Update on Funding for 2011

     The last couple of months we have been busy trying to get funding for the garden for 2011. Here is an update as to how this is coming along.
     The Environmental Action Committee has donated $200 towards our Composting workshop on April 16th.
     Also, the Integris Credit Union will be presenting us with a cheque of $1000 for the garden in March, as soon as the weather is nice enough to take a picture at the garden.
     A big THANK YOU to our sponsors and supporters. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

'Tis the Season....

Tis the season for generosity.... The other day a woman phoned up asking questions about our programs at the Women's Resource Centre because she was making her choices for her Christmas donations. We talked awhile and the garden came  into conversation. A few hours later the same woman walked into the Centre with a $100 donation for the Community Garden for seeds and starter plants for Spring 2011. This donation is greatly appreciated and will be put to use purchasing seeds for the garden. It definitely made my day and will keep many people happy and fed for the upcoming gardening season. Thanks so much!

Recycling your old christmas lights

Check out this article on how to recycle your old christmas lights.

http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/comment/article/697950--how-to-recycle-your-old-christmas-lights

Picnic Table

Our picnic table down by the garden has unfortunately come across some vandals and has been destroyed. Hopefully we will be able to find another one made out of concrete!!!

Meeting Minutes – Nov. 10th 2010

Present: Ellen B., Mary G., Colleen G., Sally H., Yvonne D., Jodi B.

1. Garden Plan:
Ellen has drawn a future garden plan. She has measured and mapped out the garden along with suggestions for plantings and future developments. There is a copy at the centre if people would like to take a look at it.
The group discussed the possibility of having individual beds but decided that we should keep with the communal nature of the garden. Ellen’s plan has included the creation of eight 10’ by 12’ "demonstration" beds as well, so the group decided that we should focus on education and community building.
The goal for 2011 would be to start at least three of these demonstration beds and could include the following ideas: No dig garden, 3-sisters garden, square foot garden.
The drawing also includes a location for a future sandbox and benches within the garden.
By the large gate container gardening was suggested so that the space wasn’t wasted but would allow large access entry to the garden by moving the containers to the side if needed.
Plan also includes the creation of an edible flower and ornamental border by the shed and the removal of the grassy area that was there. Also note that the picnic table has been destroyed by vandals at the garden.

2. Future needs:
Need better signage to put point across of how to help and how to harvest in order to prevent people exploiting food without helping. Need guidelines for the garden. Should it be locked with hours for the garden posted?
Need to acknowledge the garden’s sponsors. We need to make a sign to thank contributors of the garden before too much time passes. Yvonne has offered to make and decorate the sign and Jodi has a piece of plywood that we could use. Need some exterior paint – if anyone has some to donate please let Yvonne know.
Need to create a list of seeds, plants, and other materials needed for 2011 with a budget.

3. Fundraising:
Colleen has offered to donate aprons and cloth bags that she is making out of sheets to sell at the Farmers Market. Funding priorities include the fence as the main priority and then others include: signage, sand box and benches, micro irrigation, demo beds, seed and planting fund, picnic table.
Perhaps Northern Flowers could be approached for donations of seedlings in the spring as they are a supporter of the community and donate left over bedding plants to the Women’s Centre each year.
Could we do a fundraising initiative where local businesses sponsor a demonstration bed and then there logo and name is placed on the fence above the bed?
Angela has resubmitted the application for funds for the fence to the Quesnel Community Foundation as the CRD donated their funds for our previous application to the Quesnel Community Foundation.

4. Other:
The climate action committee will be setting up an information booth at the Christmas farmer’s market and has offered to put up a sign for the garden with our brochures available for people.

Next meeting: Late January/early February

Next Garden Meeting

The garden is now pretty much shut down for the winter, but we would like to have one last meeting  to decide on a vision for the garden for next year. How do we want to set up the garden next year?

The Meeting has been set for Wednesday, November 10, at 2:30pm.

Getting rid of the weeds in the corner

On Friday, October 22, Ellen and Colleen went down to the garden and layered some cardboard and compost over the big weeds in the corner by the dumpster. This lasagna composting is an environmentally friendly way to control the weeds which also saves a lot of work in the long run. Thank you ladies, it looks fabulaous!