agenda and too much. >> Welcome everyone. Uh this is the regular meeting of the South Lake Agricultural Comm Commission. Uh it's March 11th, 2026 uh 7:04 p.m. We do have a quorum with myself, Zack Barnett, Dev Humphrey,
Anita Bober, Jessica Parker, Dan Cook, >> Bert Hansen, and online we have Sage Fury. Um this is good turnout. Yeah, this is most people we've had in a long time. So, call the meeting to order and uh we
got quite a few things to go over. Um first thing, public comment guest that would be you. >> Thank you. >> So, if you want to introduce yourself and
>> Yes. I'm Paul Harrison. I'm at 66 Honeypot Road and um and been here 28 years up there. >> Cool. And what's your interest in the agricultural commission?
>> Well, I've always have been uh my whole family in Enfield, Connecticut. Uh my wife uh we had to move other circumstances and um uh we you know my son lives up there
honeypot road but I wanted I wanted a large garden and chickens. >> Mhm. >> And my wife she wanted a screen and porch. That was those were the things. So um >> you have so we came about
>> and I had both and she had too. So, you're interested in joining? >> Oh, yes. Okay. >> So, um you have to be appointed by the uh select board. Um you have to send them I think you go on the website
there's a thing you could fill out and then at one of their I think they'll do appointment they only do appointments in June, right? Or can they do it any time? >> No, they can do them anytime. >> Yeah. >> So, they meet what once a week? >> Yeah. This time. Yeah. >> Yeah. And they notify you when it's your
meeting. her their secret the seman secretary will contact you and say you're >> on the docket for such and such a meeting. >> Oh, okay. >> And what time to show up and because I just got on last year in >> Yeah, they've changed since I joined. So, >> yeah.
>> But it's just you just write a little letter that says why you're interested. >> Okay. >> That's all. Um nothing huge. I just wrote a little letter and said why I was interested and um >> you know they ask you a couple questions while you're there and >> that was it. Okay.
>> Yep. And we have three open spots. >> Pretty much shoeing. I was gonna say I hope I can get in. >> But yeah. Um, so we put out events every year. We've been doing the an open for farm day if you attended that at all.
>> Oh, yeah. I I have been uh I seemed to notice in different publications in the town >> and uh and I just didn't have the opportunity to participate in it, you know. I saw the farm tour that was very interesting, you know, to me too because
um I mean I've worked in farming I shouldn't elaborate what I've done yet but we have to conduct anyway. >> Cool. So yeah, you would help out with that. Uh we plan we probably start planning that soon. >> Y >> our biggest thing this year is getting
more volunteers to help out at the individual >> farms be happy. >> And if you can bring other people with you >> the whole family. >> Yeah. >> Put food and animals. >> Maybe. >> Uh well we do actually we do the farm
parade. Um >> we I bring chickens. You bring chickens. We have the biggest float in the whole parade. >> We have a tractor trailer with a big flatbed and >> we load that up, make it a big >> party.
>> So, um then we do a farmers forum in uh January >> where we invite all the farmers in town and >> um >> try to give them information, things to help them, feed them a little and >> right. >> Yeah. >> Well, we're getting we're getting new
things too. We're doing more with education things and we're, you know, trying to >> get other other people involved >> uh in town, make them more town >> thing. So, >> Sure. Yeah. >> And part of the master plan of 2040 um
>> we're actually assigned certain things we need to >> you're pay for the things that are that we're working on for the master plan that we want to work on. So, we're working with other boards and commissions and committees
>> um kind of back them up. They can back us up and we're going to we're going to lean on them for things that we need help with and >> they're going to come to us as well. >> Correct. >> We're a pretty fun committee for mission. Um we all get along for the most part. I
think >> I think everybody has their own little area that they they do, you know, we do a lot of stuff when we're not at the meeting. Y, >> you know, we do stuff and go, "Okay, I did this while I was gone last month or while I was, you know, at home last month." And >> yeah, we also have the community garden
up off of More Vining. >> Oh, that's we take care of that. That B lives right next to us. It's kind of like his little baby, but there's always stuff to do there. Um, we got water tanks last year, so we're trying to like improve the irrigation there. Um,
>> there's always fencing that needs to be repaired and replaced like that. So, >> of course, tent to the garden itself, too. >> Well, we don't we we rent we rent out plots to people in town that >> um we tried doing our own a couple years ago, but
>> didn't really work out. Um, we might try it again. Oh, that's a nice garden. >> Yeah, why don't you come down Lanita and help him? >> No, >> this is Lenita if you don't know her. She She owns Blossoming Acres Farm.
>> Oh, okay. >> She's very busy. This is probably the last meeting we're going to see her after. >> Oh, be very busy. >> Yeah, yeah, I'll talk to you. >> She comes back in the winter. Yeah, I have a lot in common, you know, with,
you know, with you with that, you know, but that's another probably another time. >> It gets it gets busy, I think, for all of us because we all have thing we all garden or have animals or >> we're all flying out and >> Yeah, we all stay pretty busy in the
summer. >> So, that's who we're about. So, if you're actually interested, um, go on the town website. Um, >> I can try to find you. I don't know if I have you. >> Unfortunately, my computer is down. You know, that's uh >> Do you have a phone? Smartphone. Yeah,
you can do it from a smartphone. >> Okay. Yeah. >> What's your email address? >> Uh, PJ 99924. >> Yep. >> Something there's more numbers.
