, but she thought perhaps the piping would be useful. No action was taken.
Gayle reported that Rae-Ann Hunter’s garden at the Methodist Church in Carbondale produced 60# of potatoes, 12# of carrots, 99 bags of lettuce and 7 quarts of green beans that was donated to Lift-Up charity.
Gayle listed the community gardens in the RF valley:
Aspen community garden
Snowmass village at the fire station
Basalt Homestead
Basalt Elementary School
Rock Bottom Ranch
Carbondale Community garden
Carbondale Methodist church
Carbondale Tessa Horan Memorial CG
Glenwood Springs Community Garden.
Gerry said that he would not be at the December meeting.
ADJOURN
That bright green rectangle to the left of the Basalt High School is the approximate location of the new Grace Park (name may change) Community Garden.
