We did a calendar of the gardening workshops in our spaces for the next months. They will be on Fridays at 5.30pm, except a few dates (in red). It will be each time at a different space. The link to the excel file with the calendar can be found at the end of the page.

We will try to bring extra tools, but if you have some small tools and gloves that you can bring on the session that would be wonderful.

No guardening experience required 🙂

Link to the excel file: planning_gardening

Cambridge Growing Spaces

Minutes from Meeting on 17^th February 2016

1.Everyone introduced himself/herself. It was nice to meet so many new people!

2. City Council collaboration:

It is currently a very long process and we discussed about how to improve it.

– Toni is going to discuss arranging an easier process with everyone responsible in the city council. (TASK)

– We can propose short term trials (1 month to extend) on some spaces to get faster approval

3. Voucher scheme from the city council in exchange of taking care of their spaces:

– Do we want it?

– We could also try to register to a volunteer scheme to acknowledge what people are doing in growing spaces.

4. Vision (or ambition) of Growing Spaces

Sandra collected replies of everyone about what is growing spaces. She will send the summary to the group to get their opinion and include the improved version on the website.

The about page will be reorganized to include this, the current text and better photos. (TASK)

5. Grant:

Let’s see how much we will do over the next months before to decide if we need to apply for a grant.

For now soil and plants are easy to get for free.

We have to explore how to get wood for free for raised beds (TASK)

If we need money in the future we can raise it by ourselves at one of our events (abundance vegetable swaps, film showings at the missing socks…)

6. Tasks:

Toni made a list of who is doing what in the group. She will circulate it in the group to see if we can fill gaps (TASK)

7. Projects for 2016:

To continue with our activities and enjoy it

More events at our gardens.

> Gardening workshops at regular times, once every 2 weeks each time at a different space? Sandra to organise with space carers (TASK)

> Outreach events (abundance stall, art event …)

> Cycling tour of the spaces in summer (Marie)

> Making/showing films (Rosie with pivotal)

More involvement of the neighbours in each space: We need to enter in contact with them (fliers + events?)

More front garden spaces (blitz?)

8. Plants:

It is the time of the year to start sowing. If everyone could prepare an excess of a different plant, we would have enough of everything.

Rosie is going to send an email to the group to coordinate our effort and be sure we have enough of a variety of plants (TASK)

9. Newsletter:

We will make a trial of a very simple (mainly visual) newsletter, with links to our blog. It would be once a month to start with.

I am always spellbound when I see seedlings popping out. And you?

Present: Axel, Marie, Sandra and Toni

This meeting was an internal meeting and thus was not advertised on Transition Cambridge bulletin.

1. Edible Garden: We have been contacted by Yifan and discussed with Axel on how Cambridge Growing Spaces could help with the Edible Garden in Murray Edwards College.

We decided Growing Spaces will help promoting the garden by putting gardening session on our facebook page and sending them by email to the group.

TASKS: -Axel to send updates pictures to Sandra. Sandra to create a blog note about the Edible Garden and put it on the facebook group. Marie will post it in the student vegetarian and vegan facebook group.

– Marie to contact Takashi to exchange experiences in developing a community garden in a College and getting students being involved.

2. Rosie went to the workshop “Roots to success: a practical guide to support volunteer training in food growing groups”. It was a really inspiring workshop! Workshop material and other very useful links can be found here.

3. Spaces status

– TASK: Toni to create a file with the updated list of spaces and their status (with the name of the current carers?)

– Would be good to couple carers and communicators for each space. TASK: Toni to contact each space carer and see what they think about it.

4. Communication

TASK: Sandra and Toni to meet to work on the leaflet. Sandra to send the new version of the leaflet to Toni. Marie to see with Hannah for the new Transition Cambridge leaflet.

It would be good to have business cards for Growing Spaces that we could give more easily than leaflets. TASK: Sandra to send an email for volunteer.

TASK: Sandra and/or Toni should find a time to meet Wolfgang and Vanessa for blog training and taking pictures/videos at spaces.

5. Volunteers needed

There is a lot of skills volunteers can offer to Growing Spaces but we don’t know what people would like to contribute (beyond feedback from some volunteers that they prefer outdoor work over more time at the computer 😉 ).
TASK: Sandra to ask how every of us is willing to help growing spaces (gardening skills, IT skills, communication skills, gardening tools, car or van..).

6. Special Growing Spaces meeting in December to discuss goals, objectives and ways of actions of Growing Spaces. TASK: Sandra or Toni to send email in the group to prepare the meeting: “What is Growing Spaces for you?”, “What do you want for Growing Spaces?”…

7. Other

-Gardening tool library: If you have any ideas for needed tools, contact Rebecca or Growing Spaces and we will pass it on.

Present: Toni (TM), Sandra(SC), Marie(MC), Rebecca(RJ), Lorna(LM)

Apologies: Elsa, Rosie, Axel, Justine

1. Introductions

2. Agenda

3. Updating on Current Spaces
– Ashley Court: gooseberries, chive, mint, borage, strawberries are growing well. Parsley, thyme and rosemary were planted and signs were added (see more here)
We decided to contact housing association; community development officer … (TM to find info, MC)

– Norfolk planters:  They need someone to water them before we can add any more plants and signs. We would like to try to involve shopowners (MC!)

