Next General Garden Assembly April 14

 














Dandelion Ranch Planning Meeting
Sat April 14
9:00am-12:30pm
Location to be determined

This will be an important meeting to plan how Dandelion Ranch will function in the coming season and beyond. The small group that initiated the garden with the help of volunteers, has established infrastructure and set things in motion. Now is the time for the larger community to step forward and take more of a leadership role. The group as a whole will decide how the garden functions from now on. An agenda will be proposed and everyone is asked to contribute on the Facebook Dandelion Ranch group page.   

Please confirm your attendance using this Doodle link
(if you can't make the meeting, please write a comment with your name on Doodle)

Our "Garden Parties" are held every Wed. and Sat. 1:00-4:00pm.  You are invited be part of our lovely communal garden experiment...

Reminder:  Our Dandelion Rancher John Black will be playing at The Cowgirl tonight 8-11pm

Spring Garden Social

Lumber for our back structures has arrived!!

Thank you Giselle, Dan, Ted, Mishra, Coleman, Amelie, Beau and Louis for your help unloading that monster pile!

And thank you Ted (left) for your generous donation of sturdy rough-cut barn wood!

Iwona harvesting Arugula

Nicholas double-digging Shrine Hill

Giselle (front) sorting seed packets, courtesy of the recent Homegrown-sponsored seed exchange.


























Our new seed bank

Beds have been left uncovered at night due to the mild temperatures

Swahili, the wonder love dog.

The kids haven't yet got interested in garden activities... but have a great time on the other side of the garden gate.

Dandelion Ranch 3/21/12 Community Meeting Report

Meeting was attended by: Iwona, Rachel, Elizabeth, Poki, Dan, Giselle, Joan, Nicholas, John, Mishra, and Kirsten.

1) We started with a round of introductions, asking about what drew each person to the garden and what their involvement has been.

2) We did a REVIEW of the last season at Dandelion Ranch, asking each person: What’s been working for you, and what’s not working for you? Some of the answers that came up…

What’s working:
A fabulous garden and new friends
A looseness in the organization, feels organic
Opportunity to work with hands in the soil
How much we’ve accomplished in just 9 months
Good balance for residents of public/private days… could lengthen hours
Enriching to the residents of the land, and hopefully the larger community
Residents enjoy seeing people at their property
Creating “medicine” to take home
Appreciation for Poki, what he’s willing to take on and commit to, wanting him to feel cared for
Garden as a model for others
No “duty” to work, it’s all based on the desired and will of each person
Possibility to remember old skills and knowledge that have been forgotten
Welcoming and gracious atmosphere
Feels like a blessed project, it is attractive
Possibility to use garden as a tool to create a new paradigm for relating
Possibility for holding classes there
Possibilities for involving and teaching children
Possibilities for trying out more different growing methods
Possibility for coming into balance as a circle, without a few people taking on the “leadership” or doing the bulk of the work
Several people expressed willingness to take on more leadership

What’s not been working:
Faces keep changing at the meetings making it difficult to plan and organize
Committees were started a while back and didn’t continue
People don’t regularly show up to work
Difficult for people to take on leadership when not knowing full system
Plans for larger expansion may be premature if it’s hard to manage the size now
May be pushing too hard to accomplish too much… need to find balance
Need for people to receive/orient those new to the garden
Haven’t contained the turkeys
Certain key people have disappeared all of a sudden… need to reach out to them
Need task lists so workers don’t have to rely on presence of Poki (who creates list??)
Would like longer work times… current hours aren’t always convenient
Poki is not able to continue in current role, and would like to redistribute the energy. He will hold space for the group to discover its next steps

3) We talked about organizing a “big picture” PLANNING MEETING for the garden. This meeting would address what needs to happen to shift the leadership of the garden from the founders to the larger community. The hope is that the group will together decide how the garden will be run, what will be grown, how bills will be paid, etc. There is much to discuss, and it’s important that key people who’ve been involved up to now are able to attend.

It was decided that this next meeting be organized through an online discussion using a Facebook Group. (Since the meeting, Poki has already created a group in Facebook so that discussions can happen. You are all invited to join the group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/331351296922477/
Or go to the blog page and click the “Find us on Facebook” button on the right side under the “Donate” button.)

A draft agenda will be posted, and everyone will be asked to contribute ideas. The date will be set far enough in advance to give people time to plan to attend this important meeting (perhaps in 2-3 weeks from now).

