PART ONE:
On Friday, Sept. 25th at the meeting of the membership held at the Senior's Hall, the harvest date was set for this year’s potato crop. Hope to see you all this coming Saturday, October 3rd, in the Hermitage field, between 10:00 am and 12 noon!
Our alternative date, in case it’s really raining, is the following day, Sunday, October 4th, 10:00 am -12 noon.
Please bring :
-A digging fork (rather than a spade, which can damage the potatoes)
-A large pail or bag for your potatoes (some bags may be provided)
-Gloves
-Hat and water might also be handy
Organic apple juice will be provided. Timing has taken into consideration the desire of some members to attend Recycling earlier in the morning.
Please RSVP if you plan to attend.
If you are unable to make it, please make arrangements for someone to pick-up your share.
PART TWO:
A follow-up meeting to Friday's meeting (Sept. 25), is currently scheduled for TUESDAY, OCT. 6th at the home of member Susan Marie Yoshihara at 3906 Wren Road, 7:30 pm.
The main purpose of this meeting will be to learn about consensus process ...we were unable to locate a facilitator for the Sept. 25th membership meeting, and are hoping we will find a non-SPUDS member to come in to introduce the process. Two members independently submitted a proposal to the membership meeting on Sept. 25th that consensus be used as a means of collective decision making by the cooperative, to encourage greater inclusivity, improve communications and build community.
The membership present supported the idea of exploring this proposal further. It should be noted that because of the tight timeline, we may or may not be successful in finding someone skilled in teaching consensus process by the Oct. 6th meeting date set, so please check the SPUDS blogspot at www.wearespuds.blogspot.com for updates. All members interested are encouraged to attend.
Also,we did not have time to address all items on the agenda at the Sept. 25th meeting, so time permitting, hope to continue where we left off. The minutes from our Sept. 25th meeting will be posted on the blogspot when they become available.
Please call 335-1209 to confirm your attendance at the harvest. A new communications team is taking form, so for now, if you need to change your contact information, have questions or input you would like to make to the co-operative, please contact 335-1209.
Thankyou, and see you Saturday!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
SPUDS MEMBERSHIP MEETING, Friday, Sept. 25
Below is a PROPOSED agenda, (submitted by Veronica Timmons) for the next SPUDS Meeting. Please note the change in date. It is now Friday, 25th September (not 24th) at the Denman Activity Centre (Senior's hall). Please let Veronica know if you have other agenda items.
DeNeen Baldwin will be calling everyone to see if they will be attending and to answer questions.
-Veronica Timmons
PS The original memo from Veronica (above) suggests people visit this blogspot, as well as www.veganiculture.blogspot.com for information gathering before the meeting in regards to how we might choose to fertilize the SPUDS patch. (not all members consider animal manure a desirable option, and various views can hopefully be discussed at the meeting )
-Veronica Timmons
PS The original memo from Veronica (above) suggests people visit this blogspot, as well as www.veganiculture.blogspot.com for information gathering before the meeting in regards to how we might choose to fertilize the SPUDS patch. (not all members consider animal manure a desirable option, and various views can hopefully be discussed at the meeting )
(Proposed) Agenda for the
ANNUAL SPUDS MEMBERSHIP MEETING
To be held on
Friday, September 25th, 2009
Seniors Lounge, Denman Activity Centre
- Welcome and thanks
- Introduction of the Facilitator
- Introductions - Why I’m a SPUDS member
4. Report from the Core Group
a. 2008
b. 2009 – what worked, what didn’t
c. Expansion of the crop?
d. Harvest date
- Discussion/decisions
- Decision-making and communications process
- Policy re use of animal products/green composting
- Next year’s Core Group
Elections
..
- Other
Memo from member Ron Sakolsky:
Sorry I can't make this important meeting. I could have made the one originally scheduled for September 17, but I have other plans for September 25.
I do have 2 proposals on inclusivity that I would like to have placed on the SPUDS and Veganculture blogspots before the meeting and have read at the meeting itself.
