Hello Gardeners All;
Here are some
of the items we went over at the May 19th garden meeting,
Present were
Melanie, Lorien, Ray, Arlene and I. The subject of protecting the fruit trees from those
beautiful deer is a concern. Arlene said in their orchard they put chicken wire with stakes
to stabilize around each tree and the deer do not bother the trees. Also
suggested was putting weed cloth around the bottom of the trees.
**Free barn
wood at Kathleen and Jim's-
We are
meeting at the corner of Wynola RD and HI 78 @2:00 in front of
Charlotte Mitchell's studio to ride out to get the wood and deliver it
to M&M garden. We can drop off wood at Lewis on the way out if they
want it. Ray offered to come with his tools to help on the prototype
box.
At 1:15
same day, meeting at Menghini's to show where the willows are at Arlene
and John's up the road.
**We also
came up w/ the idea of approaching community service organizations who might
want to have their own raised bed to raise vegetables to harvest for
people in the community that are less fortunate. A letter is being
drafted to the Women's Club as a start. A woman in the club
asked Melonie about the community gardens so
that started the idea.
Any ideas
of other organizations to approach?
** Perry had
given us a list of national organizations that give grants to com.
gardens. Using Kathleen's expertise of having spent more than 40 hours
writing a Kellogg grant we will proceed.
** Jess
Martin Park--Ray suggested looking into using a portion for a com.
garden. Will check w/ the County Ranger.
Lorien and I
are making a list of all the plantings that have been done in the two
community gardens to use for grants,
and to
prospective gardeners.
Laurel
Next Community garden meeting
is June16 at 4:00 at the library.
TASKS
AND IDEAS
FOR COMMUNITY
GARDENS – April
26, 2010
Meeting
- Present at
the
meeting were Jane, Linda, Melanie, Kathleen, Lorien, Laurel, and Arlene
We agreed that each would bring some
ideas for a community
garden brochure, including ways to participate, contact information.
All seemed to be in favor of "planting
an extra row" to share with those less fortunate and to share some of
our
tomato plants with recipients at Julian Outreach and Mountain Manna.
*We had
a
discussion about
protecting our planting. We decided agrabond (agracloth) is what we
want
to use. If we buy from Peaceful
Valley it would
bring us
closer to the $500 total which enables us to have a discount on future
purchases.
*All
agreed about having a
culinary/medicinal garden and starting a lettuce mixture and herb garden in the satellite dish on M&M
garden.
*Burning
of brush due for Thursday, 4/29, weather
permitting and Cal-fire says it
is all right.
We will
also empty the
bathtub and move it close to the garden area. Don has a hand truck that
he will bring.
*Collect stumps at M&M garden for
gathering area.
*Empty bathtub on M&M for moving
into
the garden and
planting.
*Buy Oak wine barrels from K-Mart for
$16.00 to plant herbs,
lettuces, radishes, etc.
*Plant wild flowers and peas at both
gardens if owner o.k. with
that.
*Plant sunflower seeds (I have some
seedlings almost ready)
to make an entrance to lower area garden and M&M gardens.
*After May 9, Mary Paige said that Tom
would probably give
the tomato plants away.
*Habitat for Humanity Re-Store - get
materials from them.
*Be familiar with companion planting
before we plant.
* Plan a visit to Don Eulert’s Organic
farm in Ramona. He is thinking about selling it.
We might get some
good ideas. He is a pro I am told.
*Visit
S.D. Community
Gardens. Michelle Obama
visited the garden in City Heights!!
*For next column of BEARING FRUIT, we
will ask John
Raifsnider to include a needs and offerings note (that could include a
person's
time and energy in exchange for veggies, fruit or..?)
* Message can or container to be set
at
each garden with
paper and pencil inside to communicate garden activity or needs or
observations.
Monday @ Lewis garden: Jane and
Linda
Monday @ M&M garden: Melanie
Tuesday: help needed
Wednesday @ M&M garden: Laurel
Thursday: Lorien
Friday @ M&M: Kathleen
Sunday @ M&M: Laurel
*May 11,
Tuesday
to harvest
the willow at Arlene and John's place and then schedule a time and day
to
prepare the willow for the garden beds.
*Next meeting will be the third
Wednesday
of May at one of
the community gardens.
The Julian Food Co-op Meeting
January 20, 2010
At the January meeting we discussed garden ideas.
A variety of planters was discussed...from straw wattle
sides (which are curvaceous)
to brick, wood, etc.... Recycling materials
were discussed and Brian mentioned that we should be careful not to take
anything toxic, material-wise, when we are getting donations.
To that end, we will be putting out the word to gain some
help in recruiting materials.
I am going to post a request on the community boards in both towns (SY and
Julian)
Both garden sites can be drop off spots for Sunday Farmers
Market Days....
Lorien
and Kathleen are going to screen the materials first- so you can give both
our numbers if you have people who are interested in donating:
Lorien: 760 310 8974 or Kathleen: 760 765 2548
For M&M we will be taking fencing materials, bricks,
untreated wood, straw materials, hardware screen (1/2 inch or smaller) and
seed donations.
