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Agenda and Minutes

Stamford Vt Seed Savers Meeting Minutes, Tuesday, June 19th:

1. School Programming:  Report on activities in the classrooms of Stamford Elementary School; Angela showed her photo of her children’s garden made because of their love of the garden lessons.

Members enjoyed looking over the gardens planted by students, and Linda weeded while talking.

2.Work Plans:

  • Work and Watering Schedule

Although it rained very much last night, it was still somewhat dry.  SG found a water tank for about $100. CJ might be willing to fill it from fire truck to get started.

It will be elevated so that we can use a hose to water beds from the tank.

And we need a submersible pump to put in the stream. Chris Kilfoyle will volunteer labor and minor parts, as well as advice. SG will send him the info. Details in discussion followed.

Here who says they will water: Caroline, Lynn, Larry and Priscilla will help.

  • Entry to Tennis Court – Delivery of Compost;

once fence is cut, and compost delivered, we can insert the water tank.     Larry, Joe and Stephen evaluated the fence issue. We agreed to go through the middle; SG has hardware to start this project. We plan to make it as child safe as possible. We can start tomorrow (Wednesday).

  • Additional garden beds: wood ready; we will wait until the gate is done; we are getting fifteen 12 footers instead of 10 footers from Mark and Larry. They will only charge us for 10 footers.
  • Watering System: SG getting a 275 gal. tank; we will talk to Mark about how to build it. Larry will look around for some lumber.
  • Tool Shed: we need one for the tools and equipment.
  • Sundial
  • Strawberry beds: we need to think about what we are planting. We want what ties into the school curriculum and lunch program, etc. If we have a few more beds, we can have a school strawberry party. Cherry tomatoes in the beginning of the year; potatoes for fall. What do we want to grow in the next beds. Ask seniors if they want their own beds.

Fall Harvest Plans: We should have a summer party or three for the community(Larry’s birthday, tool shed commissioning; summer reading program; harvest festival)

New Business:  

  1. SG wants emergency contact of people; Caroline adds emails. Chris Warren used to have it. It goes out to over 50 people.
  2. Joseph talked to GMP about spraying weeds; they are now restrained with what they can do; they now smear trunks of trees with weed killer instead of spraying; this seems to be an important.

Next Meeting: July 3, 2018; bring food from your gardens; we will eat and meet.

 

Agenda and Minutes, Uncategorized

Seed Savers Meeting Minutes Tuesday June 5, 2018:

Present: Stephen, Helen, Timmie, Pam, Ruth, Betty, Larry, Caroline, Ann, Victoria, Angela, Laurie, Jen, Priscilla, and Susan.

Pruning Demonstration:

Pam Tworig shared her expertise in the principles of tree pruning, using the crab apples in front of the school.

Grant Application Status and Budget Report:

 NEGEF has posted that we have been granted $3,250, but we are awaiting official notification. We made $135 at the church bazaar selling heirloom tomatoes.  Seed Saver members can take home whatever tomatoes they want from the remainders.

Church Bazaar Report:

Discussed above.

School Landscape and Garden Design: first steps; maps provided

Discussion: We need to identify the goals.  Entrance to school is one area.Principal Hayre’s idea is to have flowers around the school.   He is open to anything else.

Ideas include: edible landscaping,  native trees and shrubs.                                              Access to the gardens need to be considered

Pat- wants to see an integrated plan.

There are two areas of focus, the gardens on the tennis court and the larger school property.

The most time critical decision will be to decide on the placement of the blueberry bushes.  Placing blueberries along the west side of the tennis courts in a single line along the fence will allow us to hang netting over them from the fence.  The selectboard has already approved this placement.

Four grafted lilacs are being given to the school from North Branch Landscaping.  Lilacs need to be placed carefully, they are beautiful in the right place, but could look odd if planted in the wrong spot.  They are eye-catching and might look good in front of the school. Pam says that they are rooted in place and could stay there for a while.

Stephen will draw up initial plans for garden design and submit to group for commentary and revision.

Next Meeting:

Helen and Stephen say that there is going to be a lot of work to do on the   gardens this year and that we need to have weekly work parties. Helen says that she will be in the garden every Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:00pm and invites others to join her.

