Hello Sarasota Gardeners!

The Culverhouse Gardener's Meeting this past Thursday was a success, bringing our 35 gardeners up to date on our progress and assigning task forces. Missed the meeting? Well a note describing the minutes of the meeting are available on the Culverhouse Garden Facebook page and were sent out in emails to members. 

Still haven't reserved your plot? Email greenbeyer@comcast.net for an application.

On the financial side of things, here's a look at our assets and planned fundraising efforts in a visual created by Marcia Freeman.

Hello fellow Sarasota Gardeners!

As the Holidays draw near, we have had some generous donations! Another big thankyou to our donors, whose contributions help make our dream garden a reality. Your kindness is invaluable. And for those of you still thinking about donating, here's the updated wish list:

• $10,000 The windmill (Culverhouses donating)
• 5,000 The well (Culverhouses donating)
• 2,000 The cistern
• 13,000 The fencing around the organic vegetable garden
• 4,900 Mulch and compost bins
• 1,000 A Living Tribute – One site-specific tree, including planting and care. (one donated so far)
• 2,340 Tool shed, including permit (pledged)
• 2,500 A county approved recycled plastic bench. The park bench will be maintained in perpetuity.
• 500 A county approved wood park bench and maintenance for the life of the bench. (one pledged so far)
• 400 One weatherproof bulletin board

Can you pledge a tax-deductible monetary donation for any of these specific items? We will recognize our donors at the grand opening of Culverhouse Park, and affix plaques to the structures or items for which you donate. Email Donation Coordinator Marcia Freeman at: otherstuff5@verizon.net about your donation offer for further details.

Hello Sarasota Gardeners!

Another week and another leap towards our garden blossoming into being. Our latest update comes with yet another opportunity for those who'd like to contribute to the garden in a big way: the wish list has been updated! Now we've already got some contributions from generous patrons but there's plenty of wonderful opportunities to show your support for the garden, whether as an individual, a group, or a larger company.

Here is the wish list with both the items requested and the monetary values that would be matched towards their purchase. The donation is tax-deductible and monetary. Donors will be recognized at the grand opening of Culverhouse Park and with a plaque affixed to the structure or items donated. For more information about donating, you can email the Donations Coordinator, Marcia Freeman at otherstuff5@verizon.net .

And below another copy for those interested in our progress:

$10,000 The windmill
 
$5,000 The well
 
$2,000 The cistern
 
$13,000 The fencing around the organic vegetable garden
 
$4,90000 Mulch and compost bins
 
$1,000 A Living Tribute – One site-specific tree, including planting and care.
[ONE DONATED SO FAR]
 
$2,340 Tool shed, including permit [THIS HAS BEEN DONATED]
 
$2,500 A county approved recycled plastic bench. The park bench will be
 maintained in perpetuity.
 
$500 A county approved wood park bench and maintenance for the life
 of the bench.
 
$400 One weatherproof bulletin board

Hello again Sarasota County Gardeners!

I know how some of you have been itching to begin helping with the garden, and I have good news. This week the Friends of Culverhouse Community Garden are proud to announce the launch of our Founder's Brick fundraising campaign.

Everyone is welcome to purchase an engraved brick which will become part of the paved walkway that leads into the organic garden. This is a wonderful way to honor family members and friends while contributing to the success of our garden. Each brick has three lines of eighteen characters for engraving.

The funds collected from the Founder's Bricks will go towards the expenses of creating and upkeep of the garden such as:

-the water delivery system (well, cistern, ect.)

-benches

-the tool shed

-landscaping for the outlying areas of the garden

For more details, please open the attached PDF here (this is also the form for purchasing the engraver brick):

Here at Culverhouse we're committed to promoting sustainable living and nutritional health, to encouraging people to enjoy the outdoors, and to providing all ages the opportunity to grow organic fruits and vegetables. Help us make our mission possible!

Hello Sarasota gardeners!

Another week and the applications just keep pouring in. We're up to twenty-five plus plots reserved and it's barely been a month! Have you signed up for your plot yet?

Our latest project in Mission: Build Culverhouse Garden is applying for a County Neighborhood Grant to cover the cost of fencing. And we need you help to do it! We get the grant if we can raise matching funds through labor pledges by volunteers. Here's how it works:

( 1 ) We need volunteers willing to pledge an amount of hours towards helping the garden. The types of jobs you could pledge for are:

• Rake up debris from first tilling of the soil

• Go to garage sales to find garden tools and 2 children's wagons

• Mulch the 2 main paths and install edging to them.

• Help measure off the individual plots

• Help remove weeds in common areas before and after planting trees and shrubs

• Plant shrubs and plants

• Help install Founders Bricks to form a path

• Organize the tool shed, installing hooks, racks, etc. for tools.

• Help hang sponsor signage on chain link garden fence

• Help make 2 gardening tables with wire mesh bottom surface.

• Help build an arbor

Each hour pledged equals $15 towards the matching grant which will be used to build our fence.

( 2 ) Gather up signatures from friends, family, neighbors on a volunteer pledge sheet and mail it by the deadline September 24, 2010 to:

Marcia Freeman

4668 Sweetmeadow Circle

Sarasota FL 34238

Just fill in the first FIVE (5) columns of the attached Volunteer Labor Worksheet. You just need to sign up for hours right now. The actual work won't begin until we get our grant (in December once we raise enough hours!) and it won't include work on your own plot.

Any questions go to Marcia by email at otherstuff5@verizon.net

With just a little help from everyone we'll have our garden up and running in no time!

Here's the pledge sheet:

What a week! We have so much news here at Culverhouse Community Garden that we need two blog posts instead of one.  Goodness gracious, what's the news?

The Culverhouse Garden Steering Committee has a few more members to introduce and welcome.

• First is Valentina Pippin our Treasurer. She's in charge of plot applications. Still need to sign up? Email greenbeyer@comcast.net for more information.

• Next we have Gisela Vaughan our Membership Chairperson who is taking care of our member's database. This will be essential for inter-garden communications making sure everyone stays informed.

• Another welcome to design committee members Mike Freeman and Jim Vaughan. They'll be managing the design of the 100 garden plot and our water distribution system.

• And last we have our Blogger, Lauren Lussier (that's me) who keeps the community informed via our FOSCP blog.

If April showers bring May flowers than all this rain in August might not be such a glum thing in the long run. Keep dry, everyone.

Our first entry into the Culverhouse Community Garden Blog! This is so exciting.

Those of you who read the Pelican Press may have seen the article last week about the Sarasota County Commissioners approving the Draft Concept Plan for Culverhouse Park and our community organic vegetable garden.

Here's a link for those who missed the article:

http://www.pelicanpressonline.com/localnews/99890599.html

In other news, plot sign-ups have begun!

To get a membership application, email Chairperson Catherine Dente at greenbeyer@comcast.net and fill out the forms.