Start time: 6:45p
Location: St. Amant Centre, Lower Level, West Boardroom.
- Housekeeping details:
a. St. Amant initiated a $2. parking fee as of May 1, 2010. If you forget to bring coins, you can still park on the street at no cost. The fee is for a good cause in that it goes the St. Amant Foundation, so it can be viewed as a donation.
b. St. Amant is having its annual fund raiser until May 29th, with many of the prizes worth hundreds of dollars. Prizes can be viewed in the cafeteria. Tickets at 25 for $10. at the reception desk. - SWGC will again assist St. Amant with spring clean-up of the Buhler Gardens behind the St. Amant Centre. Debbie Innes is leading this effort and is seeking volunteers for a couple hours during the first week in June. More precise details are to follow. Please consider lending a hand for this very worthwhile effort.
- The Naturalist Society headed by Julia Schoen will have its annual “Garden Tours” on July 24th. The Tours are of numerous flower gardens including the Buhler Gardens, and one community garden. Julia has requested that SWGC be on the tour schedule. The consensus at our membership meeting was that the Society is welcome to view our garden during their tour.
- Jackie Duhard, our SWGC Web Communications person, discussed the operation of the SWGC blog site. The site is now up and running, and will be populated with more information, Minutes, photos and possibly even videos in the near future. More detail to follow.
- Gene Nawolsky discussed an update of the SWGC membership. Gene introduced new members, and reported that SWGC has 26 potential members on the waiting list for garden plots.
- Ann Tyre discussed the operation of the compost facility. Ann is still looking for team members to help with the compost facilities, and will be giving a hands-on workshop to volunteers on Monday, May 17th, at 7p at the SWGC composer. Please attend this interesting learning opportunity if you are able.
- Roy Seib discussed the operation of the water supply for the SWGC gardens. Roy would like to schedule rotating teams of volunteers to assistance with handling and operation of the water pump system. Please call Roy and lend a hand with this important SWGC function.
- June 1st is the deadline for removal of vertical water barrels with unsecured lids. The City of Winnipeg is selling compost bins and water barrels with secure lids.
- Our guest speaker was Doris Wiebe of our own SWGC, speaking about Urban
Agriculture and focusing upon the Cuban model. It was a wonderful presentation, with some of the more fascinating points being:
a. Magnets on water lines claim to increase garden production by 30%
b. Pyramidal posts over vegetables noticeably increase germination
c. Pharmaceutical plant gardens are common
d. Farmers earn twice (2x) what doctors earn
e. There were many lessons, which can be summarized in “think small”. Urban agriculture supplies 80% of Havana’s fruit and vegetable needs. Now that’s sustainability!
f. Doris will put the “lessons learned” and other important points on the SWGC blog.
Meeting finished: 8:45p
Minutes written by Bernie
Minutes distributed May 13, 2010.
For more information contact the South Winnipeg Garden Club at south.wgc@gmail.com
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