SAS Previous Meeting

[Tobias Fox]

Peace,

 

I truly do apologize Beth, Mary, and Yarrow for the lack of communication. I was expecting Dina to have made it to the lot before 1pm to update and inform everyone. I wasn't able to attend Saturday's meeting at the lot because I took part in two powerful workshops organized by organizers of Occupy New Brunswick and Occupy Central Jersey: Undoing Racism and Healthcare Solutions. Ellen was one of the facilitators for the Healthcare Solutions workshop. You did an amazing job, Ellen. We have to conduct this type of workshop in Newark.

 

As an attempt to better communicate with one another Dina has created a Google doc where we can provide our numbers and email addresses so that we have more people within our group to reach out to, especially those who usually attend the meetings.

 

Dina, Damian, Edwin, Paul, and Evelyn did manage to meet and discuss matters related to our lots. Please read Dina's email below.

 

Tobias

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dina Rodrigues <ca39dro...@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, Jun 9, 2012 at 4:59 PM
Subject: IDEAS: Document and at the lot
To: "on-science-and-sustai...@googlegroups.com" <on-science-and-sustai...@googlegroups.com>

Hello people.

About a week ago, Tobias and I were talking about creating a document with everyone's emails and phone numbers so that we can contact each other better. The idea was kind of pushed to the side and never official proposed to the group. However, with today's meeting [or lack there of], I see the importance of making such a document.

When I arrived at the lot, I was an hour late. I didn't have anyone's phone number but Tobias' and Damian's from the group. Therefore, when I realized I was going to be late, I had no else else to notify. My phone is not a smart phone, so I cannot easily email the group to let people know and ask who is there. I also take public transportation, so getting to lot takes me a while.

While I was on the bus, being late, I remembered the document idea and promised myself that I would make it as soon as I got back home. Of course by then, some people had come and gone to the lot, and I had no way of reaching out to them.

The way the document will work is a follows:

1. You cannot view the document if you have not offered a phone number and email [phone number is mandatory; some of us don't have email addresses]

2. Respect those who have offered their emails and phone numbers.

3. If your email and phone number should change, please let me know.

4. If you do not wish to share your phone number with the group, that's fine, but you will not be part of the document group.

If you do not agree to these rules, please let me know so we can discuss the matter further. Otherwise, I will assume that you are in agreement. Once you send your phone number and email, I will share the document with you. [Please make sure to tell me your name when you email your information. Thanks. ]

Please send all emails and phone numbers to occu...@gmail.com.

Futhermore, I have some ideas that I jotted down from the conversations I had at the lot today:

1. There is a general consensus between the residents that the lot down the street is not an optimal place and that we should stay with the 1/3 of the lot we do have.
   
   1. The other lot is further down the street, away from the residents who are already on board. The lot we have now is within view of all the residents willing to help.
   2. The two lots are about the same size. Therefore, if we are in fact gaining space, it's not by much.
   3. The space we have now stands out more compared to the other one down the street.
2. Regarding a new layout:
   1. Use tires for:
      1. Small raised beds [Like the one Mary set up at the front of the lot]
      2. A barrier wall between what the city owns and what the other owner owns.
      3. A base for a pole(s) that would hold solar panels. Damian was looking at an already existing pole next to the lot. It's a light pole that would gain optimal sun exposure all day. The pole number is 34949. If someone could look into whether that pole could be used to mount a solar panel, that would be great. If it turns out we cannot, we will use a pole stuck in a cement filled tire instead.
3. Water sources
   1. I shared with Damien the idea of creating our own roof to collect water. For example, say we have a bench where people can sit and relax and hovering over their heads is a "roof" that provides shade. However, while providing shade, it also collects rain water that is drained into the rain barrels. This could be a good alternative from using other house's roofs. Then, The issue would be a matter of being able to store water for the drier weather.
   2. Damian has offered to build a charcoal filter for the rain water collected.

That's all I have. I will be drafting layout and sharing it with the group. It will be basing it off of the previous layout we agreed to. In the meantime, if you have any suggestions, please email the group. Finally, please email your phone numbers and emails to occu...@gmail.com as previously stated.

See you all soon! Enjoy your weekend.

~Dina Rodrigues

 

[ellen]

Dina,
sorry you had that experience. I will e-mail you my phone # - I am in
for that.

Re water source-
Does anyone know what other urban gardens do for water?

It does not seem possible to me to depend on rainwater alone.
Yes, we have had a spring with a lot of rain, but that will not always
be the case.

Once summer sets in - it is very typical - one might say inevitable -
that we will have a dry spell at least, or a full-out drought, as we
often do in August. August is when tomatoes are coming to fruition,
and they want their water!

ellen

> Please send all emails and phone numbers to occupy...@gmail.com.

>
> Futhermore, I have some ideas that I jotted down from the conversations I
> had at the lot today:
>

>    1. There is a general consensus between the residents that the lot down

>    the street is not an optimal place and that we should stay with the 1/3 of
>    the lot we do have.

>    1. The other lot is further down the street, away from the residents who

>       are already on board. The lot we have now is within view of all the
>       residents willing to help.

>       2. The two lots are about the same size. Therefore, if we are in fact

>       gaining space, it's not by much.

>       3. The space we have now stands out more compared to the other one
>       down the street.
>    2. Regarding a new layout:
>       1. Use tires for:
>          1. Small raised beds [Like the one Mary set up at the front of the
>          lot]
>          2. A barrier wall between what the city owns and what the other
>          owner owns.
>          3. A base for a pole(s) that would hold solar panels. Damian was

>          looking at an already existing pole next to the lot. It's a
> light pole that
>          would gain optimal sun exposure all day. The pole number is 34949. If
>          someone could look into whether that pole could be used to
> mount a solar
>          panel, that would be great. If it turns out we cannot, we
> will use a pole
>          stuck in a cement filled tire instead.

>       3. Water sources
>       1. I shared with Damien the idea of creating our own roof to collect

>       water. For example, say we have a bench where people can sit and
> relax and
>       hovering over their heads is a "roof" that provides shade. However, while
>       providing shade, it also collects rain water that is drained
> into the rain
>       barrels. This could be a good alternative from using other house's roofs.
>       Then, The issue would be a matter of being able to store water for the
>       drier weather.

>       2. Damian has offered to build a charcoal filter for the rain water

>       collected.
>
> That's all I have. I will be drafting layout and sharing it with the group.
> It will be basing it off of the previous layout we agreed to. In the
> meantime, if you have any suggestions, please email the group. Finally,

> please email your phone numbers and emails to occupy...@gmail.com as