I would say to email Kent or Albert if you have any doubts
on the Lewis garden for donated materials.
I am trying to start a seed bank so that we can cut costs on
future seeds.
Seed collecting is important because if what you have
planted seems to fit our micro climate, then you know it will grow for
others....unless it has been genetically modified not to reproduce. This is why
we can start with pure organic seed. Peaceful Valley
can be trusted for good seed.
Our Borrego friends have begun their community garden at
Butterfield Ranch and we have been invited to attend....more on that later....
We will announce when our planter box building will begin at
a later time.....after materials collection.
The Julian Food Co-op Meeting
November 17, 2009
Fundraising seemed to be on everyone's mind...
Our 2 new members from Butterfield
Ranch brought this energy with them when they proposed to join their
project with the Julian Food Co-op. (Barbara B and Barbara C)
They had been to the website and were impressed enough to attend our meeting on Wednesday. (Good work, Arlene)
They have a small community garden in the desert and are arranging their own fundraising event.
We spoke of mistletoe and wreath
making (possible party at Arlene's to put these together). We spoke of
getting a business to allow us to sell in front of. We spoke of the
Farmers Market as a possibility.
The garden report is this: The M&M garden on Orchard lane is happening with garlic and flower plantings, along with some cover crops (clover and vetch)
This is to add more nitrogen and bulk to the soil there.
The Lewis site has been walked and plans are currently being made to plant trees which we will obtain this Saturday at 9am at the library. (You too can get some conifers there on Sat. morning)
The Seed Ball wild native plants project
went well last week. Thank you Livia, John and Kathleen for spreading
the seed of the Coastal Sage Scrub in the Cedar Creek Falls area.
Laurel and her hiking group will be participating in this soon.
Next Greg H. spoke of Crop Swapping through yahoo groups. Please see following email on this subject. We are trying to build a community where sharing is the ethic.
Arlene and John R talked about a
garden forum that we could go to for questions on gardening. We might
have a link to our website that connects us to a bigger forum for
discussion.
Arlene gave us the number of hits on
the website (100) and asked for someone to take over answering emails
that may come in. Lorien offered to be that person. Thank you Lorien.
The importance of Volunteer Hours
was discussed: we need an accounting in order to get Volunteer Hours in
dollars for grant proposals. Please help us out by emailing us your
hours until we get a system in place. Marti Perkins offered to set this
system up for us! Thank you Marti!
John spoke of the importance of
keeping our contact with the public up- through telephone would be
nice. Use that phone tree info to spread the word to people,
and to discuss fundraising ideas for a NON non-profit status group.
Becoming a non-profit came up again.
Barbara B mentioned that she may be able to help out with this.
Kathleen mentioned that she had been looking into the possibility....(I
have the book!)
John mentioned that liaisons, to go
out into the community to speak with people, might be a good idea.
Tracy Turners name came up in this respect as she would be a good link
for us.
John is going to continue to evolve the Bearing Fruits column with reports up front on the issues at hand (farmers market, crop swapping, gardening tips, etc)
Kathleen and John R continue to work
on the grant that may bring us a building site to work out of. More on
this as she is just finishing up this next week on that grant.
Five people showed up at the October 21st meeting. However we had an
excellent addition....Ed White. He came to get some practical tips on
gardening. He is a gardener. I shared some of the winter gardening tips
from Ryan. On the board I had Jaffe Bros. and your own e-mail if
anyone wanted to order from Jaffe Brothers which you can access at www.jaffebrothers.com for a full catalog of what they have to offer. (email kathleen before next friday)
Livia Berg came and told us about the wildflower seed ball project of
U.S. forest service. You can email her for more details. Greg spoke a
lot about crop sharing. More to come. Arlene explained the workings of
the website she established. She had spent about 20 hours doing it at
home. John R. took notes on his computer. I gave a long list of
winter planting crops on the chalkboard, with a litttle discussion. We were all a little puzzled about the small
turnout. Each person got a packet of winter gardening, composting
information, etc. to take home.
It would be terrific if Jim Bell comes next time.
If not, it would be nice to have someone there to teach about a
gardening technique.
Ed White said he will try to join us for the garlic planting on October 31st. Please let Laurel or Kathleen know if you would like to participate at the Orchard lane garden at 10am Saturday, the 31st.
The grant-writing workshop for Kathleen will be on this Saturday in Alpine. Send her any ideas you might have towards a wish list.
See you Monday, Nov. 2, Back Country Voices meeting at 6;00, Wynola pizza. We can all give testimony about the Co-op, farmers market and the elementary schools and Community Gardens.
Laurel and Kathleen
This is an exciting time for the newly formed Julian Food
Co-Op....
First of all, we now have a website compliments of Arlene
Smith at:
www.JuianFoodCo-Op.org
Please contact her through the website
at the contact information section of the site, and let her know your
suggestions, or give her a call and have a chat! 765 1825 Speaking of the phone
tree....Cop Swapping time is in full force!
What is Crop Swap, you may ask....Well, Crop Swap is a way for
our community to share in its abundance. An example....
