So, I guess we'll call the meeting to order. Oh, there she is. Good timing, Jen. All right. Uh, this is the regular meeting of the South Agricultural Commission. It's November 19th at 7:04 p.m. Uh we have a quorum with myself,
Zack Barnett, Deb Humphrey, um Stranger, um starts with an Lita, uh Bert Hansen, Dan Cook, and online is Jen Ditro. >> Hi, Jen. >> Hey, Jen.
>> Hi, Jen. >> Can you hear us? Let's go like this. >> Don't know if she can. >> I don't think we're muted. No, we're not. >> She might be. Yeah. >> Jen, can you hear us?
>> I don't think so. >> All right, I'll text her. I'm just going to just text her. >> Okay, I'm here. Can you hear me? Okay. Sorry. All right, cool. >> It was speaker was off. Sorry. >> All right, we all said hi.
>> Yeah, we said hi. >> Hello. How are you? Sorry about that. >> Well, we don't have any public comments because I don't see anyone from the public here. Um, >> they're in the other room >> in the dark.
>> No, there's some there's a meeting going on. >> Oh, is there Yeah. Um, a couple weeks ago I got an email from um, Diane Gail and she forwarded a thing on federal agricultural grants.
>> Um, I sent this to everyone. It's the deadline for applications is December 5th, so a couple weeks away. Um, it's integrating agricultural education with career and tech technical preparation programs. It's an awful uh
expanding experimental experiential sorry uh learning opportunities such as creating school gardens, developing school-based farmer markets, providing school to agricultural food clubs, or increasing exposure to local farms, encouraging increased consumption of fruits and
vegetables through promotional activities, taste tests, and other activities featuring local products. and adopting agricultural education curricula that encourage the sharing of indigenous traditional knowledge between generations such as native plant
varieties and planting practices. Um there has been a lapse in appropriated federal funds as of October 1st. Grants.gov will still be available but service may be delayed with federal support staff presence. Um that may be
resolved by now. I'm not sure. Um, I'm not sure who we really could focus this at. To me, it's something I know we had when I taught in Springfield, we had we had similar grants, but we didn't I mean,
>> yeah, we didn't have an egg commission in Springfield, I'm sure, but the um >> there were um other places they got like the school applied for it >> and cuz we had the taste testing things
where they would bring in um uh snacks for the kids and it would be different vegetable like from farms or >> it was all pack cuz if it went through the schools it all had to be sent Rhode Island to be packaged where all the food goes through as far as I know
it still probably goes there to um >> Sedex Sedexco has their food service stuff >> but to serve anything in a school it all has to be processed at a certified school processing plant at which is a pain in the butt and it all Rhode Island
was the closest one we had. So, it all used to go to Rhode Island. Then they used to ship it back to Springfield and the kids would have little containers like they would taste snow peas or they would taste um different things, cucumber sliced up, but they would have
an afternoon snack. Um so the school had applied for that. Um that's how they had gotten it. So if you think it's something I mean like that or the that has to do with um
uh any of the stuff where you integrate agriculture with education. A lot of those were the schools did the grants. They filled out the because they have grant writers and school districts would fill those out >> and then they would connect with >> usually it was something like Sedesco
because they had to have it. I don't know if the laws have changed, but you know, uh they used to say you couldn't >> we couldn't run any programs unless we did it ourselves. We did have one that we got where the kids actually grew the greens. We did a greens program that
somebody had gotten a grant for >> and each classroom the third grade took it on and each classroom grew um different greens and then we would invite the younger kids in to taste the greens like what arugula
tasted like and what spinach t when it's fresh. >> So we did do one of those also but all the grants came through the school. >> It does say down here that eligible applicants include independent school districts. Yeah. Right. >> State governments count.
>> Yeah. That's that's I mean we I know we were part of those things when I was teaching in Springfield, but that was 14 years. >> So if the kids grew the stuff, did it have to go to package? >> They could eat it if it was grown right there, but they couldn't eat it if it was grown at a farm. It had to go to the packaging thing first because they had
to sanitize it >> 17,000 times with bleach. I'm sure. >> Yeah. >> You know, we were at um I'm looking at the bottom here. says the grants are 100,000 to 500,000. I mean that's those are some sizable grants. But when we were at Powder Mill, you know, for that
open house >> talking about the green >> to do a green >> Yeah, there's a little disused greenhouse there. Some of the panels are missing and there's a there's a little bit of a raised bed that he didn't the vice principal Chuck could didn't even
know what was planted there. >> It didn't look like weeds to me from a little from from a little distance. But I wonder if that would be >> well I think the thing I read this over when because when I got it from I was in Ohio and but I read it over and I
thought hm but it's to write a grant it's lengthy. >> Yeah. >> It's it's not like hey let's write a grant in the next week and a half you know. >> However AI could probably do it pretty quickly now. >> Oh do they? Oh I don't do that stuff. So >> I just started doing it and it's pretty
amazing what it can do. >> It sure is. But I mean that's the kind of stuff that I mean if definitely we could interface with the schools >> or it says you know um county, city or town governments, right? >> We could almost apply for if we were going to you know donate it all to
something like the school system, >> right? Definitely. >> Um >> um >> I don't know if we're going to get it done by December 5th. >> Well, that that was my >> We could think about this for next year because we may find out about it earlier. I don't know how she found I don't know how Diane found out about it. So,
>> well, it may be the same time of year all the time. Yeah, I'm guessing >> some of those grants are >> um >> I mean they're big competition if they're 100,000 and above because they're going to be bigger school districts and they got it in
>> Springfield because it's underserved and and you know kids don't have ve access to fresh vegetables and that's I'm sure why they got it in a >> um um because we are we service a rural community because we're a regional
school, we might have a shot at it because we we have Taland and Granville. >> And the regional kids >> I know are considered very similar to inner city kids. They consider them regional poor. I don't know why because
it's not really poor, but um like where Amanda lives, that's considered >> the same socioeconomic level as um like Springfield >> because they live out away from everything and the income is a little
lower. M >> um I don't know maybe having a regional school we could do something you know it might include us but it's tough competition when you're competing with Chabe Holio Springfield where there's super high need
>> um I think the grants tend to be a little more difficult to >> yeah I wonder I could contact Chuck Jac you know the vice principal that we worked with at Powder Middle and see if they have a grant grant writer at that school and if he has any interest in
trying to put this together, >> right? >> Um yeah, >> I mean I certainly can do the I could certainly help with the curricul curriculum portion because I can write curriculum and there was something that had to go with it. >> Um >> I had a question. Um is there a deadline
for this? Yes. Um I thought I seen a >> Oh, okay. >> December. Yeah, that's soon. >> Yeah. I mean Yeah. No, it's great that we have that information though >> and certainly next year would be a whole
lot easier if it came around again and we knew we could apply for something ahead of time. It's something we could work on, you know, like even in the summer. >> Sure. >> I mean, >> or we could get >> $100,000 goes a long way. >> It does. It does. There's a lot there's
a lot one could do with setting up a program of a greenhouse program at one of the schools or more than one of the schools >> or summer program. >> Um yeah. Yeah. There's a >> either through the library or >> right >> yeah um certainly would be you know
interesting >> and I've done I've done curriculum for similar things. I've already I mean I created curriculum yeah when I was teaching >> that was very similar. I put together a whole >> greenhouse thing when I taught in West Springfield. I taught middle school and
we had we had a courtyard and we made an interactive courtyard garden. Um and it it incompassed all all the classes, reading, history, everything. Everybody had curriculum that you used in the in the greenhouse
courtyard >> and math, everything. We just made it all so that there was curriculum that fit into it. And the kids, we grew perennials because there was nobody there in the summer, so vegetables really weren't the thing. But it was a huge perennial garden
>> and um >> it worked great. All the teachers used it um that were in our >> It was a pod of teachers. >> There were five of us that all used it and the kids and they loved it. They loved to go out in them. >> Yeah. Yeah. It was a total of $18
million. So that could be spread out quite a bit. >> Yeah. >> Million. >> I mean, you want to talk to see if they have a grant writer >> and, you know, wanted to work on something and even if they didn't think
they could do it for this year, we could. >> Yeah. And I've actually just before I retired, I was uh director of a small nonprofit and so I've actually done some grant writing myself. >> It is. So um and everybody gets so nervous about grant writing.
>> I'd love to learn to grant write. I I would love just another way of telling your story, you know, getting your name out there, you know, and you know, >> are there certain guidelines you have to follow or >> Yeah. Yeah. They're usually pretty specific about what kinds of information
they want and how they want it >> laid out and you know that kind of stuff. >> But um >> so it looks like all that information is on the USDA's website. Yeah. >> And on grants.com. >> Yep. Okay.
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> It's great that Chuck is very um easy to talk to. you know, he's all excited about us working together and I'm excited about the greenhouse project, too. Um hopefully we can get something together for that next year. You know,
>> I've talked to him as well. Um he wants to do something out in the courtyard possibly. >> That's very cool. That's great. >> Nice. >> Yeah. He's very enthusiastic about that courtyard. >> It is nice. >> It's good space.
>> Yeah. My mother used to when she was teaching fifth grade, she would do things out there. She was like the only one that ever did. >> Wow. >> So, what's this grant? D what is it for? I mean, what? >> Just give it to the school to do some kind of agricultural. >> Yeah. I mean, it's got to line up with
their with their terms or whatever, but >> I mean, I'm sure we would have to be very specific about Yeah. how the money was going to be used. >> Small greenhouse behind Southwick High School. I I noticed. Oh, up at the high school, I guess. >> Really? >> I haven't been up at the high school.