I'm sorry. >> Yeah, if it comes to you, just let me know because I can email you the link. So many numbers in >> I can't print. >> Well, if you had his text, you know, >> well, it's I think it's 4075
pj924475gmail.com. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Zach has all our phone numbers and he texts us. >> Yeah. Um, what's your phone number? >> My phone number is of course 413. >> Yep. >> It's 56930 63
>> and my cell phone is uh 312 8280. >> Perfect. >> I'm very uh active on my cell phone side. >> Yeah. So I I can text it to you. I'll tell you who I am when I'm texting you. >> Great. Yeah. Because you can I probably
can converse with you very easily. >> Cell phone. Yeah. Yeah, we can get you up to speed on things and >> if you think you can make the meetings at once a month and >> Oh, so once in a while >> that's a shoe in you know for me >> when um farm day is coming up we usually meet twice a month because there's a lot
to get ready. >> Yeah. >> Um >> so it's just once a month for >> our regular meetings once a month. It's the uh second Wednesday of every month. >> Second Wednesday. >> And then if we need to we'll have a fourth Wednesday. >> Yeah. Some extra near the farm day. Some extra maybe near the parade.
uh near the farm. Yeah. >> Some of these things we've been doing for a few years now, so we've streamlined it a little bit. >> You know, there's always bugs to work out. >> Next meeting, April 8th. >> Yeah. Good. Yeah, it's actually on the
agenda >> at seven >> at the bottom thing. >> It's usually not that >> usually. Yeah, I was up there sitting there all alone. >> I said, "What's going on?" >> What is going on up there? >> It should be somebody up there. >> It said like,
>> "Well, I read the board. It emergency management." >> It says land I think lake management. >> Oh, >> yeah. I don't know what I >> They probably, >> but it says land something, but I turned the lights on. I sat down there. >> Dark when I drove in.
>> Yeah. I didn't see anyone up there when I got here. >> I heard a few people walk up. He said no. >> Maybe they got done early or they decided to change it or they just don't like us and >> I don't know. >> Anyway, um so we're going to start
moving down the agenda list. Um first thing I have is the official eggcom logo. >> Yeah. >> Dan, you had talked to Southwoods about creating one. >> Yeah, I >> did. They give you anything? I did some and and I went to Southwoods and I've
got >> Well, you got some big ones. Here's the one that >> Here's the one the original just to give us an idea. >> Yeah, >> of course that's too busy. >> Yeah, >> but I've got these. Everybody can take a look at them. >> Oh boy,
>> well, >> and we we don't have to we don't have to come up, you know, we don't have to figure it out tonight. >> Are we going to have like a sticker to put on the vehicle? Like >> we could. Yeah. I mean, we we want to standardize on some kind of logo so it can be on our first >> like on our material. >> I get
>> um I'd like to get business cards at some point because, you know, I go places and, you know, if I'm representing the adcom, I'd like to be able to hand them something with information to get a hold of me. >> Right now, we have brochures and flyers and banners and they all look different. >> They all look different. We're going to standardize it a little.
>> Be a nice idea. and logos. These are the three I came up with. >> Who's GR? >> Oh, Gro. It's artificial intellig that was >> pilot.
>> Yeah, I've got these on my phone. >> This one, I'll tell you what, doesn't do it any justice. Black and white. >> No, the colorings are awesome. Yeah, it's a really cool >> cuz it's green and brown. It's like the south of colors. >> Yeah. >> Or maybe put something around it. I don't know. I'm just trying to throw out
some ideas. >> You'd be able to tell me industry too, you know. >> Yeah. >> I don't we years ago with potatoes there. I don't know. >> I don't think so. >> The one that's dying. >> Okay. Just to throw it out there because
I know this is probably not on our list, but when I was at Southwoods, I asked about a brochure for oh, we're going to give some to Graanby Connecticut Farms and to our farms. >> And I showed him the picture I had of
the Graanby one, how it's farms and uh trails. >> Yeah. and he looked at it and just so we have an idea if you want them a thousand of them cuz we're, you know, it's got to be about a thousand we're going to print at least. >> Oh, yeah.
>> Probably right. >> We're we're going to put them at every farm. >> $150 for a,000. Black and white. >> Black and white. >> Color 291. >> That's all. >> But I mean, I think I'd want to go that
on, >> you know, it' be like >> by thin paper. Yeah. Thicker. >> Yes. Something that you can And I asked him if they could be folded up and he said, "You're going to talk more money." So I said, "They can fold it themselves." >> We can have a folding party. I don't
need >> Yeah, we can fold. >> We can fold them. Oh, baby. >> They probably have a folding machine. >> They probably do. >> No, they don't. They don't. But >> they That's That's why he said >> I was going to say what kind of place at church. We folded everything up. We can go to meetings. >> It is fabulous.