4) Our last topic was looking at what needs to happen in the garden right away (before the next planning meeting). In addition to the usual work of the garden… watering, planting, transplanting and harvesting… these tasks were discussed:

•  Setting up an irrigation system. Kirsten has been getting pricing for purchasing all the parts for the system. So far the estimate is about $190 – 210.  Poki was able to salvage some soaker hoses and installed them in 3 of the beds, so we shouldn’t need as much material. Also, it looks like Nicholas has a lead on additional used irrigation supplies that need to be collected… hopefully we can salvage much of what we need and won’t need to purchase it all. We took up a collection at the meeting and now have $44 toward the irrigation supplies.  Additional donations will be collected by Kirsten.

•  Dan mentioned wanting to contain the turkeys. He would like to get a few people together to help him with this project.  Contact Dan at 505-660-8701 if you can help.

Thank you Elizabeth for organizing the meeting, and Kirsten for hosting and facilitating!


Last Saturday March 17

Cultivating (aereting soil with a garden fork) the beds and removing bindweed roots

Planting flower seeds 

 
 






























Double-digging the new "Shrine Hill"

  

Soaker hoses are installed in 3 of the beds

Garden Parties are held every Wed. and Sat. 1:00-4:00pm

Sunrise Garden

 

(click on image for larger view)












The Sunrise Garden
Keeping you apprised and asking for help.

As many of you are aware, this year we've been having discussions about taking responsibility for particular aspects of and projects for the garden at Dandelion Ranch. ~ Sunrise Garden ~ is one of them and I have happily taken it on. My partner in this project has had some family issues that've taken her out of town for a long period and so it is me, me, me alone.

I have looked over the seeds that Bella and I have pooled together and the design on the drawing here is what I've come up with. This will be a beautiful edible/medicinal garden for all to delight in.

Tomorrow I'll be sowing seeds in trays and will probably be doing that next Wednesday 21st also. What I now realize however, is that the garden beds need to be landscaped and spaced, pathways filled with mulch or gravel put in and probably much more than I'm able to think of here.

I would be so happy to have some help in doing this physical preparation- it would be super to sit down with a group of any size to speak over what will need to be done, how and when. 

Spring has truly sprung and with the thought of this flower garden and the bees who'll be buzzing, the birds a swooping and hummigbirds whizzing- I can't wait!

Warmly,

Carmen        

ravenfeather.carmen@gmail.com  

cell: 505-629-3464 

 

Carmen and Giselle discussing the Sunrise Garden design

Sorting seeds

Turning one of the compost piles that was too wet on the top 1/3 of the pile.  Temperature was down to 60 degree.  After turning pile and mixing in more straw (carbon), temperature rose back to 90 degree the next day, and 110 degree two days later!


















Kirsten taking measurements to price the drip irrigation system

The new bulletin board at the garden entrance to post to do's and suggestions.  Ivanna in the back, weeding one of the beds.

Garden Parties are held every Wed. and Sat. 1:00-4:00pm

NOTE: Location for Wed 3/21 Community Meeting has changed

COMMUNITY MEETING 
Wednesday, March 21
7:00-8:30 pm
At Kirsten and Joshua's house
2119 Calle Tecolote (off Arroyo Chamiso, south of St. Michael's).
Parking is limited. Please carpool or bike if you can.


Directions:
From St Michael's, going South, take a Right on Arroyo Chamiso Road.
Go to Tecolote and take a Left

(click on image for larger view)

Is Spring Here? Community Involvement Needed!!

 
































Take Hold of the Garden!

COMMUNITY MEETING 
Wednesday, March 21
7:00-8:30 pm
At Kirsten and Joshua's house
2119 Calle Tecolote (off Arroyo Chamiso, south of St. Michael's).
Parking is limited. Please carpool or bike if you can


With the Equinox on Monday, we are entering Spring! The seed flats are sprouting and it is time for us to nurture the garden.

Come find out where we stand as a community garden and contribute to the decisions that will form our future. This an important meeting. We have a beautiful 30' yurt space in which to gather (thank you Louisa!) for a focused meeting and Kirsten Szykitka has volunteered to facilitate a fruitful discussion. Please join us!


Directions:
From St Michael's, going South, take a Right on Arroyo Chamiso Road.
Go to Tecolote and take a Left

(click on image for larger view)

















from Elizabeth  Christine
a fellow rancher

Dear Dandelion Ranchers,

As we have enjoyed the harvests, good company and teachings so freely given by our beloved founders of Dandelion Ranch, finding ways we can give back is what will sustain the garden and the community we are growing into. Though magic abounds, the garden arose and is starting a new year due to generous contributions of time and money from those who had the dream. All of us who have been drawn to partake in this dream must now become the resource that maintains its life. A beautiful garden has been gifted. Many hands and hearts are needed to do all that is required to keep it alive.