>> Yeah, I haven't been up there in years. I forget why I'm up there, but I was like, "Wow." >> Maybe the science teacher. >> Yeah. I'm thinking it's science >> like in the far back. >> So, like if you pulled up to the school >> Yeah. >> it'd be all the way to the left around
the back. >> Okay. H >> and two it's, you know, it's a there's hoops to jump through to apply for the grant. And then if you get it, you got to report on Yeah. how you used it. >> You got to report every penny you spend, I'm sure.
>> But it's a worthwhile project if you can get the money and and do something with it. I mean, it's great for the schools. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. >> Definitely. It' be good. Okay. when you when we want to contact like some teachers there. >> Oh, he's got to contact the vice
president. >> The vice president. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Powder milk. >> And he'll know there's a need for something. >> Yeah. He's an enthusiastic kind of person, so I'm sure he'll Yeah, when I talk to Yeah, just come on in. I'll have to talk to our admission about
it. But yeah, >> uh big one is the farmer's forum. We might want to >> got a couple other things we could talk about first and then >> dive into that. >> Sure.
>> What was the other thing? >> Oh, I got an email I think last week from Norm Chver. What's the other thing I sent you? Um, >> the conservation commission has a charge from the latest master plan to create an open space committee and the select
board, historical commission, agricultural commission, and the parks and rec commission are listed as support groups to make this happen. A five member committee has been established and the first three members have been appointed. The conservation commission has established a draft set of action items for the open space committee to
address. Please review the attached document to see if you agree with the proposed document. Any enhancements will be appreciated. We are requesting any inputs by 12125. If you need more time, please ask. If we have not received any input from your organization by that date, unless you have requested additional time, it will
be assumed that you are in agreement with the document. Here is the actual charge that came out of the master plan. It is action item 3.1 from the open space chapter. Well, those are the other two papers of >> I wonder who the three members who have
been appointed. >> Yeah. How they get three so easily. >> I know, huh? >> I remember when I was um going to apply reapply for the I got the three-year term. Yeah. >> Um I went to the meeting and that's when they were um talking about appointing
members. I was actually surprised to hear about them starting that up. Um but the members were there. I think they got appointed that day. Um but this was >> there an open space committee. >> There was. Yeah. Uh and they did a
report a plan in um this well I think the end of 19 2019 and then it was finalized in early 2020. >> Um and that committee was uh Dennis Clark, Russ Fox, Dave Spina, Dave D.
Delorei, Craig Samuelson, and John Stadiki. >> I don't know who John Steiki is. I Dave Dave Delorey is the chair of >> he's on park next door neighbor. >> Um >> and then what it dissolved or
>> Yeah. And apparently the the state or whatever agency was overseeing it recommended that this open space committee stay active, you know, stay in in place. But the for whatever reason the town said, "No, >> we don't need that."
>> Maybe they didn't have the budget for it. Maybe >> or maybe. Yeah. I'm not sure. >> Um, >> but it's back. >> Yep. And I had This is actually my my copy of the open space plan with some of my >> Oh, wow. >> notes and stuff. I could uh >> You gonna read that all to us?
>> Yeah. >> But I got I have a I have a copy of it I could email to you if you want to look. It'd be good to have. Yeah. And it goes back again. Goes back. >> So, is this 3.1 right here? >> No, it's I think this whole thing is 3.1.
>> I know. I'm like, which one's >> There's no 3.1 here. >> Yeah, it doesn't. >> It's I think it's that smaller print at the bottom of the page. Just >> Yeah, that's what I think it is. Open space. >> And these are the action items. And then
this um this paper right the before. Thank you. That must be the 3.1. >> Yeah. >> Could call that. >> Yeah. You'd think they put 3.1 right next to it. >> 3.1 must be >> Yeah. >> Yeah. You would think
>> so. Like our our role is just to support that committee in any way that they need. Is that um why you sent it to us kind of thing or >> Yeah, we're listed as the support people. >> Yeah, we're kind of in the same genre of
>> I think it's great. >> You know, >> so what's the open space just to keep land open? >> It's just another way to protect land. >> Okay. I didn't know if >> it was land preservation, passive recreation and sustainability to ensure
implementation of priority actions in the 2020 open space and recreation plan. >> And it looks like this page is what they're planning on doing. >> Oh, I get it. I read that thing three times in that open space committee activites activites
activity. So what we need some more baseball fields or >> and recreation >> passive recreation which I mean think means no developing. >> Oh right. So hiking hiking trails >> trail. Yeah but probably not making new ones. Probably just using ones that are
there. >> Right. Sustaining. >> Yeah. >> Well look it says here that they want to become familiar. The committee has to become familiar with the properties conservation and open space that already exist >> and then review the last open space plan
which BERT has right >> manage and maintain open space areas preparing a new plan also. So it looks like you know they're going to >> um >> Oh yeah >> kind of get back in the swing of it. look, read what they did and then maybe
go on from there and then help with the actions that are on >> this paper. >> Yeah. Which is Oh, I see. They have >> enhance recreation, environmental opportunities, preserve working farms, looks like lake protection or pond
protection, and then then the four things they have to do. because these must have been on the master plan, but we didn't have the committee. >> Yeah. Yeah, I think so. >> Well, yeah, this is open space. We
didn't have open space until they just got it going. >> So, that must been Yeah. One of their action items is to create an open space committee, >> right? And then the open space committee has already has jobs from the master plan. >> We're just going to try to preserve the
open space that's there now. >> Do we need to respond to um to Chuck? I mean um >> Norm >> that if we didn't we were in agreement. >> I mean we're in agreement with it. I you know I'll send a friendly email saying
we do agree with everything. >> Yeah. Um, I won't leave them hanging till the end till the deadline. >> December 31st, is it? >> It looks like they need two more members. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Two. It says five member, but they have three.
>> Three is a It'll be a quorum. So >> 115. >> I think that's all they absolutely need. >> Oh, >> it's over half. >> Long as all three show up, they can have a >> quorum. Right. Because even though, you know, we're missing three,
you know, we have three open spots, right? We're still we're still a commission. >> Largest in the Commonwealth. >> Do we know that to be true or is it just something we say? >> It's something we say. I Well, Doug Mglin said it first. >> Well, if he says it wasn't true,
>> that's the next t-shirt I get is >> the largest So, I don't know. I say we, you know, table this till the next meeting so we have time to look at it, maybe get some ideas if anything. >> Um, unless you see anything now we want to add or
>> I think that maybe when they schedule their first meeting, we can have a rep from our um, you know, just be there or just let them know that we're there for them. They need anything. >> Sounds like you're volunteering. >> I can. Yeah, I don't mind. I don't even
know if they are do they have anything scheduled that they've not >> I don't know if they have any meeting scheduled yet or not. >> Okay. >> We'd have to look into that. >> Well, one of the 1.9 we're already doing that of the final film, >> right? >> True. True.
>> Yep. >> Yeah. That seems of the four of them that seems that third one seems like the the one we would be the most engaged in >> with them. Well, if I gave you this, this is just a
an idea. Could you write on this? >> You know what I mean? No. A certificate of uh appreciation. It's a police department one, >> but I think we should make one for the
agricultural committee. >> So, like when people sponsor us for farm day and stuff. >> Yeah. >> Give them one of these with the farm picture. >> Something that they can hang up on the wall. >> JD entered the radiator.
>> I like that. What >> is that? You. >> No, not sure what that is. >> All right. Um, so >> I'll add this to the We have another meeting before December 31st.
And I'm guessing this is what they really want us to to say yes to. I mean, this is I don't know this one, too. >> As as I'm reading it back, please review the attached document to see if you agree with the proposed document.
Wait, two documents. >> Any enhancements will be >> I think this is like their their charge of like what they're supposed to be doing. And then when it gets to here because we're the supporting >> Right. Right. But it >> but I think >> I wasn't sure which paper we were
>> I think this part from the master >> this plan. Okay. >> Yeah. I think so. >> I mean to me they both they both look fine for things that we would be supportive. >> Yeah. anything we would want to add to it or
>> Oh, thanks so I like your idea where we can um like look at it and talk about it next meeting. Um >> you know um I don't think we'll have one in December before the deadline. >> Yeah, we will. But
Oh, so yeah, we'll table that till next meeting. If anyone comes up with anything, just bring it to the meeting, I guess, and then I'll draft an email to them, make changes if we agree with that how it is. >> Sounds like a plan.
So, >> I think that's all the stuff, extra stuff. Um, we did the farm parade on November 1st. >> That was fun. Were you able to see it at all? >> No. Was at farmers market
question. I I actually watched it on YouTube because being the last floating parade, you don't get to see the parade. So if you pop on um >> the civic fund, you can sit and watch. They they did >> uh Chris Allen did the whole commentary,
they did it after the fact. So they did it, I think probably at the Westfield State >> studio, broadcasting studio because it looks like when a lot of times Joe Dee goes on and they do a talk show sometimes cuz I'll watch that. Um >> the channel 15.
>> Yes. Yes. And so they had uh because Chris and Joe Dei did the narration, >> but it was after the fact because apparently Joe didn't have all the people because they all hadn't registered. So he didn't even know who some of the people were in the parade. >> Yeah, he did say something about
>> Yeah. Yeah. He said sometimes they just show up and they don't like they don't know who it is. >> Uh and so they were they try to narrate it but they don't know. So they just there was so many they didn't know apparently. They waited and then narrated it on Monday, I think, after
the parade. And um but I sat and watched it and it it, you know, it was good. >> Um I don't think they had quite as many animals as they because I watched it a couple other years, too. Um and I don't think they had quite as many animals. Uh
somebody said something about the horses. They didn't Somebody didn't bring horses because it was so >> I don't think there was horses last year, though. >> I don't know. But yeah, it wasn't just those steers. Those steers are good looking animals. >> One of them is huge. >> Yeah, a couple. Yeah, those two big
ones. Nice. >> But yeah, you can just go on YouTube under the civic fund and put up farm parade for for this year and it'll pop right up on YouTube and you can watch it if anybody wants to. >> It wasn't the nicest day either. It was blustery. >> Even put tents up at that market. Oh, I
know. It was so windy. You >> should have brought windy and cold, right? pound kite pound kite right off the back of the truck. >> Um the candy corn half the bags ripped open when we threw them. >> Oh no.