PROPOSAL #1
In the future, since we are a small group, can we propose a few alternate meeting dates on the list before choosing a final date so that we can choose the one that is most convenient for all of us.
PROPOSAL #2
Consensus decision-making be used as the group process at all membership meetings, preferably with a facilitator skilled at building consensus.
Explanation of the above:
I believe that consensus decision-making is the only feasible way to handle potentially contentious issues among equals in a cooperative setting. Consensus allows us to fully hear what each of us has to say on an issue and to incorporate the best thinking of everyone, rather than just a majority, in the final decision. Only if each of us has the opportunity to have our concerns heard and addressed in the decision can we walk away from the meeting with an end result that we can all live with and can implement without resentment in the future. This is not a DIRA meeting, and we must relate to each other and our issues in a comradely spirit of mutual respect rather than relying on the competitive approach of Roberts Rules or just drifting along as if process doesn't matter. If we can't agree to do the hard but rewarding work of consensus, while we may be able to grow a potato crop, we have failed ourselves and allowed expediency to triumph over cooperation.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
EVENING SPUDS WORK BEE!
Hilling and Mulching:
Monday, June 15th AT 7:15 pm
Please contact Veronica Timmons at 250-335-1828 if you are unable to come. It should only take an hour if everyone turns up.
The irrigation system went in yesterday, June 9th, so the spuds are getting a drink. They are growing well.
Please bring a rake or hoe and gloves.
If you are subject to hay fever bring goggles!
Monday, June 15th AT 7:15 pm
Please contact Veronica Timmons at 250-335-1828 if you are unable to come. It should only take an hour if everyone turns up.
The irrigation system went in yesterday, June 9th, so the spuds are getting a drink. They are growing well.
Please bring a rake or hoe and gloves.
If you are subject to hay fever bring goggles!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Hilling party postponed...stay tuned!
As only 25% of the potatoes are up and they are only 4" high, we have decided to postpone Saturday's work party.
The plants have to be higher to hill up.
We are putting in the irrigation system this week and the tank will be filled too (thanks to the Fire Department).
As the days are so hot perhaps it would be better to hold the next work party in the evening or early morning Saturday (9-noon).
Members could come and do a row then go off to recycling.
What is your preference? Contact Veronica at vtimmons@island.net
The plants have to be higher to hill up.
We are putting in the irrigation system this week and the tank will be filled too (thanks to the Fire Department).
As the days are so hot perhaps it would be better to hold the next work party in the evening or early morning Saturday (9-noon).
Members could come and do a row then go off to recycling.
What is your preference? Contact Veronica at vtimmons@island.net
Friday, May 15, 2009
Planting Confirmation!
The weather godess has promised dry weather for tomorrow's planting. (Saturday, May 16th from 1-4 pm)
Don't forget to bring your spade, bucket, boots, gloves, hat, lotion. We will have juice available.
Everyone needs to sign the waiver so see deNeen Baldwin when you get there. She will also give you your membership receipt.
happy planting!
PS At the planting, a brief meeting will be held to set a longer meeting date for organizational commiserations.
Don't forget to bring your spade, bucket, boots, gloves, hat, lotion. We will have juice available.
Everyone needs to sign the waiver so see deNeen Baldwin when you get there. She will also give you your membership receipt.
happy planting!
PS At the planting, a brief meeting will be held to set a longer meeting date for organizational commiserations.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Planting Date: Saturday, May 16th
PLEASE NOTE!
The date to plant the potatoes has been changed from Saturday, May 3rd (as mentioned in the April Flagstone) to Saturday, May 16th from 1-4pm.
Please bring a spade, gloves, water and a hat. See you there!
Membership
When everyone has paid their membership dues we will have 24 members this year. Cut-off date for membership is May 1st.
Everyone is welcome to join. Even if you are unable to plant, water or weed, there are organizational tasks that we need help with. Call Veronica Timmons at 335-1828.
