CG update for newletter and SHRA meeting 5/3

As of 4/21/09 these are the SHCG updates that will also be shared at the next SHRA meeting:

1. We have donations already starting to come in and want to make more community partnerships. Letters asking for donations that are out: Costco, Oakland, Mr. Mulch, Strader’s Garden Center. Letters thanking for donations: Wild Birds Unlimited. Please tell us your other ideas and connections.

2. Entrance idea for funds out. We have approximately 10 people willing to help. What great support!

3. Nature Hills Nursery Winner was announced on 4/17, and we were not selected. A calendar to share information of this kind of information is now on our blog.

4. Coordination to have the support of the OSU Master Gardener program is underway. We are sort of the guinea pigs for this!

5. The city wrote back. I heard from a new person, Maureen, and I hope she will be supportive; our previous city contact, Tina was very nice and enthusiastic about our idea. She included the agreement to put community gardens in the park. Things to consider:

• Water taps are an option from the division of water and power, public utilities dept? How much would that cost? What would it look like? Would we be able to get drip irrigation and a hose spigot? Bill says one CG was allowed to turn on water over the summer, but we would have to check that it is potable.
• Maureen is willing to have a meeting in the park May 1. This is great! I would like planners, trustees and Bill Dawson to be there. Would other neighbors being there help or should we save that for later?
• Maureen asked for SHCG to contact the “Northwest Area Commission”? Who are they? Upon my research I found that we do not have any representation for our area-so they do not exist. She wanted us to meet with them because: "parks often have competing space for programs, we ask the groups that have oversight of the area plans to review and provide direction to the Department." She will be getting back to me about this issue.
  I want SHCG to meet with NWCA to get their support. I have emailed them about a presentation.
• I called Bill because the agreement states that CG work has to be done as outlined by "the Franklin Park conservatory." What is the outline? He is not sure what this means either.
• The agreement states that power tools can be used with written approval-what is the process behind this?
• The agreement states that any fees that are charged have to approved-what is the process behind this?
• What are the city's maintenance standards that we are to adhere to?
• What about my friends of the park question? I am going to go for it because Bill says it will be incredibly helpful to realizing our vision. Need four other people to sign up. I am hoping the three garden coplanners and Tom, as the SHRA president, will join on. This is in the works.

6. I volunteered for another CG kickoff event to learn how others have organized their garden. It was incredibly helpful and I have posted photos and paperwork on the blog: http://sycamorehillscommunitygarden.blogspot.com/ .

7. I found our community connection to donate veggies/fruits to within the Plant a Row for the Hungry program: Clintonville Beechwld Community Resource Center.