Speakers for the January CMGA Meeting

Olivia White Hospice Home - new shed

For our first meeting of 2016 we had 5 presenters from projects that we had funded last year. Last year we funded over $2700 to 10 different projects. 5 that were not able to join us are:   Riordan Mansion, Colton Community Garden/MNA, Pinyon Community Garden, Lowell Observatory, and St. Francis de Assisi.

 For the evening the 1st presenter was Sheila Murray, a researcher from the Arboretum at Flagstaff. They were funded for their Milkweed for Monarch Project. It is a large project that we provided funding for signage that began in 2015. 

Milkweed for monarchs

To collect local varieties of milkweed and then propagate in seed production beds here at the Arboretum, from which the seeds generated will be available to the public and landowners for their restoration and gardening needs.

The goal is to increase the amounts of native milkweed around Flagstaff to make a more hospitable place for the Monarch.   (from the Arboretum)

They will also have a new Butterfly House - local species that will be available at opening day.

The second presenter was Jeff Best. He has been working at Sunshine Rescue Mission's Dorsey Manor building a garden to provide fresh food during the summer and fall harvests. Jeff has been working there since 2010 and plans to continue. The garden at Dorsey Manor was very productive this past year.  They harvested 139 pounds of vegetables.  This was a record harvest! They grew lettuce, beans, tomatoes, kale, onions, and squash. His project was the impetuous for our association beginning grants for projects.

Linda Guarino, one of the coordinators, presented information on the long running Olivia White Hospice Home Garden project that has been in existence since 2002. They were able to purchase  and build a sturdy shed for their garden with our help.  In 2014 their sheds were picked up by a wind storm. One was completely destroyed and the other moved to the middle of the rose garden. They were light plastic sheds (Rubbermaid) and the new one is wood and a much larger space than the 2 combined. The old shed was moved to it's original location.

Jackee Alston, one of our members, began a seed library in 2015. It is the Grow Flagstaff Seed Library and is located at the county extension. The library officially opened in November and will continue to grow in 2016.  They provide local seeds that have shown to do well in Flagstaff. Members can get free seeds and return some from the crops they grow. Each packet provides growing suggestions and a story about  its history. The library will be looking for volunteers to help each month - the fourth Thursday from 10am-2pm.  The first date is the 28th of January.

The Michael Moore Native Medicinal garden began at Olivia White Hospice in 2010 from a grant from his widow. He was a writer about herbal medicines of the southwest. The garden needs to be moved because of a planned street project at the corner of Turquoise and Switzer Canyon (a new circle intersection). Some was moved this year to Willow Bend but the majority will be located at NAU outside the Forestry Building. Money donated was spent on signage, plants, and seeds this year.