October 4, 2010 Meeting

Mid-Valley Community Garden Collective

Monthly Meeting Summary Notes

Monday, October 4, 2010

Attendees:  Betsy Defries, Brita Stevenson, Gerry Terwilliger, Fran Suiter, Scott Snelson, Gayle Shugars

Gayle read last month’s minutes to recap that meeting.  She noted that the Homestead Picnic did not happen, as too many people were unavailable to attend.  As a result, Patty is working on a HSCG questionnaire to solicit 2010/2011 gardener input. Listing the current project areas, she felt that if we have the opportunity to do a garden a year, we’d be keeping it a manageable level.  Our current project areas include the Homestead Garden, Basalt High School, the possible public garden on the Basalt property next to the high school, and Crown Mountain.

Fran gave her report on the Basalt High school garden.  At their last meeting on September 7, Michael Thompson and David Bedford spoke of their experiences with Roaring Fork High School, the Basalt Middle School, and Aspen High School, all which have gardens in some form or another.  The major point of their talk was that motivated individuals needed to be involved from within the school including staff and parents if possible.  It was decided at this meeting to have one more outreach effort during Parent/Teacher Conferences to solicit and gauge interest.  If more people don’t become involved, it was agreed that the group would turn their attention and help in the effort to establish a community garden on the property next to the high school.

Betsy commented on the gardens she was familiar with in Berkeley.  She said the school districts hired an extra person to run the gardens and try and incorporate the garden into teacher’s curriculums, for example from AmeriCore.  She has a list of funding sources she would be willing to share, should we move forward with the high school.

Brita indicated she was participating in a leadership program in the valley and that the groups within the program were looking for projects to work on within their coursework.   She thought the Chase property garden would be a good project and she offered to quickly do a proposal for us.  The MVCGC then discussed what might be needed within the scope of their project, the list of proposal questions, and what the Town was thinking about size-wise for the garden (initially around ½ acre).  Fencing, gates, handicap access, water, power to run things (solar, for example) and a joint meeting with the Town on October 25^th between Pitkin County, the Town of Basalt Council, the Collective and other stakeholders.  Brian McNellis is the Town contact on this project.  We all agreed at the meeting we would send her data and other information to help her do the proposal.

Gerry talked about the Homestead Garden, which he oversaw this last summer.  He mentioned that Basalt Councilwoman, Karin Teague will lead a community 350.org 10-10-10 sustainability event project at the HSCG moving rocks by the water spigot to try and control bindweed. 

Scott Snelson, who is with the Forest Service, mentioned that the Service is looking to convey some of their property to community organizations, counties, and cities in the next 18-20 months. Another garden site opportunity for MVCGC. He’ll keep us posted.

Lastly, Gayle mentioned that our blog is up and new things are being added and for all to check in and add anything to it.

http://communitygardencollective.blogspot.com/

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 1^st, the first Monday of the month.