Steering Meeting Minutes

April 5^th 2004

First of all I would like to say thank you, thank you, thank you, to all of you who took time out of your day to make it to the meeting.  It is so rejuvenating and inspiring to get so many wonderful people in a room and to re-realize why it is important to keep the Community Food and Garden Network (CFGN) up and running. 

This meeting was called to re-focus CFGN.  I wanted to make sure that everyone’s needs were being met in regard to participation in CFGN.  One of the main decisions that came out of this meeting was to create an asset mapping directory.  Please send me your program info and resources to be included in this directory.

History of CFGN/VISTA-  The Community Action Coalition for South Central WI, Inc (CAC) recognized a need for more garden programming for children/youth, seniors and people with disabilities.  A three year AmeriCorps VISTA project grew out of that need and one of the main functions of the project is to coordinate individuals and agencies that work with these groups.  CFGN evolved from an earlier Children’s Gardening Network.  It made since to include all of the groups together and to promote sharing of resources and collaborative involvement.

We are now into the middle of the second year of the AmeriCorps project and we have succeeded in strengthening existing garden programs and creating more gardens for the focus groups. 

CFGN’s main strength is in the networking portion of the monthly meetings.  Participants get a chance to share information about their programs and garner advice and support.  Monthly meetings usually are hosted on a rotating basis and this allows a hands-on approach to learning about each others garden projects.

Some of the accomplishments of CFGN  

• Power of Plants Conference in October 2003
• Teacher and Youth Educator workshop promoting gardens
• Changing the World One Garden at a Time Conference in March 2004
• Increase in the amount of raised beds at community gardens
• Sharing of resources and networking

Everyone was asked to share their highest vision for CFGN

• 50% of  Madison is in green and garden space
• Every school will have a garden
• Collaboration amongst all garden groups
• Raised beds and children’s gardens at all community gardens
• Forum for resources for sustainable living and gardening that is accessible for new gardeners
• Expand CFGN webpage and make links to participants programs
• Cross Cultural Outreach
• Directory of Participants, programs and resources
• Partnering with similar groups
• Having no food be wasted
• Mentoring partnership between new and established gardening groups
• Permanent funding for CFGN coordinator

We decided that the first big step to take was to create a directory that would include participating organizations and individuals, their programs, assets and resources.

We need to engage in more education and outreach about our mission and the benefits of gardening. 

We would also be more effective and reach a larger audience if we networked more with existing organizations, some organizations that we would like to network with include; Sustain Dane, Youth Resource Network, EnAct, Madison Urban Ecovillage, Urban Orchard, MACSAC, Yahara Food Group, Farm to School/WI Homegrown Lunch, Arboretum Earth Partnership, Extension Youth Programs, Slow Food

Meetings~We decided that regular meetings are good and set aside the second Monday of every month from 3:00-4:00 pm as the designated time.  Activities and classes will be offered at some meetings, some possible classes are; permaculture, sustainable living, schoolyard design, enabling garden design, vermiculture, organic apple care.

The summer meeting schedule is

Ø     May 10^th at Braeburn Court

Ø     June 14^th at Frank Allis Elementary School

Ø     July 12^th at Attic Angel Place

In Attendance:

Becky Rogers               Braeburn Court            beckyac@...                   270-7218

Stephanie Zabler             “        “                   

Heather Frochild             “        “

Debi Oberlin                 Attic Angel Place          debranno@...                    848-2732

Julia Weaver   PromiseKids at St. Marks Church  thejweaver@... 256-8463

Rebecca Grossberg      EnAct                           rebecca@...

Nuria Hernandez-More EnAct              nuria@...

Shawn Eisele                Lake Point-Wanona Center out4astroll@...

Lisa Johnson                 UW-Extension              lisa.johnson@...     

Susan Boldt                  Slow Food/Seed to Supper      kboldt@...

Mary Malischke           Westside Senior Center/Sheboygan Community Garden                      mmalischke@...                                                 238-8976

Megan Cain                  various children’s gardens   mcain8@...

Beth Holtzman     various garden projects   mountainhuckleberry@... 240-0511

Joe Mathers                 CAC                            joem@...        246-4730 ext 212

Steve Andrews             CAC                            stevea@...    246-4730 ext. 238

Ashleigh Ross               CAC                            growedibleflowers@...  “    “