>> We had to actually make it >> good. >> How are you? >> Hey, you're rejoining the ad. >> You come in more than 10 seconds already. >> Talk to Chris and we're going to push
forward with that. try to get that APR on that property on Canary Road and >> perfect for farmland. You know, that's it's made for farm. It is farmland. You know, it's be crazy not to at least try to get the APR.
>> Bye. >> Oh, that's a nice backyard right there. My backyard. >> John Wallally said he'd buy it with an APR on it if you wanted to sell to him. So, >> that's great. We'll buy any lands. >> Yeah, we had to get real gentle with the candy corn tosses.
>> Yeah, we were actually trying to make it so the I would tell people holler to catch it >> and if we made it right in they could catch it and it wouldn't break. >> I don't remember one breaking in years past. >> Yeah. >> Well, before they were in like a cellophane like tied, I think. But >> yeah, >> they were in um
>> it was like a small zip. >> Yeah, the snack bag one. >> Yeah. We folded them over and taped them, but >> we're trying to hit grass with them so that it hit the grass. >> They weren't tarproof. >> No, they were not tarp. >> And sidewalk proof, you know. >> Yeah, I guess. Okay. Yeah, I actually
threw a couple AC across the >> We had more candy in uh candy corn this year than ever, and we still ran out by the time we hit the church. >> We got to throw less of it, I think. But we had more kids on the float this year, so of course they all want to throw even more. >> Yeah. >> So,
>> um I don't know how we balance that. >> And then >> stop having kids. >> I'm done having kids. >> Okay. >> And then I I drove back by later. There wasn't a ton, but there's still people left like candy on the sidewalks on the road a little bit.
>> It didn't look bad. It looked like most of it had gotten cleaned up, but I don't know. Maybe we want to think of drive by next year and just kind of pick up after ourselves. >> Okay. Or wouldn't the >> I was going to say the Boy Scouts used to do that when there was the fireman's
parade. They they would it was a you know, one of their civic things that they would do. They would clean up after the parade and they would clean up after the concert. >> It wasn't bad. It looked like someone like people had tried to clean up, but there was still a little bit here and there. >> So, And
>> and it may not We weren't the only ones throwing candy either. >> People had piles. >> Yeah. I mean, by the time we got there, people already had Yeah. piles of candy. So, >> the day after Halloween. >> Yeah. >> Candy was on sale. >> Yeah. Just think all the parents going,
"Great." >> Well, and we could we could always think of something else. Me as the anti- candy person. Yes. >> Well, I just don't feed kids I don't feed my grandkids candy at all. I mean, nothing. No candy anymore. Um I mean,
sometimes you could get uh like inexpensive pencils that say egg, >> agricultural commission or >> the you know, one of the things like uh like the bumper sticker. You guys have the green one that says no farm, no food
or something. >> I mean, it's a great slogan to have on a pencil. Yeah. >> And you know that might be something. I don't know costwise what they are, but they don't break. >> No one else throws them. >> If we had them, they could print them up. Usually if you print up a lot of
something, you can get them, you know, fairly cheaply. >> Um, but it might be >> something different other than candy, especially since it always lands right around Halloween >> and there's buckets full of candy. Um
and and kids really like pencils cuz they're always losing them in school. So >> um you know >> Juliet suggested too maybe through a company like Oriental Trading would there be like little animals or >> something like they sometimes have
animal erasers and >> that you can get or something. >> Yeah. >> Like agricultural commission on >> print does stuff like bracelets. foreign. Yeah. >> Okay. Okay.
>> But I, you know, I don't know costwise what any and but we certainly could price it out way before then and maybe do something different like not candy. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um but something that's promotional to, >> you know, I would love to put on there
no farms, no food. That's I mean that's a great for kids to understand. >> I wonder if that's a copyrighted slogan. >> Oh, is it CISA? Is that any films? >> Uh, you can you can get drunk for print
stuff from >> Yeah, >> have to check it out. >> Right to farm. >> Yeah, right to farm. >> Right to farm. Sure. >> Right to farm community, >> right? >> But I, you know, something I would just
think we could do something that, >> you know, >> I think pencils were going to put some kid's eye out or something. >> Sharpen. We don't >> That would be terrible. >> Uh >> well, and >> I thought it
it's a short parade. It's not a huge parade. >> Yeah. >> And if we have wearing our green t-shirts and stuff, we could even have people just walk and hand them to >> walk along the float. >> I mean, that's a I can walk that even
limping along with my knee, you know? you know, but I mean I think it might be a >> kind of a cool thing to do. Then you present it to the, you know, all the kids that are on the route. >> Um, >> you know, now that we got fancy t-shirts.
>> Yeah. Don't let the kids on the float. >> Yeah. Let them walk along. Hand out the stuff. They got all the energy. >> They could I actually just saw Alex Priy up at Summerhouse. >> Oh, yeah. before. Here >> you can get you can get chapsticks with
whatever you want. Norma >> chapstick >> pens, pencils. This is for imprint that we use for t-shirts sometimes. >> It's all pretty cheap. >> Yeah. Okay.
>> Especially for something if we're going to start trying to get involved with the schools. >> Yeah. doing something that then the kids could have at school. >> Little bottle of hand sanitizer. >> Um, >> it's a little outdated.
>> Yeah. And if we had like green pencils and and had a slogan on them or something and, you know, it would it would try to connect activity with the schools. >> Um, >> yeah. I mean, even make little goodie
bags. Maybe put some seeds in there or >> Yeah. There's all kinds of things we could do. Certainly, you know, that would be different. >> Mhm. >> Get frisbes for 79 cents. >> Wow. >> From the trucking kids up.
>> I did hit one lady with the candy bag. I was just tossing them to the the green and she wasn't paying attention. It was a young woman. Y >> I think I I think I hit someone too. >> The head laughed. I said sorry. Sorry about hitting you.
>> I hope Joe had good insurance. >> Um >> that that hatchway is open up there. >> It is. >> I wonder if all the heat is going up. >> Oh, those are open, too. >> Oh, maybe there's a problem or something. >> Yeah, I don't know. >> Oh, tax dollars. >> So, in the beginning of the parade, too,
they flipped, >> right? Little kid carts flipped over. >> Oh yeah. All the little kids went tumbling >> right before the parade even started. They were pulling out lining up >> pulling out of the bunch of adults ran over there and picked them back up.
>> Nobody got hurt. >> I guess there was some tears but they were fine. >> Um, next on the agenda I just put recruiting new eggcom members. We have three seats open. Anyone knows anyone >> that wants to join. I personally think
we need someone who wants to do social media. >> They don't have to know anything about farming. Nope. >> If if they know something, if they like to post stuff on Facebook and Instagram or whatever, I think they'd be very beneficial for us. Um especially when we
need like volunteers for farm day or you know >> just somebody to keep the website you know organized and >> yeah I don't I don't think um Sage has time to do any of that. Um
so >> and you have to love to do it. >> Some people that's their whole life. So >> they don't even I don't even care if they come to meetings. They can do >> they can do Zoom and they don't >> Right. H >> well I mean we have two we have three seats I think what two are full or one's
full and two alternates >> I think so yeah >> yeah um even if they're an alternate they don't have to come to meetings unless we need them for a >> quorum >> um but yeah I mean if we find someone that wants to do that it'd be great
every time I go anywhere and I see someone do you want to join egg and the answer is usually well always though. >> Yeah, I got the community garden on set like Saturday. >> Yeah, I was trying to get Al to do it. >> Yeah, >> I do that all the time. Yeah. Z, you
want to join the icon? And I looks up. He goes, "No." >> I wonder if there's an area some like that we could target. I mean, to be on the committee, they need to be Do they Is there an age requirement? >> Probably 18. I think it's 18. Yeah.
>> Um, you know, I mean, to me it'd be if there was somebody like who was really good at that at the high school, who was looking to put some stuff on a resume for college or something, >> you know, or going out into the business
world, the great way to do that is to be on a committee that needs it because then they have a whole bunch of stuff that they can say, "This is what I created." And have an example. Yeah. >> So, I mean, cuz a young person, you know, I I think might be more
interested >> probably >> in in doing something like that. >> But there I mean, there's all ages that love just sitting on the computer and being >> there are sure. Yes. >> Um, >> so I don't know if you know anyone who's
chat to them. um master plan action items. We're pretty much already taking care of that with farmers forum that we're going to talk about and we and this open space committee kind of just got added to it. Mhm.
>> Um FYI, The Farmers Almanac, a publication based in Lewon, Maine, will cease production after its 2026 edition, marking the end of a 28-year tradition that began in 1818. >> But this is not to be confused with the
old farmers aler that gets published in New Hampshire. But yeah, there you was a little tangent here, but um there's a segment on the CBS morning show today about the Guinness book >> and you know crazy things that you know
somebody typing with his nose and they do all kinds of crazy stuff and they they're celebrating their 70th year this year. I thought Guinness book went back into I thought it was like hundreds of years >> 1800s or something but >> I don't know. H interesting.