Those of us who are aware of how rapidly things are changing in this world, including our food system, sense the timeliness of a community garden coming into our midst. It is crucial that we make increased local resilience a high priority... NOW... while our well stocked grocery stores are still in place. Now is the time to exert the effort to establish gardens throughout Santa Fe and build a solid sense of community around us. Our carbon dependency, which all commercial farming and retailing of food relies on, may not last forever. One way or another, we are transitioning into a new paradigm!
This paradigm is begging us to practice new ways of being in community. Collaboration is the ticket and Dandelion Ranch is a perfect opportunity to develop this skill through reclaiming and tending the commons, working together, sharing decisions, caring for and educating the children.

Dandelion Ranch was initiated by people who are inspired to develop themselves and the community through the garden.  For the past nine months, they have diligently built a solid and fertile foundation. A sweet community has gathered, beautiful soil has been developed, and many new areas of cultivation are now ready for adoption by those of us who are called to grow our souls through this joint effort.

Poki recently initiated Gaia Gardens, a larger communal garden in town, and a lot of his time and energy will be redirected to this new endeavor.  The rest of us need to step forward to co-steward the jewel that Dandelion Ranch is... and journey together into the new paradigm. What could be better!!

with love,
Elizabeth

WAYS TO PARTICIPATE

Regular work party attendance. There is always work to be done and we need people who are willing to show up every Wednesday and/or Saturday. This is where continuity is built and when we get to be with each other in the garden.


People to take responsibility for one sub-area of the garden. Poki and Juaquin are available to answer questions and point us in the right direction, but they are greatly relieved each time someone commits to being mindful of one aspect of the garden. This mindfulness includes such things as planning, planting, watering, securing needed supplies, building and picking up donated materials... all the things they have been doing for us (thank you!).

Making a monthly monetary contribution is another way to sustain our garden and community. The garden incurs very real expenses that have been footed for us. (Thanks again, Dan, Giselle, Poki and Juaquin!). We are setting an initial goal of having 10 people who are committed to giving $15 dollars a month to cover the water bill and other basic expenses.

The creation of a garden fund is another way to sustain our garden and community. Money, like compost nourishes the growth of our garden. If you would like to make a larger contribution, it is more than welcomed (you can donate here) If you are a creative fundraiser, or are called to become one... even for a moment... please come forward! The community spirit is strengthened with such ventures. We are currently set to raise the money needed to put in a much needed irrigation system. Come to the meeting on Wed. March 21 to learn more about what this will entail.

Contributing materials needed by the garden is another way to become a resource. We are going to be posting a list of needed supplies for everyone to be aware of. Materials can come from your back yard, the store, a lucky yard sale, sending an email to your list asking if friends have useful things they would like cleared from their property, or spotting what is needed somewhere along your travels and asking for a donation from strangers who have what is needed lying around. This area is where our hunter-gatherer instincts comes back to life! Poki is exceptionally good at this... watch how he works to get your gathering instinct stimulated.

You are a resource.  Ask someone at the garden, imagine, or intuit what resources you have to give to sustain this beautiful gift that has manifest in our midst.

A special thanks to:
Michele, Giselle, Tia and Mishra who have been collecting compost for months already!!

Brian digging foundation holes for our building structures

The harvest is abundant.  Come get some!

Seed flats are being planted

Chickens are now getting organic feed.  Eggs are $5/dozen, available at the garden

Joan and Nicholas with last Saturday's harvest

Carmen and step son mixing soil for the seed flats

Nicholas filing the seed flats with soil

Rachelle, harvesting on her birthday

Spring is here...

Garlic is growing!

Garden Parties are held every Wednesday and Saturday 1:00-4:00PM (in May, these hours will change to 3-6PM)

New Seed-Starting Hoophouse

A 9' x 8' hoop house was built yesterday.  We used 2 layers of UV resistant plastic recycled from a defunct greenhouse operation.  Sides will be added and a small ceramic heater will keep the plants at 70 degrees.  Seed flats will be kept off the ground.

Grommets over a piece of inner tube are attached to the double plastic.  A string is passed through the grommets to hold the plastic taut over the ends of the hoop house.


















The plastic is held stretched over the hoops with PVC pipes, 1/2' rebar inside the pipes and special clamps attaching PVC-rebar to the plastic (see more details here). 

Amelie watering the seed flats inside the yurt (onions, leeks and chives)

Elizabeth bringing more seeds to our seed bank.

A visit from Jay Tallmond and his daughters Claire and Alex, the hosts at Gaia Gardens, the new urban farm in Santa Fe.

Giselle and Elizabeth harvesting greens.



Sundaysand Thursdays  1:00-4:00pm are our regular "Farm Days" at the new Gaia Gardens.  Come pay us a visit...