Board Meeting 12/03/09

FOX POINT COMMUNITY GARDEN BOARD MEETING: 12.03.09 MINUTES

PRESENT: Christie Moulton- Garden Manager [GM], Joel, Thom, Angel Marcia, Keri, and Edie

  • TREASURER’S REPORT: Treasurer will submit year-end 2009 itemized income and expenditure report at next meeting. GM was reimbursed for petty cash expenditures and paid year-end the stipend.
  • GM REPORT: Food – 10 weeks donations to temple Beth El

suggestions to increase 2010 harvest:

  • Gardeners could plant a dedicated “row” within their plots;
  • Plant the terrace for high-yield & purchase plants at SCLT’s May sale;
  • Compost – Graham may have suggestions for next year; ECW to get a copy of DEM’s regulations for compost permits that state compost not to exceed 3 cu. yards;
  • Terrace – walkways and retaining walls need to be refurbished/buttressed; Keep a 3 foot floral buffer zone around bees;
  • Building – Successfully completed shade structure; next year be available to help any who need it to repair plot borders – suggested to have a skill saw at shed on workday with 100 board feet available for sale
  • Website – Thom and Keri have it up and running, – check it out! Thom owns domain and needs to be reimbursed as he pays yearly fee; Plan is to get 90+% garden communicating going through site;
  • Map of garden and list of gardeners (first names) to be posted;
  • Garden Wait List is to be transferred to the site; Traffic on web highest for “watermelon sorbet” & “granitas”; Need to encourage gardeners to submit items of interest to the web site (email to Keri?);
  • Agreed to post minutes without financial information;
  • Add to web site a wish list for donations to the garden.

Harvest Party:

  • feel it was a success- breakdown of expenses and net profit will be in year-end 2009 financial report;
  • suggested Cow Plot Bingo as a fund raiser.

Plot renewal

  • GM to direct gardeners to site to fill out application/contracts then “Plot Week” set aside one week in the spring at the garden to be staffed by GM and board members where gardeners come and formally receive their plot.
  • Idea is to accommodate as many schedules as possible and to make sure all gardeners are contributing to community work projects; Edie to send Keri application form Wait-list posted on the website (advantage of time stamp) requests posted;
  • New GM to send renewal emails out 1st week in February from list compiled from website.

Plots abandoned

  • GM to inquire when plots appear deserted, ask if gardener’s need help, suggested inquiry: “what is the status of your plot” Discussion as to rules and regulations
  • plots are to be utilized but gardening skills are not to be commented upon;
  • Weeds – since weeds and invasive volunteers like Japanese knotweed & common morning glory- these may affect all plots and gardeners are encouraged to remove undesirable plantsthat may spread sapping resources for the neighbors’ desired plants
  • GM to facilitate the sharing of knowledge.

Plot Rental

  • $25 single plot
  • and $55 double plot
  • need to review plots on Map before payments accepted.

Calendar 2010 – to be determined at next board meeting: Thursday January 14, 2010 at 6:00 PM

All-Garden Meeting at least twice – 1st meeting to occur in early spring & may coincide with seed/plant swap.

New Garden Manager for 2010

Christie will not be seeking position for next year; To recruit a new GM, we will take applications from the garden community because we want an understanding of what goes on at Fox Point Garden; If necessary we will expand to UEL & SCLT.

Domestic Non-Profit Corporation – Investigate what, if any, are the filing requirements of  the garden, and any tax consequences, if any. GM’s stipend is paid from the rents collected from the individual gardeners.

Shed – there may be someone living upstairs. . . ECW will contact Ward One’s Councilman, gardener Seth Yurdin.

AGENDA FOR JAN 14TH BOARD MEETING:

  • REVIEW GARDEN MANAGER APPLICANTS & INTERVIEW?
  • TREASURER’S REPORT- YEAR-END 2009 REPORT – EXPENDITURES & BALANCE SHEET
  • SET-UP 2010 GARDEN CALENDAR S
  • REVIEW BYLAWS – TO INITIATE TERM LIMITS FOR ROTATING BOARD MEMBERS;
  • RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED

/ EDIE  12.14.09