SDFCG Month Meeting Notes: Sep 28, 2024

[St Davids Foundation Community Garden]

Hi Gardeners, 

We had our monthly meeting at the Garden Pavilion yesterday (Sat Sep 28). Thanks to all who made it out! I had to leave early so these notes may not include everything that was discussed but I think we got to the majority of the topics before then. If you have additions or corrections, let me know. 

A few other important points: 

1. Move from Google Groups to Discord: In preparation to moving from Google Groups to Discord, we've disabled post permissions on Google groups. Only the SDF Community Garden Admin account will be posting Group updates. All Gardeners will be getting an email invite to join Discord in the next few days. 
2. Garden Meeting on Oct 19 at 10am: This will be our garden committee leadership election meeting. Please mark your calendars now and do your best to attend. 
3. Garden Supplies: Garden purchases: 
   1. On Monday we'll have 12 yards of organic compost delivered. Each gardener can use 2-3 wheelbarrows initially, if we have more left, we'll let you know if you can take more 
   2. Today I used garden funds to purchase: 3 new hoses (100 foot, and 2 50 foot), 6 new hose sprayers, 12 new sets of gloves (variety). This should help us be ready for fall gardening. 

Meeting Notes

Attendees: 

• Corey, Arianna, Kara, Athula, Emily, Rosa, Erin, Poppy, Billy, Bob, Sylvia, Kelton, Colin, Abby, Shannon, Timothy, Brad, Ed 

Agenda Items: 

Intros & Welcome New Gardeners

• We had several new gardeners at the meeting and many more that are joining.
• Please make and effort to welcome people you see that you haven't met at the garden.
• Remember we have garden resources listed on our website.

Review status of plot renewals 

• 7 new gardeners 
  • 3 more plots to assign 

  • Waiting list is down to 44 people, the lowest it has been for a while

  • Corey and Bob will continue to remind people on the waiting list about volunteer opportunities

• Importance of getting in your contracts and payments quickly.

Discuss recent challenges: Plot disruption, theft, and safety concerns 

• Corey gave a recap of of what’s been handled:
  • Discussion with person disturbing plots
  • Signs and securing shed
  • Removing trash that has been left in common areas
• We discussed the complex issues related to the garden policy and neighborhood safety. 
• Shared different opinions and points of view on how we handle individual situations and the issue at large. 
• May need to have a follow up meeting dedicated to this topic. 
  

Garden Finances: 

• We have sufficient garden funds and the balance has increased with plot renewals for this season. 
• Keep in mind: 
  • Designated funds for chicken coop repairs
  • Designated funds for water cisterns for orchard 
  • Water bill for the entire year 
• Contact the admin email for other questions on finances. 

Announcements

• This was Poppy's last meeting as a gardeners. We wish her well and hope that she'll visit and stay involved as much as possible. Thank you Poppy!
• Arianna invited people to attend the Chlorofill Plant Sale with her after the meeting. 
• Some gardeners were attending a pollinator seminar the same time as the meeting.

Seed Swap 

• You can click on the links below for planting directions. Thanks Debbie for sending the preferred variety list for Central TX - this informed the purchases.
  

  • - Arugula

  • - Swiss Chard

  • - Spinach

  • - Red Russian Kale 

  • - Lettuce Mix 

  • - Red Beets

  • - Easter Egg Radishes

  • - French Breakfast Radishes

  • - Napoli Carrots

  • - Mokum Carrots 

• We also got a smaller quantity of turnips, daikon radishes, collards, bok choi, fava beans and leeks (you can find directions on Johnny's website). 
  

Committee Updates: We will have our committee breakouts and elections next meeting 

Shed & Inventory: 

• Purchases:

  • New Gloves 

  • Hose for Phase 3 

  • Hose Head (like the one by Bob’s plot) 

Maintenance: 

• Randy wants to swap out the faucets -  move to a quarter turn - make it more clear when it’s off

Announcements

• Next Workday: Sat Oct 5 @ 9 am 

• Next Garden Meeting: Sat Oct 19 @ 10 am - Elections

• Compost Delivery will come Monday! 

Corey

[Katie Pud]

How do we pick up the seeds if we were not at the meeting / had to leave early? 

I love that we do this seed purchase!

Katie & Corey Pud