Morrisville Community Garden Meeting Minutes: March 21, 2011

In attendance: Donna Willard, Anne Stockdell-Giesler, Karsten Baumann, Laura Marsh, Scott Marsh, Jane Davison, Angelis, Arand, Suma

Land:

Karsten reported that Mayor Holcombe and Liz Johnston are involved in helping MCG with land concerns.

Donna plans to speak to Town Council on 3/22/11 to petition for Town assistance in finding temporary land to use for MCG.

Rotary Park in Carpenter, NC Ruritan Park in Morrisville, Iron Mountain, and land by the soccer park were all suggested as potential MCG sites.

Keith, the founder of Cary’s Pocket Community Garden, was our guest speaker. Keith reported that CPCG’s plot is 60’ x 100’. Gardeners at CPCG share responsibility for the whole garden (not individual plots). Keith suggested, “Just start growing food. Make it complicated later.” J Keith also suggested that we approach shopping centers and ask to use their marginal lands. He went on to recommend that we build the MCG to accommodate 20% of the actual membership. From experience he reports that approximately 80% may not stick with it through the entire growing season. Another thing to consider is weighing produce as a way of tracking how much food is grown and where it goes. Keith graciously invited MCG to use CPCG’s as site of next MCG meeting. Thanks, Keith!

Anne mentioned square-foot gardening as a great way to maximize land use. Members present agreed square-foot gardening is a good idea. We also need to research symbiotic gardening.

Jane suggested we request that any temporary land assignments be for no less than 2 years.

Legal:

We discussed the Fairfax and Highland gardens’ rules & regulations. We decided, though, that the 10-hour vested rule would not work for MCG, because a garden requires long-term, persistent care from members.

Lawyer urged MCG not to include any verbiage about pesticide usage in MCG charter. However, MCG board can verbally encourage members to avoid pesticide use.

Donna is waiting on an insurance quote from Farm Bureau.

Funding:

Anne has two phone meetings to speak with EarthFare and Grow & Share representatives about MCG support.

General comments:

Please save egg cartons for MCG booth at Arbor Day celebrations (4/2/11).

Jane presented the MCG action plan that she created. To-do list items are in no particular order, but the plan shows what we need to accomplish.

Anne asked MCG what size banner to order; we want a banner large enough to hang from a typical folding table.

Arbor Day: MCG is officially signed up for the Arbor Day celebration. Town will provide MCG with a table & chairs.

Anne mentioned a seed give-away for the cost of $15 in shipping.

Next meeting:

April 4, 2011 @ Cary’s Pocket Community Garden—115 Dry Ave., Cary NC—6:30pm