Minutes of 181007

The meeting was very productive with some really exciting ideas and lots of action points. We now have a clear short-medium term plan!

We decided to form working groups who are going to research their various areas and in some cases order things and report back to the group. If anybody else who was not at the meeting wants to become involved in any of these groups, please contact the list or the named people directly. These groups are not closed. Get involved! Once groups have researched they will report back to the list and then if agreed, the plans can go ahead.

THINGS WE DISCUSSED

TOOLS- Adam and Emma Going to use list already drawn up by Simon to research tools and order them.

COMPOST- Adam, Emma and B Going to research and decide on the best design in preparation for a working day to build it.

SHIPPING CONTAINER/STORAGE- Kirsty and Tom At moment, negotiating with allotment site managers as to the size we are allowed to have on the allotment as they think 20ft is too big. Football pitch at the back have agreed to let us use their field to have it delivered if we hire tracking.

FENCING/HEDGING- Kirsty, Ki-Li, Graham, Beck, Adam, Simon We agreed that this should be an edible fence (rosehip, hawthorn, blackberry?) at the front. The group will have a separate meeting to discuss this and decide which plants to order. Also, to discuss whether we should plant low fruit bushes along the sides which join with the neighbours.

FOREST GARDEN- There was a lot of excitement about this and we agreed that everybody needs to research further. Between us we have several books and a DVD which are available. Can people e-mail Tom if they have books in their private collection and he will make a list of them on the wiki. We will have a separate meeting involving all in around 3 weeks time once everybody has chance to read up.

COMMUNITY LINKS/YOUTH GROUPS- Tom, Kirsty, Ki-Li There was a feeling that we need to do a little more work ourselves before inviting groups to the allotment formally but to encourage friends to come to the workdays. Kirsty is going to look into public liability insurance. Emma can look into groups that AFSL have worked with in the past. We agreed that as a lot of our funding is for involving youth projects, we should begin this as soon as poss perhaps a tree planting at the end of November.

VEGETABLE BEDS- Graham, Kirsty, Tom Going to buy onions and garlic to plant this Sunday and get together to discuss orders and plans.

GREENHOUSE- Would be nice to have in place for Jan/Feb for seedlings if poss but not priority so could use cold frames instead. Suggestion of a dome structure.

TIMELINE FOR ACTIVITIES AT ALLOTMENT SITE

October- Veg beds planting, Tools and Shipping Container End of November- Youth activity, Orders Dec/Jan- Greenhouse?

There is a work day this Sunday, 10-1pm.

Halloween- Also, a Halloween fire and social on Wednesday October 31st at the allotment. Time to follow. Get in touch if you feel like doing some cooking. We have the pumpkins!