Monument Community Gardens Action Team

2010 Accomplishments and Changes

2011-01-18T02:58:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

I wanted to let you know that from here on out I will not be facilitating the Community Gardens Action Team anymore, and until future notice, the group will not continue with monthly meetings.

I'd like to take this time to reflect on some of the many great things the group accomplished in the last year:

Designed, implemented and evaluated a Backyard Community Gardens Pilot Program with $0 budget
Secured a proposal for a full-time summer LISC AmeriCorps member, who managed the Backyard Garden project, gave 4 educational presentations, conducted 7 container garden workshops, and organized 3 hands-on gardening trainings
Created an extensive resource manual through resource mobilization and cataloging
Assisted in designing, starting up, and conducting outreach for SCUFI - the Sustainable Commercial Urban Farm Incubator
Inspired Monument children about gardening by teaching them how to make container gardens and giving away over 200 seedlings and 350 seed packets
Held monthly CGNAT meetings with educational speakers
Evaluated the feasibility of an Iron Horse Corridor Community Garden plot (at “buldge” by Mayette)
Mary Lou Laubscher was chosen winner of a Diablo Magazine Threads of Hope Award for her exceptional volunteer work with the Community Gardens Action Team.
Mary Lou Laubscher was a finalist for the Sustainable Contra Costa (SCOCO) Awards

Through these transitions, there are still many exciting things going on! If you are interested in staying/getting involved in Community Gardens, Urban Farming, and Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) projects, you have a few options:

Come to the upcoming HEAL meeting: Friday January 28th from 3-5pm at the Keller House (1760 Clayton Rd.) on. This is the best way to learn about current healthy eating/active living projects and discuss ways to get involved.
If you are interested in Urban Farming opportunities for gaining training and making $$, contact Tess at the Chavez Center ASAP at 682-8248 ex.2180. Training is starting soon!!
For any other questions or involvement opportunities, contact Kathy Renfrow at 348-9182 or kathy@monumentcommunity.org.

Thank you all again for all of your input, involvement, and expertise. It has been an amazing experience working on so many exciting projects with all of you. My email and cell phone will remain the same, so feel free to drop me a line to say hi if you would like to!

Thanks, and as always, happy gardening!
Jenna Carlsson

Community Gardens Action Team Meeting Minutes November 30, 2010

2010-12-28T21:22:00.000-08:00

Present: Jenna Carlsson, Mary Lou Laubscher, Dave Pitman, Mike Kerr, Jawadia Alam, Katia Ginesta

Announcements:

Bruce Lyon, Bryan Balch and Harold Blair were recognized Thursday, December 2 in Richmond as Men of Merit from STAND for Families Against Violence
The SCUFI (Commercial farming) project is looking for more applicants in order to start training January 7. Please help us recruit people for this great opportunity! For more information, scroll down and/or call Tess at (682-8248 x2180).
Great resource! A Century of Community Gardening In America by Laura Lawson. 384 pages. 2005. http://www.scribd.com/doc/44284943/Garden
Urban Farming in Cuba: This excellent video is about how a movement started: www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6WOADc-roQ
Worm Composting: Jawadia was looking for red wiggler worms and was able to get some from Mike! Great community exchange. For more information on worm composting, see http://www.wastediversion.org/app_pages/view/216

Discussion of SCUFI Program and challenges in starting it up

Challenge: Word hasn’t gotten out enough, resistance to farming work because it is can be difficult and some people don’t see it in the best light, information is not clear enough
Proposed solution: Info session with those who are committed and James, get information out in the press, focus on those who are really interested and get them to sign up!

Priorities and Refocusing for Team

(agenda item postponed for later discussion as we focus on the SCUFI Program)

Next Steps:

Sign up for SCUFI & get others to sign up
Do outreach for SCUFI
Set up a SCUFI Advisory group
Get SCUFI questions answered by James Wed December 8th at 6:30pm Chavez Center

Next Meeting: Jan 12th 7-8:30pm tentative.

December meeting canceled. Stay tuned for information about what will be happening in January.
If you are interested in working on the Iron Horse Trail project – go to the Transportation Action Team meeting at Keller House Thurs Jan 20th from 7-8:30pm.

This meeting evaluation:

Flexible

Outreach for SCUFI meeting date

Enthusiastic new members

Good questions

3 core people for SCUFI

BART land available

SCUFI is not clear - $$, who, land, etc.

Earn $$ Gardening - Info Meeting Wednesday

2010-12-07T17:41:00.000-08:00

Earn $$ gardening and be part of bringing healthy, local, organic produce to Monument!

Join us for a Q & A session about our exciting new SCUFI program with our agriculture expert James Kalin from Virtually Green. 8-week training is now only $10 and starts January 7 so come to get all your questions answered about how this program will work!

This Wed 12/8 at 6:30 pm
Michael Chavez Center, 2699 Monument, next to Pacifico Foods

*This meeting will replace our regular Community Gardens Action Team meeting. (No meeting this Wednesday at Keller House).

Questions? Call me (below) or Tess (682-8248 x2180). Happy Gardening!

Jenna Carlsson
Community Gardens Neighborhood Action Team Facilitator
Monument Community Partnership
(925) 246-5461

Earn $$ growing local produce!!

2010-11-16T23:06:00.000-08:00

Do you love to grow fruits and vegetables? Want to make extra $$$?

SCUFI (Sustainable Commercial Urban Farm Incubator) will teach you how to make $$$ growing and selling your own produce here in Concord part-time or full-time.

Training is held at the Michael Chavez Center starting January 7 and runs twice a week for 8 weeks. Cost is $100 but scholarships and work study are available.
Come to our info meeting Tuesday November 30 at 5pm at the Chavez Center (2699 Monument, next to Pacifico Foods)
See the attached flyer and application or contact Tess at 682-8248 x 2180 for more information.
Spread the word! We are looking for volunteers to share this information and local spots to give presentations. Please let us know if you have either!

Jenna

Next Meeting 11/30 and Volunteers Needed

2010-11-16T22:17:00.000-08:00

Hi fellow gardeners:
1. Community Gardens NAT meeting rescheduled for Tuesday 11/30 at 7pm at the Keller House. Please join us as we may be restructuring our group and want to hear what you think the Community Gardens Action Team should focus on.
2. Volunteers Needed - If you would like to help with outreach or helping us get organized, we need your help! Very flexible and not a huge time commitment. Please let me know if you're interested.

Jenna

Community Gardens NAT Meeting October 13, 2010

2010-10-19T16:23:00.000-07:00

Present: Jenna Carlsson, Mary Lou Laubscher, Dave Pitman, Kathy Renfrow

Snacks: basil, tomatoes, lemons, and peppers from the backyard garden!

Announcements

· Transportation meeting 10/21 at 7pm

· Monday at NAT meeting – someone is going to come to get public input on the spray park

· The Public Health Department is sponsoring a Bed Bug Prevention Forum 10/28 at 7pm Meadow Homes School – we need to do outreach

· Friday October 22 at 6pm – Want to form an informal outreach group for SCUFI.

Program Updates

· Melinda did container gardens at the health fair. She helped kids to make over 75 container gardens with seedlings, and 150-200 more with seeds!

Sustainability Issues, Funding Changes for Future Grants (Kathy)

Big Picture Solution to Larger issues – Funders are looking for collaboration of community partners (non-profits, businesses, faith community, restaurants, farmers, school districts)to work on BIG INTERRELATED ISSUES like hunger, food production, health, food systems, nutrition/education, physical activity, economic development and sustainability (conservation of resources, air quality, storm water mitigation - #1 pollution per EPA, carbon footprint).