           Next Meeting will be June 19th

Agenda and Minutes, Uncategorized

Seed Savers Agenda Tuesday June 5, 2018: (Starting at 5:30 )

  1. Pruning Demonstration:

Meeting will start early at 5:30 for a demonstration of fruit tree pruning by Pam Tworig of North Branch Landscaping. Meet in front of the school.

  1. Grant Application Status and Budget Report:
  2. Church Bazaar Report:

Tomatoes for everyone! What can we do with unsold tomato plants?

  1. School Landscape and Garden Design: first steps; maps provided

 

  1. Next Meeting:

 

Agenda and Minutes, Uncategorized

Seed Savers Minutes, May 15:

Church Bazaar 6/2/18:

Caroline told Diana that we want a table and we have a table reserved. $12 for the table.

We need volunteers for one hour each

        Caroline 10:00

Betty 11:00 – 12:00

Timothea 9:00

Stephen 9:00

Green Up Day Report

57 people participated in Green Up Day.  SVSS sold enough spider plants to cover the cost of the grow lights for the school. The eyeballs in the planters were a big hit.

We have a lot of spider plants left. For the church bazaar.

Seed saving this year: any commitments?

 Stephen – watermelons 2 varieties

Susan – has blue seed corn.  She is not going to grow corn this.

CJ – Will Grow Ruby Red Sorghum

School Garden Next Steps: we need to put our spring calendar together

  1. Repot plants week of 5/15?

Dave Bushika gave us about 100 pots for repotting.

Caroline will zap out a reminder to Hiedi about the planters.

Repotting will happen at our house on Thurs.  Betty will work from home

2. Mushroom walk? Who and when and where?

Additional possibilities

Sustainable poultry

How to build a raised bed garden    A Tuesday evening talk June 12

How to plant blueberries
3.  Work camps to build/plant/expand school/community gardens

We have to figure out what the overall plan for the garden is?

Blueberries go along the southwest corner of the tennis court.

Larry: has a suggestion for water. Build the shed and use rainwater to fill barrels.

June 5 we will design and plan the garden.

Seed Library: new container; where can we put it?

Library committee meets Wednesday, 6pm bring seed library.  Caroline will present    proposal for keeping the seeds in the library.

NEGEF Grant Status

We will know before the end of the month if we got the grant.  Then we will receive funds by the middle of the month.

Next meeting will be June 5th.

Agenda and Minutes, Uncategorized

Seed Savers Agenda, May 15:

Church Bazaar 6/2/18 We need volunteers for one hour each

Green Up Day Report

Seed saving this year: any commitments?

School Garden Next Steps: we need to put our spring calendar together

  1. repot plants week of 6/15?
  2. church bazaar volunteers; do you have plants to donate to plant sale?
  3. mushroom walk? Who and when and where?
  4. work camps to build/plant/expand school/community gardens

SVSS Website info

Seed Library: new container; where can we put it?

NEGEF Grant Status

New business? Other?

Agenda and Minutes, Announcements, Uncategorized

Stamford VT Seed Savers Meeting Minutes, May 1

In attendance: Larry, Jennifer, Priscilla, Betty, Sheila Lawrence, Stephen, Helen

Announcements: Caroline has received 90# of potatoes and will make them available to SVSS members after she has distributed to others.

School Gardening Report: Outcomes of seed planting activities at Stamford Elementary. SG and HF taught 4 classes at Stamford Elementary School with all students. Eleven flats were planted for school, home and town flower and vegetables. NEGEF grant is in progress. We need to continue to build our communications and attendance for upcoming activities.

Seed Library: Progress report. CJ and Caroline are working on the case for seeds. We need to make the seeds available now.

Seed Production: Individual membership goals for 2018. Who is planting what for our Seed Savers plan. Jen wants native species which might be at risk of disappearing. Larry can get seeds from his uncle of large, flat pole beans (his sister has them). He plants them every year and wants to save them this year. “Larry’s Yellow Pole Beans.” Stephen will try personal watermelons. When ripe they turn yellow. It is reported that they are often too seedy, but delicious. Jen has Spanish peppers from Spain and will try to grow them (originally came from Mexico); pimentos du Padron. Sheila reports Valerie Dickerson at The Lane plants a giant flower pot with 5 veggies in one pot on her porch.

