Minutes for January 2011
EAT Meeting
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
12:30pm to 1:45pm
Wenatchee Valley College Room 5006
In Attendence:
Nadine Lehrer
Michel Wiman with Skyeler
Sandi Bammer
Lihlani Skipper
Blanca Alvarez
Alison Detjens
Joan Qazi
Treasurer’s Report: Current balance $1639.14; EAT Seasonally calendars are sold out! We have been paid by almost all the retailers who sold the calendars for us. Sandi will check in with Pretiolas, Mike’s Meat, and Wenatchee Natural Foods.
New Business:
· We signed Thank-you cards for the retailers who carried the calendar and also a thank-you letter to United Pipe and Supply for the irrigation supplies donated to the Community Garden.
· Community Garden work day on Friday, April 22nd (Earth Day) with 10 AmeriCorps volunteers and Washington Conservation Corps volunteers for the KISS a garden project which will include (if approved by the City) building two picnic tables, two covered compost bins or one and a worm bin, weeding and bark spreading around the Center, and a 24 by 10 foot concrete slab with covered pavilion using 4 to 6 concrete posts and benches suspended off the posts, water fountain, garbage can, and planter boxes. David Gerlach, Community Center director thinks the lumber will be donated by Marson & Marson, pre-cut for building. Blanca thinks she can get a wheelbarrow or landscape rake. Rich Colson will ask the Builders Association if anyone would like to submit a design as community service. Please submit designs to David by February 15th.
· USDA online atlas through the ERS service shows county level data for local food sales, farmers market and farm to school programs, etc. Check it out!
· School gardens update: Lihlani has the approval at Kenroy Elementary in East Wenatchee for starting a school garden. Ground-breaking will also be on Earth Day. Lihlani showed a map of the location protected within a courtyard. Will have city water supply. The plan is to have the student service project group help work with the garden and be involved in the planning. Would like advise on how best to set up a sustainable plan for the garden so a school champion can continue the garden project even if Lihlani has a new post after 6 months. Meeting with Principal is scheduled for Monday.
· Seed donations Farmer Chris Bailey donated some seeds for school gardens to EAT. Joan asked the group if we could use some Eat funds to supplement these seed supplies for any school gardens who request them this year. The group approved this request.
· Farm to School program ‘Fuel for Life: fresh fruits & vegetables’ nutrition awareness days with pilot at John Newbery, Sunnyslope, and Washington Elementary schools. Five hands-on stations with 3rd to 5th graders; one with fruit and vegetable identification—eat your colors; one with complex sugars versus simple sugars as fuel; one with compost and food waste; one with farmer (Alison Detjens) to explain growth cycle of food plants; one with chef Jan Hanson for taste testing new vegetables. Pre & Post event survey.
· Migrant Headstart nutrition program Blanca has spoken with Norma Gallegos about partnering with the Headstart Program to join their nutrition night with some local food awareness. Blanca and Joan will follow up. Anyone else interested?
· WSFMA meeting starts this weekend with Mark Winne speaking on Friday. Michel shared that Kim and Nadine would be presenting at this conference.
Upcoming Events:
1/28/11 to 1/30/11 Washington State Farmers Market Assn meeting at Sleeping Lady
2/23/11 Around the Farmhouse Table discussion about Slow Money investing in local food systems at Farmhouse Table
3/09/11 NEXT EAT MEETING: this will be our annual planning meeting and will take place at Wenatchee World conference room behind FHT. Please come to help us plan out this upcoming year!