When we talk about food, we talk about:

Food Production
Food Distribution
Food Processing
Consumption
Waste

Along with that, we have to be VERY CLEAR about measurements, outputs and outcomes. How we can PROVE that growing local food changes the nutrition of families that will prevent/reduce diabetes and obesity and improves the local economy. The more coordinated, the more groups working together, the better. That’s what Grant Makers are going to fund.

Main Agenda Item: How to Secure Land on the Monument Trail through the Iron Horse Trail Advisory Committee

Questions we need to answer for the Iron Horse Corridor Advisory Committee by February:

Kathy’s opinion: The Iron Horse Corridor Board wants to know not just general but SPECIFICS – a business plan presentation (where pipes are, water usage, who’s in charge of the maintenance)

1. How do we describe ourselves in this new way?

o We are the coordinator of partners MCP City food policy council responsible for growing 20% of food in Concord that will be distributed to restaurants, hospitals, and schools.

o As in BART land, MCP obtains land and permits, covers insurance. SCUFI will do training – local owned business farmers (individuals and co-ops) to be established. Advisory group (of experts and interested community residents) will be established.

o We are addressing the Iron Horse Corridor Advisory Committee to acquire their parcel of land to grow local vegetables and fruit that would be part of Sustainable Commercial Urban Farming in Concord. SCUFI is the training incubator for local farming businesses copyrighted.

2. What are we requesting? To be worked on next

3. How much land are we proposing? And where would it be placed? We have this mapped out – but work with Bruce to map out how we would be avoiding utilities.

4. How does Iron Horse Corridor proposal link up to SCUFI? To be worked on

5. Is water available? Connection to house on Mayette or City connection. We need to give SPECIFICS – which house, get a contract, and find out about City connection. Needs to be worked on

WATER: Build relationships with and connect to water source – Melinda?

Are the neighbors ok with it?
Are they going to be part of it?
Will they be the protectors of it?
Do they fully understand what it means to allow us to use their water connection and do they want do it?
Kathy will bring in water bill. Would give idea on how much the water usage increased with the backyard garden.
Think of creative sources: research them (Jenna)
The city has trails that have water meters. What would that cost to do? Where are water connections for new trails? Would connecting to future trails water connections be feasible?

6. How would the project be funded? By the farmers themselves – using a business model. Community members could then rent a plot from the farmers.

7. How would long-term maintenance be covered? – Long term maintenance would be done by the local business owners themselves, who are farming the land, not as an extracurricular activity, but as a business. (Maybe 10 are local farmer owned; 14 community garden members would pay a fee but the overall production of plots would be managed by farmers)

8. How would underground utilities be avoided? See #3.

9. How would the right to use County land be obtained? The Iron Horse Trail Advisory Committee should know the answer to this.

Next Steps

Research water possibilities
Find out about utilities
Really solidify advisory group
Work with James to give professional presentation

Next Meeting Agenda: Update Iron Horse Corridor Proposal – New Draft

Next Meeting: Nov 10 7-8:30pm Keller House 1760 Clayton Rd

This Meeting Eval:

∆

Small group helped to really get through proposal

Good working group

Big picture idea

Dave talking to James that this is 1 of many

Garden plots in SCUFI project

9-8 CGNAT Meeting Minutes

2010-09-09T16:42:00.000-07:00

Present:

Wes Laubscher, Luz Sierra, Stan Hansen, Dave Pitman, Melinda Meahan, Kathy Renfrow, Claudia Vazquez

Announcements:

Kathy: It is official, SCUFI is an approved pilot project!

· Professional training, healthy profit from your own small farm, have access to fresh, affordable food, and be part of a network of small farms that provides locally grown produce to the Concord community.

· Community owned and farmers make decisions!

· Want to join or learn more? Contact Tess at farm@chavezcenter.org or 925-682-8248 x 2180

· Come next Tuesday, September 14, to the Keller House at 7pm to learn more about SCUFI.

Health Fair: Saturday, Oct 2 11am – 3pm Meadow Homes Park

· Need volunteers to do container gardens! If you would like to help out, the times are 10am – 1pm and 1pm – 3pm. Contact Jenna Carlsson at 925-246-5461.

· We are collecting plastic milk containers! Please, if you have any clean, empty plastic milk containers, bring them to the Monument Community Partnership. Just ask for the Backyard Gardens Project. We are aiming for 100 and your participation will help us to achieve that number! J

Monument Trail Garden: The working group is meeting Tuesday Sept 14 at 2:30 pm at Mi Oficina Computer Cafe. They will be preparing to give a presentation on starting a community garden to the Iron Horse Trail Advisory Committee: November 3, Wednesday from 4:30pm to 7pm Brookview Club House, 1201 Monument

Sun Ridge Apartments - Want to start a garden. Julio not present

Lakeside Garden - Resident not present

Speaker: Lorena Sanchez gave a presentation on our Backyard Pilot Project and why we should start food gardening

Next Steps:

· Sign Up for Health Fair!

· Bring milk containers to MCP by Wed, September 29, 2010

· Come by to Keller House next Tuesday for SCUFI meeting at 7pm!

Next Meeting: Wednesday Oct 13, 7pm Keller House

· Talk about the School Gardens, what’s going on over there?; SCUFI

This meeting evaluation

What went well

What can be changed

· Lorena’s presentation was good, it gave a visual of what is going on.

· Green light for SCUFI!

· Free vegetables and seeds!

· Planting time sheet is useful!

· More participants!

· Translator for future Spanish speaking participants!

SCUFI Orientation Meeting

2010-09-09T15:08:00.000-07:00

Be an urban farmer in Concord!

Start here at the first orientation meeting

Tuesday Sep. 14, 7:00PM, Keller House

and learn about the

Sustainable Commercial Urban Farm Incubator (SCUFI) for Concord

For more information:

Small Plot Intensive (SPIN) farming http://www.spinfarming.com/

Urban Farms http://www.virtuallygreen.com/web/

Concord's SCUFI program info@chavezcenter.org

Pictures from our backyard garden 8-19

2010-08-24T14:10:00.000-07:00

Our compost bin, also donated to us, and now up and running!

Wine barrels donated by Jack Howell - we will use them to plant blackberries!

Hot peppers

Purslane Weed - super nutritious!

Tomatoes

Close up of purple basil

All sorts of basil!

Planting at our backyard garden 7-20

2010-08-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

Ron standing next to the garden beds before they got planted.

Cesar and Mike planting

Soil super rich in nutrients from our added compost and horse manure

Some of the basil seedlings we got donated from Sunnyside Organics

Emanuel and Lorena planting

Gerringher Harvest Festival

2010-08-24T12:20:00.000-07:00

Gehringer Community Garden, a 2 1/2 acre community garden in the Dana Estates area of Concord had its 2nd Annual Harvest Festival/Fundraiser Saturday August 21st. Gerringher has several plots rented by community members, and 2 plots dedicated to growing food for the food bank. The Harvest Festival was a great event - music, food, drinks and fun for everyone! Great work to Katia has a plot at Gehringer and invited us to the festival.

