Minutes from meeting on 12/15/03

It was great to have another meeting again after missing them in October and November. It’s wonderful to know people care enough about gardening and the community to want to talk about gardening on a cold December day. Our next meeting is set for January 26^th from 3:30-5:00 at the CAC.

CAC VISTA ~ We have had our plate pretty full with two big projects coming up that will benefit the gardening community and create more garden space for people of varied abilities-

Changing the World One Garden at a Time conference March 4^th in conjunction with UW-Madison Health Promotion Project and The Community Food and Garden Network ~ We will be hosting another conference this spring with two keynote speakers Gene Rothert, who was the keynote speaker for The Power of Plants conference and Debra Landwehr Engle, author of Grace From the Garden.

We discussed possible breakout sessions, some ideas were- Herb Gardens, Craft Therapy, Food Preservation and Heirloom and International gardening.

We are also working on a project at the Atwood Community Gardens in their expansion area. We are going to make a universally designed enabling garden. We are working with Sam Dennis, a professor from the Landscape Architecture Dept. at the UW. This will serve as a demonstration plot for accessible gardening.

Beth Holtzman asked about Prisons that have farms on-site. The list we came up with Oakhill Correctional Facility, the Oregon Prison, which is next door, and Walmoth County Prison. If anyone has any additional information about correctional facilities with gardens please send the info to Beth.

Ginger Ganser reported that Al Klein, a participant from the October conference, was so motivated by the conference that he went home and bought hacienthia bulbs to plant. Good work Al!!

Susan Boldt gave a report on the Seed to Supper program, which promotes the use of Italian heirloom vegetable varieties by giving away seeds and plants and hosting potlucks. She said that they have had a difficult time getting a conversation going with the sister city in Italy and is looking forward to inter-country trading of heirloom varieties.

Paul Bittorf from Pathways of Wisconsin introduced the network to an idea he has off adopting a garden plot for his clients. Many of them like cut flowers and the Reynolds Community Garden is within walking distance. Paul really feels that gardening will help his clients by getting them out of an institutionalized setting and getting a little dirty.

Ben Doran Focuscorp focuscorp1@...

Theresa Schroeder Focuscorp focuscorp1@...

Cheryl Oertlel Focuscorp focuscorp1@...

Catherine Tissot Muray Focuscorp focuscorp1@...

Paul Bittorf Pathways of Wisconsin

Ginger Ganser United Cerebral Palsy gingerg@...

Beth Holtzman CAC VISTA alumni mountainhuckleberry@...

Janet Parker CAC- Gardens janetp@...

Ashleigh Ross CAC-VISTA-Garden growedibleflowers@...

Joe Peterangelou CAC-VISTA-Foods

Steve Andrews CAC-VISTA-Garden stevea@...