Attendance: Jasper, Sarah, Susan, Barb, Gail. Scott, Naomi and Magda did not attend.
Called to order at: 10:05 a.am
Minutes of the March meeting were sent out to Board Members to review. Gail corrected the name of Josh Driver’s company, Clear Sky, and the minutes were adopted.
Shed: Susan oversaw installation of our new shed on March 23. Gail mailed a gas card and thank you note to Josh Driver of Clear Sky on March 26. Susan is planning to set up a seed exchange in the shed for members. Sarah has donated a cork board and will look into hanging it up. She will check with schools to see the size plastic box they will use for tools and then we will decide on shelving for the shed. A rabbit has been seen under the shed. Colwood is asking for reports of any rabbits seen by residents, and they are asked to fill in a survey with details of rabbit sightings at: letstalkcolwood.ca/rabbits. See the bulletin board for details.
VHS Grant: Barb provided a Pollinator and Indigenous Plant Garden Report: On March 25 at 1:30 p.m. CGS Board members met with Board members from the Victoria Horticultural Society at the garden to accept a grant award of $500.00. The award is meant to aid purchasing plants for the indigenous garden. Barb will send a report to VHS in October detailing how the money was spent, and including receipts. She will document progress with photos to send to VHS. Barb and Jasper will organize a small work party to finish the paths in the Indigenous Garden, and then purchase and plant new plants.
Healing Soils: Susan met at the garden with David, Laurie and Viv from the bachelor of environmental sciences program at Royal Roads University. They took samples from various plots and from the original soil, and will send a report in the fall.
Financial Report: Magda was working Saturday. Bank balance as of April 9 was $7345.04. Expected dispositions are: Shed final bill $2100.00, soil 769.02 , and water to City of Colwood, to be billed. $1000.00 of the money came from grants to the Indigenous Garden project and must be reserved for that, leaving available funds of $3,566.02. Naomi has purchased gas for the lawnmower, and will submit the receipts before the next meeting.
Web Security Concerns: were reported by Magda. Barb created a new website password. She should be informed if problems continue.
School Report : Sarah met with Anastasia from Dunsmuir and was assured student behaviour will improve, and classes will visit one at a time. Schools are actively planting. Sarah told them of Colwood’s plan to relocate the Community Garden in the fall. Sarah met with Stephen who gives tours to schools at Millstream community garden who will be a good resource. Stephen was very interested in the mason bees which just arrived for the season in our garden. Barb will send contact info so Sarah can Sarah check whether our provider might be interested. Sarah also plans to visit Sooke school gardens. She is keen to encourage school use for activities in addition to tending their plots. Gail suggested perhaps a scavenger hunt with students divided into small groups. Other ideas, please contact Sarah.
Compost Bins: DO NOT put plant material into these bins, which remain closed. Gardeners need to bag organic waste and take it home for disposal. Please do not throw weeds from the gardens onto the ground, as that encourages weed growth, as well as making it difficult for our volunteer lawn mower, Robert, to cut the grass.
Gablecraft letter: Gail contacted Madelynn Sherwood, Gablecrafthomes.ca/royalbay, who works with Ben Raycroft.
Madelynn was very interested in following up on their offers of help made at the March garden tour. She says she and Ben will help us develop a site plan for the new location. Gail will update them with details to date.
Ben has offered a new weedwhacker and Naomi has expressed a wish to be involved in its selection. It needs to be gas powered (Susan will purchase a gas can and the proper fuel for garden use) light enough for a woman to start and operate. John would like a double string, if possible. We would like to go ahead with this. Naomi, we would like to know if you wish to sell the garden the weedwhacker you have generously loaned us. If so, please speak to Susan. In any case, we wish to accept Ben’s offer.
Jasper has provided a list of indigenous plants which might be suitable for naming sites at Royal Bay. Gail will send the list to Madelynn. Jasper will not have e-mail over the summer, so please contact him through Barb.
Lawnmower: Robert finds the donated mower too heavy to handle, and still brings his own. Susan has put a can of gas in the shed for the mower. Members are asked not to throw weeds they have pulled up into the ‘aisles’ between the beds as this hampers grass cutting.
New Site: The site approval will need to be done in three readings by Colwood City Council. No date has been given for their decision. Susan reminded us that the Councillors take the summer off.
Adjourned: 11:05 a.m.
Next meeting May 13 at 10:00 a.m. on the lawn beside City Hall. Bring lawn chairs.