Community Garden Action Team Minutes 8-11-10

2010-08-23T15:45:00.000-07:00

Monument Community Partnership

Community Gardens Neighborhood Action Team

Wednesday August 11

Minutes

Present: Mike Kerr, Dave Pitman, Katia Ginesta, Harold Blair, Cesar Ortiz, Catalina Ramos-Wright, Mary Lou Laubscher, Stan Hansen, Lorena Sanchez, Jenna Carlsson, Luz Sierra, Kathy Greene

Announcements:

Teens Needed: (Luz): If you know any teenagers from 13 to 18 MALES who would like to participate in the pilot project Friday, from 12 to 1:30, M W F next week. Free Lunch! Call MCP at 808-7392
Famous member!: Catalina is featured in the ‘Concord Activity Guide”, p.21 check it out!
Grand Opening: (Mike): Los Medanos Community Health District community garden is opening Saturday Aug 14! Come check it out 10-12:30. Featuring a workshop on winter gardening by Janet Miller.
Monument Health Fair (Jenna): Oct 2 at Meadow Homes Park: Bone density check up, other health check ups. We'll have a community gardens booth - let Jenna know if you can participate 246-5461
Gehringer Garden Fundraiser: Gehringer (2 1/2 acre community garden that also grows for food bank) is having a Harvest Day Festival. August 21^st, 1 -4pm. Food, drinks, prizes, and crafts for kids! $10 for tickets, under 21 free. Contact Katia for more info. or to buy tickets: number

Community Reports/Speakers:

Brookview Garden: Stan's garden at Brookview has 38 garden beds and has been donating 40 pounds of tomatoes a day to the Monument Crisis Center!
Ellis Lake Clean-Up: 26 people came, it was very successful!

Program Reports

Backyard Gardens Project Update:

Compost: Pablo and Lorena went to Allied Waste to collect 100 donated bags of beautiful dark compost! Many thanks go to Allied Waste for their generous donation and to Pablo for helping out.
Seedlings: Mike and Lorena went to Sunnyside Organic in Richmond to volunteer at Pilar Vernay’s greenhouse. Her generous donations and knowledgeable persona have helped the Backyard Gardens project go forward beyond the pilot garden. Many of the seedlings have gone on to find a home at the pilot garden and at the Sun Ridge Apartments in the Monument, where children and their families are learning to tend and care for them.
Vermicomposting: Mike, Lorena, and Cesar went to volunteer at Mama’s Worm Composting in West Oakland. There, the three learned about vermicomposting (worm composting) and the laborious work that goes into this fantastic composting method!
Dave showed pictures available on our blog

Iron Horse Advisory Committee (Mayette drive buldge area): Mary Lou, Jenna, Dave, and Bruce attended Iron Horse Trail Advisory Committee meeting last week with Stan Hansen and rest of the committee. They would like a presentation from us about our proposal to have a community garden at the Mayette drive buldge of the trail and are skeptical about sustainability due to past projects. Also want to know about liability insurance.

Sun Ridge Apartment Complex – Lorena has been working with them. They are interested in starting a community garden but a lot of their area is shaded. We will try to arrange a meeting between the manager and a master gardener to find out more. Kathy volunteered to help out with this.

Container Gardens – Lorena has done 3 container garden workshops showing kids how to make contain gardens out of milk cartons. She will do another one with First 5 parents.

Next Steps and Assignments

Outreach: We need to recruit more gardeners. Katia and Ron can work on this, perhaps Luz and Kathy. *Idea: presentation at Michael Chavez Center
Set up meeting with property manager at Sun Ridge (Jenna)
Attend Winter Gardening sessions on Aug 13 and 14
Buy tickets for and attend Gehringer Fundraiser Aug 21. Contact Katia
Set up our own Iron Horse Trail committee. (Kathy, Mike, Cesar, and Stan interested.) We have to report back to them on Nov 3.
Anyone who is interested in getting free seedlings can volunteer at Sunnyside Organic Aug 30. Contact Pilar Vernay at sunnyside@organic.biz for future volunteering and gorgeous organic seedlings!

Next Meeting Date: Wed Sept 8 7pm KH (always 2nd Wednesday)

Next Meeting Agenda: Plan for health fair, Lorena presents resource manual information

Meeting Eval

Got a lot done!

Mike and Cesar's fabulous help

Dave's pictures

Stan's help with the Iron Horse Trail Committee

Backyard Gardens in the News

2010-08-20T09:54:00.000-07:00

Contra Costa Times:
Bumper crop of backyard gardens in East Bay
By Hannah Dreier

... a growing number of locals who, driven by steep grocery prices and a still stumbling economy, are taking advantage of the East Bay's good soil and Mediterranean climate.

Sunnyside Organic

2010-08-13T20:48:00.000-07:00

Our team volunteered 2 days at Sunnyside Organic in exchange for free seedlings for our backyard garden project. Check out pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/baypointcommunity/sets/72157624232999091/

Grow Your Own Vegetables

2010-08-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

Flyers for Community Gardens near you.

Lorena speaking at National Night Out block party August 3.

Neighbor getting a seedling from Lorena with Elva and Jenna.

Compost Workshop July 31

2010-07-31T18:20:00.001-07:00

The seedlings are in!

Jenna gathering some compost material.

Billi Haug Master Gardner with her compost stirring tool.

Mmmm... That's good compost!

Backyard Gardens Progess July 17

2010-07-19T10:55:00.000-07:00

Lorena, Cesar, Ron, Emmanual and Mike K. digging in the manure and compost.

Thanks to Allied Waste Services for donating the compost!

CGNAT Meeting Minutes 7-14-2010

2010-07-16T14:15:00.000-07:00

Present: Name, role, and favorite summer fruit!

· Dave Pitman: Blogger for MCP!

· Jenna Carlsson: MCP Community Gardens Action Team facilitator. Fruit: peaches, strawberries

· Kathy Greene (AKA Alice): Home gardener who wants to help out with the backyard gardens. Even though she lives in Martinez, she wants to help out the Monument community. Peppers and tomatoes are her favorite vegetables.

· Siamack Sioshansi: From the Urban Farmers, his son and his son’s roommate started the project. Both of the boys are very busy this summer, going from San Francisco to Lafayette to tend to the farmers there. Planted 900^th plant recently!

· Francisco Martinez: From Pittsburg, has been working with MCP for a while now. Favorite fruits: Strawberries, watermelon, and mangos. Mango expert! Francisco says that mangos grow best under the warm rays of a summer sun.

· Cesar Ortiz: Huge helper with the Backyard Gardens! Favorite fruits and veggies: Tomatoes, chiles, loquats, and cactus fruit.

· Catalina Ramos-Wright: Has lived in Concord for 50 years! Fruit: Peaches, guava, and loves avocados!

· Mike Kerr: Coordinator of Ambrose Community Gardens. Having a bit of trouble in the garden, the well water might be shut off. Favorite veggies and fruits: peaches, tomatoes, and plums. Mike has forty types of fruit trees, so his favorites vary depending on the fruit tree he’s near by!

· Edi Birsan: Concord Diablo Rotary. Geez, can’t even grow a rock! Favorite fruit: plums.

· Mary Lou Laubscher: love strawberries, growing her own in an old BBQ

· Luz Sierra

Announcements:

1. Gleaning Project Update (Edi Birsan)

You provide, we pick, and we all give to those in need! The Concord Diablo Rotary Club picks excess fruit from trees, so why not donate if your tree is ripe with lush fruits? Contact Edi if you have excess fruit in your yard or if you can help with this project: 798-3537 or cell 510-812-8180

Example: Today got a call from Anna Chan (Lemon Lady) to pick apples at Alamo house. Within 2 hours he and 17 yr old grandson picked & delivered 75 lbs of apples to Food Bank.

