Franklin Country Master Gardener
Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes & Report from Youth Program Committee
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Franklin County Master Gardener
Advisory Committee
Advisory Committee
The Franklin County Master Gardener Advisory Committee met on Tuesday, March 25, 2008, with both committee members and Master Gardener Volunteers in attendance. This was the first official meeting of the Franklin County Advisory Committee.
Review of By-Laws
The By-Laws define the advisory committee and not the working committees. It is emphasized that the Advisory Committee meetings are open to all Master Gardeners and all Master Gardeners have an equal say in the decisions of the Advisory Committee. Initially there may be more meetings but the Advisory Committee will work towards having only four meetings per year. The option of morning or evening meetings was also discussed.
The working committees are autonomous groups and should recruit their own volunteers. The advisory committee will help out when asked. Each working committee should come up with a written framework for that committee to use and pass on to future working committee chairs.
Changes to By-Laws- it was decided by a majority
of those present to make two changes to the By-Laws.
*Only one signature is required to sign checks of $250.00 or less, 2 signatures are required for amounts $250.01 or greater.
*Only one signature is required to sign checks of $250.00 or less, 2 signatures are required for amounts $250.01 or greater.
*The Vice-Chair position can be either a single or Co-Chair position.
Policies These are the basic “rules” of our organization and should be kept to a minimum.
1. 25 hours per year volunteer hours, with a minimum of 12 hours to extension (10 hours is the state requirement).
This policy is the most contentious. Some members find it hard to fulfill the 12 hour extension requirement, either not finding volunteer opportunities to their liking or finding that the extension projects they participated in are cut from the program. This is an item which will be discussed in coming meetings. If you have any suggestions for projects that might be considered for extension hours please let the committee know.
Items which can be counted as extension hours include:
i. Attending advisory meetings and general membership meetings.
ii. Tours sponsored by Franklin County Master Gardeners also count towards extension hours.
2. 6 hr/yr continuing education – this is a State requirement
3. $10 per member per year fee to State beginning in 2009 members will be required to pay this fee. 2008 fees have been paid.
Fill open committee co-chairs and vice-chair positions
A. Records & Recognition: Linda Johnson & Willi Fausnaugh
B. Continuing Education: Jonnie Geis & Marcia Matthews
C. Newsletter: Anne Mischo & Jenny Taylor
D. Vice Chair: _____________________
Treasurer’s Report
Nancy Peebles opened a non interest bearing free checking account at National City Bank.
$2,497.71 Vegetable Trials
949.85 General Fund
$3,447.56 Beginning balance
Requests for reimbursement for expenditures should be sent to Nancy Peebles, 7636 Lanetta Lane, Westerville 43082. Please include your name, the project name and project number for record keeping purposes.
Budget
Anticipated expenditures – include postage and recognition.
Fund Raising – the pros and cons of Kroger gift cards were discussed as a fund raising idea.
Annual Giving (through OSU Annual Giving Program) - Carolyn is awaiting information from Marilyn Rabe. We are not currently a designated group and will need a group ID to get started.
Program Asst. update
26 applicants have been narrowed to 6-7 candidates to be interviewed by Extension. Carolyn and Juliet will sit in on the interviews. Timeline for having someone in the position is targeted for the end of April.
Committee Reports
See attached file for report from the Youth Programs Committee about the Junior Master Gardener program at Chapman Elementary School.
Next Meeting Tues., May 13, 10:00, Howlett Hall, Room 139
Adjournment was at 2:10 pm
While we have made great progress, some positions are still open. Please contact Juliet (783-xxx/Juliet.taylor@NOSPAMgmail.com) or Carolyn (486-xxx/csmay@NOSPAMmymailstation.com) for more information or to volunteer for a committee or the Vice Chair position.
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To: Franklin County Master Gardener Committee
From: Master Gardener Youth Program Committee
Marlin Languis and Amy Chenevy
Overview:
Beginning in 1998, Junior Master Gardener Youth Gardening Programs have operated in Franklin County under the leadership of Marlin Languis (Class of 1995) with other Master Gardeners for several years.
