Soil Tested

A chemistry professor and friend at OSU, Dr. Ted Clark, collected 4 samples from the park's soil on 9/2. He will analyze them in his lab for traces of lead, arsenic, etc. The results will help us to make sure our soil is safe to use to grow food.

He did this as a gift to our neighborhood. We are very lucky to have such good friends!

I will let you know the results as soon as I hear back.

Growing to Green Program at FPC

Click on this link to see how FPC supports community gardening in our area!

http://www.fpconservatory.org/growing2green.htm

There are wonderful photos to other gardens in Columbus to look at for ideas, as well!

Connections

wild birds unlimited- tom sheley- bat boxes, platform feeders,

bird seed, houses, bath, garden art, explanations

Straders (riverside)-patty anderson

I LOVE COSTCO!

I went in yesterday to talk with them about donations to the community garden. They are all about it!!! YES! So we need a letter written that I can bring into Shelley Piunno. They get funds every single month for this exact purpose! Amazing! I have to include my costco membership number in the application, so this opportunity isn't open to everyone.

Also, yesterday I had a meeting at Shepherd's Corners about the American Community Gardening Association National Conference in August. Here is a link to their community gardens. I am helping to plan the bike tour! Anyway, I learned that they have applied for the Fiskar's grant every year and have never gotten it either. Sheesh.

I also learned about some good chicken types for my backyard (don't worry, this isn't happening anytime soon, if ever) from Farmer Eric, and what I didn't know is that some chickens are quieter than others! Also, the egg insides can vary just as much as the color of the shell, and speaking of egg shell color, the legs of the chicken tell you what color the eggs will be! Amazing! I also bought some yummy syrup and got fresh eggs. I actually dropped my syrup bottle and it didn't break, which was amazing, too.

Creating a Connection with OSU MG

Here is an email about creating a connection with the OSU Master Gardener program, of which I am a proud member. I worked hard for the MG title, and I don't mind sharing that fact with you! :) Anyway, this partnership could be really exciting; full of possibilities!

Cory, I would like to help at LAMC. Should I contact Mike Fribley? Also, at some point, I would like publicize the same kind of work opportunity at the community garden I am working on. Is there a special way to create a partnership between the MGs and a garden/work site? Something that is always ongoing? ThanksAmy

Amy:
I forwarded to Mike and Juliet to loop you in. Send Mike an e-mail as well to follow-up.
I want to have the Franklin County MGs formalize our relationships with other organizations with Memoranda of Understanding. I have a draft MOU on our website to use in starting discussion with the other organization(s) http://franklin.osu.edu/horticulture/master-gardener-training-new
I also want photos, text, etc to put on our web site to trumpet MG work around the county.
Thanks!

GREAT idea email

Dear Neighbors:
Attached is a invitation from Macy's to participate in fund raising for community environmental theme projects.
It looks like this program might be a good fit in pooling together some funds for the SH community garden that was discussed some time ago.
In this program the environmental project supporters sell $5.00 Macy's sale coupons, the group keeps the $5.00 and the purchaser gets a coupon worth $5.00 on their next $15.00 purchase, plus a discount card for 20% and 10% on special days.
If interested, the follow up contact person is identified in the letter.
Also, any other school or organization you are aware of that has an environmental project would be able to participate in this Macy's fundraiser.
You can also participate by directing money in support of the National Parks Service.
Dick

Working on Connections

Tom,
When you get a second, can you make a list of businesses that have worked with SHRA in the past (donations, support, etc). I need to know this for the garden.
This will help me A LOT!
thanks,
Amy

His Reply:
Through Jill: KROGER, ARLINGTON BANK
Welcoming Packages: Morone's Pizza, Texas Road House, Great Harvest, Victoria's Flowers, Dublin Cleaners, Mr Mulch, Rita's Italian Ice

Other Ideas:
Contact made but needs followed up on:
Shannon-Grainger
Brian-Bob Evans
Kim-Paetec
Jonathan-Rain Brothers
Stephanie-Gables Elementary School
Bill-Franklin Park Conservatory Growing to Green Program
Andrea-Straders Garden Center (5th ave only)
Cory-OSU Master Gardeners

Need to be contacted:
1.Volunteering: Columbus Police and Fire Departments, Christian Fellowship Church, Mayfair Village Retirement Center, Bishop Watterson High School.
2.Donations: Columbus Parks and Recreation Department, Andersons General Store, Oakland,
Construction company, Landscape company, Big Columbus Companies, Mr. Mulch, Jones topsoil.

Our Sycamore Hills Community

Community Website Links

http://sycamorehills.us/

http://northwestcivic.wordpress.com/

http://www.greatercolumbusgreenmap.org/

Community Connection Ideas Email

Hi, Melody and Kim!

I hope your holiday season is going well so far! I am working on the third grant for the garden, and they are asking this question:

What other organization(s) is/are currently, or will potentially be providing assistance for your garden? Specifically, what kind of support would you receive from each group.

Since both of you are long time residents and just all around fabulous, I was hoping you could help me brainstorm some possible contacts/businesses/ organizations for the garden. The ones I came up with so far are:

• Police
• Fire
• Church- the one on Godown?
• Retirement Home-?
• School-Gables? didn't they just start a garden? I wrote Carol Linville about it, but haven't heard back yet...
• Master Gardener Program- MG are required to do 25 hours of service, this could be a site
• Watterson High School-HS are required to do 25 hours of service, this could be a site
• Franklin Park Conservatory Growing to Green Program-extra plants, compost, etc?
• Columbus Parks and Recreation Department
• Straders- said they were interested in helping
• Oakland-?
• Rain Brothers- they are friends of mine and do water collection barrels, compost tumblers, etc.
• Construction company?
• Landscape company?
• Big Columbus Companies?
• Mr. Mulch??? or Joan's topsoil?
• OTHERS???

Also, if you have any desire to draft a letter telling these people about the garden and asking for their support and a contact name, it would be really helpful to the garden planning. I would like to break ground May 2009!

ACGA listing

I have created our listing for the ACGA garden search, but nothing is coming up yet. I will email them. In the meantime, here is our listing.

http://acga.localharvest.org/garden/M2104?ul