Attendance and Minutes: Called to order at 10:07 a.m. Present were Gail, Barb S, Naomi, Jasper, Susan, Magda, Sarah, Rita and Anna Svreza. Naomi proposed the minutes of the previous meeting be adopted as read. Seconded by Barb. Carried.
Finances – Magda: Bank balance as of March 11, 2022 was 9, 164.57.
Pending charges: $769.02 to Clear Sky for soil.
Gravel for Indigenous path: $70 to be paid from Community Spaces Grant
Shed: 4239.96 to be installed March 21. The door on the available shed is on the 8 foot side. We voted to accept the change in order to get one at last. Magda provided a cheque for $2200 as a deposit, and Susan will meet Josh of Clear Sky at the garden to hand that over.
Naomi proposed we make a gift to Josh Driver of Clear Sky for his help to us. Barb suggested a $50.00 gas card. Susan will purchase the card and Gail will write a thank you card.
Barb will cancel our Zoom Membership (already done). Sarah will set up a Zoom meeting if necessary.
Water bill is still pending. Barb will follow up with Rachel at Colwood City Hall.
Insurance has been paid and receipt of $ 212.00 has been received.
Membership Report: Naomi mentioned two potential problems, since resolved. 69 beds have been allotted and there are about 10 people still on the waiting list.
Pooni tour and Indigenous Garden: No discussion. Barbara S wrote a report about the tour.
Jasper will send name suggestions, both indigenous and English, to Katie Pystchula at Pooni Group (katie@poonigroup.com).
Jasper and Jody (Earth Gardening teacher at Camosun) will work on a design for a sign at the indigenous garden for approval by City Hall.
To date, Colwood is not planning to move the indigenous garden when they move the plots.
Schools: Sarah noted that well-behaved Kindergartens students from Wishart have started coming to the garden. She was present one afternoon when Dunsmuir students were there and observed some unruly behaviour. Sarah will contact the teachers involved and emphasise the need for respectful behaviour. She will provide a copy of the garden by-laws to emphasize her point.
Sarah has set up a Google Drive folder for people to add suggestions and access information.
Changes to Garden coming in the fall: Susan wrote a report to members after the meeting: Plans are underway for a major overhaul of the grounds around Colwood City Hall on Wishart Rd, and these plans will be directly affecting the Colwood Community Garden. The area that we now occupy will be re-developed into space for the Works Dept. so we will be relocating to a large space on the other side of City Hall. These changes will be made in the Fall/Winter of 2022/23 and the best news is that all of the expenses and labour needed to relocate will be covered by the Colwood City Hall and Works Departments. What this means for us is a chance to design and build a new and improved community garden with, hopefully, more allotments available to people who want to garden. The Indigenous Garden will stay in place for the time being.
To that end, we will be sending out a survey in the coming weeks, asking for your ideas and suggestions on how the new garden will look and function. Please think about what you might like to see in our new space. In the meantime, enjoy the spring/summer garden season at the present location, and we will provide more information about the re-location as it becomes available to us.
Gail will write to Ben Mycroft of GableCraft Homes to see if his people can help us develop an efficient site plan.
VHS MicroGrant: to be used for plants only. Barb S and Jasper will purchase plants for the Indigenous Garden.
Lizard Garden: People have removed rocks, so Jasper will provide information so they know its location and purpose.
Adjourned: 11:45. Next meeting at Barb’s place April 9 at 10:a.m.
Lunch: Naomi treated us to home made soup and sandwiches for lunch. Delicious. Thank you, Naomi.