- St Stephens Community Center - one year
- Central Ohio Habitat for Humantiy - one year
- Ohio State Buckeye Village - one year
- Clinton Elementary School - 2 years
- Chapman Elementary School - Dublin Schools - 4 years
Overview of Chapman Elementary School Habitat Youth Gardening Program
The “Habitat” is a 1/2 acre facility adjacent to the NW corner of Chapman Elementary School, 8450 Sawmill Road, Columbus, OH. Chapman School is part of the Dublin Ohio Public School district serving over 300 students in grades K-5. The Habitat was established in 2001 to provide outdoor learning experiences integrated with classroom teaching, Ohio Academic Standards and Dublin Schools curricula.
The Habitat area has a model of the state of Ohio with flowing rivers, lakes and interstate walkways. Teachers at all grade levels teach lessons and enrichment experiences in the Habitat regularly, observe seasonal changes, study ecosystems, aquatic and terrestrial animal and plant life cycles, and conduct controlled experiments.
The Habitat is also popular place to come to just enjoy nature. A unique model of Ohio occupies about half of the space in the Habitat. It has a recirculating running water system representing the major rivers in Ohio and Grand Lake St. Marys and concrete walkways representing interstate highways in the state.
Habitat maintenance, development and special project work is coordinated by a four member teacher committee and long time Master Gardener volunteer, Marlin Languis. Two students elected from each 3-5th grade classroom form an ongoing Junior Master Gardening club, Habitat Helpers. These students work in the Habitat 1 1/2 hours per week after school during the school year, except during three winter months.
Franklin County Master Gardeners volunteer time to support Habitat projects and weekly JMG club meetings. The Habitat Helper club also meets biweekly during the summer with Master Gardener and parent support. Families in the community also regularly visit the Habitat to study and enjoy its ecosystems.
The Habitat is supported by funds from the school’s PTO and a plant sale and other fundraisers run by the Habitat Helpers. Grant applications have also been submitted to local foundations.
* See below: List of 2006-7 program activities
Report of Current Youth Program at Chapman Elementary school :
2008 Spring Program Begins April 2, 2008
- Growing vegetable and flower seedlings
- Planting and tending an organic vegetable garden
- Building a sand beach at the Lake Erie site
- Developing an earthen serpentine sculpture and letterboxing program
- Establishing a model "Green Dublin Schools" environmental program leadership: Chapman School parents - Cathy Tiffany and Robin Sopher
- Establishing a lunchroom organic waste composting program
- Establishing a community garden (planning phase)
- Spring Eco-Fair May (3rd) including Habitat Tours every hour
* 2006-7 REPORT - HABITAT HELPERS/JUNIOR MASTER GARDEN CLUB AND CHAPMAN SCHOOL CLASSES
with parent and Franklin County master gardener volunteers
Marlin Languis and Julie Stone, 2006-7 Chapman Habitat co-directors
Autumn, 2006: Some Habitat Accomplishments
1. Established Chapman Teacher Habitat Committee to facilitate Habitat development and utilization.
2. Moved and leveled soil in the Habitat area along the Indiana border
3. Edged along interstates and dug several Habitat areas with Mantis tiller
4. Raked, edged and landscaped areas within the Habitat for grass seeding
5. Planted 15 pounds of grass seed and covered with straw
6. Pulled lot of weeds, removed rocks and hauled trash
7. Repainted rocks in Lake Erie
8. Repaired loose Habitat south entrance gate post
9. Took algae out of the rivers and Grand Lake St Mary’s many times
10. Harvested vegetables from our organic garden and cleared the garden
11. Took down and stored the fencing from the organic and conventional gardens
12. Moved and repaired the picnic table
13. Repaired two wheelbarrows
14. Placed 8 new timbers to border Habitat areas
15. All 2nd grade classes - Planted 2 Ohio wildflower prairie plots
16. All K and 1st grade classes - Planted over 200 daffodil and tulip bulbs
17. Mrs. Jerger’s 5th – Placed solar light and Chapman school model in Habitat
18. Dug, relocated and replanted iris bulbs
19. Dug out dead trees and cut scrub trees along Ohio rivers
20. Mulched areas in the Habitat
21. Periodically watered crops and flowers and added water to Ohio rivers and lakes
22. Dug out “C” raised bed timbers and designed rebuilding them with seating
23. Set up worm bin
24. Collected many buckeyes
25. Four classes and HH made Buckeye pen sets, necklaces and bracelets and posters for fund raiser
26. Sold pens sets and Buckeye necklaces and raised about $300.00
27. Wrote and submitted grant proposal for Japanese Meditation Garden to the Garden to National Gardening Association and another to the Dublin Foundation.
