Southwark/Queen Village Community Garden

Minutes

August 10, 2015 @ 7:00 PM 

1.  Welcome.  John V. welcomed members and called for approval of the July minutes. The July minutes posted on the website were approved.  

2.  Treasurer’s Report.  Suzanne S. reported on expenses paid and balance of funds for the month of July.  

3.  Chair’s Report.   

a.  John V. gave a partial water report as follows: see Addendum below for Thom’s H’s report on water usage.  Thom H. emailed that there have been water pressure problems this past week.  Thom is trying to find out whom to contact at water dept. regarding these kinds of problems.  Thom plans to talk to neighbors to see if they are having pressure issues.  There has been work on Christian St. by the water dept. that may have caused or exacerbated water pressure problems. He believes the problem is with the city’s water system and not with our system, but this is yet to be determined. 

If gardeners on water duty have low water pressure they should be patient and do the following:  Turn off water at main valve by west gate for 30 seconds; then turn back on and pressure should be back to normal.  That may only last for a few minutes and need to be repeated, but barrels can be filled using this method.  Thom is at garden every afternoon between 4:30 and 7:00 and can assist persons on water duty if they need help. 

Thom determined that our water meter is not working: it’s not recording the amount of water being used.  He’ll contact the water department. 

John reminded gardeners who have watering duty that they should determine at the beginning of the week who will be responsible for taking out trash.  Trash must be put on the street Thursday night as the city collects it very early Friday morning. 

See addendum below for Thom’s H’s emailed report on water usage. 

     b.  Clean-up is Sat., August 15.  Isabelle B. will be in charge for the early shift at 8 AM and will have a list of tasks.  Thom H. will be in charge at 10 AM.  The clean-up will run from 8:00 to 11:30.     

4.  BBQ Update.  Shanna F. reported that tickets have been printed with the new time (3:00 to 7:00) and asked for volunteers to help sell tickets.  Price is $15 for adults, $7 for children, and free for children under 10 years old.  

She asked gardeners to sign up for food donations and help at the event. 

She reported that Brian will be doing the food again this year, that invitations will go out to V.I.P.s, that the port-a-potty has been ordered, that requests for donations have gone out.  

Scott M.’s band will be playing at the BBQ, and he invited folks to volunteer to sing with the band to make the event more interactive and fun.  Contact Scott if you’d like to sing. 

5.  By-laws Committee Update. 

Shanna F. reported that the committee is reviewing the bylaws.  They will provide a draft with their recommended changes before the September garden meeting.  Bylaw revisions will clarify who is a garden member and what that status confers; ensure that persons become garden members via the garden waiting list and not by becoming a co-gardener; clarify how plot helpers affect the garden; and ensure that garden members of longstanding who can no longer manage a plot can still spend time in the garden. 

6.  Special Reports:

     a.  Bees.  Carolyn S. reported that there was an inspection of the hives on Saturday, August 8 and they are in good shape. 

     b.  City Harvest.  Irene S. reported that the total volume of harvests this year is behind last year by 175 lbs.  Please donate those extra tomatoes, etc. by putting a pink flag next to your crop for Monday morning collection.  (Year-to-date totals:  740 lbs.) 

     c.  Water Duty.  John K. did not have a report.  

     d.  Honey.  See Barbara M. after meeting for jars of honey she brought.  Contact Barbara S. for future jars of honey.  

7.  Additional Topic:

     a. Holiday Party.  John V. reserved Old Swedes Church for holiday party Dec 2.  He asked if the members were willing to pay the room cost that increased from $400 to $500.  There were no objections to paying the increase. 

Adjournment:  before 8:00 PM. 

Minutes by Isabelle Buonocore, Recording Secretary 

Addendum to August 10, 2015 minutes: 

Water Usage Report by Thom H.

Note:  1 CUBIC FOOT OF WATER = 7.48051 US GALLONS

USAGE FROM JULY 4 TO AUG. 3…689.24 CUBIC FEET OF WATER EQUALS 5155.8 GALS.

LAST YEAR IN THE SAME MONTH OF USAGE, WE USED 783+ CUBIC FEET OF WATER = 5858+ GALLONS.

THIS MEANS WE HAVE USED ABOUT 15 % LESS THAN WE DID LAST YEAR DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD.

AS WE GET BILLED ONCE A YEAR, WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHAT WE WILL OWE.

GOOD WORK PEOPLE ON KEEPING USAGE DOWN AND CONSERVING THIS RESOURCE

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