Victory Garden Meeting
Minutes
May 9 2009
I. 24 beds built and staked down in the park today! Thanks to all of the volunteers that came out to help. Special thanks to Paul for leading the bed building project.
II. Jan C discussed differences between urban ag and farms. Urban Ag is in a dense setting. Neighbors do not want to see a farm they would like something a little more pleasing to the eye so urban ag also has the responsibility to look beautiful.
III. Review Garden rules – Jan handed out draft of rules to review – draft on blog. http://www.victorygardenmke.com
a. Cost – (by group consensus) will be $1 – $20. free will donation.
b. Gardener needs to care for garden at least once a week.
c. Will only be able to give out on garden plot per gardener this year due to demand.
IV. Water
a. Options are to run hose from bathroom house, hydrant on Garfield or hydrant on North.
b. Discussed rain barrels, putting some on site just to fill from water source so people do not have to lug h2o so far.
c. Suggestion to have a standard watering schedule since the hydrant or bathroom house can not be left open for use all the time.
V. Discussed tool storage
a. BYOT At this time, everyone is responsible for bringing their own tools.
b. In the future, we can plan for “coffin” storage space or permanent bench space.
VI. Composting
a. We will have composting; standard for gardens to have
b. Will look into some covered bins that can be donated
c. Will have some rules for what gets composted.
VII. Applications – draft handed out, reviewed for comments, copy of blog
a. Application will be approved by Parks Committee this Thursday May 7.
b. Afterward, applications will be available to download from the blog. Can be filled out electronically, or by hand and turned in. Hard copies will be available.
c. Process – will be done by lottery. All applications put into hat, each bed has a number. Pull a name from the hat and give a bed in sequential order.
d. If gardener wants different bed, will negotiate on own with other gardener.
e. Request first lottery round happen next weekend May 9. Not all beds built then. Whatever apps we have in by Sat May 9 will go into first lottery round. If there are more applications they will go into next round.
f. We have money for lumbar and dirt for at least 68 beds. We should have enough beds for demand.
g. The goal is to have all beds built and filled by/on Memorial Day weekend.
VIII. Victory Garden Initiative Memorial Day Weekend Blitz
a. City wide blitz.
b. Shorewood challenging RW to a dual – who can have the most Victory Gardens built.
c. The blitz weekend groups are going out to build beds for folks. RW will have a team to build beds in RW.
IX. Garden Art
a. Susan and Tess have offered to do signs for the garden.
b. Discussed other art installations/ communal art. COA kids can help.
X. Seed Swap and major planting day
a. Walt has seeds to share. Discussed having one hallmark day to swap seeds and plant together. Tentative date Sat May 16.
b. Suggestion to have resources for beginner gardeners. Should place them on blog.
Upcoming dates:
Thursday May 7 – Park planning meeting
Saturday May 9 – work day 10:00am. Filling beds with dirt and building
Saturday May 16 – Planting Day/ Seed Swap
May 23-25 – Memorial Day Victory Garden Blitz
Sunday June 7 – Max Sampson and group come to build big beds.
Respectfully submitted by Kris Peterka, Riverwest Health Initiative
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