>> I mean, I do remember it when we were teenagers. >> I remember them. It was a big thing. They I mean lots they were always trying to break records when we were teenagers. >> Um >> Yeah. So, hey, just a little side side
note there. >> Yeah. I thought that would be a hundred something years. >> Yeah. Yeah. I >> remember like the old pictures like the fat guys riding the bikes or motorcycles. I guess they're motorcycles. I think it remember hearing a story that it started in
Ireland, Guinness. >> Oh. Oh, >> that would make sense. >> You they have beers and talk about >> records being broke and stuff and that's how >> drunk and try to break records. >> Right. Right. >> Right. >> Drinking Guinness.
Nothing wrong with that. >> I have a quick uh FYI item. The um this Saturday the 22nd is the second annual Wybon lighted tractor parade. Five o'clock in on Montgomery Road I think. And >> interesting
>> Westfield Wman. >> Yeah. >> It's over near the high school or something there. Yeah. >> Yeah. It's kind of up that way. >> Yeah. Past it >> to the right. >> To the right. >> Cool thing to go to, you know, depending on the weather,
>> right? Could be pretty cool. There was a bunch of farms up there when I used to pick up cows. >> I don't know how many. >> A lot of apple farms up there. So, there aren't there at one time. >> It might have been the dairy. There's some dairy farms. Really?
>> There's He's got apples. Kazinski have apples, >> but most of the dairy farms are gone. >> Well, maybe they still have tractors. >> Maybe. I mean, the fact that because we have a lot of farms that were something that are now hay farms. I call them hay
farms. I mean, that's what they they do. They grow hay. Yeah. >> And so they still have tractors. Maybe that's >> they still have the equipment to make, >> right? >> Yeah. >> That's a solac. They went out of business and now they just do hay.
>> I used to pick up cows there, too. That was a trip. >> Used to what? >> Pick up cows there. That was a trip. Did you have uh dairy animals at one time? >> No, I I hauled stuff to the auctions. >> Ah, >> so yeah, cuz I needed a truck and
trailer to do the farmers markets and I needed a way to support it year round. So, and I already had worked at the at the livestock auctions. >> Where were they? Um I used to haul to um Northampton which was but then I started hauling up
to um New York State to Empire the Empire sales out there because they were getting them for their faces. >> When I was a kid I remember my father and he used to go down to the one at Yukon. Yeah. >> Yukon used to have a dairy collection once a year and spring or something.
>> These were ones that that ran every week. So haul too. So um for >> you were hauling. Yeah, for cows, you know, bull cows and uh coal cows, pigs, goats, whatever. And when I first started hauling, there was a Tuesday
option. I would start hauling on Monday, it would be three or four loads um because there was enough dairy farms around then, but by the time I stopped, it was I went I was going every other week because I couldn't make a load enough of a load. >> Right. They're gone business. >> Yeah. Yeah. So,
>> I remember we were both young back then. I see you. I see you loading them up all the time. He's like, "Oh, there she goes." A lot. >> Does Sole not do beef anymore? >> He's got beef. >> But the par Mrs. >> feed them once a day.
>> So the grandparents of like the guys that are doing hay and stuff. They were a trip. Oh, they had the cows were down. You had to go through this pen and down a ramp and down around and down again and
they just would yell and they'd yell at each other and so this is Mike father. >> Mike's father. Yeah. >> Mike's father. >> Yeah. They were nice nice people but yell and scream at each other at the cows and then they turn around and go this doesn't bother him. Like
>> get them in the truck. >> They were they were so great. >> Yeah. They were so fun. with their clean system. I >> guess I love to go in there. I love going. So, >> yeah. When you run a dairy farm, there's a lot of yelling and screaming.
>> Yeah. >> All right. Want to talk about farmers form? >> That's our next big event. >> Yeah. >> I have a quick question. I was watching the video of the last meeting and when you guys were talking about that and um >> people actually watch those
>> people actually watch them. >> Well, I never watch ours cuz I'm always right. >> But I think it was you Zach were saying something about having multiple topics at the forum. Um, and then somebody else said, "Well,
we've been talking about, you know, 61A and and that." Um, >> I wasn't totally >> I would have to watch it. >> It was there and I missed >> Well, we were talking about >> We're talking about maybe getting like a guest speaker. >> Yeah.
>> What the weeds? What do you call them? The ones that were taking over. Uh, >> invasive. Come up with some kind of invasive thing, >> right? But that wouldn't be for this year. It would be for the because that wasn't on our agenda to do >> that was part of the action plan or
action items. >> Right. Right. And there was like three four things there we could bring up at the meeting. >> So I think that's what we're talking about. We talk about the action items doing them at the forum. >> Okay. >> As part of what's the guy was here. >> Normally
when he was here, right? because we were talking about he wanted to know when we were going to do each of those actions and we were kind of picking a time frame. >> But >> but the farmer farmers form itself is like the main one of the main action items. So >> Mhm.
>> Right. And and we could do something not this coming one but the next one cuz that was going to be pushed off. The invasive one wasn't going to be immediately >> because we had like a year and a half to do those actions. Yeah. >> That he came up with. Gave us a year and
a half to do them. >> Yeah. I wrote some notes. So, uh, invasives a year two and then irrigation year three, I guess. >> Right. Right. Because we thought about the hardest to figure out. >> What are we going to do with this one? APR again.
>> This was going to be the 61, wasn't it? That people wanted 61 61 A 61 B. That's it. It's APR. >> Yeah, but it's not. >> You can have a contact person for that. >> It's anybody with land over five acres. >> I get it. That's You can be rated as a
farm if you're only five acres, >> right? But they don't have to farm it. >> No. Yeah. I like when you said in the tape de I heard you say, "Well, everybody in town should consider themselves to be a farmer." >> That's what I mean. The float that like, you know, are you far,
>> you I mean, anybody can farm, but you can't make a farm unless you have like or get the 61 uh thing unless you have five acres. >> Um, >> isn't it more than that? Isn't it 6.7? >> It's five. >> Is it five? >> Yeah, I asked.
>> Five dedicated like not where you live. >> Oh, I get cuz I have six and a half. And that's right. >> But you got to have you got to have um >> it's got to be worthwhile to do it because if you don't have frontage, it's it's not worthwhile to do it. It's not a tax saving because I went down and
talked to the assessor's office and since we don't have frontage, she's like, "It would make no sense for you to do it because you'd save, you know, whatever $40 in a year. You wouldn't save enough unless you have frontage where your land could be sold as
housing, you know, and then it that's the people that save the money, >> right? But they have to prove that they're that they're making at least 500, >> right? >> With that, too. But that come you like I have to sign in for other
>> the places that I rent. >> I have to sign I sign off that I that I pay rent to that person that farm that land. >> Okay. So they can say they make 500 that they got as rent. Yeah. That counts, >> right? >> And that's just for 61A or for APR?
>> That's for 61A. APR is a is a state program when you sell the development to to build on it. But you can also the other guy the guy that was at there was a guy at the farm forum last year who bought some land up near the ranch golf
course quite a bit and but it's all forest and >> so it' be se 61 >> 61B recreation >> I think >> there's section there 61 61 A and 61 B. Oh, okay. >> Right. So, he could do the forestry
thing, >> which is Yeah. >> If he wanted to get reduced tax rate and and if he sold firewood, which I think he said he did. >> Um that then you could do that if you have forestry, right? >> And then our neighbors um the Joneses,
they that used to have Jones's market. >> Yeah. >> They abut us on a back the bottom of our property. He is under the rec. He has recreation on his and so he pays less taxes because he has a space up by
Milliey's even though they had to sell where the water went in now with the drainage but he still has an access. They could actually put a road and there's enough land behind cuz they go all the way down
>> Kongaman Road behind all the houses. They own that. they could put a housing development in. So to save on taxes, they got the recreational signed up for the recreational thing. So
they get reduced taxes because it's considered recreational land. >> What kind of recreation can you do back there? >> He he shoots. I hear target practices. >> Is it only personal? Recreational? Yes, I believe it's personal because I mean they don't let anybody else on, but it's
if you it can be a recreational piece that they do. I don't think they have to make money on it or anything. >> A swing setup or something. >> I I don't know. I'm not sure how but I mean I know it's because I've looked up thing and it's listed it's listed as a recreational >> interesting
>> property. It would seem like there would need to be some kind of public access. >> That's what I would think. I don't know. >> They may let hunters on. >> Maybe I hear hunters. during hunting season. So, and they all they all they all hunt anyways and they all have friends who hunt. >> So, I'm going to guess like you know
some of the guys who we all hung out in high school go and hunt there that know them because they have quite a sizable piece that runs that distance. Um but there's people that have property that might be interested in knowing about that property that
you know could be used and it might reduce their taxes. I mean, the only really bad thing about it is if you sell your property, >> you have to pay back fair market value, right? >> Of the taxes you got, >> right? >> Right. That you got discounted. >> How far back does that go? Forever or?
