Sunday, March 9, 2008
Hildreth House,  7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Attendees: Rick Wood, Susan and Paul Morris,  Bill Blackwell, Worth Robbins, Deborah Forbes, Joe and Deb D'Eramo

Here are items discussed. Please feel free to update or correct any of my notes!

Funding - not sure what the status is of grant applications (Sydney out of town) Maybe sell t-shirts and/or hats as well.

Town Meeting booth - objective to raise awareness, solicit members and donations 
Would be great to have by-laws and application by then. Need to complete for final review at next meeting on Monday, March 24. (Town meeting is Saturday, March 29)
Need staffing at booth - discuss schedule at next meeting. Get kids involved
At table we should have an interest list for folks to sign up, application with information including website, wish list of needs, timeline of gardening season, posters, images of garden and plot lines. Handouts include website

Joe will do poster text - include Harvard Local
Rick will check into approval to have a table, get poster boards
Paul will get printouts of maps/plots
Bill will bring table for set up - early in order to get a good location

Membership discussion- possibly different 'levels' to provide wide range of support - founding members, contributing members, family membership, etc. Besides money also request help with the garden - physical labor and other help.

Worth will check in on school involvement with Deb Pierce and Chef Paul
Worth will also check in with Tony Shaw regarding tilling, snowmobile trail, possibly having Tony walk the land with us and discuss fire department help with water

Seeking out former gardeners on site to find out how they dealt with water issues
Discussed various irrigation ideas. Well, bike pump, barrels from rain, filling methods
Blue barrels from Veryfine - Bill to check for availability. Use as rain barrels and cisterns.

Garden layout - mock-up on whiteboard - Paul took a picture. Should orientation be adjusted for more overall sun?  
Position away from road - allow for snowmobile route

Shed requirements - conservation commission ok as long as not permanent 
Plan a shed-raising community effort during season

How wide should aisles be? Should pathways be mulched or mowed?
Should gardens back up to each other? Vertical growth limitation or position?

Put mulch and compost piles in shaded area of space 
Fence entire garden area including mulch and compost areas

Soil test as soon as soil is diggable
Soil amendments - do in total or provide info to all gardeners - they decide what to add based on crop
Purchase salt marsh hay and/or straw for mulching to better control what's used in garden
Tilling - entire area or just expected garden area? Use cover crops?

Full size plot 20 feet by 20 feet
Half size plot 10 feet by 20 feet
Allow subdivisions of plots but require one responsible party

Include space for raspberries, for gathering area - benches, arbor

Fence purchase - drive to New Hampshire to pick-up - call ahead 

Next meeting, Monday, March 24 at the Hapgood Room in the old library