2. RotoCare Update (Edi Birsan)

Free Health Care Clinic – Open every Thursday evening from 5-9pm at Cambridge Elementary School. Open to people with no medical insurance. Make an appointment, since there is limited space. If it isn’t used they might move it!!

3. SCUFI – Sustainable Commercial Urban Farm Incubator Update (Mary Lou)

Starting soon! A project in which people are trained to make their own businesses out of locally growing food. Keep your eyes peeled for an announcement of when SCUFI training will start.

4. Monument Crisis Center Bicycle Donation Finished! – Wes Laubscher collected bikes repaired by Marsh Creek Detention Facility inmates and donated them to people in need of bikes for transportation for school or work.

5. Irrigation Volunteers at Cambridge: Master Gardener Janice Winsby is looking for 2-3 volunteers to help out at Cambridge Elementary school for irrigation installation. Please contact her at 938-6126 for more info.

6. Garden group at DVC: Pretty earnest folks that are willing to garden.

7. Blog: We are going (more) virtual! Check it out: http://communitygardensactionteam.blogspot.com/

Speaker: Siamack Sioshansi from the Urban Farmers www.theurbanfarmers.org

1. Background: His son, Cameron, who is a junior in college, goes to school in Chicago. Two summers ago, instead of enjoying the joys of video games, he and his friend, Alexander, set out to find their passions. Those passions turned into the Urban Farmers, to feed people sustainable, clean, and local food in a way that is environmentally sound, socially just, and culturally compatible.

2. Current State of Agriculture System

a. Our idea of the American farm is an illusion: pesticide use, monocrops, and the distance between farmer and consumer is growing rapidly.

b. Energy resources: the distance that food travels is environmentally and economically unreasonable

c. Environmental Damages: soil depletion, once the soil is depleted of nutrients necessary for crops, it’s done. At the rate we are doing so, we will run out of soil in 50-70 years

d. Water wise: our water supply of clean water is running out. At the rate we are using it for agriculture, we will run out in 25 years.

e. Pesticide Use: Farmers in the United States have been authorized by the USDA to use an abundant amount of pesticides on fruits and vegetables (37 for an apple). In the EU, only two types of pesticide agents are allowed.

f. Social Justice: In the U.S. the FDA determined that the number of people who cannot put food on the table (are hungry) is at an all time high.

3. To combat this, they decided work with a Local Food Environmental Task Force in Lafaytette to start a local food production program in 20 Lafayette backyards in Lafayette. Selection Criteria:

a. Accessibility

b. Home owner’s attitude

c. The amount of land and the quality of sun exposure

4. Then they build the gardens:

a. They have found that homeowners have wanted to be involved, learning how food is grown and spending $3-5000 each ($78,000 total) on irrigation systems, etc.

Updates from our own backyard garden:

· We secured free manure for the soil and Ron and his son’s have put in it!

· Now we need to continue prepping the soil

· We got wine barrels donated to plant the seedlings in while the soil is being prepped

· We need soil!

· Work party this Saturday at 5pm at Ron’s house to prep the soil – 1213 Grove.. Please come! Call Lorena for more information. (Ron, Mike, Cesar, Lorena, Francisco, Kathy, Manuel, anyone else who wants to come!

Next Steps

· Attend work party this Saturday

· Find soil

· Volunteer at Sunnyside Organics in Richmond for free seedlings – Friday July 30. Contact Lorena at 246-5461 if you are interested in going.

· Set regular meetings for the Backyard garden group

Next Meeting: August 11, 7pm, Here

This meeting:

-Meeting went excellent! Siamack’s presentation was fantastic, thank you Siamack for presenting!

-Everyone was eager to put their 2 cents in, it’s great to have participation!

Organic Seedlings for Backyard Garden

2010-06-28T12:58:00.000-07:00

By Lorena S.

Michael Kerr and I went to the Sunnyside Organic Seedlings in Richmond, where we volunteered from 10am to 2pm and were allowed to take as many seedlings as we wished! We ended up bringing fragrant basil, two types of pepper plants, tomatoes (small and big), and cucumber as well! We can't wait to show them to you guys at the next meeting and hopefully we will have more of you who would like to come volunteer for an informative and relaxing day at the Sunnyside greenhouse. Plus, what's not to love about free and organic seedlings?

Backyard Garden June 21

2010-06-23T17:54:00.000-07:00

The committee had meet at Ron's backyard, with Jenna and Lorena facilitating to determine our needs and resources to get the garden started. Master Gardeners Janet Miller and Jerris Hogue attended the meeting to help us. Janet measured out the 5-foot wide planting beds and 21-inch pathways. Jerris advised our immediate need was to have irrigation supplies. Janet advised we first need a truckload of compost for the beds, and wood chip mulch for the pathways. After getting these supplies, next is to water the soil before digging in the compost. To participate, call Jenna at 925-246-5461.

Meeting June 9

2010-06-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

Edi Birsan announced he is looking for volunteers to his Rotary club's Gleaning project. The project collects fruit from backyard orchards to give to food banks. He is encouraging people to talk to their neighbors to find if they have fruit to donate. Email Edi for more information.

Jenna talked about her Peace Corps Urban Farming experience in Honduras and Nicaragua. Like in the U.S., people are getting disconnected from their food sources. That is they're eating less fruits and vegetables.

The pilot Backyard Garden Project now has Lorena, an AmeriCorps volunteer working with Jenna. The subcommittee will meet this month.

Michael Kerr talked about how he started the Ambrose Community Garden in Bay Point. He found land with a willing owner, and met Jerris the Master Gardener who helped a lot.

Our next meeting will be Wednesday July 14, 7 PM at the Keller House. We will have more information on the upcoming Sustainable Commercial Urban Farm Incubator (SCUFI).

Community Gardens Meeting

2010-06-02T22:20:00.000-07:00

Wed June 9
7:00 PM

Keller House

Jenna will speak about her Peace Corps Urban Farm

2009 Threads of Hope Award

2010-05-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

Mary Lou was chosen winner of a Threads of Hope Award for her exceptional volunteer work with the Community Gardens Action Team. See the December 2009 Diablo Magazine article and nomination video.

March 2009 Community Garden Action Team Minutes

2009-03-12T21:51:00.000-07:00

M.C.P
Community Gardens Action Team
www.communitygardensactionteam.blogspot.com
March 11, 2009 at Lakeside Apartments

Present: Procton Bonnell (resident), Ashley Taylor (resident), Lina Ortiz, Marylou Laubscher, Bill Miller, Harold Blair

Announcements
•Lakeside Community Garden Work Party, Saturday, March 14th 10-2pm, @ Lakeside
Volunteers needed to work the information table, the seed planting table and serving the food.
•Lina Ortiz, is the new Resident Services Manager at Lakeside and will be in charge of programming at the Lakeside Community Room and Case Management.
•Gaby looking to move to Lakeside
•Church of Nazarene Food Distribution 10:30am on Saturday mornings, you can sign in at 8am and return at 10:30am

Check In’s:
Procton, doing good, excited about the new garden and will be up early on Saturday to help with the community garden, he is a resident
Harold, retired social worker
Bill, photo journalist and will take pictures and write and article about Saturday’s event.
Elena, 3 years old and loves to dance, play with toys and dolls
Mary Lou, Senior Action Team and ready for the first garden at Lakeside
Ashley Taylor, in 4th grade at Meadow Homes and loves science

Lakeside Community Garden Work Party, Saturday, March 14th, 2009 10-2
• Lots of food ordered for workers from La Cabana, food around noon
• Bring plastic containers with lids to take food home possible leftovers.
• Cement blocks to be delivered on Saturday morning, workers to be contacted by Harold, Lina’s truck to be used.
• Procton will be there to receive blocks.
• Wes & Ekkert measured garden, Ekkert drew plans of garden layout.
• Markham Arboretum Society will put in $2,000 for soil and $360 for rebar.
• Trucks to be used, Lina and Ekkerts
• 9am set up, 1:30 clean up
• Concord Transcript photographer to arrive
• Harold will bring liability forms for workers to sign and picture waivers
• Information Table Outside: info for the residents who ask what is going on?
• Seed planting table: children and adults to plant
• Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Procton and Deborah to say some words, both are residents.