>> No, I I read it. Maybe it was five years. I did read it because I read through all of the stuff. >> Yeah. But I think if you buy the land and agree to it, >> you don't have to pay it back, >> right? If you're going to keep the designation the way it is, >> right,
>> and and use it the same, >> you know, you sell it under that understanding, >> right? But if he took it and let's say that when his mother passes, Gordon Jones is the only one that, you know, he's there and he's older than I am. So, and his mother's still alive. But if she passed and he decided he was going to
sell the house and sell the property for a housing development, then he would have to pay I think it was five years. It said that you'd have to pay the back difference. >> But if they agree with no taxes go next year,
>> but if they agree to the terms that you're doing, keep it a farm, you don't have to pay those taxes. Right. >> Right. Right. If he did, if he keep the same destination, >> right? Well, even if he let's say they switched it, >> you switch it to agricultural, >> right? You can switch it to agricultural because that was something because we
abut it, you know, that's something that my son had always thought, oh well, if we needed more land ever, you know, we could approach them. >> Yeah. Renting or whatever, >> right? It's woods right now. I mean, it's but it's had the woods logged. >> So, why would you choose recreation over
just regular 61 forest land? >> I don't know. I'm not quite sure. >> I mean, you do have to make a profit with the the with the forestry, >> but they did cuz they logged it. I don't I don't know, but it was listed somewhere on one of the maps from town
that said it was under recreational. >> Interesting. >> Cuz I I had a map I don't know that I got um >> I don't know 20 years ago that they were pitching out and they had printed up this I have a bunch of different maps. So, I have a topographic one for Southwick and then I have one that has
back when they first started APRing. It says whose property is what and it's really a cool map. I like an updated one. >> So, when I think of recreation, I think of like the rec center properties, right? >> Wally park, >> right? >> Or Yeah. But private people,
>> well, trails if there's trails, >> right? Right. um >> recreate >> like the bird guy up on Lumis. >> Oh, Seth Kellogg. Yeah. >> His land didn't cuz he used to let
people all over the land for hiking for the bird thing. >> Yeah. Some kind of bird thing. >> Yeah. So, I'm thinking that might have been he might have had something. >> Does have a bird sanctuary, too? >> Animal. Even wildlife. Even if you didn't have it, if you allowed people to
go on it and observe you know, take a group or a club or something. >> Had signs up there said bird watching, >> right? That might be enough. >> But I don't think that's in anymore. He passed away and sold most of that land off. >> But I mean, that's the kind of stuff I think you could put on it,
>> right? >> But that's why it'd be really cool to get somebody who knew all the ins and outs of the 361s, you know, all the three different ones >> maybe. Yeah. >> And if town people came because some people might want to >> have that designation. Maybe not. You
know, I started like last after the last farmers forum, you know, when this came up >> and people had questions about it, I started reaching out to MDAR and some others uh about somebody who could come and, you know, be the, you know, the expert. >> Um, so I could sort of revisit that and
see who >> I'm wondering if the assessor's office I mean goes you go through the assessor's office >> for 61. >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, we just got a new assessor. >> Yeah. I don't know how happy people are going to be with that person though.
>> Oh yeah, I know. But >> and changing the assessments. >> I don't want to turn it into like a shouting, >> right? >> Oh, it was all over Facebook. the what about this about >> the fact that 50% of the houses are not
itated that I started making you know >> especially if you have older hasn't been visited in a while >> they're going to do all new assessments next year so people's taxes >> does that sound good I mean it's been the fourth >> works for me yeah it's been the fourth
Wednesday I mean I don't think I have any plans that there yet >> but it's Um I have um I have some time on my hands so I can do the agenda and um the slideshow if you'd like. Um so if if you
guys don't have time to do that, you know, usually we do a picture slideshow. >> Yeah, great. >> And um I have the copy of the last agenda. I could just update it and then maybe like when we find out who might be presenting, we could send out a blast
email to all the farmers that we have on our database and then you know um make sure they know about it early enough so that they can plan on it. I think it's January 28th, right? >> I think okay. So I I can do that part of
it. Um you know, put something together and send it out to you guys. Um so you guys can look at it, add to it kind of thing. >> Cool. And are do we decide to open it up to not just farmers? >> I mean, land owner,
>> anything agricultural, not not just farmer. I mean, >> you know, homesteaders I think should come. Stuff like that. Do we put that public like maybe on the sign outside you know um >> like the um you know the the sign in the
Gmail plaza or something or that do we put it out like that maybe or >> I would think you could do that and on Facebook too >> be good if we had some signup sheets so we kind of knew how many people were coming so we could figure out if we're going to do it in the land use room or in the auditorium. >> Right.
>> Right. Oh right. Yeah. Could it could it could be that big. True. >> Um, what I found in the past with like the open farm day and and the farmers form too, you know, we sent out a kind of a blast email. >> Yeah. >> You don't get that much response. But
then if you ask people individually, you know, are the cows coming? Oh, yeah. Yeah, we'll be there. Oh, yep. Cowards coming. Oh, yeah. We're coming. They just have to do an individual followup. >> Yeah. the farmers know about it, but if we want to open up to more people,
>> I I think the people that are really going to be interested are the people who who probably have land but haven't figured out exactly what to do with it yet. >> So, if we want to make that the theme, >> they're going to call it the people that have land that don't know if they want
to farm yet. >> For the farmers, >> don't they get a tax reduction? >> I know, but you got to put a title on it. >> I know. Well, we >> no clue land owners. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But at the same time, farmers, >> they could come in and hear maybe from
other farmers. Maybe you could, you know, answer questions if people had them or just, you know, something like that. >> I could put a couple ideas together and put it out there to you guys and then you can, you know, add add your input and things like that. I don't have all
the pictures from the open farm day though um to add to the slideshow but um >> get the video from the farm parade. >> I can probably Yeah. Yeah. I think somebody sent it to or some video I think I think I
>> it's on YouTube I believe. >> Yeah. I think Tammy Tammy sent it around a >> It did come >> texts. >> Um that's good. Now, another thing, not to muddy the waters here, we talked about
um do we want to change the day of open farm day? >> Emer is that something for the farm forum? Uh >> we can ask them. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I think overall it probably works best. It works best for you, right? >> What
>> the date we do um the farm day >> the third Sunday of August. Um I mean as opposed to what >> a different >> a different day. >> A different reason >> like September or >> people that don't like that day. So we're going to change it.
>> Well, September. >> The other big problem with that is we already have signs made that we spent a bunch of money on that say that date. Third >> third Sunday. >> Yeah. Never mind it over >> that if you get too far into fall.
>> Yeah. >> Then it's >> So you're saying Dan or seven people didn't like it? >> They're so busy every week. >> What are you gonna do? >> As it was. >> It's the last day of the fair is >> I think we originally picked this date based on some of your input. >> So the um >> and some of I think Yeah.
>> Well, we didn't want to compete with Graanby. >> Right. Right. >> And they're what the second weekend of >> Yeah. They're the weekend after Labor Day, >> right? And we didn't want to do Labor Day. And then if you get too far in then you're starting to conflict with >> picking >> with all hay ride all the fall stuff,
right? What if we moved it a week >> earlier? >> Earlier >> only because a lot of there were people who came who said they were disappointed because it was on the same weekend and they had to like split and because their family wanted to go to the Westfield
Fair, too. >> I kind of like having that competition though. >> Yeah. Well, definitely people that said, "Oh, I wish it wasn't the same." Cuz they just like zoomed in at the end and were just catching it at the end because they had gone to the Westfield.
>> But Westfield's also on Saturday, so >> it is. It is. >> And there's going to be something on >> there's going to be something on every weekend somewhere, >> right? Something going on every time. I mean, >> I just feel like it was on um it's back to school and um you know, people are
thinking about that and their last ditch vacations before school starts. But I mean that's just that's every year though. So we have it around the same time >> and it's I think this past year was a little bit more tougher because it was
really like school is starting earlier so you know. >> Yeah. and several of our regular volunteers, people who had been at the first two, couldn't do it because they were on vacation. So, I don't know, should we >> Well, we we certainly could put it on the forum agenda and
>> Yeah, I'll put it on there for sure. Like a question questions to the farmers >> maybe earlier or do you like it the way it is? >> I think if you put it on I think it should be on the agenda and if it's not it will get brought up because some of the farmers don't want to do it anymore. Oh, that's possible,
>> right? Yeah. Yeah, I've heard that, too. I've heard that. >> Yeah, I agree. I mean, it's just it's a lot. And then this just was >> um >> They did a great job though. >> They do. Yeah, they do a great job, but it's um
um I don't know how they were with volunteers. We had we had >> volunteers were difficult this year. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And um >> I think you know we have all these action items from other committees. >> We should have an action item that they
need to help with our farm day. >> Something like that. >> You know, it's not a bad idea. >> Yeah. You know, we're supposed to support them. They're supposed to support us, >> right? We had two ladies in the morning that were great, but they didn't really know what was going on. We set up tents for them and got them going and then
they >> That was my mother. >> Oh, okay. But then they had to leave. So we didn't have anybody, >> right, till I got there because I was a cowards, >> right? So we didn't and we were busy. We still ran the hay rides and we were busy busy. And I took one of the girls out of
the kitchen and set her up, but that shorted me in the kitchen and >> and she all she was doing was she wasn't counting or anything. So we really don't know how many people came through, right? >> Um and uh and then dad got there and then >> Well, no, I called Rachel.
>> Yeah, Rachel was Then I then I came about a half hour later and >> yeah so >> but it is it this definitely was volunteers. So I think we need to make it one of our priority >> way early on be like when we first even start talking about farm days. We got to
lock in volunteers, right? >> We can't put a burden on the farmers. They're supposed to be there to help the farmers, right? Not hurt. So >> you think maybe we should apologize a little bit? No. >> Well, I' uh I just think that it's going to come up.
>> Yeah. We're sorry. Oops. Well, I'm saying get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get ahead of it, you know, apologize before people start talking about >> maybe maybe before before somebody can make a big deal about it. Say, you know, this is what this is what we saw happening and this is what we're going to try to do about it, right?
