Hello, and welcome to our new format for the Newsletter. We can’t even begin to thank Jeanette Doyle enough for all her work to produce this Newsletter every month. She has been unwavering in her work.
I hope you are all getting ready for the Plant Sale on November 14th. It will be bigger and better with some new vendors this time. The starter seeds have been planted with emphasis on the species we know have been successful for the buyers and for us at the Community Forest Garden.
The Open House on August 15th was a very fun success with yummy burritos, muffins and fruit, enjoyed by many. Several new gardeners joined, and previous members renewed. New faces mean new ideas and sharing of gardening knowledge.
I hope each of you reviewed the few By Law changes sent to you last month. We will be asking for your vote at our Annual Meeting September 15th at 6:30 PM. Our Board meeting will be Wednesday, September 9 at 6 PM. Lee Sutherland has done a fantastic job of lining up new and knowledgeable speakers for the year. Don’t miss our member Mike Noble with how to make sourdough bread.
It has been my honor and privilege to be your Club President for three terms. We have done a lot of changing during that time with great speakers and workshops to help us with new ideas for our successes in the Community Forest Garden and our own home gardens. Change has made us stronger. We are active in the Tampa Coalition of Community Gardens, still headed by Kitty Wallace, our garden advocate with quarterly meetings held at a new community garden each time for a means of learning from others. We are more active with the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, with a chair position in District VIII, our District. At least 2 of us attend the Spring and Fall meetings held at area Garden Clubs. We are also a member of the Homegrown Hillsborough, whose main goal is to grow a strong food system around healthy food production. Your Community Forest Garden participates as an educator and provider of healthy food grown by members. Teresa Hall has just participated in a leadership training program and earned the opportunity to apply for a $10,000 grant which she and Treasurer Kathleen have completed!
I would be remiss if I didn’t say that we have received grants from each organization as well as from Tampa Garden Club and two from the Riverview Garden Club.
I will not fade into the background but will still be around helping where I can and enjoying the fellowship of current and new members. We will continue to grow; of that I am assured. I encourage each of you to be active and help make a difference.
Be happy, make a difference in our world, always be kind to each other no matter what.
See you in the garden,
Paula Olesen, President
