Gardens Founded in 2001 - Home in 2002

Echinacea - Photo by Laura Davis

The garden began in 2001 with the help of Norm Erickson, a Northland Hospice volunteer, at the corner of Switzer Canyon Drive and Turquoise. At that time the home had not been completed but a beautiful sign was placed on the corner. Norm continued to work on the beds on the east side of the sidewalk along Switzer Canyon Drive and in front of the home, until 2008. The rest of the gardens were developed by a core of Coconino County Master Gardeners initially led by Laura Davis and since 2007 by Loni Shapiro.

The garden crew is active from April-October and sometimes in November weather permitting. Work happens weekly throughout the garden season on Monday and Thursday mornings from 8:00 am-12:00 pm. It also is scheduled for one Saturday a month from April through October. Cancellations due to weather will be posted by 6:00 am of the workday on this blog. You must attend a spring orientation to the garden and Northland Hospice & Palliative Care in order to work. A summary of the work that has been done is included on the blog. Look for weekly postings on this blog during the garden season.
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Volunteering in the Garden

2015 Calendar

April 13, 11:30-1:30 Lunch and orientation for new volunteers at hospice and TB testing for all

April 16, 9:15-10 TB tests read and 10:00 garden orientation. First Thursday workday 9-12

April 20, First Monday workday 9-12

May 2, Saturday workday 9-12

If you are interested in volunteering, please email CrysWells@gmail.com.

Please note: TB testing is required annually for all garden volunteers.

If you have current TB results that were done by a physician or at a hospital, these may be submitted to Northland Hospice.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, please contact the volunteer coordinator Kathy Simmons (ksimmons@northlandhospice.org) to schedule a time for testing and orientation.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Meeting Minutes 1/20/11

Attending: Loni Shapiro, Nancy Palmer, Laura Davis, Cynthia Katte, David Hockman, Joe & Susan Harte, Linda Guarino, Judith Chaddock, Julie Holmes, Becky Lewis, Crys Wells, Maret Mitchell

Update on those not attending:
Vicki will be back part of the year (spring and late summer), Leslie had work done on her back and is feeling better. Loni saw Gus Delgadillo and he is doing well, has a girlfriend, but still having problems with carpel tunnel. Marcia also had back problems and had a spinal fusion, she will be back but may be limited.

1. Review accomplishments for 2010
Review of last years accomplishments circulated and on the blog. Newspaper article to thank all appeared in the Daily Sun the last Sunday of 2010, and it is also on the blog. All were thanked but the focus was on the Daily Sun and the vandalism. Hours for 2010 were also circulated and some noted discrepencies. Loni will make sure Becky (my list shows 33.5 hrs.) was on the final tabulation sent to Hattie. This was totaled at the end of the year and much was difficult to read. Some did not add check-out times and I guessed. This year I will do it monthly. If anyone wants to help with this let me know? It is not difficult but takes time to sometimes check back with people on what they wrote. You all need to keep track of time that you do away from the garden as well. Nancy has been very good about doing that, but others have not. Things like getting plants ready for the plant sale, etc.
Loni also circulated the general info book that is used for inservices and displays like the county fair. This is at the garden each week if you want to look at it.

2. Maret Mitchell introduced herself. She is a MG from the fall class who will be joining us. Others introduced themselves and told what they do in the garden.

3. Updates
*Safety items in garden (lights/cameras)-Because of the vandalism we now have 2 cameras and one motion sensor light (on the gazebo) for safety. We have not caught anyone except 4 legged furry animals.
*Budget carryover – We made over $1900 at the summer 10% day at Warner’s and we received $500 for the 1st year of the grant for the Michael Moore Garden. I have not heard if the grant at Home Depot came through, but will check with the office.
*Garden and home – Loni has been visiting weekly to take care of the houseplants and empty the compost, which is getting full of garbage. The house has been pretty full and has 3 long time residents.
*MG orientation done for fall class –About 15 signed up as interested. I will attend the spring class as well and may e-mail for some help. Dates are undecided.
*Dave Hill and Zane – Dave is doing well and back to work as of last week. He is coming every other Thursday morning (9am – next the 27th)if you want to stop by and see him. Loni circulated what she sent about Zane. It is on the blog as well.
*Mice and bird feeding-We may need to remove seed feeders from around the house if they don’t get the problem under control. Mice have been seen running about in people’s rooms. We would just have suet or hummingbird feeders. This was done once before. The house is considering a cat, but I don’t feel it will happen (too many rules to abide by, dogs visiting, and the staff do not want to clean cat boxes).
*Thank yous - Norm’s wife, Whites (Olivia’s family), Newspaper – Info circulated for all to read.