>> I mean, we could do it ourselves, too. >> No, we can do we can do a work session alone. >> I mean, >> just at our meetings is Yeah. Okay. >> Hi. >> We all get 10 done. That's a lot. >> Yeah. >> Well, that's not much. I mean, 300 bucks
for color. I think I think it definitely should be color. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. especially when the Graanby when it's all colorful and >> and what he would do >> is have a map just like Graanby does and >> start from
north to south or south to north >> and one two three four >> Coward's farm uh >> what is uh Jack's last name. >> So it would be like Feldman would be one, Howard would be two. Uh uh the
trail up in >> up at Granville Gorge would be free. Blossoming Acres, you know, just go right through the town. >> Yeah. >> Numbered. >> How many farms are there? >> Give or take. >> I want to say close to 10. Like
>> we usually have about 10 on >> Lenita. How many? 10 that sell flowers and vegetables. you give about 10 on the open farm day, >> but that doesn't include um >> but like Solax isn't a farm that you're going to go I mean you you could put it
down say hay and wood and >> but there there's other farms that don't participate. >> No, I'm talking for the map. >> You're not going to really I don't know if you'd put Solax Farm down because >> but they sell cows. >> They could pull in there and say, "Hey man, I want Okay,
>> they put down sometimes to buy stuff." >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that's good. Or I guess we can then. I'm just saying you know all ahead you whatever right each farm is a little bit different >> and what what constitute a far acres would that be a requirement >> well you have to I mean a technical farm
you have to be registered as a farm >> six and a half I think it isn't it acres >> you can be a farm >> okay >> if you're under that you can't I mean by law >> you can still call yourself a farm >> say yeah I mean you know
it's 561 a no she even >> it might be >> I think it's five for 61A >> she doesn't want all that much >> well for the brochure we were talking ones that they can purchase >> or might be I don't know why it's >> so there's obviously like
>> no one's coming to they have lesson >> you know what I mean >> the two with the leaves like I really >> yeah that stick out on the side I kind of like this one >> yeah I the black and white one of that,
you know, >> one different >> I don't really like the agricultural job >> that was brought up like >> I don't know that >> like I went I did a few of these on AI >> and it put in what I wanted and it put
that up there. >> Yeah, mine did too. I didn't use the one set but that can be changed. >> Right. This is this is the like around There's >> this one looks kind of cool because it's got the compass like the >> Southwick.
>> Oh, like the town seal. Yeah, like the town seal. >> That's why I like this one here cuz it's round like the seal, >> right? >> We try to keep >> This is good. Is this one of this? >> Yeah, is it with green? >> That's why I have a list cuz I >> So you can Yeah, but we can add color to
that. >> Yeah, you can go back and check >> because of course if we do this, we'll add green to this, >> you know. I thought that was really cool because I was like, "What's that? >> What can I do?" Because I brought that in and I said, "What can we do to get
tobacco in there?" >> And then he did that and I went, >> "That's a Christmas tree." Perfect. >> I like that. I mean, I'm This is beautiful, but this is not a logo. >> No, no, but it was something they suggested. They said, "Put it in there." You know, got something different to
look at. >> I think >> cowwise, we might want to go with beef cow. I don't know that there's a whole steam in town. >> I grew up on a dairy farm. I'm kind of biased to I couldn't help it. >> Well, I don't I used to pick up cows all around.
>> That's right. >> Oh, did you guys see these yet? >> Yeah, it went around that way. Okay. >> You guys saw mine earlier. >> Yeah, these are nice, too. >> These are more simple. >> Yeah. >> Um >> Yeah.
>> I don't know. I mean, it's just something to think about. I don't think we're gonna vote on it tonight or anything. >> Yeah. >> I mean, unless someone has really strong opinions. >> Well, there's advantages to both. The simplicity is nice >> because it's clean, it's clear, but you
either have to go super simple where you don't represent any >> or you represent all the elements, >> you know, which makes >> like this is the one I like, but it's the leaves >> version, you know. That was it. >> Yeah, we got everything.
>> Yeah, they have everything. >> She does too. >> This one. >> Yeah, maybe that was the one. >> Yeah, with the cow. >> Green. >> I'm thinking it dozen different uh options I came up with.
>> These are my favorite out of the total board. >> Yeah, I think you either have to go really really simple or you have to represent every every like like Diane did. She did all the historical so much. There's just too much on there. >> There's an awful lot, right? Busy. >> Yeah.
>> Oh, she said agricultural trust and heritage. >> Yeah, that's probably why I did. >> I didn't realize that. >> Well, the AI likes to put stuff like that on. >> So, Dan, you got Could you email these to us or Sure.
>> Yeah, it'd be good to have. >> Yeah. >> Keep thinking about or Yeah. >> Did you save all the files? >> Just stay with me on these. Do you have all the files? >> Yeah. Okay. >> Maybe we could before the next meeting
be thinking first, second, and third choice and see which one wins. I don't know. >> Yeah. I mean, we can share the files. We just can't >> take all I think. >> Yeah. There's >> if there's anything you want to cross
off the list right now. >> So, you don't like >> this is what I started with. I don't like it anymore. You know what I mean? Like I'm sure you guys That's kind of >> That was actually my first favorite. >> Really? >> That one's got to stay in. >> No, that's cool. I'm glad I put it in
there. >> But that's how I started. Then I go, "Let's put the cow head." And then I >> We want something that looks good in color and black and white. Well, I think the color >> the thing is if you do this >> and put every crop that we make when you
shrink it down to a badge or on a paper. >> Yeah. >> Nothing. >> It doesn't one by one. >> Yeah. You know, it's just going to be a blob. >> Yeah. >> Um I'm wondering too, this would be a question for Southwest or whoever ends up doing this, but I'm wondering if our new logo we could put on some of our
existing stuff like the banners, like the >> Yeah. when they print 20 year. >> Oh, we probably just get stickers, glue it on there. Yeah, >> get a good vinyl sticker or something. >> Yeah, we they can make those. >> Y put on the card, you know. >> Yeah. Nice.