>> We know we were short staff this year and it added additional strain um >> like that. >> Yeah. >> You know, and it's going to be our priority if we do it again. But people do the people that came were >> people absolutely love them all the events >> and they and they were people that were
repeat oh we come every year you know this is a special thing and they really did >> enjoy it I think they truly do enjoy it >> it's a good it's a good day and they do enjoy it so >> um um
>> but yeah we got to find a way that makes it better less painful for >> for farmers and >> yeah I don't think the farmers have to, you know, put forward any extra, >> right, right, you know, extra >> and maybe I don't I don't know if that's the place
to talk about the date, but then you're opening it up for a lot of, you know, a lot of different >> can of worms. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, >> I know in my instance um with the Calibri, they had a hard time setting up
for the event. um you know um they did a great job during the event. It's just setting up for it and getting everything ready um was one of the things that they had a hard time with because they're so busy, you know. So yeah, >> right.
>> Yeah, it's the same same with us. It's to get those to get that hay rack wagon out at a time of year when we don't actually use it. Get it set up. >> You don't have to do that, I guess, but >> people love it. >> But people come Yeah. People come for that. >> Yeah. And just there's a difference
between between running a commercial farm and keeping it running and having it how you want it to look when you have a whole bunch of people come in and then anytime >> it's going to be it's it's when you're already straight out to then for me to
like have to pull my crew out of the field or tell them you need to get this picking done because we need to take a day and weed whack and you know all of this other stuff. So that that's one of the things that just gets really rough. But I don't know a time of year when it's gonna be less, >> you know, it's just would be possible if
we had >> we had come like the week weekend before that take care of some of that stuff for you. >> Um I mean we got it done. >> Yeah. Just to take the pressure off of you. I mean there was stuff you know we we can do weed whacking. We can >> move stuff out of the way.
>> Yeah. But it's um but that's part of what part of >> Yeah. on our side of it, >> right? >> We want everything to look good. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> But I think that um I think the idea to get ahead of it and
and and own it >> first is a good opening for it. >> Yeah. >> When I saw you this this weekend >> Yeah. >> Um >> I was there the weekend before and I pulled in and I go, "Oh all the
pumpkins are gone. Yeah, pumpkins. >> The cows have been eating pumpkin chickens, too. >> Mostly the cows and the pigs. The pigs went on Monday morning and and they were I thought they're going the first week of November and they pushed us back a little. So, we didn't feed them a lot of
pumpkins. They didn't need to be any bigger. >> Wow. It was a lot of pumpkins. >> Yeah. >> Nothing goes to waste. >> Nope. >> God's like them. I didn't know that.
>> Take 14 14 heads. Yeah. 14 head of beef cows. >> Cuz I know the deer cuz that's a I get some deer >> put some holes in my pumpkins every year. >> They like them when they're green. >> Yeah. >> And they only eat like this much and
then they go to the next >> See if that one tastes better. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I had a bear stealing not pumpkins, watermelons this year. Yeah, they >> we had a bear up and I'd go out there and I'm like another another watermelon is gone and they will I can see it roll
down the hill and then it's you know they'll eat it now. It has to be a bear because if they were some of them were pretty big. >> Not like the bear steal my chickens. >> Well that too. >> Probably say bear. >> Are you are we going to have like a a
time where people can bring stuff up at the forum? >> Oh absolutely. So, I think they like that. >> Yeah. >> And I think having the um reception time, whatever, so the farmers can talk to each other. >> Yeah.
>> It's a good It's a good thing, too. >> Yeah. We'll do food again. >> Yeah. >> It was a good mingle at last year. >> Yeah. >> At the end or at the end. Yeah. Yeah. There was a lot of guys. >> Yeah. We I met some people people stuck stuck around. >> And I think you'll want to talk about
the farm hop. because that was really popular. >> Yeah. Well, that's going to be part of your slideshow, right, Jen? >> Yeah. Yeah. I'll I'll add some fun things about that. I'd like to add uh Deb's articles in there, too. Um just kind of to remind everyone that that
we're, you know, she contributed a lot to the the those articles and made time for the farmers and things like that. And I wanted to kind of put that in there, too. But I know we only have limited time. So just kind of highlight, you know, things like that. Um I thought
that was pretty cool. The articles that you wrote, Deb, that was awesome. >> Yeah. So highlight that a little bit too. >> Yeah. Yeah. And the first one, wasn't it wasn't the cover of Southwoods about the series? >> Yeah. Yep. That was awesome. We said
that you know um we get the whole articles and slideshow but >> the open farm day this was something about >> I still have >> innovation and >> right right >> have like pumpkins or something on the
front of it is that >> I do have copies of those um >> and I think I think Southwood h has the copies the old copies too. >> Oh yeah. Yep. But yeah, I thought that was uh so I'll like I said, I'll put an agenda together and then you guys can
kind of look at it. Maybe we can look look at it next meeting um and kind of decide on a you know, but definitely you know the mingle time and conversations, communications, that's mostly what it's
all about, you know. So that's >> okay. This will be two pretty big topics though if we talk about 60, you know, chapter 61 >> and then >> farm day, >> you know. >> Yeah, we could probably limit that to
like 20 minutes. If we get a speaker, >> you know, >> keep it short and sweet. But >> yeah. Well, and if we could speaker or they could maybe have information like >> to hand out >> so that they could hand it to someone who maybe
>> would, you know, read over the things and if they had more questions could contact that person. >> Yeah. If the talking goes over, you know, the whole thing goes over an hour, people are going to start dozing off and >> Right. Right. Y >> donuts donuts. You need sugar.
Sounds good. >> Um, I actually have another idea. I think we already have a pretty full agenda for this forum, but I was talking to uh a financial planner a few weeks ago and I'm not sure how we got on this. Oh,
I was he was we we were talking about the open farm day >> and he said, "Well, as a financial planner, farmers are a well, for lack of a better phrase, an untapped group, you know, because, and check me
out if you think this is right, farmers don't want to put their money with a financial planner. They they put in the bank, >> you know, get the 7% or whatever banks are paying these days." actually have a lot of excess money.
>> Well, I don't know. I don't know. >> It's all in their assets. It's in their land. It's in their equipment. It's in But I mean, >> it all depreciates, >> right? >> Because I can't imagine that they would have like bundles of it that they could even invest anywhere. >> I mean, depends how your business is set
up. You could I don't know if you have 401ks for your employees or not, but >> it is something you could offer. >> Yeah, I'm going to ask maybe again I wouldn't want to add that to this forum agenda, but you know, but
>> No, but maybe coming up next year. >> Yeah, >> I mean or maybe during the year we can have something I know maybe before growing seasonal things, >> right? >> That might >> Yeah, that that actually Yeah, financial planning for farmers. Mhm. That's
>> That would be an interesting idea. >> Would that be something you'd be interested in or >> do you have time for? You have time for your money. >> Um I mean depend on what it encompass. >> Yeah. Well, I'll get back to this this
guy I know and say, >> do farmers ever even retire? Right. >> No, I was going to say I I belong on that farm site that we you know the New England farm small farms and whatever. >> And I mean lately there have been a
couple that have just they're they're closing it because they can't even sell it. Yeah. >> Cuz no one will buy it because you can't afford to buy it because it's >> too expensive to actually hold a mortgage on it. You'd never make
enough money to pay it, right? So, I mean, selling it isn't >> there was a couple in Grand Mass that and they looked they'd had it for years. The kids didn't want it and they I mean, they had a nice It looked like a nice roadside stand that had
>> stand. They have a um >> three sons that didn't want to take it over. Um and they did take a year off a couple years ago because he didn't get both of his knees done. Um, and she she's just kind of done with it. She has a horse. She is really good friends with
a good friend of mine and they travel a lot with their horses and they do a lot of trail riding and stuff and and Tammy was she was ready to do great time. >> Yeah. So he he wasn't really quite so much but you know
>> they don't do and they do a lot of pick your own strawberries and they need a army of people during strawberry season but it's hard to get all those people just temporary and strawberry season's not a long enough season to bring in H2A or something and so >> it's like Mrs. Calibri there a couple
years ago said, "I don't want to APR my land because I'm not going to hold my kids ransom." >> Right. Well, >> when they pass away, she thinks her kids are they just want to sell the place and move on. >> I I don't >> Yeah, I don't see that happening.
They're pretty committed, but I Who knows? >> No. Right. >> Depends on how the how the business is going, >> right? >> You know. >> Yeah. >> And the economy at that time. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. True. >> Yes. Okay. Well, get back in touch with this guy and say, "Well, what what what makes
you think farmers have a lot of money that they want they want?" >> I mean, we can sell it. >> Yeah. >> Like, I mean, yeah, we can try it. I don't know. >> Um, we put posts up last weekend.
>> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Good call. >> Yeah, we worked on a community garden. We too put nine nine 10. >> I think it was 10. >> Yeah, 10. >> About 12 to go. >> It's getting there. Thank you for your hard work. Thank you.
>> Great. Cuz I know like a year ago I said we ain't ever getting this done. >> This whole new this whole fence post system we have going. >> Yeah. Now we got >> Seems like it's going to last a lot longer. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Those metal spikes that hold the 4x4s are pretty awesome. >> Look at that. That's That's pretty cool
idea. And it's got to last a long time like you said. >> Yep. >> We do need to buy some more supplies. We need more 4x4s, more of the metal stakes. >> Most plastic strips or metal strips. >> Yeah.
>> I don't know. Probably for the spring though. I mean, I don't know if we're going to >> Yeah, probably looks good. >> Ground thaws out. Actually, maybe before the ground thaws out. Well, it's not Subie back there. >> Oh, that's >> How many tenants did we get this year?
>> Um, >> I guess I'd call them tenants. >> Yeah. >> Space or whatever, >> right? There's 2 there's 27 plots and there's generally about half, >> you know, are uh >> there's a couple people who have had plots, you know, right along and now are
not, for whatever reason, not coming back. So maybe promoted a little bit. >> Well, you you talked to that guy sign, right? >> Oh, yeah. George. Uh, >> yeah. Who's all set? >> Yeah. >> And then we had a couple people come in.