A week ago I helped out at Bailey Creek Ranch and was paid in
money and in peaches! Those #100 of
peaches found their way to various spots. I traded them for flour, for corn and
apples, for money and for the future!
At Camp
Stevens there is a way to
make food for the future in the canning class sponcered by Chef Susan
Mcmillion. On Monday's and Tuesday's from 9-11:30am
you can can, or rather put up in jars, your excess fruit for a $20 use fee and
the 50 cent per jar fee for jars. Call Susan for the next session if you have
something to jar or if you would just like to go to get the experience:
765 0542,
On this Saturday the 26th Ryan Wannamaker will
be doing a gardening class at the library at 10am. Be sure to be there for this
knowledge. He is great, as anyone who has seen the Camp Stevens
garden knows. He produces food for their kitchen.
October 4th is our first Farmers Market in Wynola!
From noon till 4pm there will be booths and music! From high noon till 2pm
the band Highwire will make an appearance. They are an ecclectic trio of East
meets West. and they won't let you down. The market will be outside near the
Bead shop on HWY 78. Because Wynola is sooo small I do not think you could miss
it driving up to Julian. This is one of the reasons why I believe that the
market will be a success. Just look for the signs and get there early.
Last but not least, we are working on 2 sites for the Community Gardens project.
On the Orchard lane garden we are busy drawing up guidelines and
planning a work party to make the area safe for all. Contact Kathleen or Brian
Kramer if you would like to join our work party-765 2548 or 765 3177
On the River road Multi-Generational garden, you can contact
Heather Rowe at:765 2586. She has some no till plots available with plenty of
manure and great ideas at hand.
Kathleen
Notes from the third organizational meeting for interested Co-Op and gardening folks on August 18, 2009 at the Julian Library
The 28 people attending the gathering were full of enthusiasm about beginning a small scale Cooperative in the Julian area and some were interested in a community garden and developing their own home gardens. Participants included Stephanie Coughlin and her husband who for 22 years have run the Sea Breeze Organic Farm in Del Mar; Kate Shapiro a 20 year resident of Julian suggesting a phone tree to inform each other of free available produce or u -pic, Arlene Smith who, along with her partner John Heglin have an apple orchard. She is setting aside a small plot for use as a community garden; Janice Duval’s focus is to teach school children about gardening and the origin of foods. She has experience as a community activist and knows about starting a 501 ©3 organization. Livia Berg who has a sustainable garden in Pauma Valley; Kathleen Beck who started and operates the food collection and delivery for People’s Food Link; Greg Hill, Darlene Estrada, Laurel Granquiest, John Raifsnider, Greg Coursen, Tom Gilhool, Judy Fender, Teri Schmidt; Lynn Cox; Vica and Kent Dover; Gwen Duvall; Tina Davis; Judy Raines; Mark Barret; Lorien, Kalia, and Phoenix Lehmer; and Jim Lydick.
One of the agreed upon actions was to continue the Julian News column, BEARING FRUIT to which we can all contribute and send items to John Raifsnider skyword@sbcglobal.net . Greg Courson said he would let Michael Hart of the Julian News know that many of the people there today saw the article in this week’s paper. Possible ideas for the column are crop swap for people who have excess veggies or fruit to share or barter; tips on gardening; sources for food and home products in bulk; equipment for gardening available for loan; locations of farmer’s markets close to Julian.
It was noted that legal issues should be reviewed with a local lawyer. Arlene said she may know of someone to ask. She will get back to us later on this. Another topic discussed was the question of the meaning of the terms: Certified Organic versus Pesticide Free versus Trusting; trusting local responsible growers and clarifying these terms for the benefit of co-op consumers. This can be done through labeling.
A suggestion by Vica was to define the tasks needed to keep this movement going. Kathleen said she could be responsible for obtaining and storing the dry goods only (legumes, nuts, fruits, etc.) from Jaffe Brothers- since she does not have refrigeration for perishables. This took us into legalities again. Several people volunteered to be on the “Legal Eagles” committee, headed up by Janice Duval. The Possibilities group will look into Research. Three of us will work with Arlene on a community garden plot. An education committee that could include workshops on food preparation and preserving can be formed at a later date.
Most of the group seems interested in developing a Food Co Op and Crop Swap.
Another point made by several folks was to include the element of sharing and giving from that “extra row” we plant.
Local food=local security was a passionate idea circulating throughout the meeting. Starting small seemed generally agree upon as well.
Committee’s are as follows:
Possibilities and Legal Eagles: Janet Duvall, Kathleen Beck, Greg Hill, Vica, Lyvia Berg, and Jim Lydick.
Website: Leena Hannonen, Jim Lydick, Greg Hill
Community Garden: Laurel Granquist, Arlene Smith, Darlene Estrada
Crop Swap: Mark Barret, Tina Davis, Greg Hill Judy Fender, Arlene Smith, Janice and Gwen Duvall, Darlene Estrada
Communications: John Raifsnider and Kathleen Beck
Food Buyers Co Op: everybody present!