Stephen brought 2 flats of tomatoes started at the Firehouse; can you adopt a flat to keep alive since we are running out of space.

WE NEED GROW LIGHTS FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND FOR SEEDSAVERS.

GOT LIGHT????

Green Up Day: Plans for outreach and fundraising. Helen, Betty and Bill Levine will sell plants at the June 2 Church Bazaar.

Jen has school volunteers who want to come and split perennials to sell at their school fundraiser. They will come and clean up your garden (moms and kids) . Larry has daylilies that they can come and dig them. Jen will contact Larry.

Larry says some places are planting milkweed to grow monarch butterfly. Larry has Joe Pieweed. He is not getting enough monarch.

Trees and Shrubs: Recent donation. Helen reports there was an anonymous donation of $300 to plant blueberry bushes on school grounds. We discussed where to plant. Blueberries like wet. Jen reports we need 3 varieties. Sheila says talk to Dottie and David Howes on Clayton or Barlow on The Lane. Larry and Sheila suggest set up the fencing and the poles first. Much with oak or pine chips. Dan also grows good blueberries. Acidy mulch.

Wish List: Lights etc. We need a shed. Compost (Larry’s sister has some when it dries).

New Business: Starting the school/community garden. Jen is willing to work with kids to plant peas, radishes, lettuce soon with Helen. Let’s plan a planting date with school; Jen, Angela and Larry will come help on another Mad Monday. Helen will discuss with the Principal. Can we coordinate with the Library Committee to have garden events this summer.

Next meeting is Tuesday, May 15 at 6pm in the Stamford Library. Bring a plan for workdays in the community garden.

WE NEED LOTS OF POTS FOR REPOTTING SPIDER PLANTS.

Larry, Helen and Timothea will repot spider plants tomorrow after 4.

Jennifer will repot with Helen on Thursday noon to 2. Priscilla will come after 1:30.

This will be at Helen’s house 394 East Road.

Anyone that wants to join us is welcome!

 

 

Events

Green Up Day 2018 Stamford Vermont

by Helen Fields

May 7, 2018

Rainy, blustery cold weather did not deter a record-breaking 52 families from participating in Stamford’s Green Up Vermont Day this year! We collected a truckload of green bags, and families and friends picked up their bags empty and brought them back full, with the promise of hot coffee, cocoa and donuts on their return.

Green Up Day 1.jpg

As the sun burst through, workers enjoyed a presentation by local artist and art historian/educator Victoria Jefferies, who walked us through the possible designs of a Community Building on the spot where we stood. Victoria answered many good questions and took notes on ideas from people, inviting Stamfordians to the meeting on Tuesday, May 8 at 6pm in the Stamford Elementary School. They discussed locations, safety and designs which fit the architecture of the town, library and school. The Building Committee hopes people will continue to attend the meetings and give their valued input.

Seed Sowing 4

Stamford Vermont Seed Savers also offered a table of plants for donations to the Lights! Project started at Stamford Elementary School this week.  Seed Savers were invited by Principal Hayre, and the SES Agriculture Committee teachers, to plant about 700 seeds with every student in every classroom, on Mad Mondays Special Activity Day. Then they set up light stands so that children in each classroom could monitor, care for and watch their plants grow. Each student planted seeds for school gardens, home gardens, town flower boxes and one seed of their choice. The K/1 seedlings were on display for families to see.

Green Up SVSSJPG

Several Seed Savers members repotted spider plants, grown by members, and a new member used her florist experience to make beautiful bows and eyeballs for each plant. These “Watch Plants” will clean up toxins from the indoor air, and donors took home plants for Green Up Day and for Mothers Day. Betty Vadnais donated her San Marzano paste tomato seedlings, and several people were very pleased to take them home as well.

Seed Sowing 3

A good time was had by all! Be sure to come to the Stamford Community Church Bazaar on Saturday, June 2. SVSS will have many varieties of plants for sale there, as a fundraiser for the community/school gardens. There will be many varieties of tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and other choices. We will meet again on Tuesday, May 15 at 6pm in the Town Library. Please join us if you want to participate in these and other projects.