Current Core Group
Corinne Bjorge (Treasurer)
Veronica Timmons (Membership/Secretary/
Herb Jones (Field Operations)
Peter Janes (Field Operations)
Derek Takerer (Field Operations)
SPRING 2009
by Veronica Timmons
In February, the Hermitage Board and the SPUDS Core Group signed an agreement which allows SPUDS (legally known as the Cascadian Food Sustainability Project) to grow potatoes and other crops in the field for three years.
The Hermitage is the Buddhist meditation retreat centre on Denman Road. It used to be the Greenpeace Farm where Jim and Marie Bohlen lived for many years. The Hermitage Board is in the midst of changing land use by-laws from farm only to be able to operate a modest silent meditation retreat centre. Farming the land will always continue to be an important part of the Hermitage. The gardens and orchard will be expanded to provide fresh fruit and vegetables for retreatants and the fields will be maintained. There is already a trail open to the public on the eastern edge of the property. The Agricultural Land Commission is encouraging the Hermitage to continue the special liaison with SPUDS which we hope to expand in the future. The contacts for the farming part of the Hermitage are Swann Gardener and Anne de Cosson.
The 2008 potato harvest was not as productive as hoped so this year we are amending the soil with nitrogen. A pea crop has been sown and will be tilled into the soil before the potatoes go in in May. This year we will be planting three types: Seiglinde, Yukon and White Rose. Members will be asked to bring their spades, hats and sunglasses for the May 16th planting event.
SPUDDITES are asked to renew their memberships by completing the survey and membership sheet which is under S. at the Abraxis Free Post. Membes are asked to commit to working in the field four times during the season which could include: ground preparation, planting, hilling, mulching, weeding and harvesting. Watering should be easier this year as the cistern will be moved to higher ground for better gravity-feed and we hope to install an in-ground watering system.
Last year was a great experience and we learned a lot. This year we hope to improve our organization, grow more and bigger potatoes and have more fun doing it! The Core Group would like more members so if you want to help us improve please come and join us, Corinne Bjorge, Herb Jones, Peter Bickel-Janes, and Veronica Timmons.
In February, the Hermitage Board and the SPUDS Core Group signed an agreement which allows SPUDS (legally known as the Cascadian Food Sustainability Project) to grow potatoes and other crops in the field for three years.
The Hermitage is the Buddhist meditation retreat centre on Denman Road. It used to be the Greenpeace Farm where Jim and Marie Bohlen lived for many years. The Hermitage Board is in the midst of changing land use by-laws from farm only to be able to operate a modest silent meditation retreat centre. Farming the land will always continue to be an important part of the Hermitage. The gardens and orchard will be expanded to provide fresh fruit and vegetables for retreatants and the fields will be maintained. There is already a trail open to the public on the eastern edge of the property. The Agricultural Land Commission is encouraging the Hermitage to continue the special liaison with SPUDS which we hope to expand in the future. The contacts for the farming part of the Hermitage are Swann Gardener and Anne de Cosson.
The 2008 potato harvest was not as productive as hoped so this year we are amending the soil with nitrogen. A pea crop has been sown and will be tilled into the soil before the potatoes go in in May. This year we will be planting three types: Seiglinde, Yukon and White Rose. Members will be asked to bring their spades, hats and sunglasses for the May 16th planting event.
SPUDDITES are asked to renew their memberships by completing the survey and membership sheet which is under S. at the Abraxis Free Post. Membes are asked to commit to working in the field four times during the season which could include: ground preparation, planting, hilling, mulching, weeding and harvesting. Watering should be easier this year as the cistern will be moved to higher ground for better gravity-feed and we hope to install an in-ground watering system.
Last year was a great experience and we learned a lot. This year we hope to improve our organization, grow more and bigger potatoes and have more fun doing it! The Core Group would like more members so if you want to help us improve please come and join us, Corinne Bjorge, Herb Jones, Peter Bickel-Janes, and Veronica Timmons.
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