Large Community Gardens Committee

Adopted into the Community Gardens Action Team on March 11, 2009 by members present
To meet with rest of group on March 12, 2009 at 10am at Wendy’s, 1551 Monument Blvd.

List of land in Concord that could be secured for a future Urban Farm (community garden) on Monument
• Area behind Orchard
• Galindo property
• BART property
• Across from the Concord Police Dept.

Next Steps
Come to the Lakeside Community Garden Work Party on Saturday, March 14th at 10 am
Meeting to be had with the Large Community Garden Committee on Thur., March 12 at 10am

Agenda for Next Meeting
Report on Lakeside Community Garden Work Party
Report on Large Community Garden Committee
Ivette to speak on Gleaners

This Meeting Highlights
Procton, residents input
Ashley, child resident input
Good planning for garden work party at Lakeside
Good coordination between members for work party

How this meeting could be improved
More residents to participate at meetings
More gardeners from Lakeside

Next Meeting
Regular Monthly Meeting (2nd Wednesday of Month)
Wednesday, April 8th 6-8 at Lakeside

November 2008 Minutes

2009-01-14T16:32:00.000-08:00

M.C.P

Community Gardens Action Team

www.communitygardensactionteam.blogspot.com

November 12, 2008 at the Keller House

Present: Susan Vought, Kevin Edwards, Stan, Mary Lou Laubscher, Yvetter Maruri, Jenna Carlssen, Kathy, Ekkert and Lucy Keller

Announcements:

Susan Vought, lives at Brookview Mobile Home park, always been interested in gardening

Stan, 78 years on the Monument, owner of Brookview, use to be two lane, you could nap on Monument everyone use to farm, poplar trees, Sherman acres use to be a hay field.

Kevin, Ygnacio Valley H.S. Students Services Coordinator, new garden area there and Stan has been helping there

Yvette, would like to work with a big community garden, free and easy access to help feed people who are

Mary Lou, lived on the Monument since 1954 love someone elses flowers, HEAL grant here at MCP, this group is part of the HEAL project

Lina, facilitator in training for MCP, almost a year now since this position arrived.

Bill,

Ekkert, drip system expert, has a plant sale this Saturday, past president of Markham Arboretum, don’t sell winter vegetables.

Lucy, set up children programs at Garden apartments. The family’s there became involved with children literacy programs and Lucy helped with the moms. Helping at Lakeside apartments with the spanish bingo.

Jenna, just finished AmeriCorps Vista in San Diego, a project to help refugees from Africa, Iraq, Burma. Like a domestic Peace Corp. Born and raised in the East Bay, lives in W.C. wants to work with communities like the Monument.

Bill, doing good

Kathy, working with Lakeside, loves to garden and looking forward to build and start the garden at Lakeside

Announcements:

Monument Urban Redesign: The built environment, effects are mental and physical health, it’s a thirty year project

Lakeside Garden Work this Saturday 10-2, weather permitting,

Public Hearing: Monument Streetscape

11-24 4^th Wednesday of every month, Lakeside Garden Planning

11- Memorial for Susan’s mom this weekend

Markham Nature Area Tour given by Ekkert Keller

1. Ygnacio Valley High School Garden

(Chair: Kevin Edwards)

Showed us a powerpoint presentation of YV High new community garden area.
Sledghammer needed, should know how to use the tool so that the bricks don’t break. Beds are 8ft by 25 ft wide, chicked wire 50ft by 4ft, layed two side by side.
$5,000 to begin with.
Chicken wire underneath, 2 beds have been built, 7 left.
Challenges at the school. Sophmores and Seniors to share a bed to grow and sell what they grow. Freshman and Juniors to share a bed. Farmers market, products that they can sell. Profit for the school garden to keep the garden going.
Families at the school work with cement mixing. Free garbage dumpsters through a family. Various resources were covered by families at the school.
Water timers, easy water access
Started in January through October, idle time

2. Cambridge Elementary School Garden

(Chair: Janice Winsey, Matt, Colleen, Janice, Lina, MaryLou, Leslie, Stan, Ekkert, 90 Day Committee)

3. Lakeside Apartments

A. Small Gardens Sub Committee to meet on February 27, 2008

(Susan V., Miguel, Enrique, Lina, Stan, Ekkert, Mary Lou)

Can not dig into dirt cover already in place
Clean fill top soil when searching on Craigslist
Can use the garden shed there for now but will be on a search for a new shed
1ft high rebar

Container Gardening

Martinez Navlets has a good selection of veggies

Next Steps

Review the Lakeside Community Garden Agreement

Agenda for Next Meeting

Finalize the Lakeside Community Garden Agreement

Lakeside report on update of garden action

Soil analyzer guy

This Meeting Highlights

Cross education

Member participation

Number of mixed ages

Sopes are good

Ygnacio Valley pictures

How this meeting could be improved

Questions not answered

A place for

Next Meeting

Regular Monthly Meeting (2^nd Wednesday of Month)

Possible Meeting Wednesday, December 18^th at the Keller House (may be cancelled due to the holidays)

October 2008 Minutes

2008-11-11T15:20:00.000-08:00

M.C.P
Community Gardens Action Team
www.communitygardensactionteam.blogspot.com
October 9, 2008
Brookview Park @ 1201 Monument Blvd.

Present: Janice Winsby, Lina Ortiz, Mary Lou Laubscher, Ivette Mauri, Bill Miller, Harold Blair, Daniel Ayala

Announcements:
Janice, just signed up for the advanced adult Spanish class at Mt. Diablo Adult Education
Harold, not feeling well and is overwhelmed with the planning for the future Lakeside Community Garden
Ivette, spending time with her four year old daughter while she is not in preschool and working with her other
Mary Lou,
Lina, has started working as a Spanish teacher in Orinda
Bill, terrific
Susan, just served chicken for thirty and has been busy
Daniel, works with 100+ children at Oak Grove Middle School and wants to start

Announcements:
2008 Gardening Seminar on October 11, 2008
Work Plan for 2009 was adopted by all members

Markham Nature Area Tour given by Ekkert Keller
Recommends a drip system
Everyone pays and has a signed agreement
Expensive timers
Beautiful gardens growing lots of different vegetables, overgrown fun to walk through

1. Ygnacio Valley High School Garden
(Chair: Kevin Edwards)
beds are finished

2. Cambridge Elementary School Garden
(Chair: Janice Winsey, Matt, Colleen, Janice, Lina, MaryLou, Leslie, Stan, Ekkert, 90 Day Committee)
Intendes to put a $900 dollar timer, current drip system is broken, currently replacing main lines that are about eight years old. A volunteer comes and does the work.
School Garden Week, Oct. 25, Garden Party 10am-2pm

