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Friday, February 4, 2011

Planting for Feb

Garden Vision Statement

Manifold Heights Community Garden Mission Statement
To build a sustainable community garden on Wathaurong country that welcomes and encourages people of all ages, genders and backgrounds to participate and learn about the joys of organic gardening. There will be areas for individuals and shared spaces for the school and community to work together, it will promote healthy eating and sustainable lifestyles while showcasing art and providing a place for contemplation.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Bec's additional thoughts...

I was thinking after our latest get together and having a look around at what else I could come up with and came across this fantastic website from a community garden in Melbourne - http://www.merricorner.org/ - if we could get a website up like this one I think it would be great as an information base for new members, any press, and the local community in general.
I also had another thought for fundraising, you can get those Cadbury chocolate boxes to sell. Tim (my partner) got one for his cricket club and sold the whole box at our work in 1 day!! I think the profit is around double your outlay.
Anyway that's all for now...

Friday, January 14, 2011

Working Groups-Please add your ideas as comments

The group divided up into 3 groups to try as smaller groups often get more done.
We discussed what each group would try and achieve

Gardening and Maintenance

·         Accessable,Practical and attractive-should try and keep the garden attractive as well as practical, should be a beautiful space
·         Soil analysis-look to the council for advice (Parks and Rec)
·         Fees for individual plots, keys, tools, equipment and maintenance
·         Plant propagation
·         Seed Saving
·         Improving Soil
o   composting
o   Worm farming
o   Mulch
·         Irrigation
o   Tanks
o   Hoses
o   Pumps
o   Swales
·         Construction
o   Garden Beds
o   Paths
·         Pest management
·         Developing a planting calendar
·         -loose leaf book (children illustrate it and share with wider community
·         Planting, weeding harvesting, especially  communal areas
·         Choice of fruit tree species, pruning
·         Design Skills
·         Education
·         Social
·         Share days
o   Communicate with others e.g. indigenous section
o   Food swap-produce, seedlings, donations
·         BBQ
·         Urn/Tea/facilities
·         Free cycle
·         Communal Working Bee, How many-rotational set time, different days to allow more people to attend

Funding, Promotions and Events

·         Accessing funds from a variety of sources as required by group
o   Grants
o   Raffles
o   Bunning’s BBQ
o   Annual fees
o   Donations
·         Promoting the Community Garden to the wider community in a variety of ways
o   Local newspapers and radio
o   Word of mouth
o   School newsletter/community garden newsletter
o   Local groups such as MC2 , GOG and GSG
o   Signage
o   Letter drops
o   Online presence-Blog, Face book
·         Planning and conducting events for promotion and socialisation
o   Ecofest
o   Guest speakers
o   Inhouse-composting, worm farms etc
o   Sustainable living expo
o   Food swap
o   Film nights?

Planning, Infrastructure and Artwork

·         Storage
·         Propagation area
·         Design of Garden
·         Sculpture
·         Sign
·         Rainwater Tanks
·         Educational
·         Raised Garden Beds
·         Auspising garden and future inc
·         Shared space
·         Individual plots
o   Some discussion over individual plots where should be sited, perhaps in sloping area near school fence, various sizes, people requiring individual plots should help decide ‘rules’ and fees etc
·         Native/indigenous Bush food garden
o   It was decided that we should approach David Tournier and the Wathaurong people to visit site and help design/build a garden either inside the fenced area or outside the gate , but talk with David first, site visit with Vicky and Liz.
·         Toilet and school access



Meeting Minutes 12th Jan

Manifold Heights Community Garden Minutes
Date Wed 12th 2011
Location Vicky Grosser’s House
Present  Rebecca, Vicky, Craig, , Pete, Phil, Liz, Katie, Helen
Apologies

Next Meeting: Monday 7th Feb
Manifold Heights Primary School
Community Garden Site
Item
Action
Who
By
Ate food drank beer and wine had a generally good time
Must do again
Everyone

Vicky spoke to David and he was very interested in being involved in the garden
Vicky will invite him for a site visit
Vicky
Ongoing
Rebecca had a contour map and bird’s eye view of garden
Liz put in THE FOLDER OF DOCUMENTS


Planning Map of area
Sent to Liz for THE FOLDER OF DOCUMENTS
Katie

Craig got Dial before you dig docs
Sent to Liz for THE FOLDER OF DOCUMENTS


Was discussed public liability were we covered by the school
Find out wherever we are covered by the schools insurance
Liz
Next meeting
Governance stuff needed, eg management plans etc
Examples of previous ones to be found so we can cut and paste
Trish
Email to group ongoing


Contact local councillor for a small grant to cover incidentals
Phil got grant form, will invite local councillor to next meeting


Measured plan of existing site and start of design
Pete done


Group broke up into 3 groups and discussed stuff,




Tea and coffee facilities for next meeting
Will someone offer to organise?


Notes:

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Sorry, meant great meeting Wednesday
Great meeting on Tuesday.

If anyone is interested, there is a great program called "Foodfight" on community radio staion 3CR (855 on the AM dial).

The program is on every Tuesday 5.30-6pm and covers all aspects of food sustainability and security and they often have interviews with community gardens, information about food swaps and other events etc.

If you can't listen when it is on, they also podcast the program.

http://www.3cr.org.au/foodfight

Catch you all next meeting.

Craig