Houston Community Garden

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Present: Audrey Alfson, Irish Britson, Teresa Erickson, Roger and Lynn Meyer, Matt Schutte, Brenda Grupe

Garden Update: From August 1 - September 19th: 

• 25 different volunteers spent 79 hours on community garden efforts
• renters spent another 30 hours on their own (and community) gardens
• ~217# of food was harvested for the Food Shelf
• ~84# of food was harvested for volunteer use
• ~107# of food was harvested for the Manor and/or Heritage Court

What worked?

• Renting boxes was a great success!
• Matt Schutte enjoyed relatively NO weeds!
• It was nice to have so many folks out there looking out for each other’s beds when needed
• Log book seemed to be working well
• Pesto-Festo was fun

What could be done better or differently?

• Education for renters/gardeners?
• Decrease size of tomato cages by 8-12 inches diameter
• clearly labeling renter boxes
• Having some sort of “permission for ‘friendly harvest’”of renter boxes for food shelf or personal use if renter is unable to harvest for any reason
• Having a contact list for renters for better communication (see above?)
• Need a better map of garden and labels for boxes (Irish said she’d work on something)
• Need better instructions for food within boxes--how to tend or water, etc.
• Need more water!  (perpetual problem!)

Solutions and additions for next year:

• Add a white board inside logbook kiosk. White board can be used to update what foods are ready and notes from gardeners relating to availability of foods within boxes.
• Provide renters with a plastic sign and wire frame to identify their boxes clearly
• Ask/require renters to sign up for two days of the summer (or once a month?) to help with a harvest day for either food shelf or manor or court.
• Ask garden volunteers to consider making a favorite seasonal dish to share for taste-testing when food shelf opens. something flavorful but simple and healthy. Could sign up for a day--once a summer--or more often if inspired...
• Need to continue to make connections with folks to try to get a well/water at the site.
• Matt said he’d see to getting the tank filled up again this fall.

Upcoming Activities:

• Horseradish: Roger Meyer will harvest Horseradish. Please contact him directly if you would like some. He thinks he’ll even process it for you.  Roger’s number is: 894-4361
• Composting Leaves:  Neighbor’s Day is in October (TBA) but leaf collecting begins as soon as leaves start falling in quantity.  Prefer leaves to be mulched, bagged and dropped at garden, but will take unmulched leaves as well.  Roger always needs help (with leaves, that is :). Stay tuned for emails about work opportunities.  This compost is gold for us and so important!
• Garden Clean Up:  As beds are cleaned, any dead plant materials EXCEPT tomato plants can go into the left side of compost bin.  Tomato plants will need to be placed in separate pile for composting elsewhere. Leave as much dirt in beds as possible.
• Finished compost (on right side of compost bin) will be added to all beds at end of October/beginning of November. Typically 3 wheelbarrow loads per big 4X16 box and a small wheelbarrow load per 4X4 box.
• Audrey will plant garlic in first part of November. (It’s a good time to get your own in the ground, too!)
• Annual wine and cheese fundraiser will be held sometime in January, probably at the community center, as available. More info will follow.

Food Shelf Update and Needs:

• Teresa Erickson, President of the food shelf, spoke about the needs of the Food Shelf. 
• They typically serve 20 families a week, sometimes up to 30 families each week.
• More than money, they need volunteers: Board members, folks to help stock the food shelf mid-week (prior to Thursday disbursement day), folks to help order, pick up and receive orders.  
• The time commitment can be small, but the effect can be huge! They have few people doing almost everything.  Can anyone help? Do you know someone who might be interested in helping out?
• Board meetings are the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 5-6 pm @ St. Mary’s church.
• Contact Teresa Erickson for more information: [email protected]

I think that’s it!

Have a wonderful week!

Audrey