>> Yeah. I mean, the pricing is pretty reasonable. So, >> all right. So, we'll table that till next meeting. Think about it. South Dog Park. >> There's another one here, too. >> There's three floating around. >> Is this something that Diane
>> No, I So, I took Diane's plan, I fed it into AI, and I asked it to create pros and cons for me. >> Oh, okay. >> So, I came out with that. >> Um, >> all in all, I think it's a pretty good idea. um upfront it's not going to cost the town
anything. Down the road there's going to be maintenance. It's gonna cost taxpayers money. >> Well, she did say though if they got the solar panels, >> the electricity, but I mean >> the electricity generation offset the >> there's still going to be maintenance. There's fences that have to be maintained. The grounds itself will have
to be maintained. Um, >> I guess it depends on how much they'd make off the solar panels >> if Yeah. I mean, if they make good amount, but >> Right. Then it would be >> There's also a lot of trees down there. Are they going to be getting sun all day long? >> I mean, it's pretty wooded down there.
>> I I went I've never been down there. Yeah. So, I went I drove down, but then it was full of snow. I couldn't get down because it was I got got to the rise in the hill, but I couldn't get down because I went right after the meeting. >> It's kind of in the middle of the woods. Got to go see where this is because I don't have any at the end of Sam West Road.
>> Well, it's at the end of Hudson. Went down Hudson Drive. >> No, you have to go down Sam West to see where it would really be. >> But they're going to connect it all. >> Right. Right. >> But what that's another that'll be another that'll be a town connecting the road, I believe. >> Yes. She said after after it was donated
to the town, the land, then they could >> they've been trying to connect that since I can remember 30 40 years ago. Yeah. >> But it would give them access to the land without having to purchase it, >> which is a huge town. >> Yeah. 30 acres.
>> Um, you know, just the cost savings in that alone would be huge for the town. So they might not complain too much about, you know, any maintenance if they were generating power and got a piece of land
for a road that they would have had to pay for. >> Um, >> did everyone see the draft letter I made? >> I think did you mention this already about Mumblin has a couple of questions about it? >> No, it was in the paper actually today
and there two he's not against it but he just says there two things. Um, the Tilcon company that's going to donate this land has a special permit for excavating and when they stop excavating, they need whatever happens
next needs another permit. >> So, Doug kind of wonders how that's going to work. And then he's really concerned about the two roads being able to >> join, you know. >> So, uh, >> that was a thing the town wanted, though. >> Oh, they do. Oh, definitely do. Yeah. Yeah.
>> I don't know how much traffic is really going to go through. >> It would be a shortcut though if you didn't have to go through down by the little station. >> There are people that would cut that >> west is a windy small road. >> Yeah. But sometimes I even cut through if I'm if I don't like the traffic, you
know, >> it gives you options. >> Yeah, it does. It gives you another way to go if you like it. >> Yeah. Yeah. And again, Doug in the paper, you know, he thinks it's a great idea, but there's just a couple of And actually, it's good that he has so much
history to know these things that maybe like the roads that would prevent the roads from being able to be hooked up. >> He just >> I should read it again, but anyway, uh just would there be any sort of legal issue if it's >> Oh, okay.
>> Wow. It's private property and then it becomes town property and >> Okay. I think a lot of that would fall on the the nonprofit that's doing this. >> Whether or not I mean, if it doesn't connect, I don't think it's the end of the world. I don't think it really
>> Yeah, he thinks it's a pretty big deal to get them connected. >> If it doesn't connect, is it not people basically saying they're not for it if it doesn't connect? Is that like a >> I don't know. Hold up. >> It's a big selling feature.
>> Yeah. I mean adding a lot of tra traffic to Sand West Road. I mean it's a small road >> industrial park. >> Yeah. I mean if you can get there from from the other side >> they're both industrial parks and the idea was they were supposed >> but there are there are people that live
on same west too be an obligation to the residents there is >> but you know for future development. Yeah, the roads connected. >> There is one house on Hudson. One house. >> Yeah. At the very beginning, right? Yeah.
>> With the house. Yes. >> There's one house on Hudson. And And the fact that it was built before it became an industrial park, before it was zoned industrial, I'm sure, is why it was sitting there. >> So, I mean, it's a sad thing that it's in an industrial park, but you go
through other towns and there are houses that were there prior. I mean, the ones in Awam we cut through the other day and and over by Garden Street and stuff and >> there's people that live in amongst the industry because their houses were there prior to zoning. >> Yep.
>> So, I you know, I would think that if you live in an industrial park, you're going to expect more traffic and things. >> Yeah. >> Not much you can do about that. So, >> except sell your house to an industry
that wants it that way. >> Yeah. So, I guess we should take a vote. Um, I'd make a motion to vote to send a letter of recommendation. Um, Zach Wet.
I >> I second it. >> Oh, yeah. We need a second. >> Second. Okay. >> Second, Zach. I >> Debb I >> Dan I and Bert I >> and Page >> I
added I will send that out ASAP support it and >> and they can work it out >> right. Exactly. We don't have to >> whether or not we support it or not going to Right. Exactly. >> We don't have to figure out those other pieces. MDR EDCON round table.
>> This one details like maybe express it's unanimous support. That's >> um I can add that. Yeah. >> Yeah. Kind of a nice >> Yep. Yeah. We voted five to four to support you.
>> Whatever. Yep. I can do that. Um, >> MDAR, you you and Jen went to this meeting. Want to talk about? >> Yeah. The 28th up in >> Northampton. >> Zen. >> Yeah.