– Daily Bread: Everything is growing well and people are helping themselves!
Our 1st produce swap stall was organised at this space (see more here): 20-30 people; mainly beans and apples, also fennel, courgette, edible flowers. It went well and we will definitely do it again in the future.

We have to go to remove summer plants and add autumn/winter plants  in October (SC to give a date): winter wheat; pak choi, chard?, winter spinach, set onions, fruit bushes

There is now a gardening book section in daily bread cafe.

– George 4th Street: A little tree was removed. Nicely, people watch and care about the space. Strawberries doing very well! Parsley and mint were added.
Ask about bare patch – raised bed or new tree?

– Roundabout: Come on the Sunday 4th October, morning to pick the chard!
What to plant around the outside – perennials, so people will pick them
How to prune summer raspberry
Signs?
Council stopped mowing grass?it’s not a problem but worth finding out their current policy
More bulbs?
– Roman court – waiting on response of housing officer
– Milton Road Library abundance, drop by to say hi and mention edible roundabout (SC)

– Abbey Orchard: We discussed doing a joint carpentry workshop (check with LM)

– Histon Road – needs signage once replanting is certain

– Shelly Row (TM – send sign to someone to laminate)

– Wycliffe – needs more cardboard – might be a good task Paul’s people
speak to the neighbours to find local primary space carer/coordinator

4. Potential Spaces
– Geoff/ARU – raised bed/permaculture; SC to be in contact with him
– Murray Edwards – tricky for “learning garden”(RJ) but ok for gardening club
– Sherbourne Court – TM to speak with Cllr Manning again
– Proposed Milton Road space no good anymore – bill boards since put up there
– Kings Hedges community house – 37 Lawrence Way – next to tesco and fishnchips – gardening session last saturday of each month

– Arbury Court (in front of the library)- we should try to contact the library (go there one day?) Evan- who does raised beds there? (TM)

– Barnwell parade?

5. Admin + other
– Art grant to make art work on the raised beds at the Daily Bread space
– Go out and put signs up on all spaces and on public edible plants in town (MC): we need a list of the spaces where signs are missing
– Video of garden initiatives – Anthony Carpen?(MC)

Tasks: We are trying out a “buddy” system, where everyone with a task has a partner who checks in whether they have done the task or helps them do it. This is shown below with a “/”, e.g. “TASK Elsa/Ivan” means “Elsa will look into it, Ivan will follow it up eventually”.

If you see a task without a name behind it, or one with names that interests you too, or a trailing “/” you are very welcome to pipe up (admin@growingspaces.org) and lend a hand.

Present: Elsa, Ivan, Rosie T., Helen, Toni

Apologies: Sandra, Marie, Justine, Axel, Alba

1. Cake!
Hurray for many great things accomplished:

2. Current Spaces

3. Potential Spaces:

4. Admin

GS meeting 13.5.2015

Present: Justine, Sandra, Rosie T., Ivan, Toni, Anna S, Elsa, Axel, Helen

Likes: Ryvita Thins multiseed got a thumbs-up

TASKs: We are trialling a “buddy” system, where everyone with a task has a partner who checks whether they have done it or helps them do it. This is shown below with a “/”, e.g. “TASK Elsa/Ivan” means “Elsa will look into it, Ivan will follow up eventually”.
If you see a task without a name behind it – or one with names that interests you – or a trailing “/” you are very welcome to pipe up (admin@growingspaces.org) and lend a hand.

1. Introductions

2. Upcoming events:
17.5. Trumpington allotment seedling swap
27.5., 7:30pm, talk on growing food in water at Transition Sustainability Hacking meeting
31.5. – Daily Bread space building and planting
3.6. WI seedbomb making with talk GS on urban public gardening TASK put selection of gs photographs in a folder
6.6. Strawberry Fair TASK Toni/ in Minutes – ask if anyone has energy to organise – leaflets, signup sheet, plants to giveaway; on the day if it happens: ask people about food and whether it’s plants or not
10am Sunday 14.6.: GS composting workshop
TBA Planter building TASK Toni/ ask at Hub on who in the community has a good location for the workshop and/or woodworking skills to share

3. Upcoming meetings:
14.5.,10am Histon Road Space site visit with Aldi area manager and landscapers (say if you are interested in the space)
15.5., 4pm Chelsea Fringe/Burleigh street planters get-together at MS charity event
19.5., 3:15pm Meeting with council open spaces officers (say if you are interested in GS admin and would like to come along)
20.5. Abbey community orchard meeting (open to all interested)
Next GS meeting (incl edible landscaping skillshare?)
TBA Landscapers and development officers for new areas in Cambridge

4. Thanks:
To Jackie for donating spades!
To Karen for offer of herbs!
To Sochel, Dobbies Garden center, Barhill, for plants for the stourbridge paddocks nursery! TASK Leaflets to Sochel; thanks to garden center and website
To Martin R. and Anna M. for support in getting the council grant monitoring report sorted!
To Justine for organising the Wycliffe weeding!
To Sandra for blog writing and Daily Bread space organising!
To all who helped at the nurseries!

