Meeting Minutes 3/18/09

Meeting Attendees
Alan Steinman – Owner Alan Steinman’s Landscaping
Mike Gorman – Facilities Mgr. Algonquin Regional
Bud Richardson – Custodian Algonquin Regional
John Barry – Student Council Advisor
Diane DeSantis –National Honor Society Advisor
Rosanna Giorlandicco – Student/Art Honor Society
Allison Kenny – Student
Andy Mariotti – Instructional Technology Dept.
Susan Halpin – Nutrition & Culinary Arts Teacher

Irrigation and Utilities in the Area

• Alan suggested we consider an irrigation system. Especially since this area gets full sun and the summer months are going to have less volunteers working in the garden area than in the spring and fall seasons. He thought that maybe a local contractor would consider volunteering/donating some labor and/or materials to keep the cost down.
• Right now we can test the water spickett available that’s in the garden area determine how many gallon/minute the output is.
• Before we start anything we should make sure we know where all the utilities are in the area.
  

Soil Testing

• Soil needs to be tested ASAP to see how much top soil will need to be added. Chrissy Connolly will have her Environmental Science class test the soil early next week hopefully. It would be ideal if the soil analysis results were available for the next meeting. Students will be dependent on the weather and time to complete this.
• Bud suggested that since this area was previously a courtyard before construction that the soil might be OK and not be filled entirely with construction debris.
  

Marking Up Original Garden Architectural Plan

• Alan will provide us several more copies of the original landscape plan as it was done by his company several years ago. Members of the committee will mark up the original plan by the next meeting (which will be held Tues 3/24, at 2pm) so that there can be a discussion about what items we definitely want to keep. So far the items we would like to see in the courtyard/garden area that were suggested by the group in attendance are the following:

• Gazebo – provides shade, place to sit
• Walkway – Brick or another material that meanders from one end of the courtyard to the other.
• (8) Raised beds – (2) 3 feet wide by 10 feet long and (6) 5 feet wide by ten feet long,that will be our vegetable garden with a round garden in the center as the herb garden.
• Large tree with plantings surrounding it, plaques scattered within plantings as memorials for faculty and students who have passed away.
• Butterfly garden
• Small deck stage – to be used for small performances (poetry reading or other small performance)
• Storage Shed
• Compost area
  

Creating the Garden in Phases as Money & Man Power are Available

• Presently we are not sure exactly how much money there is available for this project. Drawing up a revised plan with exactly what we would like in the area is our first step.
• We decided that we have many student volunteers between National Honor Society, Boy Scouts, Venture Crew, ARHS CLEAN, Life Skills students, and Art Honor Society Students that we need to begin this project this spring. Therefore, forging ahead with breaking ground and assembling the raised beds for the Vegetable Garden, Herb Garden and Perennial Garden will be happening this spring. The raised beds will not be expensive to make. Top soil to fill them will cost money though.
• Both the Environmental Science classes and Nutrition & Culinary Arts classes are looking forward to using those gardens as part of their curriculum. Both Chrissy Connolly and Susan Halpin are gathering information about a summer graduate course “Growing Agriculture in the Classroom” offered by Fitchburg State College and Mass Agriculture in the Classroom, to provide training for using the garden as a classroom.
• A tentative work day of Saturday, April 4th was planned. National Honor Society and other volunteers will be notified.
• Approaching some of the other Applied Arts classes may be a possibility for building a gazebo, storage shed or compost bins.
  

Action Items

• Alan Steinman will provide the group with a few more copies of the original architectural plans for us to mark up.
• Alan will be involved as his time allows. We need other knowledgeable landscapers as well.
• Susan Halpin will continue to gather community support for this project by contacting other local landscapers, garden clubs and town departments.
• Diane DeSantis will get the word out to National Honor Society about the work day.
• All members of the group will be on the lookout for funding sources such as grants, or fundraisers such as selling bricks.
  

Next Meeting Date
Tuesday, March 24 at 2pm in room E107.