3. Lakeside Apartments
A. Small Gardens Sub Committee to meet on February 27, 2008
(Susan V., Miguel, Enrique, Lina, Stan, Ekkert, Mary Lou)
Next meeting, October 15, 2008 @ 6pm at 1897 Oakmead off Monument Lakeside
RCD Director to meet with Dr. Len in the future so that they can cover
Possible seed money from MCP per Harold’s conversation with Dr. Len
Harold will check out the Flea Market this weekend Oct. 10th
Supply list, donation letter handed out

Next Steps
Grant Purposals for what? (shed, irrigation lines)
Volunteers to plant at Lakeside
Meet at Lakeside tomorrow at 11am

Agenda for Next Meeting
Update on Lakeside

This Meeting Highlights
Daniel
Lakeside planning steps

How this meeting could be improved
Too long

Next Meeting
Regular Monthly Meeting (2nd Wednesday of Month)
Wednesday, November 12th Keller House at 7pm

August Community Garden Action Team Minutes

2008-09-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

M.C.P

Community Gardens Action Team

www.communitygardensactionteam.blogspot.com

August 13, 2008

Keller House

Present: Lina Ortiz, Miss Dorthea Jenkins, Susan Vought, , Harold Blair, Lucy Keller, Colleen Majors, Mary Lou Laubscher, Virginia Aguirre, Susan Lawson, Ivette Maruri, Charly Hahn, Bryan Reiss, Michael Kerr, Kathy Greene, Alex Barton, Christi Campbell

Announcements

Miss Dorthea, Lakeside Apartment Meeting- excellent attendance and good number interested in the volunteering at the Community Garden, lots interested

Susan Vought, reporting for Stan Hansen on Y.V. High School garden project, garden area leveled, concrete blocks purchased for raised beds, garden is measured out,. irrigation system being worked on.

Lucy, has a contact for free seeds, good for summer planting (Harriet Burk – 372-8038).Kevin Edwards from YV High in charge of getting grounds ready for school. Volunteers call him at 685-8414 x 3602

Susan Lawson, facilitator Lakeside/Palm Terrace Apt. planning group, this summer got approval for a community garden, Javier Huerta took a look at Lakeside plot, very hilly, top boxes would work best, not low to ground because of the raccoons. High platforms best to keep raccoons out.

Colleen, teaches at Cambridge Elementary taught summer school and enjoyed a few days of vacation

Harold, has moved. He misses his large vegetable garden at his old home.

Ivette, has a vision of starting a community garden in an open space where residents could grow food and then hand it out to the homeless and hungry. Wants us to check out Galindo house and property behind Osh on Monument

Virginia, has a new Caring Hands volunteer coming to her house and is excited. Will now be able to get to more meetings

Bryan, Anti-War action CCRA, Contra Costa Radical Action, worked feeding the homeless in Berkeley, draws, music, organizing community events for a cause to help others.

Mike, runs the www.baypointcommunity.org website Friends of the Anuta Park, works with Bay Point Garden, Ambrose Community and Recreation

Charly, interested in creating sustainable communities

Kathy, compulsive gardener, Mt. Diablo Peace Center Wants opportunity to start a Soup-Kitchen garden, Grew tomato plants with produce for food bank people

Christy, interested in everything talked about tonight

Lina, all moved in, back from vacation NY/camping, ready for her son to start Kindergarten at St. Francis. Great Kids Garden Discovery Area at the Monument Community Pride Celebration in June, lots of volunteers and over a hundred children visited our booth.

Community Gardens Updates

Ygnacio Valley High Garden

(Chair: Kevin Edwards

Stan saw that trees were removed to make room for planter beds

Now there is room for two areas of raised beds.

Basalite blocks will be used to contain beds

Need volunteers to help build the beds

Cambridge Elementary Garden

(Janice Winsey chair)

Gardens used during summer school

New Lakeside Apartments Garden

(Doretha Jenkins, Chair, Susan Lawson, facilitator)

7 residents from Lakeside signed up to participate

Lakeside Gardens Meeting

_____________________________________________________________

HEAL Grant Requirements –(Kaiser funds this Action Team)

1. Inventory of Present Community Gardens in Monument Area

Map where gardens are presently and other possible sites within walking distance

- City Planner needed to assist us with larger size maps

2. Community Gardens Strategic Plan

Mary Lou passed out our current plan which is in progress

A strategic Plan Committee established with:

Ivette. Convenier

Lina, Facilitator

Mary Lou

Others welcomed

*HEAL Grant Strategic Plan Committee will meet

Wednesday, August 23, 2008 at 8:30am. at Country Waffles near Kohls

Fall Garden - What to plant now – Tomatoes, peas, spinach, kale, mustard greens, Chinese greens, collard greens, radishes, garlic, onion, broccoli, cabbage (ask Janice for a planting list for fall gardens)

Oct. 4 Health Fair

Planning Committee Established

Lina, Facilitator

Lucy

Janice

Stan

Mary Lou

Any interested members

October Health Fair Planning Sub Committee)

Tuesday, September 9th at 10:30 at Ygnacio Park (Lina and Ivette)

What Our Booth will look like

Container Gardens, rolling gardens to show examples of fall gardens

School Gardens Display, posters with pictures of progress

Apartments – Display of pictures of hanging gardens

Informational Hand Outs- Starting a New Garden and Best Plantings in the fall

Kids Discovery Garden

Children’s’ Garden Book Give Away – Coordinate with Sally Smith (798-1680)

Parking Lot of Ideas for Future Discussions

Monument Community Healthy Eating Guide

Group planting project Bryan’s house

Monument Community Gleaners

Galindo Property

BART Land by the Skateboard Park

Property behind Osh on Monument

Health Gardening Guide

Problem, ground squirrels and raccoons

Invite Brian to the Transportation Action Team

Look into Rent A Gardener for vacant lots – talk to Monument Futures

Bryan: signed up to research where there are current community gardens, call him with further instructions

Agenda for Next Meeting

City Planner / Gardner speak on what land we can use in the future, where there are community gardens

Currently in use.

This Meeting Highlights

New faces, Lakeside group attendance, all attendees seem to be on same page, networking potentials

How this meeting could be improved

When our regulars come back, Stan, Ekkerhardt, Bill, Janice

Next Meeting (All Members)

(normally the 2^nd Wednesday of Month)

Note Change for this Month:

Thursday, September 11, 2008, Brookview Park's Clubhouse, 1201 Monument, 7-9 pm,

Mission Statement

Within five years the Monument Community Gardens Action Team will help with the establishment of five community gardens within walking distance of high density neighborhoods in the Monument Community

Vision Statement

A Monument Community Gardens Action Team will be established to: Foster both nutrition and health for all community members; Foster spiritual and psychological health of the community; Involve all ages and capabilities; Foster Garden Clubs, School Gardens and Large Community Gardens; Establish a Farmers Market in the Community

Our Community Garden Booth

2008-08-25T11:11:00.000-07:00

We had an awesome at the Monument Community Pride Celebration!

Thank you Stan for your donation we served over a hundred children.

Kids took home a planted seed and painted!

June 7 Monument Community Pride Celebration

2008-05-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

Join us to celebrate the beautiful, talented and hard working people of the Monument Community on June 7th from 10am-4pm at 1500 Monument! Our Community Gardens Action Team will have a booth with a Kids Garden Discovery Area and there will be many other fun activities. Children will plant a seed in a pot to take home and there will be lots of dirt to dig into!