>> Right here. >> You put two C's, it looks like. >> Oh, I think I just printed Brad. >> I don't know. >> I'm just saying if you got it. >> No, it's it's right on mine. >> Oh, okay. Okay. >> The copy. >> The ink and the copy. Okay. >> They need
>> Yeah. So, um, so Jen and I went to the ACCOM, uh, round table, uh, sponsored by MDAR. It was in Northampton. There were probably 35 people there. I mean, a bunch of farms represented and then some some people from like Franklin Land
Trust, some things like that. Um, and Jen and I ended up, they were like the organizers, Pete Westover and and Sarah Gardner said, "Well, you know, Southwick has a lot of stuff going on. Can you guys talk about it?" So, we ended up taking like 20 25 minutes in the meeting,
but they were very, you know, they're very enthusiastic and they liked our enthusiasm. Um, when when I first started talking about what we're doing, I said, you know, we're and we're a little bit limited because we have such a small budget. You know, it's only $2,700. And somebody immediately says,
"Oh, yeah. How about zero?" Most of the adcoms do not have public funding, and some have like $500 or $600. Um, one is it the Northampton one. The town pays for an administrator for them.
>> But um >> so we won't complain, >> right? I guess we should. >> Damn, man. I wish we could have complained. >> Well, they talked about a um there's a a statewide farmland action plan which is
about permanent protection for for farms. Um Pete Westover talked about a I don't know the legalities here section 8 and a parallel with section 46 of state law about preservation and it
allows adcoms to buy and hold land. >> Interesting. >> For yeah for conservation >> with our budget >> where we have to get >> those other adcoms are in big trouble. >> Sure. Um, I get into >> Yeah, you'd probably get grants, right?
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, >> did they talk about that? >> Not really. >> How to get the money for that? >> Yeah. Not really. Well, if >> you had that, if you were asking to save some land, you'd probably get that. >> I mean, we had the Senowski. >> Yeah, >> we got that somehow.
>> I think they donated it. No, >> no. Uh it was one of the very first uh community preservation >> acts and I think the town bought it from $400,000. >> So that came out of the town budget. >> Yeah. >> Or maybe CPA
>> comes out. Yeah. I think it came out of CPA. >> $400,000 for 125 acres was >> a deal. >> Not bad. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Anyway, um let's see what was said. preservation and a lot of that like you go to any workshop like this you get like a
hundred ideas and stuff you got to look into to find out how it actually works and if it actually applies. Uh there was some talk about uh right to farm and uh uh safety of farmers you know well pretty much all season but especially
spring and fall contractors on the roads and >> passing them. >> Yeah. And um there's going to be somebody's working on adding uh language to the right to farm law about nuisance uh issues. Um I'm not sure if tractors
on the road is considered a nuisance or not, but they're they're going to try to beef it up, you know, to >> they're not nuisance, right? >> Right. I think a lot of times that pertains to smells from spreading loom. >> One guy talked about where was it like in Hadley or some place? Somebody drove
into a John Deere tractor and pushed it over the guard rail. I mean, >> well, they see you coming and they they it's just like they wait till you're right on top of them, pull out in front of you because the things are going to get stuck in back of you. >> They come by.
I've been hit like people scrape and drop by hit trying to hit the chopped potatoes and it's crazy. >> Yikes. >> Well, the tobacco ones when they have the long trailer behind it, people are always trying to pass >> the >> the whole thing and and I usually wait,
you know, if I know where the farm is, I'm not going to pull fast around them because, you know, they're going to take a left in just a few minutes. So you just stay back there and then you got somebody who's going to pass me and the trailer and the tractor and it's like, "Oh my god, you're going to kill somebody."
>> Those poor guys on the tractors have no protection. >> Yeah. >> You know, it's awful. >> There ought to be like triple like they do for construction. >> There ought to be triple fines. You're done stupiding around a tractor because it's >> Yeah. Whenever I get Whenever I get
behind one, I give them lots of space and make sure no one else can like really pass me. I'm like, I'm on the egg. I can't trouble. The bees in town here are great. Yeah, they are great. >> Okay. >> I spray a lot at night because I just don't want to kill the bees and stuff
and they'll get behind me with just a steady blue light. >> Oh, that's okay. Somebody brought that up about educating the police. The police in your town know about this. >> Should be protecting you. >> Oh, that's good to hear. That's good to hear. >> Um,
let's see. in Deerfield and East Hampton, uh the farmers get a break on the water bill. >> Um >> uh like you there's if there's a residence on the property that that
water is charged at the regular rate, but if you're using water in your barn, that's at a different a lower rate. So maybe we should look into that. Not only did we not get a break on rate, but this last year they took I had to get a a meter. A couple of the fields have no
have don't have a pond or anything. So, you'll get if there's a hydrant, you can get a meter. >> And it used to be you paid $500 down deposit for the meter and then I was taking off the water. If you used the water, it was taken off. >> They jumped it without saying anything.
Nobody told me. Now it's $100 a month just just to have the meter whether you use it or not. >> Wow. >> We never used it because it was we didn't need it. >> And that's from the water commission. >> You can draw it out and then it's yours. >> You're not cheap. But
>> the back if you're paying $100 on Amazon. >> We have to all the way down. Is it a steel plate? >> Yep. >> Remember that when it was couple >> Okay. There's a Hampton Hampshire
conservation district and one thing they do is they have lowcost equipment rentals so that if you're a farmer and you want to try something new, you don't have to buy the equipment. You can just try it without that huge investment. >> Um let's see.
Well, there's um some work being done on a on a tool called fieldlark like the bird.ai and it's going to enable um soil tests like right in the field. >> Um that's probably later this year.