5. Space reports:
Wycliffe weeding and planting
1. Jo, Rebecca, Li
2. Anna S., Sandra, Axel, Justine; weeding, strawberries, Raspberries, signs (good white pen on any wood); cardboard and mulch against nettles or barrier
Date: TASK Justine (/someone from the space, Justine to ask all, Rosie T., Jo, Ivan perhaps) doodle dates
Mulch: Amey Cespa, and grass

Edible Roundabout
Courgettes for green manure space

Girton
Application for use of space is going through parish council meetings

Nightingale Park community garden
– sowed wildflower meadow
– looking for a group of volunteers available on a weekday to fill in ditches

Ashley Court
Marie put in sign sticks and tree spinach

George 4th street
– could do with contacting Hanover Court community gardener for helloes and collaboration TASK
– shade space could do with planting up
– tree or raised bed imaginable where tree used to be

Shelley Row/Bridge Street
– seeks carer; laminated sign needs to go up TASK Toni/
– needs small plant signs

Stourbridge Nursery
Lots growing – to be listed on Plants page
Got donations from Dobbies

5. Tasks:
Daily Bread space will be created on 31st May (Sun):
Sandra introduced space design and will send an email soon with a summary of material and plant needed TASK Sandra/
Things can be brought during the week and stored at Daily Bread
Helen to bring manure and hay, Rosie to bring sticks and soil conditioner from Amey Cespa, Ivan extension leads
Everyone to bring a watering can and some buckets if possible, (electric) screwdrivers
Plants: tomato, chilli pepper, melon (Justine), majoram (Elsa), Courgette, bean (Jessica), Parsley, mint, chive (Sandra), Nursery: Rainbow chard and others (TASK: Helen/Justine to make a list of plants at the nursery ready to be planted)

Box of chicken pellet on offer from Elsa TASK follow-up Ivan/Elsa

Plants web page (Justine TASK Toni create justine, Sandra shows how to use, Axel may look into single page edit/login options)

Anglia Ruskin Sustainable art TASK

Would you like to be a space follow-upper? TASK

County council site – who to talk to regarding their landscaping: TASK someone to ask at reception

Get in contact with new development landscapers/developers TASK Toni/Dawn? Elsa?

web map TASK Toni/

City officer meeting: TASK everyone – any questions to add to this list?
specific spaces
planting in parks
what herbicides do they use
city planters outside stores – policy
county council contacts
tree officer re fruit trees, good locations, and george 4th street
new developments
flaoting planters

International permaculture convention TASK? Ivan, Rosie – who else? Which spaces?

Leaflets TASK

Murray Edwards community garden, discuss collaboration TASK

Growing Spaces meeting at Sandra’s house, 11th March 2015

Present – Toni, Sandra, Rosie, Jo, Helen, Li, Jessica, Anna

Intro to GS – Our aims have much in common with Incredible Edible.

For newcomers; do as much or as little as you would like.

GS seeks coordinators, anyone interested?

GS is largely edible landscapes but other things considered.

There are too many apples in town! Lets ask for other fruit trees to be planted.

There are currently 44 people on the mailing list.

We try to allocate people to spaces. Permaculture zoning system could help with this.

Spaces needing allocation; new space in Newnham with watering trough,  Aldi space, Bridge Rd, Wycliffe Rd.

Forest gardening was discussed as a useful low maintenance option, although it was agreed that common vegetables should be grown in order that they are recognised and eaten.

The purpose of meetings is to do admin, decide what to plant and to coordinate people and spaces.

Grant money is available for plants.

Helen introduced her place as a potential space to grow vegetables as a nursery space which will then be planted out at the spaces.  She and Jo will arrange a work day/meeting.

Anna mentioned students working on spaces as part of their courses.

Other interesting projects; ARU community garden, Murray Edwards community garden, Corinna does school groups, Growing schools network.

Anna interested in education on the spaces.

Transition uses twitter to communicate within the Transition Town network and for publicity to other groups

Discussion on how long someone needs to come to GS meetings before taking initiative and taking action and starting a new project. Sooner is better as you will be fully supported.

Spaces

Sandra to look after Cam Yoga and Daily Bread, which is where her husband works so he can keep an eye.   Justine has created a design competition to engage people.
George IVth street space opposite Camyoga, shade suggestions: rainbow chard, solomon seal, wild garlic.

Group looked at pictures of a possible new space in Girton on Jessica’s phone. It seemed to be in an area near to cars which initiated a discussion about pollution.

Margaret Wright community orchard – Li will contact Keith Jordan who is now coordinating.

Ashley court, opposite CB2 – Marie looks after. Seems a bit overgrown, needs thinking about. Suggestions for colour and interesting shapes: beans on wigwam or trellis, articxhoke, nasturtiums, courgette, brussels sprouts.

Action

Rosie T to put up info re Forest Gardening on website

Helen and Jo will arrange a work day at new nursery

Plant rasberries at Cam Yoga on 21st or 23rd.

Marie to set a date for space care at Ashley Court (and seeing if we catch neighbours to hear their opinions).