Sunday March 21st 2010
10 AM to 2:30 PM
Weeding and weed wacking
Fill in the flower beds in the north boundary of the garden with compost
Planting new orchard trees
Planting in the herb garden in the north west in the Dell
Cleanup debris in and around the green house and shed
Schedule a truck to haul it all away (Dump Run)
Rebuilding member beds
Spread mulch to create a pathways in the orchard

Argonne Leaders Meeting Decisions On Tuesday February 2nd 2010
David Sibbet (President), Kate Boyd (AC Native Border & Treasurer) Patrick McBride (AC Dell & Secretary), Ed Dierauf (President Emeritus), Sheree Kaslikowski (AC Argonne Canyon & Orchard Conservator), and Loretta Juhas (AC Holy Stones).

Mark your calendar for 2010 garden workdays and events: Saturday June 26th Solstice Work Day, Sunday September 26 Equinox Work Day, Sunday October 31st Garden Holloween Celebration, and Winter Solstice event Sunday December 19th.

The $35 per plot fee is due by March 15th.  If you wish to retain your plot, send $35 check to Kate Boyd, 733-A 15TH Ave, San Francisco, CA 94118.

Members who are unable to work their plots due to prolonged absence are encouraged to get acquainted with their adjacent plot holders to maintain a watering schedule.  Ed mentioned that presence in the garden even to just admire your plot is suggested on a weekly basis and reiterated that we as plot holders must act as vigilant stewards of the garden.

Request for volunteers.  Sheree will be leading a orchard program to spray Neem oil on the orchard trees.  If interested, e mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (415) 752-7377
 
Approved new signs written in English and Mandarin to be mounted at all three entrances to the garden.  Welcoming visitors to the garden.  Please do not pick the flowers, fruits and vegetables from our member plots.  Encouraging interested visitors in the community to connect with the garden.

Discussed unwelcome behavior in the garden greenhouse and agreed that putting a door on it was not feasible due to structural and safety issues.

Two apprentice bee keepers have contacted the garden asking if they under the supervision of the San Francisco Beekeepers Association (SFBA) can place their hives in the garden.  It was decided to consult with the school district prior to moving forward with this.  In the meantime here is the policy established by the city with regard to beekeeping:

Our health and safety code expressly excludes the honeybee from the list of wild and dangerous animals that cannot be kept within the city limits.  Moreover, San Francisco does not regulate beekeeping.  However, this does not mean that one should undertake beekeeping without being prepared to fulfill responsibilities to the urban beekeeping community and the community at large.  In order to maintain beekeeping as lawful and unregulated in San Francisco, ultra responsible beekeeping is a must.

A San Francisco School, Willie Brown Jr. Academy, started a beekeeping program in March 2008 in association with SF Beekeepers Association.

Sheree Kaslikowski is scheduled to be featured in the Art on Market Street program with her picture taken in the Argonne Orchard and a picture of her Polish grandmother biting into a peach.

Artist Bihn Danh's work, called The Wonderful Life of Gardening, will be installed from April 5 to July 1, 2010.  This series incorporates photographic collaborations with San Francisco gardeners, including some of those who tend garden plots under the San Francisco Recreation and Park’s Community Garden Program.

Thanks

Jonathan Howland is arranging for manure for compost to be delivered prior to the next work day.  He is looking into a variety of options as it has not been easy obtaining it from the garden's long time supplier Rec and Park Facilities.

Sheree Kaslikowski is purchasing orchard trees to replace those which did not survive this year. She also hard pruned the orchard trees.

Ed Dierhauf replaced the plastic pipe attached to the faucet which had been been off due to a recent act of vandalism.  He also pruned the raspberry bush near the garden shed.  Ed also helped hard prune the orchard trees along with Sheree.

David Sibbet remounted the fiber glass panel in the greenhouse which had been kicked out also due to vandalism.