3. Planning for 2011
*Orientation- Orientation for those interested will be on our 1st spring workday or 1-1 by Loni for those who can’t attend.
*Workdays – There will be two workdays a week beginning in 2011 (Monday/Thursday). I will schedule 1 Saturday a month, but will need help during the summer to do this. It would require supervising anyone who shows up and providing water/snack. We often get Master Gardeners in training needing hours.
*Groups – We will go with what we did last year except Upward Bound, which did not work well in 2010. The group was poorly supervised and it requires too much time. They did put in 140 hours last year, so we will have more weeding to get done.
*Fund raising – Usual 10% day at Warners, plant sale, bricks, and notecards in house. For the plant sale several ideas were suggested. Rachel from the Arboretum has collected garden tools for us from the 2nd hand stores, Judith has an idea for lavender sachets. Loni talked about green-man boxes(?). We need to get plants ready sooner so they look better.
*Educational programming – The outside sign Al built will return. Loni open to suggestions for it. Loni circulated a garden game from Chicago Botanical Garden. They do a seasonal game. Maybe we should consider offering 2 summer/fall. Anyone interested in helping do this let me know.
*Greenhouse planting vs. CSA – We decided that the CSA is not worth it. We want to select our varieties and plant earlier with season extenders. Linda will help us with her greenhouse because ours is too full unless we get a larger shed.
*Drip lines – One of our first major tasks in the garden will be putting in drip lines. Linda and Carol have done this in the past but will need help this year. If you want to help please let me know. Experience would be nice but they can also teach you what to do.
*Front garden improvements – After much discussion, it was decided we should replant the front ½ circle. All plants will be removed (saved or sold), and the soil improved and lowered and then replanted. CREC might be useful for this task. We will not move trees and shrubs unless necessary for design. Anyone interested in helping with design contact Loni.
*Michael Moore Garden – Laura talked about the progress with this garden. We received a grant for $1500 over 3 years for this garden. The garden will be in 3 sections – local natives, a native American section of natives from the plateau, and the third from the west. Loni will bring his book for the next meeting for those interested. Laura will be working to finalize the plant list with Phyllis Hogan. As things are schedules she will advise about workdays (Nancy and Marcia are helping with this garden) and those not working on other projects can join them. A brief discussion was held on scattering Zane’s ashes near the bench, where a donor sign will be placed in the ground. Laura will talk with Phyllis and decide what to do about this and speak to Dave.
*FUTS trail - corner garden redesign – The city will be reviewing this project in the spring and we will not have a schedule until it is approved. They will be redoing the garden on the corner the way we want it to be.

4. Schedule February meeting – Loni will try to schedule the hospice office conference room for February 24, at 9am. We will meet for and hour then head to the house to clean-up houseplants and the sun porch. Consider car pooling as the office doesn’t have much space.

5. Green Man boxes –Loni described the Green Man myth, showed her box, and gave some ideas about how they might be used (for yourself, in the house, other). We decided to have a craft meeting in March and work on several projects (lavender, Green Man boxes, update hats for hat tree, etc.).

My focus this summer will be on organizing the plant sale and the FUTS trail corner garden makeover, and my usual general coordinating. I will need help on other projects. Please consider taking some more responsibility if you aren’t already, with one of the areas in italics above, unless you already have too much on your plate. I will bring a list to the next meeting.
Thanks, Loni

Saturday, January 15, 2011

1st Planning Meeting for 2011

Where: 2277 E. Forest Heights Drive
I am on the East side of town. Take 4th Street to the top and turn right at the last street (Andes) then right at the first street (T). My home is on the right about a block and a half.
When: Thursday, January 20th from 9am-12pm
Agenda:

1. Review accomplishments for 2010

2. Updates
Safety items in garden (lights/cameras)
Budget carryover
Garden and home
MG orientation done for fall class
Dave Hill and Zane
Mice and bird feeding
Thank yous
Norm’s wife
Whites
Newspaper

3. Planning for 2011
Orientation
Workdays
Groups
Fund raising
Educational programing
Garden activities
Greenhouse planting vs. CSA
Drip lines
Front garden improvements
Michael Moore Garden
FUTS trail - corner garden redesign

4. Schedule February meeting
Meet at Olivia White and clean-up houseplants and sun porch

5. Green Man boxes time permitting