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The Seedling - February 2020- Vol 1, No 1
While some of our wild neighbors like the Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), pictured above, enter a dormant phase during the winter, CGT had no such luxury this year! Through the holidays we were hard at work moving the organization forward and making plans for the new year. Since November we've welcomed a new Board member, posted two new jobs, extended our pilot "Kids in Gardens" education program, welcomed a new garden site at the Arizona School for the Deaf & Blind, conducted a survey of former gardeners, and continued utilizing our Catch-A-Fire grant from the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona, among many other activities. Read on, get caught up and get ready for a great year of growing gardens and building community with Community Gardens of Tucson!
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Bruce's Bulletin
A message from the Chair of the CGT Board of Directors
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- We’re happy as garden clams can be with the addition of Scott Feierabend to our Board of Directors. Scott, who has worked in the non-profit conservation environmental and advocacy community for 35 years, previously served as Executive Director of Audubon Canyon Ranch, a nonprofit conservation education organization dedicated to protecting lands in northern California through habitat preservation, public education and conservation science. Most recently Scott served as Executive Director of the Tucson-based International Dark-Sky Association. He is a gardener at our Gregory School Garden and a whirlwind of energy. Welcome aboard, Scott!
- We’re still looking for additional members to join CGT's Board of Directors! We’d love to have gardeners and site coordinators who would like to help shape the policies and future of our organization join us. Serving on a non-profit organization's Board of Directors is a great way to give back and to build your resume and professional development. All are welcome to attend our monthly board meetings to get a sense of our work and the time commitment. Please contact any current board member for details.
- We’re planning a site coordinator meeting. Watch for details! We value your investment and the crucial role that you play in CGT's operation at such a large scale (21 gardens and growing!). We want to provide Site Coordinators an opportunity to network with one another, share best practices and to offer you some tools and resources to make your service more effective and enjoyable. Stay tuned and I look forward to seeing you there!
- Mark you calendars and tell your friends: Arizona Gives Day is coming up quick on April 7th and is a great way to support CGT! Arizona Gives Day.
- Finally, I think we’re about done with cold weather, so almost time for your Walls o’Water and tomato plant so get them ready for May munchin’!!
Bruce Plenk
Board Chair
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With warmer weather on the way it's time to start thinking about your summer garden and getting your seeds and starts ready to get in the ground as soon as the threat of frost lifts!
Here's a snap shot of our planting guide for late February. Remember that "S" means " Sow Seeds" and "T" means " Transplant."
You can find our complete Planting Guide by clicking anywhere on the image below which will route you to CGT's website where we also have helpful gardening VIDEOS.
For more information on gardening activities appropriate for this time of year- check out the Pima County Master Gardener program's "Best Practice" monthly reminders: https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/attachment/FEBRUARY.pdf |
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Photo Of The Month
"Trencher Adventure" with Jessica and John!
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On Sunday January 19th Jessica, her husband John, and board member Parker (holding camera) met at Presidio Garden for a "Trencher Adventure," as Jessica dubbed it. It was a cold winter morning and after some initial protest the little Honda engine on the machine turned over and warmed up. The day also warmed up and the soil was wonderful to work with, thanks in part to the previous week's rain. The crew was pretty good too! We even exchanged non-alcoholic, home brewed beverages: Lavender kombucha from Jessica & John; Ginger lime soda from Parker.
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Home owners Charles & Fran Garcia were wonderful hosts (as always) and greeted us kindly before heading in to town to do some errands while we operated the trencher. Next we assembled & installed the PVC main irrigation line and Jessica deftly connected it to the meter at the north end of the property and the valve that leads to the garden. Here's to a great summer of efficient & effective watering!
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Treasurer's Report
"Thank your donors. Know your banker. "
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Wonderful news -and much gratitude! Community Gardens of Tucson has received a generous grant from the Hanna Miller and Luke Jacobson Fund held at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona. This funding will help us expand our impact and fulfill our commitment to create and support accessible community gardens for Tucsonans of all ages, abilities, ethnic backgrounds, and economic standing. We’ll also be able to introduce the joy of gardening to more elementary school children by expanding our Kids in Gardens education project. Thank you to our generous funders and amazing community partner in Community Foundation for Southern Arizona!
Every donation to CGT is an investment in a softer, greener urban landscape and helps increase healthy eating and food resiliency in Tucson. Throughout the winter giving season CGT received numerous donations from generous supporters. We know that there are many needs and even more organizations working to make our world a better place so it is an honor to receive your support and encouragement. Thank you. A big "thank you" also to Board Members: Scott, Faith, Bruce, and accountant Cara for all your hard work in composing, assembling, signing and distributing our annual appeal letters this year.
Still, plot fees continue to play an important role in CGT's financial model. People often interpret a "non-profit" status to mean that an organization like CGT exists for and runs exclusively on good will.
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Unfortunately, however well intentioned and effective a on-profit is, they still have bills to pay (rent, utilities, equipment, insurance, payroll, etc) just like for-profit organizations. Your consistent and timely payment of plot fees help us cover the basics and to continue to grow our mission while staying "in the black". Make sure you're up-to-date today, and Thank you for your continued support! Pay your plot fee here: https://www.communitygardensoftucson.org/garden-plot-fees/
Finally, I want to share a recent change that we're proud of. Last month Board Chair Bruce and I transferred our banking from a large multi-national corporate bank to a local credit union, here in Tucson. This decision was arrived at after a series of inconveniences and poor customer service that initiated a discussion about other options. While discussing alternatives we recognized that banking locally is one key way in which our humble non-profit can foster local relationships with community partners, receive better service, and put our values into practice by directly engaging with our local economy. Just one more way in which we're stewarding our mission, protecting your investment in CGT, and cultivating community.
Bring on Spring!
Parker Filer
Treasurer, CGT Board member
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Upcoming Events
(Keep your ear to the ground!)
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- Feb 20, 27, March 5: The Garden Kitchen
- Feb 27th: Native Seeds SEARCH
- March 7th: Tucson Village Farm
- April 7th: Arizona Gives Day!
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Wanna See more? So Do We!
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Help us nourish The Seedling by submitting your own ideas, content and feedback! Every garden is unique and every visit to it offers a new opportunities to learn from nature and connect with neighbors. While we can't be everywhere at once we can use this platform to share our experiences and observations across the CGT community.
- Got a picture of a beautiful harvest, or a weird insect, majestically posed in the morning light?
- Did you find inspiration in between the Bermuda Grass and write a poem about pulling weeds?
- Is there a garden related event coming up in town that you think other CGT'ers would be interested in? Let us know; maybe we'll see you there!
Submit your ideas/news/events/pictures/etc to:
admin@communitygardensoftucson
Let's see what kind of a newsletter a bunch of gardeners can grow together!
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