Dunwoody Community Garden
Board Meeting
March 17, 2011
Approx. 3:00 – 4:30 pm
At the Garden
Present:
- Muriel Knope
- Angela Minyard
- Don Converse
- Rod Pittman
- Rebecca Barria
- Diana Wood
Membership: Six members did not renew. All six spots have been filled with people who were on the waiting list. All but two memberships have been paid. One member was out of the country. The other member’s check bounced. Both have committed to paying their fees immediately. There are approximately 25 people on the waiting list.
Bylaws: Need to propose to membership a provision for bounced checks.
Fence: Suggested a design that could be built in stages.
Landscaping: The city has a landscape architect consultant coming to look at the greenhouse area. We can present our plans to him/her and the city.
Greenhouse: We need to set up a meeting with the parks manager to clarify the greenhouse parameters, such as the use of electricity and water and installation of a rain harvesting system on the barn.
Brook Run Master Plan: We think the council may vote on the proposed plan later this month. We will not move forward on big projects until the city approves a master plan, whenever that may take place.
Expansion: Motion to expand the garden by up to 24 plots, some of which will be larger than the current 4 x 8 plots. Discussed possible physical arrangements of an expanded garden. Discussed the fencing needs. Expansion would not take place until the Brook Run master plan is approved and we develop an expansion plan.
Plant Sale: Received an update from Diana. Plans are moving forward and a flier will be available for distribution soon. Members can help publicize the event by distributing fliers and spreading the word about the sale. Dates April 29-30 9 AM to 5 PM.bFlowers, veggies, trees, etc.
Workdays: Scheduled for April 2 and 10th in the morning and afternoon. Muriel will solicit members to sign-up for a job and time slots. Don Converse will guide members on workdays. The purpose is to clean up the garden for summer and for Lemonade Days, which will be held in Brook Run in mid-April.
Membership Meeting and Potluck: Scheduled for May 14th from 9:30 to noon—9:30 is mingle, 10:00 meeting begins, 11:00 potluck brunch.
Team Assignments: Request that members sign up for a team.
Veggie Garden Tour: Discussed the possibility of a small vegetable garden tour in late June, but someone would need to organize it. A member has volunteered to place his home garden on the tour and proposed a date.
Compost: A question was raised about the wood chips and compost pile and uses were clarified. The wood chip piles may be used to mulch paths and plots. The compost pile next to the wood chips may NOT be used in plots because it’s not organic; that compost is used for the ornamental flowerbeds outside the garden fence. The compost at the back of the garden may be used in plots. We need someone to take charge of the compost and organize a team.
Tomato Tasting: Discussed the possibility of a social event in late summer in which members could taste varieties of tomatoes and share recipes, seeds, etc.
Food Pantry: Harvests continue at 8:30 on Tuesdays at the garden and at 2:00 on Wednesdays at St. Patrick’s Church.
Budget: Approved the 2011-2012 budget. See below. Solicited feedback from the membership regarding how to spend the $900 of unallocated funds. The top two responses were reserves and fruit trees/bushes. We took the responses into consideration when setting the budget. We do not know how much money the spring plant sale will bring in since it is our first. We continue to seek donations.
Pumpkin Patch: Discussed the possibility of trying another pumpkin patch, perhaps a smaller scale this year. Need someone to organize.
Taxes: The law has changed so nonprofits with less than $50000 income have to complete simple reporting paperwork.
Next Board Meeting: Scheduled for April 21st at 3:00 pm at the garden if the weather permits and at Rod Pittman’s house otherwise. (Email membership@dunwoodygarden.org for directions to Rod’s house.)
Proposed Budget:
$4400 total funds ($1,800 from last year’s balance + $2550 from membership dues 2011-2012)
- $500 water reserve
- $500 emergency fund
- $340.28 St. Pat’s (earmarked donations)
- $1000 food pantry projects
- $1000 greenhouse projects
- $100 new tools
- $300 general reserves
- $300 fruit trees and bushes
- $300 expansion/fence
