March 2014 meeting minutes

Coconino Master Gardener Association (CMGA)

Meeting Minutes 3/13/14

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church

1601 N. San Francisco

 

Growing Healthy and Local Food at Flagstaff ECO Ranch - Jeff Meilander

Jeff is from Ohio.  He has degrees in Science teaching.  He taught in Cottonwood for three years, then came here to NAU to study more, worked at NLP teaching science; quit his job and worked on farms in South America for a few months.  His goals goal is to work within community as sustainable agriculture
demonstration site - experimenting with conservation, showing students that what they are learning is relevant to life www.wwoof.org worldwide opportunities on organic farms - you show up and they give you a bed or tent site and food.

Thanks to Betty Marcus and Loni Shapiro  for the refreshments.

Our raffle prize winner of repurposed china/crystal bird feeder made and donated by Laura Parker

Business Meeting – Hunter Kemmet

Home Show: thanks to Jackie, well underway.  we have a big booth - 8 units
Also speakers & volunteers

Financial report – Crys Wells 

$3400 in checking, PayPal expenses, $46 postage, $157 income.

 MG Program Happenings (class/home show) – Hattie Braun

Speaker schedule (on table)
to help:  flyers to distribute
volunteer list:  openings on Sat and Sun
Set up Wed - meet noon at Extension office, or 1 pm @ dome
Tear down Monday morning

Earth Day - will be under solar panels - she needs volunteer for presentation on sustainability (needs to turn in name tomorrow) Hattie will send out e-mail for volunteers.                    

MG Projects – Loni Shapiro

Loni  hopes to have it done Monday, will post on blog.  Changes:  Hospice, Museum, Emeritus (needs coordinator, work with activities person), Arboretum, SSLUG garden - losing Susan in May - keep eyes out; Willow Bend (new coordinator).  New projects: Lowell Observatory gardens, Kellips school (some major things), Flag EcoRanch, 3/29  @ Kellips:  Ceasar Chavez day (morning) LOOK at the Blog once and a while Crys:  school garden at Kellips donates food to Food Center, which feeds many of their children.
Pending:  General Canyon Trust; NAU Greenhouse on Blog, go to R column - "documents and forms for the MGA"               

Volunteer Support – Crys Wells

200 volunteer hours to date. Membership cards are now available.

 Remember to record your volunteer and education hours. http://coconinomgassociation.blogspot.com
Historian – Tammy Valdovino  

would like pictures of the booth at Home Show, including speakers
Speakers - Ed Skiba: 

 Apr 10  Mick Henry - tree service - will talk about fruit
trees, pruning
Mar 29 @ Willow Bend outside demonstration of pruning
May meeting:  8th:  Tom Kolb, NAU School of Forestry - future of
ponderosa pine forests in N AZ

interest in an online photo directory (we have over 90 members)
need to get permission before publishing personal info
1^st VP - Charlotte Dodgson:  Freddie taking over at Pioneer Museum, Willow Bend and Riorden want to do vegetables (much of the food goes to Hope Cottage).

Gardening Questions?

Deb:  leaching from cement blocks - is that a problem in garden?
could line with plastic...
? - how much water is enough?  dig down & check
to know for sure, check several hours later, and correlate rain gauge
with how deep the water soaks.
veg 2"
need to deep water monthly in winter
trees appreciate any water when its this dry; shallow water encourages
shallow roots.

Meeting adjourned.