Thanks to everyone for participating, and for helping to keep Stamford a strong local, sustainable and caring community!

Green Up Day 2

Events

SVSS Plants Seeds at Stamford Elementary School

by Stephen Greene

May 1, 2018

Seed Sowing with SES 1As the last few snowflakes drifted out of the sky on Monday, April 30th, Stamford Vermont Seed Savers brought the new school garden into the classroom at Stamford Elementary School.  At the invitation of Principal Micah Hayre, SVSS volunteers Helen Fields and Stephen Greene instructed four classes, grades K through eight, on seed germination and growth.  Students were asked to germinate vegetable and flower seeds for a new school garden that was built last year by volunteers from the Stamford community. Students will be watering and caring for the seedlings in their classrooms until they are ready to go outside in a few weeks. Some of the plants will go to the school garden, some are destined for flower boxes that will be installed around town and the rest will go home with the kids to be planted in their home gardens when the weather warms.

Many of the vegetables that were planted by the children are heirloom varieties that demonstrate the potential diversity of familiar food crops, such as yellow cherry tomatoes, hot Thai peppers and red iceberg lettuce.  The flower varieties were chosen specifically for their benefits to native pollinators, and will be used in flower boxes around the town.

Funding for SVSS activities during the past year came from the New England Grassroots Environmental Fund and funding for the grow lights that are being used in the classrooms came from individual donations made to SVSS during Stamford’s Community Green Up Day 2018.

Seed Sowing with SES 2

 

About the New England Grassroots Environment Fund

The New England Grassroots Environment Fund (Grassroots Fund) energizes and nurtures long-term civic engagement in local initiatives that create and maintain healthy, just, safe and sustainable communities using stories, tools and dollars to fuel local activism and social change. Since 1996, the Grassroots Fund’s core grantmaking program continues to fund nearly 150 grants annually, giving more than $4 million in 20 years to initiatives by better than 1,700 community groups covering more than 60 percent of New England’s cities and towns.   

For more information, please visit grassrootsfund.org or call 603-905-9915.

Agenda and Minutes, Uncategorized

Seed Savers Meeting Minutes, Wed. April 18th:

In attendance: Stephen, CJ, Betty, Caroline, Linda, Donna, Bill, Priscilla, Ruth and Timmie

Communication: We discussed the need to improve our communication process. It was decided that we would send 2 emails, one a week ahead of time, and a second 2 days ahead.  We also agreed to create a subscription list tied to the website that would notify members when a new announcement is posted. Stephen will contact Chris about the best way to do this. We want to give members an opt out clause, if they don’t want to receive announcements.

Seed Production:  We will be asking for volunteers to grow out open-pollinated plants for seed production.

Caroline will be receiving 80# of organic potatoes, which she distributes to friends and neighbors.  She will make leftovers available to Seed Savers.

Seed Library:  CJ has dimensions for seed bin, which he will provide to  Caroline. Caroline will discuss the possibility of placing the card catalog in the library with the appropriate authorities.

School Gardening Report:  Helen has been in touch with Micah and the school Ag Committee.  He is still very interested in working us to integrate the garden with curriculum.  We have the supplies that we need to get them started on seed germination when they get back from spring break.

Flower Box Project:  Caroline reported that Heidi wants to be involved in the flower box project and has been doing research to find out where they can be placed legally.  She is out of town till early May. We plan to have students starting flower seeds for the boxes, focusing on pollinator-friendly varieties.

Caroline would like to hand off the project to someone who is able to maintain the boxes during the summer.  Any volunteers?

Trees and Shrubs: We decided that there is not enough time to plant bare root plants for fundraising this year. CJ suggests that perhaps we could take orders for native trees and shrubs and place a bulk order.  There is strong interest in butternuts. Ruth has spoken to someone about gathering butternuts from their land in the fall. Maybe this is a fall project? CJ wants to graft a fruit tree with different varieties of fruit.  His brother-in-law is an arborist who could talk about grafting. Arbor day is the last Friday in April. Is this a project for next year?

