Garden Meeting Notes: Nov 16, 2024
St Davids Foundation Community Garden Admin Account
Garden Meeting Notes: Nov 16, 2024
Attendees
Corey, Sam, Debbie, Sarah & Jenn, Alex, Drew, Kiri, Zarluis, Libby, Billy, Bob, Jamie
Agenda Items
Intros & Welcome New Gardeners
We had several new gardeners attend this meeting including Sarah & Jenn (Plot 40) and Drew (Plot 51). Please welcome them if you have a chance!
Weeds and Rubbage Discussion and Vote - Reviewed the situation with rubbage piling up in the wrong places and needing to be disposed of. The only official location is the pile on the far side of the roundabout that we agreed on last year. The other locations make it more difficult to move and we can’t get a truck in those locations to pick it up. Other items discussed:
Agreed that the current spot is not too far and we should make sure all gardeners are using that location.
The current pile is getting big and we need to have it removed. See notes about big workday below
Agreed that it’s time to hire someone to remove the current pile.
Also need to make sure we’re pushing back what we have far to make it easier to dispose
Will order additional signs to make sure the current rubbage spot is labeled.
Discussed mechanical/electrical shredders. This is what Corey has researched:
15 Amp Rolling Electric Wood Chipper and Shredder - $115 at Home Depot
Could be powered by Corey’s EV during workdays but stored offsite.
Discussed if this would help and decided to wait for now.
We also need more working wheelbarrows
This is the type of wheelbarrow that the city uses and they seem to be hardy: Gorilla Cart: 7 cu. ft. Evolution Poly Garden Cart
APF Volunteer that was able to help fix wheelbarrows has passed away.
NEED: Additional volunteers to help with wheelbarrow maintenance and repair.
Plot Inspections: This will be completed in the next 3 days. Gardeners will be notified if their plot is out of compliance and have 4 weeks to return to get standing or will need to forfeit their plot.
Remember to also fill out your work hours in the Work Hours Tracking Sheet.
Finance Update:
Corey gave an update on finances. We are good but remember:
Water Bills have been very high lately
We have designated funds for the chicken coop and shed gutters that we need to budget for.
Committee Updates
Compost, Trash, and Recycling: Committee Leader = Billy
Trash hasn’t been bad around the garden lately.
There is still trash piled up by the front - need to unload this somewhere (see notes on getting large load pickup)
Discussed moving the bin that is by the teaching garden since this is not being used.
Billy will organize an effort to get this done.
Outreach & Communication: Committee Leader = Ariana
Redline Parkway Initiative Update: Libby and Corey shared what we learned at the update fundraising event they attended.
The trail that is along the garden is part of what will be a 32 mile trail that parallels the Red Line Railway.
Learn more here: Red Line Parkway Initiative
Discussed if it would help to have a sign at the crossing “Community Garden this way” Some people on the trail don’t understand that there’s a community garden down the driveway.
We partnered with Red Line Parkway for the It’s My Park Day.
It’s my Park Day work Update
Corey shared an overview of the work that was completed: Mulching trees by the ball fields, removing trash.
There was also a project at the Nature Play area on the other side of the creek. That Nature Play area is part of the Cities Connecting Children to Nature Initiative
This play area is a good area to encourage kids to play in if they are playing in the garden.
North Pollinator: Workgroup Leader Caroline
No updates
South Pollinator: Workgroup Leader = Jeremy
This group needs additional help in managing tasks
Debbie: Wildflowers planted in the plot to the right of the first pavilion
Pocket Prairie - Starting in Dec
Shed & Inventory: (Vacant Committee Head)
Trimmers - all seem to be missing. We originally had 3
NOTE: Do any gardeners have this at their homes???
Corey has batteries and chargers for these at his house along with the 1 gas trimmer the garden owns.
Need for additional trimmers?
Hose maintenance: Need additional hose washers - check the shed
Tools in the Chicken Coop side of the shed:
These were from SFC and are no longer being used by them.
Need to double check on the tools that are on that side. (Corey)
Chicken Coop only needs about a quarter of the space in that side of the shed
Come and Get it - need more for fire ants (purchase)
Maintenance: Workgroup Leader = Randy
Deb Volunteered to lead a Big Workday on Dec 7. NOTE: Gardeners please block this date and plan to attend. We’re going to invest a lot of time in planning for what we need to get done.
Priorities:
Large Rubbage Pickup. Get a dump truck or backhoe to remove
Shed Flashing Repair
Teaching Garden - Clear out and clean up. Need to clear out the teaching area to have it ready for additional gardeners.
Hard Freeze Water shut off policy - Now is a good time for all gardeners to review this doc. There’s also a copy hanging in the shed.
Hoses: Remember to make sure there’s not water left in the hoses after you use them. Freezing water destroys the hoses and sprayers.
Shed Gutters: We still need to install the gutters that will allow us to collect water for the Orchard.
This has been waiting on volunteers to organize putting the flashing on the shed and repairing the rotten wood.
Quotes that we got for this work:
Option 1- buried pvc is $1,950
Option 2- pvc on left side directly into top of tank -$1,180
Other Discussion Items & Announcements
Next Garden Meeting = Dec 16
NOTE: The next 3 meetings will likely be held indoors at SFC (pending confirmation on space) since the weather gets more variable.
Next Volunteer Day = Dec 7 (A big one)
Corey will have all dates on the Garden Calendar this week
Starbucks - “Grinds for your gardens”: This is a program to get coffee grounds for compost/mulch.
Chicken Coop - Sam shared that they are getting close to the final design for the coop repairs.
We designated the funds raised from the 2024 Amplify Austin fundraiser to go to rebuilding the coop.
We set a goal of $1,500. We raised $1,255 with our fundraising and this was matched dollar for dollar bringing the total raised to $2,510. (Reported in the March 16, 2024 Garden Meeting Notes)
While we can use this much for the coop, I suggest we stick with the $1,500 that we originally set as a goal.