That'll be cool. >> That'll be coming out. Uh Cassie Hampton. Yeah, that's that's the highlights. Uh there's a PowerPoint um that I can email you all the um you know the website where you can look at the PowerPoint. Uh
it's pretty interesting. Now >> this one looked interesting on the possible mini grants for agricultural programs to give a education >> said $200 but that would be kind of an interest
if we knew you know. >> Yep. Yeah, look into that. >> Yeah, that soil thing. I'm that one. That looks interesting. >> And in the registration, it said they were going to provide coffee and pastries. Oh, it was Duncan and Dunkin
Donuts. I'm thinking stuff like >> I was thinking stuff like you're having >> homemade soup. We got the bread. >> Yeah, you should have broken my head. >> You guys got to spend the game.
>> Yeah, that's great. >> They'll ask us to host if you do. >> There's no no soup here. >> Yeah, really. I was actually gonna bring that up. Should we invite them to have a round table in Southwork at some point? Yeah, >> that'd be peppy, but then it wouldn't be
such a drive to go and >> Yeah. And then we can make it long to out of a day if you didn't have to do the travel too. >> Yeah. Maybe make it like a work session, not a regular meeting and >> Yeah. >> kind of like the farmers form almost. >> Mhm. >> Yeah.
>> Maybe April or something or >> bring soup and show them how it's done. >> Yeah. >> We'll charge admission. >> Yeah. It's going to our budget and soup and some stuffed bread.
>> Yeah. >> Uh I don't know. Lita, what do you think? Would April be doable? >> Um >> for a farmer or Deb or you know J Jess? >> You mean like to get it together for us to get it together or would
>> this year I mean it doesn't even have to be this year >> to be able to have the time to come burn out or something. Yeah. What about like November? >> December. >> December. Yeah. Not even March. >> You don't want too close to the farmers for I mean >> our
I mean some years but probably going to happen this year unless the weather stays like it was today. But we're planting when I watch the weather tonight I'm like it's getting cold again. >> I know. My little Christmas trees though appeared today. They've been buried
under snow and one corner of the It finally melted because they've literally been under Christmas trees about this big and I'm like I see their tongs. >> You're starting to come out of the snow. >> Nobody walked on them. >> No, they're in a section that nobody
walks back there so they're they're safe um in the backyard. >> How about the bears? >> Much to say about the not yet older. >> Yeah, but they will. Yeah, they talked about um some of the forever chemicals that are involved with the solar
installations >> like um >> you know PAS PFAS >> Oh, like the stuff that >> Westfield. Yeah, the firefighter stuff. >> Like the storage
like they they store some sort of >> I mean >> battery situation. >> The battery storage places are huge. But even like solar has some sort of >> must have some kind of capacity >> storage type of thing.
>> So the solar panels anything near them it's not good to plant near them or >> solar is not the answer. I don't think I'm not taking over fields anyway but I'm building lots. >> No. Right. >> No I I totally agree on that. Yeah,
there were two or maybe even three agri voltaic projects in Granville. I don't know what our path would be. >> Nothing grew. >> I mean, there's one right when you get up to Granville, right? >> Yeah.
>> On the left there. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. I'd like to find out more about how that worked out. >> Yeah. Okay. All right. So, we're thinking late November, December if we have a if we have a round table.
>> Yeah. I mean, >> probably before the before the holidays, you'll probably get a better >> Do they always do on Saturdays? >> Good question. >> Yeah. Well, Thanksgiving on the late side
again this year. So maybe you know like you're saying Jess maybe before like early November is that better farm parade November 1st. >> I mean we have a lot of things going. >> I know we do.
>> We're think we're even thinking about like next spring. I mean they just had one, right? And it was just >> that would still work for us. We don't have anything going on usually. >> February or March. >> I don't know if they usually do it
>> more than annually. >> What was this one? No, they they do quite a few of them, right? >> Yeah, they do. >> They do them all over the state. All over the state. Um >> this was uh February 28th. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So the last day of Yeah. February
of three years a >> So okay. >> So is the farm parade going to be uh on Halloween this year? >> Could be. >> It's Saturday 31st. >> H I wonder you know you have the right >> on Saturday.
>> We won't do it if it's on trunk or treat. >> No they have done that though. >> They shouldn't do trunk or treat on Halloween. That would be a terrible idea. And everyone's going to go trick-or-treating. >> Yeah. Trunk treat. >> One year we did the farm parade and Sage did the trunk or treat thing, >> right? >> Yeah.
>> The same day. >> Be cool. We get all dressed up. >> It's my birthday. >> Second place. >> That's awesome. >> Second place is the first loser. >> I'm October, but not Halloween.