Wish List: We discussed having a wish list for donations of tools and other supply items that we will need for the gardens and other activities.  We could post the wish list on the website and perhaps send out in a mailer through the school.

New Business:  Caroline is looking for a presentation on Thurs. May 3rd to preview green-up day.  The speaker from Williams that she had lined up is not available. What is happening with the idea of a mushroom workshop?  There is a select board meeting that night that would conflict with a presentation. Unresolved.

Fundraising :Adopt-a-Seedling. We will be sowing seeds to grow out for a fundraiser at the church bazaar in early June. Caroline will secure a table at the church bazaar.

Helen and Bill will have spider plants for sale on green up day.

Victoria will have sketches of the school gazebo on Friday evening at the fire station open to interested parties.

Next meeting will be in 2 weeks on Tuesday.

Stephen, Timmie, Priscilla and Donna stayed late to seed 8 trays of different tomato, pepper, and eggplant varieties, for a possible 256 plants for the fundraiser.  Stephen took them home to put under lights.

 

Agenda and Minutes, Announcements, Events, Uncategorized

Seed Savers Meeting Wed. April 18th, 6:00 pm at the Fire Station

Agenda:

Fundraising :

Adopt-a-Seedling. We will be sowing seeds to grow out for a fund raiser at the church bazaar in early June.

Communication:

Seed Production:

We will be asking for volunteers to grow out open-pollinated plants for seed production.

Seed Library:

School Gardening Report:

Flower Box Project:

Trees and Shrubs:

Wish List:

New Business:

 

Agenda and Minutes, Announcements, Uncategorized

Stamford Vt Seed Savers Meeting Minutes: April 3, 2017

In attendance: Helen Fields, Stephen Greene, CJ Vadnais, Betty Vadnais, Ruth West, Priscilla Tracy, Angela Brothers.

School Classes and seed germination

Helen is on the school’s agriculture committee and will meet with them to coordinate activities between SVSS and school classes.

The kindergarten reportedly wants to grow herbs in the courtyard.

Several teachers have expressed an interest in growing plants for the town’s flower boxes.  We have discussed helping with them by providing seeds of native flowers that benefit pollinators.

Betty V. expressed interest in planting native trees and shrubs on the school campus.  Ideas for woody plants include, butternuts, hazelnuts, blueberries, and others. She will do follow-up research.

C.J. V. suggests that we ask kids to gather recycled materials for growing plants such as paper cups, boxes, milk boxes, egg cartons …

Helen F. will call school tomorrow to set up a meeting. – Ruth W. will assist in this effort

NEGEF Grow Grant status

Unknown at this time.

It is our understanding that we are not tied to line items in the proposed budget and can make changes in response to arising needs.

The proposed watering system using a 12 volt pump and PV panels was discussed.  CJ says that he has oodles of rain barrels that could be used. He thinks that a ram pump or a rotary pump might be better options for a watering system.

Seed Library

CJ has a salvaged card catalog unit from a library that he is willing to donate.  It has about 20 sliding drawers that could accommodate seed packages and could fit on top of one of the low book shelves.   It would be great for organizing and storing seeds. We will need to make a request to the library committee for approval. Stephen will take the lead on this and work through Caroline.

School fencing and garden access

Chris W. contacted us to raise a concern about a fence that is being proposed for the school playground.  Helen will go to the select board and school principal this week to find out what is being proposed and request that vehicular access for the gardens is incorporated into the plans.

Seed Saving Volunteers

A call for SVSS members to think about growing for seed production led to the following information.

Susan successfully grew blue corn last year and may have seed.

Helen tried to grow green Oaxaca corn which did not have enough time to ripen.

Stephen tried to cross two strains of pumpkins naked seeded and pie pumpkins unsuccessfully because the flowering of the two varieties were out of sync.

CJ grew quinoa which was eaten by something

Joe also tried Quinoa which also got eaten

Stephen asks members to think about picking a crop variety that they would like to grow specifically for the seed library.  We will discuss this again at the next meeting.

Helen will try amaranth this year.

Ruth would like help starting a garden.

Perhaps we could schedule garden slams to create gardens for individuals.

Fund Raising

Plant sales

There is interest in selling plants later in the spring.  There is also concern that we would be competing with commercial growers, specifically Many Forks Farm.

