View source for Sunday February 5 10 AM classroom 1

Attendees: Sherry Ibrahim, Sean Sandefur, Bee Wherrell, Jesse Schlenker, Bill ___, Rob DeTeau    

Location of new raised beds and additional in ground plots was discussed.  The Sedgwick County Extension Master Gardeners will have a 20'x20' plot in the SW corner of the garden where it was solarized last year. They will have a tomato and pepper study plot which they will primarily care for.  Produce will be donated to programs such as Plant a Row etc.  New raised beds are anticipated to be just south of the current raised beds with walkways spaced a bit more closely.  A 10' row for in ground plots will remain available between the new raised beds and the current in ground plots.  The poison garden will be located in the SE corner where the blue pool plastic covered weed suppression area is.  Additional raised beds for community crops could be placed between the current community raised beds and the vining tunnel.  

Seed packets were sorted through and categorized by crop type.  

The seedlings Jesse Schlenker has planted are coming up.  New lights purchased by Sherry Ibrahim with hangers from Jesse Schlenker were hung in the seed starting area in the boiler room and additional seeds were started by Jesse with the plan to test the lighting height before starting additional plants.  There are a few seeds for highly disease and heat resistant tomato varieties (Amelia, BHN 571, Florida 91 and Juliet) we plan to start after the lighting is tested further.

Sean Sandefur has contacted Star Lumber about possible lumber donations for raised beds but has not heard back yet.  He plans to inquire again soon.

Bee plans to start some herbs from seed for the herb garden. Sherry has flower seeds stratifying for the poison garden and pollinator garden.  

The possibility of having seedlings available for purchase at the March 25 Maker Market was discussed.  We may also consider freewill donations for the roof fund in exchange for free seedlings (how this is phrased will need to be carefully considered to avoid taxation).  

The solarizing plastic was removed from the garden because it was acting like a greenhouse and encouraging winter weed growth.  The lumber is stored outside the south wall of the west wing by the hot shop and the plastic is now stored in a tunnel in the boiler room.