They bought like two plots or rented two plots late in the season that I went and staked out. Looks like they built a bunch of stuff there. >> Yeah. >> So, are they coming back? Do you know? >> I I don't know yet. Um yeah, >> with the fence, there was one part of the fence uh on the side closest to the
parking area where the there the vines were actually holding up the fence. >> Enough of some vines, Ben. >> Suite. >> Yeah, we need to The side gate looks awesome.
So, um couple people repaired it or built a new one. The front one definitely needs help. That that other side, the smaller did a good job on that one, too. >> Yeah. >> Built two gates for us. That's >> beautiful. >> Yeah, they did a good job. So, >> I don't know if we can >> How did the water tanks do this year?
>> We didn't fill them up, so we're fine. >> We That's still We We tested, but then just didn't come together. >> The battery doesn't last very long for the pump. We need >> Oh, >> more batteries so we can do like >> Too bad we couldn't get like a cheap gas
pump. >> Yeah, we bought this one though. So, >> I get it. But >> how much did we pay for it? >> I don't know. >> Not that much. >> It's probably beyond the return window. >> You know, 150 bucks or something like
that. It wasn't a ton of money. Or if you know anyone that has one, we can borrow it. >> We have a We have a water pump. >> Mark has one. >> Does a regular hose hook up to it? Big hose. I don't know if that would work because we have to get the water out of the
well. I took about half an hour hammer drilling it. But I had put a hole through this concrete cap, one inch hole. So it fits it fits like a garden hose. That's about it. I don't know if he's got a spot because he got a new pump this year
>> for my yard. We have a couple >> pumps it onto the RTV and he dumps it into the water coming out of the other end of the hose. We have water. >> It does work. If
>> anyone's got a bunch of Ryobi batteries, we just charge them up and bring them up there. But yeah, it's definitely going to be timeconuming. Yeah, we get a a more powerful battery that would >> Yeah, we need a couple couple few of them. Yeah. >> Um
>> I have a couple. >> Do you? >> Yeah. The bigger the 40 watt 40 volt the bigger ones for the lawnmowers, things like that. >> These are the 18 volts, I think. >> We have two because we have the weed
whacker. >> Okay. Yeah. I think my father-in-law has a couple. I mean, if we just show up there with like five 10 batteries, we could probably fill at least one tank up. >> Back, but we we're going have to wait till the spring for that anyway. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I was going to say we just emptied our tanks because I don't want them
freezing. >> We just emptied them all out. >> But yeah, I mean, the pump itself works fine. It's just it eats the batteries. >> Ah, >> well, and maybe we can do something where we promote it more. If we had a person who did the, you know, a tech
person, >> we could promote the garden more and maybe get more people. >> Yeah. >> Interested. >> So, we have a bunch of money in our gift account, which is I believe that's where the farm the garden money goes into, right?
>> Yeah. With the the rental Yeah. the rent that people play. We >> actually have quite a bit of money in there. I think like $3,000 right now. So, >> yeah. Um I think we can spend that on the garden if you need to. Yeah, I would think some better
advertising maybe for people to know that we could advertise, you know. I mean people move to town or people don't know about it and >> you know like earlier well if we did something like I had mentioned that they had on my daughters where they had a um
an open seed planting day for people >> to like you teach a class and they had it at you weren't here but they had it at Manda's um they have like a like we have a civic fund they have a community thing where they have the old fire
station and it's the community building and they had a the woman who runs it had a thing where people just people in town donated extra seed and old pots and whatever and soil. She bought a few things and then they had a planting day
and for it was open the building was open and you could just come in and plant whatever you wanted and take it with you. it people were in and out for like the three-hour period >> and anybody who needed help, you know, there were people that could help you or explain something.
>> Um, I mean, that's the kind of thing that you promote the garden, the community garden at the same time. You know, if you want to start your seeds ahead, you could do that. And um you know it it heard I couldn't believe
Amanda has a town of 2,000 people and she said it was mobbed >> really well attended um you know for people to come. They just wanted some people just wanted to do a few planters or pots or something for vegetables but you didn't want to buy a whole package
of seeds. You could just you know like they tried a lot of different stuff. Maybe Amanda did six of like this or 10 of this they where she wouldn't have to buy all the seeds. Yeah. >> And um that's how they planted their garden this year was all from all those
seeds that they had gotten at the planting day. >> But that's the kind of thing if you had something like that, you'd also be promoting >> the community garden that if people didn't have a place, we have a community garden that you can rent a space and
>> we could have an event there in the spring. >> Something like that. >> We could. It'd be a little >> It's very wet there in the >> chilly, >> you know, because when you start planting certain things. Yeah. >> We start uh March 1st a lot of stuff,
>> but then you might even have two because we do two basic things where we start >> like onions and all the other stuff that take a long time and then later on we start like the zucchini and the >> pumpkins and all that. I'd start those
later. I don't turn them all at the same time because that'd be too early, but you could have two sessions where to, you know, how to what to plant now and start your seeds and then what to plant later. But people that just want to have little gardens
>> so maybe have something at the library. >> It's kind of messy. >> No, maybe like they can go home and do it, but we give them the information they need to do this. >> That's possible. But I mean, I think that the reason it was so successful is because it was hands-on >> and everybody brought their kids and and
you were making a mess somewhere other than your house. >> Yeah. >> Which is great. If you go there and you know that you can pick up some used pots and and they I think the only thing they bought was like the potting mix >> and and a few packages of seeds, but the library has
>> they have the seed >> the seed catalog so that people could get seeds. And um but the thing is it's cold when you're doing those first seeds. The second one wouldn't be bad, but the first seeds March 1st, it could be snow. >> Where could we do that?
>> Um well, I was wondering if if I talked to Joe Dee and maybe he'd let us do it at the meeting house, the Methodist church. >> Oh yeah, >> it's a community event. It's a >> he could help promote it too. He should be promoting things. But I mean that's
part of the civic fund is that it should be bringing community together. I mean I've never attended one of their meetings, but >> I mean that's what it's about. >> Community events. >> And so I thought at least they have an inside area
>> and it's easily cleaned up cuz it's tile floor. So that if you set something like that up. >> What the church right over here? >> The Methodist is the meeting house down by us. by it's not a church anymore. >> Right. Right. But it's called South.
It's called the Southwood Meeting House now. And the Civic Fund owns it. So >> they own the three buildings on the property >> by the food pantry. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. >> Okay. >> Right. Fund from you. >> Yeah. No, just right down the street. Yeah. But it's a nice place and it would
also promote the facility because he rents the facility >> to other groups, you know, like if you want a birthday party or something, you could rent it um for the day. >> Um and he does like the new band nights on Thursday nights where people get
together and Dennis goes, Clark goes and I've been to a few concerts there. Um and he does the Thanksgiving dinner there now. And >> so it's it's one of those things that maybe he'd be willing to let us do
something cuz that's, >> you know, committees working with other organizations in town, >> right? >> Master plan stuff that, you know, we'd be joining forces, >> but it's a place you could be indoors, >> there's bathrooms,
>> you could sweep up the mess afterwards, and it's not like you're doing it in the library where there's carpeting, >> you know, that kind of stuff. Yeah, but we could promote the library and maybe have them ring some of the stuff from the catalog or something so that they could say,
>> you know, the library could say, "These are from the library if you want more seeds." And, >> you know, it's one of those things where maybe we could get a bunch of different groups together. >> Yeah. Yeah. and to do it. But it's it I mean I can't believe how well it went over Amanda's way. And I'm thinking if they can do it
in a little town with 2,000 people. >> Mhm. >> I would think there'd be people that'd be interested in especially in an economy where maybe they want to grow some people want to grow tomatoes or something and they're involved in a pot. >> H >> what did you call the event?
>> They called just it was >> seed planting. >> Seed Yeah. Yeah. A seed planting event. I my neighbor's son still has his uh pea seeds from >> from the open house. He's so excited
about it. He's like, "What do I do now?" >> That's awesome. >> It's a great event that you could >> bring all ages together. Seniors could plant it if he just wanted to do a pot or two of something for the patio. >> You can sign people up for the garden right there. >> Yeah, sure.
>> Yeah. It just seems like a tie. Jen, did your son get any peas? >> Oh, it was my neighbor's son. Yeah, he actually did. And he doesn't like vegetables, but he ate them. >> So, it was good. >> He eats chicken nuggets and fries all the time, but he ate the peas. It was
like I think it was like his hard work paid off, so it was good. >> Picking them and eating them. They won't eat them if we serve them, but if they pick it their own, >> right? >> Exactly. Yeah. They work hard for it. So, >> become a cool community event. It's >> that people could
>> and that adds to an action item, >> right? They would look forward >> taking their kids to it. It's also something in the spring where there's not a lot of >> activities that are free that you can take your children to. >> So, I think after the farmers forum, we should start planning that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Because I I I think realistically we could do if one was good, we could do two, you know, at different times for different plantings. But I do think it'd be a great way to promote the garden, >> teach them you know, some things about planting. Yeah.
>> Um, and I mean, it's just so people can >> plant a few things in their yard. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> We got to get the kids the kids hooked on it if they're going to support farms. They have to they have to at least be invested in it. >> Um,
>> at least know what a seed is. >> Yes. Yes. Well, but it also would touch on things that we might see the kids at school if we were doing a program at school. then they would know that, you know, there's a seed planting event going on and
>> great idea. >> I'll keep my eyes open for Joe Dei. If I see him around, I'll nail him and see if Sometimes you just see him places, you know, and it's like >> you can always go to more. >> I I could I could
>> Who's in charge of the master plan? Is it Norm? >> Yeah. Norm Chver. Yeah. >> So, since we're a supporting commission, we're supposed to have other supporting commissions. Maybe we should go through him >> so he can like kind of assign or delegate other commissions to actually
help us. >> You know, it's in the master plan. >> Let's put that plan to use. Um, >> I like that. I mean, I did like um uh Ena's suggestion of going to >> Well, that that I just had that same thought like >> Yeah.