Also, come by to check our our ROLLING GARDENS, who said you need a yard to garden in. We want the residents of Monument to plant in containers on their patios and then roll them out to local storefronts to beautify the area!

Bring your own, grab your containers from your back yard and put them in anything that has wheels and rolls!

Call me if you would like to get a copy of our "WISH LIST" for our booth. Donations are welcomed at this early stage of our project. (925) 676-8515

April 16th Meeting Minutes

2008-05-06T22:49:00.000-07:00

Monument Community Partnership
Community Gardens Action Team
www.communitygardensactionteam.blogspot.com
April 16, 2008 at the Keller House

Present: Virginia Aquirre, Janice Winsby, Susan Vought, Ekkehardt and Lucy Keller, Lina Ortiz, Mary Lou Laubscher, Stan Hansen

Guest Speaker, Donna Snyder: Container Gardens Expert
Shared about her trip with Elder Hostel to Ventura County where they visited many farms and fields. Here are some tidbits of her presentation. She visited a strawberry field and found that there are two different types of strawberry pickers. The first type of worker shows up that day to work and the second type are employed through the Union. The first type works faster and harder and the second type pace themselves. Hard work because you are picking with your pointer and thumb and your back is bent. The strawberries are put in the boxes unwashed so that they stay fresh longer. This particular strawberry field took six years to get it to where it can produce this many strawberries. A tip she learned is to not wash your strawberries early, wash them on the day you will be eating them. She also visited a lemon farm and lemons from this farm were used in Sunkist products. She saw many truckloads arriving to this farm to dump their lemons. The most pristine lemons are selected for Sunkist products. Sunkist does not pack lemons unless there is an order for them. She then went inside to a warehouse where she saw many catwalks that were completely mechanical. She saw women picking out the bruised lemons. The bruised ones are used to feed livestock. She was most impressed by a photographic computer that scans and separates the lemons by size and color and she thought this was truly amazing. Next she visited 100 acres of pixie tangerines at Tom Churchill’s farm. He inherited this land and then found a niche in the tangerine market. She brought a pixie tangerine for us to taste and it was delicious. You can buy them at Trader Joe’s and fancy supermarkets. She also talked about an unusual farm they visited where they grow black radishes as well as white ones and are long like carrots. They sell these radishes to restaurants only. This reminded her of a farm she once went to where all they grew were different types of sprouts and also only sold them to restaurants.She showed us pictures of a tomato plant green house, where they grow tomato plants in individual containers. Here are her tips for the garden: -When planting tomato plants take a small clear plastic up that has the top part removed and place around the stalk to protect it from bugs. -One teaspoon of tobassco sauce with garlic and water, also wet newspaper, or dawn soap can be used to spray at the base of the plant to protect it from aphids or bugs. -Plain water also works. -Add B1 to the soil when transplanting a plant or fish emulsion is also great and will keep the plant’s environment thriving so that it can flourish and grow.

Check In’s and Announcements:
- Janice, introduced how to help schools during this economy. She talked about www.DonorsChoose.org which is a simple way to provide students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. At this not-for-profit web site, teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become classroom reality when concerned individuals, whom we call Citizen Philanthropists, choose projects to fund.
- Virginia, worked on a logo collage for our community garden action team.
- Ekkert, Markham Nature Area Plant Sale, May 4th
-All Facilitators Retreat, Saturday, April 19th, 9-4
-Senior Action Team Meeting, April 21, 9:30am Police Sub Station, “Driving Longer and Safer”
-Grant Training First Five, Tuesday, April 22 10 a.m., 1485 Enea Circle, Suite 1200
-more material was brought in for the future Garden Library at the Keller House
-Our Community Gardens Action Team blog is at, www.communitygardensactionteam.blogspot.com
-For Cambridge Elementary School Garden updates visit, http://www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/cambridge/garden.htm.
-All Facilitators Retreat, Saturday April 19th 9am-4pm
-Senior Action Team, Driving Longer Safer Monday, April 21 9:30pm
-Family Friendly Grant Information Session, Make Up April 22, 10am at the First Five Regional Office

Committee Reports
1. Ygnacio Valley High School Garden
(Chair: Kevin Edwards) for pictures of the future garden site please visit, www.communitygardensactionteam.blogspot.com
Stan Hansen and Susan Vought visited Cambridge’s garden yesterday and thought it was beautiful. They liked what the beds were made of, concrete blocks. Cheaper and more affordable than ties. Will consider this as an option for the future Ygnacio Valley High School garden.
Considering changing the direction of the beds, will speak with Kevin Edwards.
2. Cambridge Elementary School Garden
(Chair: Janice Winsby, Matt, Colleen, Janice, Lina, MaryLou, Leslie, Stan, Ekkert, 90 Day Committee)
Visit http://www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/cambridge/garden.htm to see pictures of the gardening activities taking place at Cambridge, Janice Winsby is leading activities and announced that on April 26th there will be a work party of kids and families. Has a mound of woodchips waiting to be shoveled.
Drip system in, a friend of a father of one of her students who is a gardener did the work. Would like his name so we can refer him to others needing garden services. Lina will start compiling a list of gardeners on the monument whose services may be used on future jobs.
3. Smaller Gardens
(Chair: Miguel Salgado, Colleen, MaryLou, rep. from Martha’s group, Matt, Ceasar Chavez Club, SAT)
A. Small Gardens Sub Committee met on February 27, 2008
(Susan V., Miguel, Enrique, Lina, Stan, Ekkert, Mary Lou)
Colleen suggested we give hand outs and free seeds at the Monument Celebration at our booth.
Old wheel barrows or plaster 2 wheel carts are useful for rolling gardens.

Planning our Booth at the Monument Pride Celebration on June 7, from 10-4pm
(Signs, Informational Flyers, Small Container Examples, Buzz Bertalero Hour, Pass Out Seeds,Garden Art Picture Display of our Monument Gardens, Food Display of what Monument Gardens Grow, Youth tell their gardening experiences from Ygnacio Valley High, Oak Grove Youth, and Cambridge.)
*Stan knows of a sign painter and we will give him a call. *We will hand out a one page sheet of How to Grow A Garden. *Our group will bring examples of their own container gardens. Lina will bring two rolling gardens, Elena and Anthonys garden. Colleen Major will also have some of her potted plants there in a rolling wagon.
*Janice our Master Gardner will be there to answer gardening questions. *Confirm Buzz Bertalero. *The garden art project will be to use markers and crayons draw their favorite flower, veggie, tree etc…
*Booth Help Schedule: 9-10am, Set Up, Jancie, Mary Lou, and Lina will be there all day, 10-11:30am, 11:30-1pm, 1-2:30pm, 2:30-4pm,

Next Steps: Plan our booth for the Monument Community Pride Celebration on June 7th,
Agenda for Next Meeting: No speaker in May because our meeting will be dedicated to planning our booth. No meeting in June because June 7th we will be at the Monument Pride Celebration helping at the booth, July mtg. second Wed. of the month
This Meetings Highlights: Good Speaker, Food, Good company, Good team spirit
How this meeting could be improved: End on time

Next Meeting: (Regular Monthly Meeting, 2nd Wednesday of Month)
May 14th Keller House, 6-8 pm, brown bag dinner
May 28th possible last minute planning meeting Lina will notify if needed

*Bring pictures, a friend and come 15 min’s early to see pictures on the laptop

Ygnacio Valley High School - preparing ground for future garden

2008-03-31T12:30:00.001-07:00

February Meeting Minutes

2008-03-16T23:52:00.000-07:00

Monument Community Partnership
Community Gardens Action Team
www.communitygardensactionteam.blogspot.com
February 13, 2008
Keller House

Present:Virginia Aquirre, Harold Blair, Janice Winsby, Miguel Salgado, Susan Vought, Ekkehardt and Lucy Keller, Bill Miller, Lina Ortiz, Matthew Fragoso, Mary Lou Laubscher, Sukhwinder Kaur, Susan Lawson, Angelica Beckman, Enrique J. Sanchez

Announcements:
Lina Ortiz is our new facilitator-in-training and she set up a blog for our Community Gardens Action Team. Visit www.communitygardensactionteam.blogspot.com to view pictures and comments and to write your own.