Sharon (MFF) grows to plant starts to order. Orders should have been submitted by April 1,  but she may be selling additional plants. Helen will get in touch with her to find out how we can avoid overlapping interests.

Helen says that 8th grader, Nick Carpenter has agreed to work with us on a pumpkin project.

There is a spring plant sale in North Adams.  Do we want to start plants for that event?

Williamstown garden club hosts a fundraiser on May 26th with perennials.

We could each grow a few trays of something and sell at someone else’s event.

Stamford church bazaar is on the first Saturday of June, We could have a table at this event.

We will bring germination mix and trays to the next meeting to get plants started.

Tree sponsorships

People could donate money to sponsor trees or berry bushes on the school grounds in support of Betty’s native tree plans.

We could create an arboretum on school grounds with trees and shrubs that are sponsored by individuals or families.

Let’s grow American Chestnuts.

Helen will contact Johnny’s Seeds for catalogs to be used in school classes.

Additional Business

We are subscribed to Seed Savers. Org and will receive packets of seeds.

Betty will contact them to find out why we are not on their online map.

Betty will talk to Micah about planting sugar maples in school yard.

CJ suggests a grafted fruit basket tree.

Next meeting will be Wed. April 17 6:00 at the fire station.  We will be filling trays with seeds for propagation.

 

Agenda and Minutes, Uncategorized

Stamford VT Seed Savers Meeting Minutes: March 13, 2018

In attendance: Stephen, Helen, Joe, Priscilla, Caroline, Susan, and Pat

NEGEF Grant report approved

         Additional expenses modified to include 2 bags of germination mix.

Anticipated need for funds from a NEGEF Grow Grant

Garden Infrastructure: PhotoVoltaic Pump and watering system, Tool Shed                10×12, Additional Garden Beds, Sliding Garden Gate, Signage . . .

Tools: Garden cart, shovels, hoes, hoses, etc.

Seed Storage and filing system

Seeds for pollinator project and specific seed production varieties

Flower boxes for pollinator project in collaboration with Pat’s group.

(*We are working in the direction of a greenhouse as we build capacity in the school.)

Possible additional Funding needs:

Teacher Training Funds

Harvest Festival Support

We have had the A-frame bulletin sign for street level advertising donated to us.

We are collaborating with a flower box group by growing out pollinator friendly flowers. Opportunity to involve school kids in germinating seeds and growing the flowers.

Future Workshops:

Mushrooms: Ask Chris and Jen if they will lead the charge on Mushroom work to set date. Hold it at the fire station

Green-up day: May 3rd workshop to coincide with Green up Day, possible talk by Hank Art from Williams College about water quality, invasive species, local environmental issues

Next Meeting April 3rd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Announcements, Events, Uncategorized

Planning a Vegetable Garden for Pleasure, Beauty and Good Food – Tuesday Feb. 27, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Stamford VT Seed Savers invites you to join us for an public presentation by Sharon Wyrrick, the farmer and owner of Many Forks Farm in Clarksburg, Massachusetts. Many Forks Farm is going into its seventh season and provides produce to 50 local households through its community supported agriculture (CSA) farm share program.

Sharon will be discussing the intricacies of planning and managing a successful home vegetable garden in our region. Gardeners of all ages and levels of experience are invited to attend to share their wisdom or to learn some new tricks from a seasoned professional.

Refreshments will be served. The Stamford Community Library is located behind the Stamford Town Office and School, on Route 8 in Stamford, Vermont, just minutes from North Adams, Mass.

Sharon in Library

Announcements, Events

Public Seed Sharing Event – Feb 10, 12:00-2:00

This is our 1st Annual Seed Sharing Event. The public is invited to come to the Stamford Fire Station at 142 Stebbins Rd. on Saturday Feb. 10th from 12 to 2:00 pm. We will be offering seeds from our collection of vegetable, herb and flower varieties to anyone interested. Also, if you have seeds that you don’t need, or a favorite variety that you would like to share with others, please bring them.

Seed Sharing Event PSA

Seed Sharing Event Flyer – Reprint and distribute at will; spread the word!

Seed Sharing Image 1