Spring 2007: Some Habitat Accomplishments
28. Placed sand to level holes in the Japanese Meditation Garden plot
29. Dublin Foundation grant application funded
27. During spring break, Christopher Johnson’s family and Marlin Languis graded the Japanese Meditation Garden plot, dug the reflecting pool, placed ground cloth for weed control and spread white crushed limestone over the area.
28. Connected electrical wiring and outlets in the Japanese Meditation Garden.
29. Hung ceramic wind chimes near school window
30. With the help of Mike Wagner and David Languis, repaired water pumps in Ohio model
31. Rebuilt “C” bed timbers and installed seating around the perimeter
32. Planted two cherry trees, a magnolia bush, two weigela bushes, two beauty bushes, spreading phlox and dianthus clumps, a hpertuffa planter bulbs and annuals in the “C” bed
33. Built timber edges at Japanese Meditation Garden for the stone and mulch
34. Filled the Japanese Meditation Garden seating area with mulch
35. Set lantern and stepping stones in Japanese Meditation Garden
36. Added light inside the Japanese Meditation Garden
37. Built stand for the rain chain in the reflecting pool in the Japanese Meditation Garden
38. Participated in the Chapman Arts Festival in the Japanese Garden area
39. Book reading, writing, poetry and reflections in the Japanese Meditation Garden
40. Individual student learning projects and interests in the Habitat
41. Placed white river stones in the Japanese Meditation Garden with our prayers and good intentions for the mallard duck family
42. Marked an area to not disturb a pair of mallard ducks in our Habitat
43. Relocated and staked two apple trees so we can mow all around the Ohio model
44. Replanted shrubs from the “C” bed and other areas of the Habitat to better locations
45. Made a planter from an old wheelbarrow
46. Built a compost pile with a fence around it
47. Tilled our organic garden plot
48. Grew vegetable, herb and flowers from seeds
49. Planted our organic garden with 4 kinds of tomatoes, peas, beans, lettuce, radishes, carrots, egg plants, spinach, and 5 kinds of herbs and added newspaper/mulch row covers for moisture retention and weed control
50. Planted hostas and shade plants under the Buckeye tree and other trees
51. Built a stand for our garden sprinkler
52. Put up 17 foot pole and a purple martin house attached to the trellis in the habitat
53. Installed a bird feeder near the trellis
54. Mrs. Wolfer’s class made a bird house and hung it in the magnolia tree in the Habitat
55. Repaired some of our broken garden tools
56. Plant annuals and perennials in the Habitat
57. JMG and science lessons: problem solving, plants, animals, food chains, the environment
58. Organize staff leadership for 2007-8 Chapman Habitat program
Summer 2007: Some Habitat Plans
59. Habitat management - water plants (activate irrigation system), mow, weed control, etc. in the Habitat; maintain bird feeders, etc.
60. Field trips to one or more places; OSU Chadwick Arboretum, OSU Annual Trials Beds, OSU Wetlands, OSU etymology lab, Ohio wildflower planting at Whetstone Park
61. Conduct tours for groups visiting the Habitat
62. Development of Ohio native wildflower plots and other interest areas
63. Repaint Habitat edging timbers green
64. Redesign and set up earthworm culture and learning center
65. Add recirculation pump in rain chain within the Japanese Meditation Garden reflecting pool
66. Study and try ecologically friendly ways to manage algae in Ohio model rivers and Grand Lake St Mary’s
67. Reset circulating pumps for more efficient operation
68. Add aquatic plants and organisms in rivers and lakes and add plantings in the Habitat
69. Implement landscaping improvements around Habitat pumps, returns and river margins
70. Manage and harvest vegetable and herb garden products
71. Carry out JMG gardening learning activities
72. Develop design for learning opportunities throughout the Habitat including a plan for more effective utilization of the “Lake Erie” area
73. Work on ideas to greater classroom utilization of the Japanese Meditation Garden and the Habitat
74. Establish Habitat development and learning goals and projects for 2007-8
75. Work on integration of Habitat resources with K-5 Chapman classroom programs in all curriculum areas and periodic school wide themes.
Posted: April 22, 2008