Matthew Fragoso, Mt. Diablo CARES After School program received a grant to put gardens in sixteen different schools in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. Gardening classes will be offered once a week, a nutrition program, one hour structured fitness class and more. Mt. Diablo CARES After School Programs are a collaborative of the Concord Community & Recreation Services Department, The Mount Diablo Unified School District and the Ambrose Recreation and Park District to provide enrichment, academic and support services for children and their families beyond the traditional school day. The centers serve about 2,200 students at these school sites in Concord, Pleasant Hill, Bay Point and Pittsburg:

Mary Lou attended the Mental Health Symposium at Alhambra High School. along with Harold and Dr. Len to represent the Monument Corridor and MCP. They have 93 million dollars for preventative health services and they did not know about us.Our county wide outreach needs to be improved.
Susan Lawson, Lakeside/Palm Terrace invited us on March 5th at 8am to the Lakeside Senior Strollers first event. A stroll to Ellis Park and back.

Overview of meeting with Dr. Len Kruszecki on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 3pm
(Dr. Len, Mary Lou Laubscher, Stan Hansen, Kevin Edwards, Lina Ortiz, Matthew Fragoso, Janice Winsby)
Consortium idea introduced by Dr. Len where multiple members in the community apply separately for the Kaiser Community Grant. Each keeps own identity and applies separately while stating they belong to the .
Monument Community Gardens Coalition.
In the future the Community Gardens Action Team could draw a map of the Monument Area with future garden sites and offer mini-grants for Monument residents to start their own gardens at home.
It is important to learn about and incorporate into our work HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) strategies developed by Kaiser.
Learn more Healthy Eating Active Living-Community Health Initiative at: http://xnet.kp.org/communitybenefit/regions/nca/HEAL/HEALinitiative.html

1. Ygnacio Valley High School Garden
(Chair: Kevin Edwards)
Kevin/Stan next step to grade the ground.
The plan is to involve the cafeteria in serving the fruits and vegetables from the garden and to recycle food for the compost.

2. Cambridge Elementary School Garden
(Chair: Janice Winsey, Matt, Colleen, Lina, MaryLou, Leslie, Stan, Ekkert, Nelson Funes from the after school program is in charge of the garden area

p.2
.
Thurs., February 7, 2008 Janice, Matthew and Gloria Evie from St. Mary’s College met at Cambridge to discuss the Next Steps for the garden.
Talked about drawing up a new plot plan, where to put two new raised beds, where compost should be, and where to add a workstation. Also two recycling bins to put together.
Janice spoke to the Gardner and he will save yard trimmings for compost and she also spoke to the person in charge in the cafeteria and they will also separate left over food for compost!
Discussed paying the district for the electrical work.
Work still to be done; clearing out the weeds on the ground, prep the ground, subsurface is asphalt.
Gloria Evie is an instructor at St. Mary’s College and 20 of her student’s volunteer, tutor and are part of an outreach program for Cambridge Elementary. She was a key person in the planning for the garden at Cambridge. KAIWANIS International Service Club is also helping with the garden.
Lina had an impromptu meeting on 1/25/08 with Marie Schrimer the principal, toured garden area and took pictures. Brought pictures to the meeting and posted them online on the CGAT blog.

3. Smaller Gardens
(Chair: Miguel Salgado, Colleen, MaryLou, rep. from Martha’s group, Matt, Ceasar Chavez Club, SAT)
“Garden Wagons” coined by Miguel Salgado and the group agreed that Rolling Gardens would now be called “Garden Wagons”. Mr.Trowbridge from Concord H.S. could have students participate in winning designs for Garden Wagons. Miguel or Lina to visit with Mr. Trowbridge this month. Other small garden ideas:
Window Boxes
Porch Gardens
Hanging Gardens
Herb Gardens
Tea Gardens
Mushroom Gardens
Moss Garden
Edible Flower Gardens and Hanging Gardens
Flower Pots with Hot Peppers

A. Small Gardens Sub Committee to meet on February 27, 2008
(Susan V., Miguel, Enrique, Lina, Stan, Ekkert, Mary Lou
Ekkert has about ten fifteen galloon pots to plant in and will donate them to us.
Each one of us will receive one and plant our own type of garden.
Our gardens will be on display at the June 7th Monument Community Pride Parade
Lina will bring her truck for those who need assistance transporting the pots.

Next Steps
Press release in the Concord Transcript about Mt. Diablo Cares After School Program (Bill has experience writing press releases)
Go to Ygnacio Valley H.S. and take pictures of future garden area. (Lina)
Write a letter for garden material donations to send to different businesses. (Lina)
Set up group email list. (Lina)

Agenda for Next Meeting
Buzz Bertalaro to speak about: Small Gardens, Water Conservation, Soil Conditioning and more

3.

Report from Small Garden Committee
Good and bad mushrooms (Enrique)

This Meeting Highlights
Everything
Good networking
Lots of input
New member Enrique loves herb and cactus gardening, knowledgeable about mushrooms

How this meeting could be improved
Start and End on time
More people
More diversity
Missed Stan

Next Meetings

Small Gardens Sub-Committee

Thursday, February 27, 2008, 6pm at Brookview Park, 1201 Monument Blvd
The Community Room will be on the right near the end of the main drive.

Bring mental picture of what type of garden you will plant

Regular Monthly Meeting (2nd Wednesday of Month)

March 12, 2008, Keller House, 6-8 pm, brown bag dinner

Bring pictures of your own garden or of anything that interests you
Bring an interested friend
Come 15 minutes early to see Bill’s pictures of us on TV

Mission Statement
Within five years the Monument Community Gardens Action Team will help with the establishment of five community gardens within walking distance of high density neighborhoods in the Monument Community

Vision Statement
A Monument Community Gardens Action Team will be established to: Foster both nutrition and health for all community members; Foster spiritual and psychological health of the community; Involve all ages and capabilities; Foster Garden Clubs, School Gardens and Large Community Gardens; Establish a Farmers Market in the Community

Project #1

2008-01-26T19:27:00.000-08:00

Here are photos from my first visit to Cambridge Elementary School in Concord where I had an excellent impromptu meeting with Marie Schrimer the Principal. The "Garden Area" is large with 13 planting beds and there are lots of possiblities! These pictures are for those who may not be able to visit the school before we plant in April 2008. Together we can work on creating an amazing garden area for the Cambridge Elementary students, their families and for all the multi-generational residents in the Monument Corridor. If you have any suggestions please email me at lina-ortiz@excite.com. Thanks for your enthusiasm and support during this exciting time!

Principal, Marie Schrimer with Cambridge Elementary Students

Cambridge Elementary from my parking spot.
Garden Bed #1

#2
#3
Sprinkler System
(the electrical components of the sprinkler system need to be evaluated)
#4
#5

#6
#7

#8
#9