Notes For The Feb 8th 2008 Meeting

Held at the caldenes bakery

Five people Attended the meeting. Four current gardeners and a new person that will be joining us this year. Eight people contacted Susan to say that they couldn't come that night. That was very much appreciated.

Announcements: Seeds cleaning and packaging sessions will be held on Feb. 20 at the Scadding court kitchen, 707 Dundas St. W. (at Bathurst) from 6pm to 9pm. And at the Stop Community Food Bank on March 3rd at 1884 Davenport Rd, (at Perth.) From 5pm to 9pm.

Susan has a collection of Seeds from last year, more that we can use in the garden. We are participating in this, so we can have seeds to trade with others at the Seedy Saturday Event. There is a description of this on our web site. If you have collected your own seeds you are welcome to bring them. I would like to have as many volunteers as possible, we will be joined by other community gardeners at these events.

Seedy Saturday: March 15 from 10am to 3pm, at Scadding Court. Great Seed exchange and an opportunity to get rare heirloom seeds.

Tennis court: The City will be repairing the tennis court in the spring. Susan will be meeting with them at the end of the month to find out if it will impact on the garden. There are the daffodil bulbs in the grass in front of the court, and there is the newly planted herb garden that is right against the tennis court fence. I am hoping that we don't need to move any thing...but we will have to see what their plans are.

Roy wanted me to remind every one about the Fundraiser for the Franklin Fire. FEB.15 AT 1900 DAVENPORT (RIGHT NEXT TO THE STOP) FROM 6PM TO 9PM. For those of you that missed the news that day Jan 5th /08: on Franklin Ave, and Hugo Ave. right behind Susan's house, there was a fire. Six houses were destroyed and another 3 damaged by this fire. The news called them "town Homes", that is incorrect, the were 'row houses' built at the turn of the previous century. The home owners may have had insurance, but the people that rented there lost every thing. The flyer for this event can be viewed on the web site.

Main Discussion: The garden shed is full! We received a donation of a barbeque and a tent. They will prove to be very valuable in the seasons to come, The problem is that right now, we can't get into the garden shed! We need a second shed and Susan think there is some urgency to this, she would like the Spring Start-up to be easy and fun, not a struggle to get tools! Susan brought a map of the park and garden. Looking over the area we came to the conclusion that there are 3 options.

1. put a second shed in the south east corner. It would require moving the dirt pile that is there right now, and Alison's Akaline Garden. Alison is okay with that, we could move it next to the herb garden, as some herbs also like that soil type.

2. along the train track. Susan's concern with that is that it will be easy for the beer drinkers to jump over the fence...it will be a safety risk for woman working alone in the garden. It would also be where the picnic tables are, blocking a favourite place to have garden meetings.

3. have a storage box for the tools. We are not too sure how that would work out, and needs to be researched.

Fundraising: The original plan was to write the 500 word story of how $1000 would help us help the community. This was for the Vision TV and Back to Eden program. ...I can say that we have helped the community... getting the community involved for helping the Franklin Fire people. Advocating for the Tennis court repairs. Supporting the Dupont West Mural Art Group. Donating almost 350 pounds in 2006, and over 475pounds in 2007, of produce to the Stop, and another 55 pounds to FoodShare. The problem is that the Vision TV people want to have the right to put a big Sign with their name in the garden...That is against the City of Toronto Parks Department policy.

There are 3 different types of Fundraising:

• A) Filling out forms to get a grant.

• B) Going to Rona and explaining the situation and asking for stuff.

• C) "Nickel and Dime" fundraising like having an event and selling hot dogs, seedling and other small things.

WE NEED A FUND RAISING COMMITTEE to price out our needs, and choose a mode of fundraising--WE all need to participate and support this. This is a COMMUNITY GARDEN, we need to work together on this. Allotment gardens don't have this type of problem, but you have to go on a 2 year waiting list and have to pay $50-$60 dollars every year.

Wrapping up the meeting and other concerns.

We need to work on details for garden duties. last year, some gardeners hardly ever participated. The work load was burdened on a few good gardeners. Projects that need to be done we not well supported. many gardeners did not complete their fall clean up- an expectation from the City. One suggestion is what some other gardens do: $20 rental fee at the beginning of the Season. you would receive $15 back after a successful fall clean up.

An other concern brought up by the gardeners present, how to ensure Participation in events. The events we held, including our garden meetings were not well supported by our gardeners, This needs to be addressed. Susan doesn't want to be 'nagging' people about coming to the garden meetings.

Committees: Volunteers are needed to help with running the garden. FINDRAISING AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Rebecca McCarthy has volunteered to help with writing out the garden duties, but as a community garden we should discuss as a group which projects should get priority for the upcoming season, other wise it is know as the STEERING COMMITTEE.

First job that need to be done as soon as the soil is ready, move the fruit tree that has sprung up in plot #4 The tree is bad for the Garlics from the Great Canadian Garlic Collection. (Seeds of Diversity project) Second job: we need child friendly latches on the gate entrance, to keep the dogs out. Some dog owners are up set that the gates keep swinging open and their dogs run into the garden. Susan would like the latches to be child friendly so that small children don't get trapped in the garden area.

NEXT MEETING Suggested days and times: Monday or Tuesday evening or even Sunday evening. Evenings are not very good for Susan. Suggested places to meet: Library has children's area if we get someone to watch the kids--we have 5 or 6 families with kids. The Bakery was good and quiet enough during the time of our meeting. Ask the Stop to use a meeting room, or go to the Wallace Emerson Community Centre. With all the events coming up, we would like to have it after Seedy Saturday.