Edible Forest Garden Working Group: Rahma Clinic

Monday May 9, 2011 6:30pm - 7:45 pm

Attending: Frank Cetera, Alicia Radicchi, Derek Bryant, Dave Greene, Lindsay Speer, Magda Bayoumi, Mohammad, Shafka, Jeremy Newman, Jessica Bohn

Walk out onto site; familiarize with boundaries and surroundings; quick soil profiling (in general, from two test holes, a few inches of topsoil above some compacted or rock/debris barrier)

Self-introductions around circle; Brief review of project, design, and organization for moving forward; we will create three general subgroups that we will concentrate our work within for organizing sake: 1) Timeline/Planting Plan and Phasing; 2) Donations/Resource Acquisition/Fundraising; 3) Outreach/Education

General comments:

Gabriel Design available for viewing/download at http://www.alchemicalnursery.org/news/370-edible-forest-snack-garden-design-chosen.html

Keep maintenance needs in mind and how to get local people involved and to take/feel some ownership - McKinley School located nearby - Magda identified a local mother and child who she thinks would be of benefit and interest to our outreach group.

The clinic is the client and landowner and will have final decision making abilities; Alchemical will continue to act as umbrella organization for coordinating the project development; this committee will function as the working group to implement the project along with volunteers we acquire.

Possible idea to widen garden slightly, or adjust pathways to take advantage of current social path traffic.  Widen to use larger area of lot for within design, even though it may be used for parking and building expansion in the future; the garden/food forest can be "moved".  

Plant trees now in anticipation of future location of parking/building.Put overlay of future considerations onto current design plan.

planting plan and species, as well as general layout can be adjusted as to our needs and ability to obtain materials.  Use as a starting point.

General plan is for site prep this fall - September 10 or 11 as part of Community Ecological Design Training; as well as corresponds to Women Transcending Boundaries Acts of Kindness weekend for local volunteer efforts (clinic was a participant recipient of funds and volunteers last year and should be able to be again)

1) Timeline/Planting Plan and Phasing; Jeremy, Derek, Alicia
Create Overlay
Create Phasing Plan/Timeline

2) Donations/Resource Acquisition/Fundraising; Alicia, Lindsay, Dave, Jeremy
Source possible donations from landscapers
Contact city arborist for wood chips/ logs to line paths.
Grant opportunities including Gifford and Home Depot.

3) Outreach/Education; Frank Lindsay, Jess, Clinic Representative, Rachel (from the neighborhood)
Reach out to Rachel.
Contacts with the McKinley School?
Clinic to help educate its patrons as we proceed.

Subgroups will try to meet over the next 2-3 weeks and proceed with actions (Donations and Fundraising group to work via Google Doc); full group to meet again in 4-5 weeks (via Doodle poll to be administered); general group communications to be via email list Copy & Paste).

Submitted by Jess & Frank