Community Garden – August 6, 2025
7:00 pm Wendell Town Offices
9 Morse Village Rd, Wendell 01379
Agenda
Minutes of July 3, 2025 Meeting
Report on Action Items from July 3 meeting
Response from Moo Butler
Responses from Plotholders with Untended Plots
What’s Going On in Plots, Paths, Cutting Garden, Ornamental Garden
Plotholder Work Requirement Sign-up
Plot Fees Program
Reassigning Unused Plots Policy
Unanticipated Business
Schedule Next Meeting Date
WENDELL COMMUNITY GARDEN COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
May 29, 2025
The meeting was held in-person at the Town Offices and was called to order at 7:03 PM.
Members attending: Katie Nolan, Chair; Josh Heinemann; John Craddock; Emily Maiella; Barbara Craddock , Secretary
Minutes from the last meeting held on April 24, 2025 were reviewed and approved as written by unanimous vote.
Unfinished Business:
Emily will be sworn in as an official Community Garden Committee member when she receives her signed slips from the Selectboard.
Plot usage update: Pam Diemand is now working her plot, #21. Jim Frank is using plot #14-15 to grow squash for the Good Neighbors program. Katie has not yet heard from Dawn Lovegrove.
Garden documents update: The review of the draft plot recovery document was tabled until the next meeting. John made a garden task sign-up sheet for posting on the inside shed door. Emily will send a link to Katie for posting it on our town website. John also updated the plot assignment chart and a colored map of designated plots.
Garden work requirements: Two people have signed up to take on mowing/weed whacking chores. Jim tried to mow but our lawn mower needs a part that has not yet been delivered.
May 3rd workday: The purpose of this workday was to replace water system faucet posts, some of which have rotted at the bottom. Barbara sent out an advance notice to all members, but only the four core members of the committee were present. Josh brought cedar replacement posts, and four damaged posts were replaced before it started to rain. We will check the remaining old posts and replace them when time allows.
Ideas for other uses/treatments for the Community Garden:
~ Maggie Houghton suggested involving a volunteer Pollinator Protector group. Katie will invite them to our next meeting to share their ideas.
~The D section and plots #2 and 45, which are mostly wetter and shadier than the rest of the garden area, has become quite overgrown. The suggestion was made to mow that area twice a year to keep it from becoming a lasting and spreading problem. John felt that mowing would be easier if corner metal stakes were removed temporarily before starting.
~Katie suggested planting fiddle-head ferns in some of the lower plots, as they are easy to grow and can be used as a vegetable.
~Leaves from the Wendell Cemetery can be collected and either used whole or shredded for mulching the raspberry and blueberry sections of the garden. Our chipper is in need of some work.
~Discussion of plants for the cutting garden included zinnias, cosmos and other summer annuals.
~The Permaculture garden still remains without a volunteer group to take over its care.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 PM. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 25*. It will be held in-person at the Wendell Town Offices on Morse Village Rd. and will begin at 7:00 PM.
*Later changed to Thursday, July 3, same time and place.