Minutes for Meeting 1/12/12

Master Gardener Meeting Minutes 1/12/12
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
1601 N. San Francisco

6:30pm-6:40pm Welcome – Agenda Debi Stalvey
Brief review of agenda for the evening
Memberships solicited for 2012 – includes discounts at Viola’s, Warner’s, and Native Plant and Seed. Profits last year supported 2 master gardener projects,rent for facility, and sponsorship of the Arboretum newsletter.
Introduction of speaker

6:40pm-7:30pm Continuing Education
History of Farming in Flagstaff
Speaker: Meredith Hartwell

Ms. Hartwell obtained her Master of Arts from NAU in Sustainable Environments with a focus on sustainable agriculture/horticulture. Her talk was the topic of her thesis. This evening she shared information on the history of farming in the Flagstaff area. She shared maps on the size of acreage and location of farms. Crops she reviewed were potatoes, beans, grains, corn, lettuce, sustenance crops, and fruit from the Sedona area. She had many photos she obtained from the Extension office of farms, equipment, farming practices of the time, children learning about farming, and previous Extension agents who counseled farmers.
The last part of her talk was about why large farms disappeared in the Flagstaff area – draught/2 policies/and a dam. It included weather (drought in the 50’s), the Soil Bank Program, the Highway Act road construction, and building the Glen Canyon Dam.
The topic was of interest to many in Flagstaff. More than 60 attended. If you are interested in any further information or her entire thesis contact her at: merhartwell@gmail.com

7:30pm-7:45pm Refreshments
Thank you to Debi Stalvey & Loni Shapiro

7:45pm - 8:30pm Business Meeting – Debi Stalvey
7:45pm – 8:05pm Overview of recent Executive Meeting – Debi Stalvey
Report from 2011 – Jim Mast, past President
Jim Mast gave a month by month review of accomplishment by the Association in 2012. Copies of the entire document are posted on the blog.
Financial report – Ed Skiba, Treasurer
Ed Skiba reported the income for 2011 ($1299.15), which included 47 memberships, calendar profits, money from the sale of Nolo bait, and a partial refund from the Sunshine Rescue Mission. Expenses included: office items, project grants, facility rental, sponsorship of an Arboretum newsletter, and calendar purchase. Ed continued to collect new memberships and calendar money at the meeting.
Calendar/Blog/Meeting Site/Snack Volunteers – Loni Shapiro, Sec.
67 calendars remain, 40 were donated, leaving 143 sold for $1430 income and less purchase of 772.93, profits were 757.07 for 2011. Plans for remaining calendars include 7 for speakers for 2012 (through July), sale for $5 each until the Home Show (March 23) where remainder will be given away for publicity.
Blog – Loni will review blog at next meeting (How to access and what can you find there)
Snack volunteers for 2012 circulated at the meeting.
MG Program Happenings (Class, Conference) – Hattie Braun
Master Gardener class for spring (Feb. 8) has 21 signed up. Hattie can send you info to post on any listserv you think might be interested. The fall class may be in Page (from a grant) and there may be one in Tuba City as well.
The Highlands Garden Conference planning is underway (2 meetings thus far) and the next meeting will be on 1/18/12 at noon. Hattie is working on having the conference on campus (Du Bois Convention Center) rather than the High Country Conference Center (too expensive). Other upcoming planning meetings include Fundraising on 2/7 at noon and General Meeting on 2/14 at noon.

8:05pm – 8:20pm Committee Reports:

Continuing Education for 2012 (see below for details) – Loni Shapiro
If anyone has additional ideas contact Loni (cnslds@q.com)
Community Programs
Home Show - Faith Brittain
Plans underway for show on 3/23-25. Faith and Pollie Velie will co-chair. They have 3 booths at the Sky Dome. The speaking area is just across from the booths. Their first meeting will be at 10am on 1/18/12. They are looking for volunteers for the booth and to speak. Loni Shapiro said that Sue Collins is willing to repeat her herb talk for the show. Loni cannot attend the meeting but will send info to Faith.
Coordination of MG Projects – Linda Guarino
Several projects were added last year. In the spring the committee will review and update existing projects. If you have a project and are interested in getting it approved contact Linda Guarino or go on the blog and print an application. She will meet with you when the application is completed, but is also available for any questions you might have.
Volunteer Support/Social – Hattie Braun & Crys Wells
End of year totals were reported from Crys 6346 volunteer hours/ 438 continuing education

8:20pm – 8:30pm Garden questions?
Ed Skiba -How do you get rid of goathead (weed). Easily pulled with shallow roots, but you should get it before it goes to seed. 80 year old should get some help to pull. Source for printed material on goathead: http://www.goatheads.com/home/gh1/page_41
Andrea Guerette - Iris – Do they like more or less water – not doing well since thinned. Full sun-low water (like to dry out). Take 1-2 years to flower once thinned. May have an iris bore. Look at rhizome.
Leslie Pennick - Pocket gophers – consensus, best solution trapping. Many of the home remedies don’t work. The Arboretum had an infestation during the drought years and nothing worked except traps.

Next meeting: 2/9/12 Herbs/Adding Spices to Your Eating Life: Identify, Grow, and Harvest Culinary Herbs for Your Enjoyment
Speaker: Sue Collins

Future meetings:
*March 12 – Garden Photography – Tom Bean
*April 12 – Riordan Mansion and Garden - Joe Meehan/Charlotte Dodgson
*May 10 – Invasive Weeds – Scott Harger
June 14 – Pending – Hydroponics – speaker TBA
*July 12 – What to do With the Harvest – Michele Lytle (MG and caterer)
Update on County Fair Entries
Aug. 9 – Pending – Season Extenders (Joe Costian)
*Oct. 11 – Growing and Forcing Bulbs – Loni Shapiro
Nov. 8 – Pending – Tam Nguyen – topic TBA
Those starred are confirmed


Loni Shapiro
Co-Secretary CMGA
1/13/12