MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 21, 2019

Meeting was called to order at 10:00am

IN ATTENDENCE

Susan Howard, Barb Sibbald, Marga Konig, Gail Hook, Scott McDonald, Sue Dugaro, Karen Henderson, Phyllis, Jay, James

FINANCIAL STATEMENT – Marga confirmed we have approx. $2,857.80 of available funds.

SHED PLANS

• Went over shed plans, shed will be 8 X 10, will need limestone screening, clear plastic on roof and large doors.  Josh from clear sky, will prepare area, $3750.66 was quote.  Action – Look at getting further quotes.  Some discussion on changing the shed design, living roof, and location.
• Will bring up again at next board meeting when decision has been made about putting the shed in the new expansion instead of in the old expansion where the original plan was.

EXPANSION PROJECT

• Has not been voted on or accepted by city council.
• Waiting list is 10 people for plots, 26 rented plots plus 2 plots for living edge and community garden.  Expanded by 50 feet, give extra 18 community plots, plus 2 plots for food bank.  
• There was some great discussion surrounding the shed and accessibility plots, and whether or not they should go in the new expansion, if so, we will lose some plots in the new expansion, but gain some more in the old site.  To discuss further in the next board meeting.
• Action – Barb will send out a quick survey as to what people want for the expansion.  
• Plan needs to go through city hall, then needs to go to city council.  
• Action – This week Barb will do up a letter to City Hall.

Scott McDonald had moved “that the Colwood garden Society board formally approach the City of Colwood and counsel for approval to expand the Colwood community garden by 3750 square ft, directly next to the current occupied space, on City of Colwood property.” James Fink has seconded the motion.

SCHOOL LIAISON

• Action – we will need a new school liaison for Dunsmuir Middle School.  They will be using 2 gardens in the new expansion.
• The volunteer will need a criminal record check, you do not work with groups of students on your own, teacher will be there, your role is to send out emails and coordinate with teacher.  
• Teachers and students are responsible for the planting and watering and harvesting of the plots.
• The school found it difficult to keep plots watered over the summer. 

CHRISTMAS CRAFT SALE AND SEED EXCHANGE AND PLANT SALE

• Christmas craft fair- last year made $200, do we want to do this again?  Would like feedback on this, will there be enough volunteers?  
• An alternative would be to have a plant sale in the spring, in the parking lot of church, we could rent tables to sell seeds, west coast seeds will donate seeds.  
• Marga suggested moving the date to the 1st Saturday in May, that time of year will be warmer, and plants will be ready.  
• There is an advertising team this year for plant sale and have Wishart school to participate.

Scott McDonald Motioned to not have the Xmas craft sale and establish an annual plant sale at beginning of May.  Jay Ruryk seconded it.

OTHER ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

• There was some discussion as to what happens when garden plots are not used, nothing is being planted.

Barb and Scott brought up as per garden rules and regulations:

“Plots must show some activity by May 1st, lack of activity may result in the cancellation of the lease with the plot returning to the rental pool.”  Action – Barb will be sending out a copy of the bylaws for community gardens as per suggestion from Gail.

• Phyllis will approach city hall for recycling of pop bottles and cans to Colwood garden society and suggested that we could get bottles from Wishart school.

ELECTIONS OF NEW MEMBERS

• Phyllis has nominated Bev McKinnon as secretary, Barb has seconded it.
• All existing members will be staying on.
• James to do volunteer coordinator

ITEMS TABLED TO NEXT MEETING

• Gail has suggested that the person who gets new plot is involved in the building and filling of plot.
• Barb suggested that we bring all of our ideas for the expansion gardens to next meeting.

BOARD MEETINGS

• Board meetings are held the third Saturday of every month at Barb Sibbald’s place, 3378 Wishard Rd.  All members are invited to attend.
• The next Board meeting is Saturday, October 19th starting at 10am.

Barb adjourned meeting at 11:40am.

Encl:  Letter from Wishard Road – Teacher Suzanne Agnew

Hi Gail.

Thank you for all your information about the garden and how to continue to make it grow and produce. My new class was over the moon with excitement as they harvested the sunflowers and were so excited to discover all the wonderful vegetables growing in the other plots. We also had the pleasure of seeing a lizard, a spider and a snake all on our first outing so of course the desire to continue our visits was extremely high.

It is so wonderful for many of the students, who don’t have gardens of their own to see the changes first hand and it has created many opportunities for discussions and learning.

As Kristi stated, summer was very difficult for us to maintain the watering of the garden as we both were very busy with travels and our own families. It was nice to know that there were families and other garden workers helping out. I would love to offer families the choice to visit the garden over the summer and water if they have time but I also don’t want to burden them with obligations as I know how summer plans can quickly change. A “Please Water Me’ sign seems to be a great way to encourage other gardeners to lend a hand when possible.

Kristi and I have booth signed up for 2 different gardening opportunities and of course we have the potatoes again this year which have offered us both the confidence to try gardening on a larger level (yes this is completely out of my comfort zone). It has so many benefits that it is worth the efforts to create more time in the schedule for observation, enjoyment and discovery.

I would like to offer the dahlias to any gardener who would like to dig them up and take the tubers. If there are no takers then I will offer them to the school parents.

I do love this experience but unfortunately I need my weekends to recoup after the busy week!

Thanks again

Sue