Members in attendance: Rae Eckel, Karl Goodwin, Bob Vosburg, Fireweed, Mike Nestor
Notetaker: Mike Nestor
AGENDA:
Old Business
New Business
Field Management
Next Meeting
FINANCIAL REPORT: by Mike
a. Balance (as of Jan. 31, ‘10) $352.67
-outstanding checks - $280.50 for potatoes - sent
-$40.00 for Back Hall rental (Feb. 7) - sent
-$15.00 for Conservancy Room rental (Feb 21) - needs signature
-outstanding deposit (memberships collected and awaiting deposit) -$25
Balance (after the above debits and credits are dealt with) $42.17
b. Memberships: 11 currently (other new and/or expected renewals are Bill Engelson, Vern and Wendy Wright, Lyndsey Jennings, David Graham, Katherine Hill )
[NOTE: as of the posting of these Minutes, 2 out of 5 are now paid, bringing the number up to 13 confirmed memberships for 2010]
c. Missing bank statements noted: from Jan. 08- March 09 (will cost $2.50 a piece to replace or a total of $35. Not a recommended expenditure at this time given our current balance, though the membership had previously OK’ed this expenditure.)
d. CVRD Grant-in-Aid: in progress. Reported that Herb, Charlie and Mike met Feb. 12 to discuss. Mike will complete and send. Financial questions raised about irrigation system. Mike will speak with Charlie and/or Veronica.
COMMUNICATIONS/OUTREACH:
a. an updated blurb describing SPUDS for the REDI Local Food Directory (deadline end of Feb) was read and adopted
b. a short piece for the Flagstone announcing space for new members in the co-op was read, tweaked, and adopted. (Flagstone early deadline for March has passed, but the editor said they would try to squeeze something in if they still have space)
c. information provided to Barb by Bruce Holden about his own potato growing methods, and passed on to the Communications Team via email through Herb, was shared with the group. This information has been added to former input from Bruce, and the list of other growers contacted in years past about their personal experiences and ideas around potato growing. Suggested that these notes be added to the SPUDS binder for access by the membership at any time.
d. Fireweed also delivered information pertinent to no-till potato growing that she had offered in support of Barb’s research at the last meeting. This will also be added to the binder in the library for access by those interested who do not use the internet.
e. Meeting Attendance: Discussion ensued about the cost of venue rental, given the small turnout at tonight’s meeting, and lack of advance notice from the majority of members missing. Of the various venues available for rent on the island, the Conservancy Room was determined to remain the most accommodating to the needs of all members. It was noted that the home of Susan Marie, and that of Ron and Sheila were also suitable for those with chemical sensitivities, when available.
It was suggested that proposed Agenda items for the next meeting be included in the email updates (that also provide the Minutes from the previous meeting). Plus a reminder that effective consensus process requires members to keep abreast of the Minutes for meetings they may have missed so that decision-making can both benefit from the input of everyone interested, and proceed in a timely fashion.
It was also agreed that the facilitator or co-facilitators for subsequent meetings should be determined before we adjourn each time, and that members take responsibility for contacting the communications team or next facilitator with any additional agenda items prior to the next scheduled meeting, whenever possible.
FIELD MANAGEMENT:
-Planting date: everyone present was in agreement that our potatoes be planted as early as field conditions would allow. Mid March was considered desirable, with the understanding that getting the crop to maturity as early in the summer as possible is an important water conservation measure.
-Given discussions at the Feb. 7th meeting about encouraging fossil fuel reduction, members commiserated at great length about how and where to prepare the field at large for planting both potatoes and cover crop. Mike addressed in detail, the three scenarios for field management that he, Charlie and Derrek had prepared and provided the membership for consideration back in January.
The possibility of hand-digging a currently pea-covered section of our 2010 field quadrant was raised by Karl. Given that bringing equipment onto the field necessitates waiting for it to ‘dry out’ sufficiently, Karl suggested that this might help prepare a section for planting sooner than might otherwise be possible. Concerns about the difficulty it might be for a tractor to disc most of the field while trying to avoid a small section were voiced.
It is agreed in principle that the membership proceed with Option B (introduced at our January 13th meeting as the most ideal scenario of the three presented for optimizing field fertility), with the understanding that if the group’s finances and the will of the membership precludes additional cover cropping and field work in the summer, that our plans simply be amended to reflect Option C. Please refer to the emailed Minutes of that meeting for all three maps. These didn’t transfer to our blog, so again, refer to the emailed minutes for THIS meeting to review the two options referred to here.)
The agreement in principle (above) will be presented as a formal proposal seeking consensus at the next meeting, so the membership can move forward with plans for the 2010 growing season ASAP.
- Rae to investigate cost of buckwheat, and sources of hay mulch. Bob, Fireweed and Mike to contact various islanders who might be able to assist with field preparation this spring, and to source hay for mulch, as well.
-Suggested that members with questions be encouraged to submit them to the Communications Team ahead of the next meeting, and/or be prepared to provide alternatives or friendly amendments to the proposal that will be under consideration. Agreed.
-As a follow-up to her presentation at the Feb. 7th meeting, Fireweed will reiterate at the next meeting, her proposal that SPUDS eschew the use of domestic animals and animal byproducts (including a small addition to the Basis of Unity statement)
NEXT MEETING(s): It was noted that Sundays might not be best for most people, and those who had suggested a weekend date were not in attendance this evening.
The next official meeting of the membership is scheduled for Monday, March 8th at 7 pm. The venue is yet to be confirmed (likely the Conservancy Room again, but stay tuned)
ALSO, several SPUDS members will visit the SPUDS patch briefly on Sunday, March 7th at 10 am to assess the field prior to decision-making at the meeting on Monday evening. Any other members interested are welcome and encouraged to attend. Bring large cardboard, mulch, seaweed if you have it.
-Rae has proposed that members remember to bring their own mug to meetings for refreshments.
Facilitator for March 8th meeting: Bob Vosburg
Adjourned: 9:30 pm. Thanks to Rae and Karl for apple juice, and to Fireweed for brownies.
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