Site map/garden design

[Russian River Rattina]

Greetings, everyone:

After a couple of productive meetings with Carolyn & others from the
design committee, I've created a PDF document with the latest version
of our site map/garden design. It's in the Files folder & is named
"2009.02.site_map". It incorporates the most recent measurements,
ideas, etc.

Since squaring the garden space off (so Parks & Rec can build the
fence) has resulted in diminished square-footage, I would like to
suggest that we redesign the garden with 6x4 foot plots instead of 8x4
foot plots so we have more plots available.

Also, here are my notes & queries in regards to this current version
of the garden design/plans:

I have positioned all of our raised beds & other features in order to
allow 3 foot-wide paths &/or space between everything so folks have
room to walk & work

I implemented the squash mound & surrounding planter design as
follows: The central squash mound is an 8-ft diameter circle which can
be defined/contained with flexible landscaping border materials. The
exterior raised beds are arranged geometrically around the squash
mound as a 16-sided polygon (um ... hexadecagon? my high school
geometry fails me). 3-ft wide paths are also incorporated into the
design to enable easy access.

We'll need to decide what kind of surfacing to use (pea gravel? wood
chips?) & also whether we'll need to use concrete paving to enable
wheel chair access (though I'm pretty sure that wheel chairs can roll
over pea gravel & wood chips).

Will the squash mound & surrounding elements, plus the wine barrel
planters, be reserved for common stuff that we'll all share? Like
squash, tomatoes, herbs, root veggies, & other edible crops? Where can
we plant fruit trees (plums & apricots seem to grow well around
here ... alas, citrus fruits do not) so they thrive without blocking
light from other plants?

The handicapped accessible raised beds are 6x4 feet, because I
couldn't get 8x4 foot beds to fit terribly well. once again, I suggest
the possibility of making all of our standard plots 6x4 feet so we can
offer more plots.

Instead of having a specified "children's plot," can we host programs
which allow kids to care for the common areas? Later, if a group of
kids show particular enthusiasm, we can give them their own plot or
two?

Can we organize our children & adult education programs in a manner
which progresses with the various seasons & tasks required? Such as
preparing, planting, maintenance, harvesting, canning/preserving, dead-
heading, gathering seeds for next year, mulching, etc.?

Th-th-that's all folks, I look forward to your feedback, etc. Which'll
hopefully be in time for our meeting next Saturday.

Cheers!

-- Elisabeth