>> Oh, I just gonna say >> I suppose we find out if Joe's got it on his calendar yet. >> Yeah, I'm sure he does. And I I wonder if there will be a farm parade if there's the 250th parade. True. >> I wonder if they'll do them both. >> That would actually make more sense to combine them. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Is it one in June or July? >> August is the >> 50th. Yeah. They're doing they're doing the same weekend as our farm day. >> Oh, yeah. That's right. Saturday. We're doing our thing. Sunday. Yeah. >> Weekend celebration. >> Yep. >> A good It's going to be a fun weekend
for Southwick. Go. I've already started inviting family members. >> Save the date. >> Oh, speaking of um South 250, so we're going to be in the parade. Is there And I'm just throwing this out here because it just occurred to me today. Is there
anything else we should do as a the 250th? I don't know. I'm not trying to make work for us, but >> well, >> just occurred to me. >> There was something that um that goes with my visit to the school
>> and the fact that they're going to need a few things fixed on their greenhouse. >> Oh, yeah. >> And it's going to cost it isn't going to cost huge amounts, but it's going to cost something. And I asked the teacher and uh the vice principal both if when
we had a meeting uh yesterday and I I said, you know, if you ever thought of a fundraiser to get some because they don't have a budget for this. They bought the somebody had gotten the greenhouse probably on a grant years back and >> but it's in rough shape and it's going to need some new panels and that you've
got to buy you know this >> doublewalled um polycarbonate ones and um yeah it needs um and plus they kind of want to spruce up the >> courtyard
>> and I said well have you thought about doing a fundraiser of some sort that you know you make some money that would help generate it for the courtyard project court, you know, for them to have. And um I said, you know, you should tag it
along with something else that's going on in town >> for that because I had thought, well, you know, I mean, Diane Gail said they're going to do that roll out in May for the dog park. they're going to have a big event. >> Yeah. >> Or, you know, I'm an open house or
something where they could do a fundraiser. But I was I had mentioned to him that there was, you know, it was going to be a big weekend in town with people and maybe if they had a fundraiser that they could it was earmarked for things to fix up the
>> courtyard in the greenhouse so they could actually get a working program going >> at Power Mill. Um, >> yeah. But, >> you know, cuz I said, "Well, I'd help them with getting it rolling cuz having I mean, the teachers do a lot already and I'm sure that they don't want a lot
of they wouldn't mind helping cuz they said we'll help with anything, but I don't think they, >> you know, want to like >> leaders when I met she was good and, you know, but that was something I had thought of. But maybe
>> you doing some sort of a fundraiser at an event that was already in town to raise money >> as a project, you know, a joint project between the schools and the a commission to get >> Yeah. >> more things set up for them. >> They have a bunch of afterchool
programs. They do like these little like they're short like a couple weeks where the kids can sign up for it and they must be getting funding for that somehow. Wonder if one of those could be >> Yeah, I don't know. >> In a farmhouse. >> Um,
but yeah, I mean, I was pricing stuff and it they're going to need quite a few panels >> to replace it and >> probably aren't cheap. >> No, I mean I'm thinking it would be probably in supplies a couple hundred bucks. They need a new one of the
openers. Uh, the whole >> Where do you get those >> window is gone? Amazon has them. >> Okay. M >> uh I mean they're like the openers are like 30 bucks, but the entire panel is gone. The frame and everything on the little slab that opens up the vent. I'm like, you're missing like the frame.
It's missing everything. So, I mean, we could build a wooden one and hook it on if we had to. And then, you know, but a lot of the panels down at the bottom are cracked and broken and they're not even you couldn't even like repair them with tape. You need to put in some new panels
into it. >> Um >> Yeah. Oh, excuse me one second. Lita, last meeting you mentioned a company in Pennsylvania that does some greenhouse greenhouse. >> You could get them from from them. >> Um, anything plastic's done a job now
with the price of oil. >> Plastic fertilizer is going to be scary. But yeah, there was a few things that they they do need and um >> so I thought, well, maybe a fundraiser and that
>> it'll be a busy time anyways, but it might be something to >> maybe on our farm float we could have a donation bucket. >> Well, that that would be >> we'll throw them candy, they throw us money. >> Yeah, something. But I thought, well, we
and we can show that we're, you know, trying to team up with the schools. And >> are you going to have a float in the parade on that side of it? >> Um, the 250. >> Good question. >> That's what we've been talking about. You got to ask what's his name? >> Yeah, we talk to Alex.
>> Alex, I actually did text him some time ago and I haven't heard anything back. So, >> maybe know right now. >> He was super excited to do the >> I don't know. He's pretty good. He has a good time. >> Yeah. >> I don't know if we missed it already, but um Dutch Valley does do Patriot like
Fourth of July candy. >> That would be cool. >> If you wanted because you usually do the >> Yeah. Did I think we talked about maybe not doing candy this year? >> Do you like I think maybe Deb you said pencils that say farms no food.
>> They should probably be patriotic themed. >> Well, that's red, white, and blue. Whatever. >> Firecrackers. We can have enough volunteers to do both the parade the day before. Ian >> packatches M80.
>> There won't be any fingers on it. Um, see >> yeah, we'll have to think a different theme for the float because it should be maybe patriotic and agricultural, not just >> agriculturally.
We're not going to have pumpkins and things to put on like we do. >> We'd have to make >> a different >> corn. Yeah. Sunflowers. >> Sunflower. >> There's plenty of stuff to put out there that's >> agricultural.
>> And I think at our last meeting someone mentioned, you know, banners that say 250 years of farming in Southwick along those lines. >> Yeah. It will work. It would work.
>> Well, we could we could even do things like if we wanted to do like as long as it's not boring, create paper streamers that you you know have red, white, and blue for some color on the >> Yeah, that pretty cool.
Get those on. >> I love people >> 250 years ago is a time, you know, >> could do that. and your old baseball team stuff. >> Yeah, there you go. >> Dairy farmer and et you know you know
>> the remember the dairy farmer the the milkman they had the black and white uniforms that thing scared me. >> I forgot you have them still. >> You still have it? I put them in my shed
where I got like all my shovels and rakes and >> a couple of times I've opened it up like >> should see my house. That's only one of many. >> So we should we should do that. Bunch of skeletons rest. >> He can be Yeah, he can be repurposed. I
made him his black shirt. >> Yeah, >> he needs the red, white, and blue shirt. >> The oldest >> Yeah. like >> the oldest one where the hat would be serious. >> A plow or something. >> I guess we first need to see if we have
a clue before we go skeletons out of the closet. >> Yeah, before we take all of our skeletons out of the closet. >> But you do any antique equipment back there? >> It's all buried. I thought I have a 12 foot one.