>> Um she she mentioned it and it's it's basically in writing, you know, we're supposed to have supporting >> committee missions. >> Um we're not the only one supporting others. I think others are supposed to support us as well. >> Of course. Definitely.
>> Sounds like it should work that way. >> With a big event like farm day, they should be helping us, but we need to make a point of, you know, >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, >> good idea. >> Yeah. I'll start pinging normiever more
then. Um I mean, could they help out with the farmer's forum as well? >> Do we have any use for other commissions or committees with the farmer's forum? H. >> Could we use one of them to do if MR
isn't doesn't have anyone for us? Um, is there anyone else we could use from another commission for a speaker? >> Yep. >> Someone on the conservation. >> Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Sabrina maybe or >> friend Dave.
>> Yep. The the land trust. Is that what he's in? Um but yeah, is he on land trust? Yeah. Yeah, he's on land trust. Or um >> Oh, Dave Mc Williams. >> Yeah. >> Oh, even Dennis. I mean, he's a wealth
of knowledge. >> But he does. He's into everything. So, >> I mean, sure, he's got a good topic, but is he willing to do it? >> I don't know. Busy. He's pretty busy. >> He's very busy. He looked like he was falling asleep.
Um, hopefully we're pretty good, right? I >> think we went through the agenda. >> Do we want to have another meeting before our next meeting? >> Well, let's just work on the meeting. >> Work on the A workstation for the
farmers forum. Do we need it? That'd be >> I mean the biggest thing is getting see finding a speaker that's on the 61 stuff. >> Yeah. Or something else if we can't pin that down. >> Um do we have like a backup plan?
>> It's that overly complicated. I went on and read all about it. >> Yeah. I mean >> and it it was fairly clear, you know. I don't know what kind of questions people would have that they would have. someone who does this for a living or >> right be able to >> um
who I was wondering Mrs. Gore who used to be our assessor who just retired. >> Mhm. >> Maybe >> she would know all about it and everybody likes her. I mean
>> Yeah. It's not like it's a new person nobody knows. Anybody who's been in that office knows her. >> Yeah. I mean, she I wonder if >> I don't know her. Do you? >> No, I do. Yeah. Yeah. Her husband was on the fire department. What's going on? >> Guy's named Ted something.
>> I don't know. But somebody like that would have enough even if let's say she didn't want to do the whole presentation if I wouldn't mind doing the presentation part from just, you know, going over what each one is. And you
know, maybe Jen could help me with a PowerPoint or something, you know, so that we could have a simplified >> presentation of what they are, but then have somebody like her there that maybe could field questions that we might not know the answers to because they had to
have done that. >> You want to set that up as a backup plan? >> Let me call her and see if she'd even be interested >> on it because she What's her first name? I can't remember. >> Okay. >> Mrs. Mrs. Mrs. Fredgore. I know her
husband better. >> Yeah. Mrs. Fred Gore. That's >> But I mean, she's she's nice and easy to work with and always was a wealth of information when I asked >> Sue. Is it Sue? >> Could be. Could be. >> Yeah.
>> So, in terms of next I'm just looking at my calendar here. So our next regular meeting as which is on the agenda uh December 10th the December 3rd is a Wednesday and you of course we got Thanksgiving in few days
>> 27th >> 11th so we probably don't want to do it next week that would leave the 3. >> What if we what if we met on our regular meeting and then see what we've come I'll try to get a hold of Mrs. for and
you know if we could get her then we might >> do a work session after that. >> We still have another regular meeting on the 14th >> of January, >> right? We still have two meetings. >> And we could stick another meeting in between if we had to. I don't think we
need to yet. >> Yeah. Yeah. if you guys agree. >> I'll work on everything um this week and I'll get it out to you guys and then um any feedback um like I was um if you guys have any photos that you want to put on the
slideshow, you know, for background like we usually do. Um I do have some from the parade um that you sent me, Zach, which was cool. Um you know, things like that. But um I think we have pictures. The only thing I
didn't get pictures of was uh the table we had at the open house which I was like, "Oh no, it was great table that we put together." But um but I did get pictures of too the um the uh the farmers appreciation which was awesome. >> Oh, that's cool. >> That was really cool. Yeah, that was a
great event that happened. Um but yeah, I do have pictures from that too as well. >> Did your neighbors still have the pea plant? You could take >> Yeah, they they actually grew it and they enjoyed it. It was pretty awesome. >> You still had a picture. If you had the pea plant, you could take a picture and
say the children at such and you know when we were at the middle school. >> You're right. You're right. I'll ask see if they still have it. >> Give us one picture for it. >> He'd like to be in the picture that he's at the open house and he planted his pea
plant. >> Yep. Yep. Could do that. I'll ask him. Great idea. >> Time on is the the farm forum thing. It's January 28th question. >> We usually do it a little bit earlier than seven, right? We um I think it's
like a >> 30 to like mingle for a little bit and then let's see. >> I think we usually score. I need to have a gonna try to nail her down for something. It's >> a all day event. >> All day.
Do you ever watch here? >> I think we start at maybe 5:30. Is it that early? >> Yeah, that sounds right. Yeah. >> Sort of. Okay. >> Mingle and then six >> sixish. >> Yeah. 6 to 7. >> Roll in. Start rolling in at 30. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. And then six o'clock is when like actual >> it opens. >> Yeah. The actual program. Yeah. >> Yeah. That'll go for about an hour >> I guess. >> Okay. And then would it go till 7:30 or uh
like a a time from 7 to 7:30 for the um like mingle time afterwards or >> Yeah. I mean just kind of open open-ended. I guess >> you got to show up at the next meeting so I can give you a t-shirt. >> Oh, you guys got the t-shirts. Okay, I
will try. I will try. If anything, my husband will have to bring me. But yeah, I'll uh that would be awesome. Jen, if you need a ride, I can always pick you up. >> Oh, thank you. I appreciate that. >> You live next to her? >> No, but I'll just swing around the lake that way. >> Oh, I'll give you a t-shirt to give her.
>> I'm on the other side of the lake, but >> pretty soon. >> Well, we can wear our t-shirts at the farm forum, right? I mean, >> that's what I'm saying. Absolutely. >> That's a great idea. Yep. Okay, cool. I like that. Thank you. should have something to sell. Plus, we all got bad,
right? That's right. >> Yeah, we do. >> Yep. >> Um, >> yeah. Should we sell t-shirts? Yeah. >> Can we make Are we allowed to do that? >> I don't think so. I know. >> Uh, I don't know. I >> know if you wanted to say the same thing
as ours does because it said we're on the ad commission. I mean, >> I don't know. It might be a something to think of if we wanted to raise money for something someday to put a slogan on it. You know, Southwick a right to farm town. >> I think we have an open farm day shirt.
>> Um >> I like that. Yeah. >> Yeah, I like that a lot. >> Yeah. I don't know if we're allowed to capitalize. >> Well, no. >> That's a good question. >> Me and Lenito sell our stores.
>> There you go. I mean, we make money >> make money off the community garden, but >> we're not buying and stuff, >> but right >> Doug Moin might be the person to ask. >> He knows lots of just general deal. >> It have to be I think it would have to
be done in a nonprofit manner. >> I mean, we wouldn't personally be gaining anything off it, but our commission commission would be Yeah. >> Think of the new think of the new posts in the garden and >> Yeah. in the new pump I just showed you. >> New pump and a whole greenhouse.
>> Yes. >> I think I think a greenhouse >> and then we'll sell seeds there and then >> Oh, there you go. >> starter space at March. >> Mhm. >> I don't know something. >> Kind of cool.
>> You can build it. >> We're on to something here. >> They got some that's not that expensive. greenhouse hoops if you ever wanted to build a greenhouse. >> Okay. I think it'd be cool to have a greenhouse there. >> It would be. I And I think people would
use >> Yeah. >> the space. I mean, because, you know, we we don't really heat ours. The only thing we put under ours is we we have a heat mat under like the onions because they're so early and we've got that hooked up to a solar panel.
>> Solar panels. >> Solar panels. It's not even a big one and it and it just is enough to keep the >> get Deb to >> the heat m >> charge her growing techniques. >> Yeah, >> we got this thing rolling on. We're
going to have a business. >> I I do think sometimes people don't have enough window sill space for starting their plants in I mean it's not like they need tons but it it gets crowded and and the window sills really aren't the best. Whoever
designed my house didn't put any windows in any useful places. >> Yeah, they're all facing north west. >> But in reality, I mean, a window sill has somewhere about Well, if you go
outside, they say 8 to 10 times better sunshine in a greenhouse than on a window sill. >> Even though people think it's enough light, it really isn't. it it's nowhere near what a greenhouse has. So,
>> it's they don't start as well. People's little plants end up >> all leaning and spindly and things. >> Yeah. Get too tall cuz we have leaning towards the sun and the window. >> I I have lighted things if I want to do some in the house. I have lights that
sit this far from the plant, but >> you don't have those. >> Yeah. Some full spectrum. >> Right. Right. It's just hard to get enough light on a window sill. And people always try to do it. It's not as successful as they would like. >> I actually have some dill on my kitchen
sink window and it's doing pretty well. >> Surprised. >> All right. So, I guess we'll just meet at the next regular meeting at December 10. >> Um, and make a motion to adjurnn.
>> I'll second. >> Second that. >> Roll call vote. I >> I >> I >> All right.