The Transition is complete!

First of all, I would like to acknowledge our co-Administrative/Technical Assistants for putting this website together. As many of you know, the Yahoo group was outdated and unreliable. Thank you to Abby and Matt for bringing the garden into the 21st century! I have unsubscribed from the Yahoo group and would like others to feel safe to do the same.

Second, I wish to thank everyone for their patience as we complete the current garden management transition. Unfortunately, this change did not come without some tension. However, all were in agreement with the decision to move away from placing the full responsibility of the garden management on the shoulders of only one or two people as in recent years.  

A copy of our new constitution which details the new structure will soon be posted on the website. In short, the management of the garden is based on a working relationship between 1) the Executive Committee, 2) the General Committee, and 3) the U.C. Village administration. All gardeners are encouraged to share in the management of the garden by serving on a committee and/or participating in the garden meetings.

The Executive Committee consists of five members: Garden Manager, Plot Assignor, Administrative/Technical Assistant, Treasurer, and Maintenance/Tool Supervisor. All five Executive Committee positions are elected for one year terms and all positions are currently filled.

 
The General Committee consists of up to seven gardeners who are responsible for developing garden policy and rules. They meet once per month to review rules, review needed projects, and discuss the affairs of the garden. Currently the General Committee has three openings, including a chairperson. This committee could use some additional leadership and would welcome anyone willing to provide input on garden issues.

 

Various members of these two committees have working relationships with staff members in the U.C. Village administration including the Program Director, the Residential Services Coordinator, members of the financial staff and the maintenance department. My intention is to continue to cultivate such relationships as a way of securing the long term viability of our garden community.

 

Finally, I want to welcome new gardeners and thank so many people who came out on the 23rd for our first garden work party of the year. It was nice to see so many people working together for the common good and I enjoyed meeting everyone. We all get our plots with the agreement that each family will contribute at least 6 hours per year doing this type of work and we had more than 20 people sign in that day. I would like to add that if anyone is unable to meet on a scheduled work day to please feel free to contact me. I am willing to work with a limited number of people arranging a time to fit busy schedules. There is always work to do this time of year. In addition, some creative gardeners contribute their hours by designing and carrying out various projects. Some of the projects that have either been proposed or are under way are a communal healing-herb garden, a native plant garden, a grape trellis, and a communal fruit tree area. Work and expertise in these areas and the proposal of new ideas are always welcome.

I wish everyone a good growing season and welcome people to e-mail me or approach me in person with their gardening questions or concerns.