>> 12 foot. >> 12 foot one. Oh, 12 foot. That's like tofu. You eat it. >> 12 foot one. >> People will look at like the the cow, right? The what do they call that? The
cow went in the barn and went into the stall and then they had the >> Oh, the stansion. The >> stansions. Oh my lord. >> Yeah. >> That would be You know what's this? >> Well, our folks big enough we could have a cow. Yeah, absolutely.
>> Where are we going to find a dairy cow? >> Stool and a bucket and someone. >> There used to be dairy cows right across the street from your house. >> Really? >> Oh, yeah. Down by the stream there. >> Oh, okay. >> That was all dairy cows. >> Yeah. Oh, that was Lella. That would be
>> That was probably next door to me to leave a a a dairy cow. >> Wow. >> Well, Sweet Pea Farm in Granby. They have They have one. Yep. Ren one >> or a calf or something. >> No, they got rid of them. >> Calf.
>> Oh, that was goats. >> Goat. I think you have a goat. >> You got one. >> No. >> We can get one, can't we? >> Eat all the trash. >> All the candy. Got a pig, too.
All right. We can look. I think we need to find out when or if um DD is doing both or not. >> He makes the decisions on that. >> Okay. >> The civic fund runs the civic fund.
>> They they're doing both for raids. >> Yeah. He may opt for one. >> Yeah. I wonder. >> Which >> kind of makes sense. Yeah. And it would help us out because we got a lot of stuff to do. >> Plus, we got fence posts to put in still. >> Can't wait to do it. We're almost done.
>> I know. >> Got like 10 or 12 to go. >> It's probably pretty wet there right now. >> Oh, yeah. It's the lowest part. >> Well, in fact, I was going to mention this. Um, the community garden is still completely covered with snow. >> Oh, surrounded by trees there.
>> Yeah. Yeah. There. >> No leaves in the trees, but it's still Yeah. I mean, my yard's I'm surrounded by trees, too. My yard's almost >> green. My backyard is snow. So, I was going to say anything near the trees, my deck,
though. So, >> yeah, my >> depending where your the sun tree line is and everything. >> Where I had the snow blow on my snow, it's like 3 ft deep still. >> Isn't that road the highest elevation in town? >> It's probably got like 8 in all around
my house. Yeah, >> you definitely get more snow up there >> because we have a friend that her son lives up there and um it definitely it snowing like crazy up there and I'm not getting a speck at our house. >> Really? Like >> I'm I'm right off of South Lumis so we
are definitely in a different climate. >> Oh yeah. Okay. >> You're a neighbor. >> I grew up on North Lumis. So yeah. Oh >> they still got snow. My father-in-law's buried. So yeah. Yeah. >> Do you know the Le Penskies? >> Yes. Yeah.
was quite the farm in this day. >> What's the old guy there used to ride the bike around selling vegetables? What was his name? >> I know. I remember when he did it when I was there, too. >> That way. >> He did it till he was deep into his 80s, maybe 90s. >> Yeah.
>> Bill, I think it was Bill. >> Bill. Yes. Yeah. >> Oh, a bicycle. >> Yeah. He had a big basket. He'd have corn and cucumbers and >> mother go out there with three, four bucks and get whatever she could from him.
>> It's pretty cool. >> Well, we'll find out about the farm grid. >> Yeah, I'll do that. Budget. Um, I was thinking we should buy business cards, but I think we should do that after >> we get our >> we get our logo. >> I was thinking making like a generic
business card so we could all have them instead of buying individual ones for everyone. >> Um, maybe have a spot we can either write our name in or you can put like a sticker on with our name on our phone number or whatever information we want to give. >> Um, or just copy it, make your own. No.
>> Well, I figured Southwards would probably do they do business cards. >> But you probably got to buy like 500 minimum. I'm guessing maybe >> maybe less, but probably stuff that goes down the more you buy. >> We got a good printer at the store. Maybe we can make them.
>> Okay. Come up with a design, we'll make them. And we can have everybody's name. >> Yeah. I mean, if you can make less, then I mean, we don't we each we probably don't need more than 100 each. I mean, that's going to last us >> 10 years. >> Life when she gets back. Okay. That definitely saves us.
>> What's the name of the printer? God. OKA. Oki. >> I was going to say I used to have a printer years ago and you could I could do business cards on. You just buy the >> You buy the card stock the card stock that have it. >> But it's got every color you could think of. >> Oh, you got like a plotter, right?
>> Yeah. Well, we use it for >> Yeah. >> All of our advertisement on our products. >> Gotcha. All right. So, that's good to know. >> I did not know. Matter of fact, this >> they made >> Okay. >> pretty good colors. >> Yeah, that was perfect.
>> Well, >> plus we need to save money for those we're thinking of getting. >> Mhm. >> You can do all that. I mean, you >> Oh, no. We can't probably do that. Well, I mean, >> talking of the cards, but
>> I mean, I don't know if she does that as a business like side thing. I mean, she could probably charge the >> charge. We'll see what she says. >> Get us a quote and then get a purchase order, whatever.
Reimburse. You just pay the store or whatever. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. Okay. All right. We'll look into that. >> Figure that out. Um, recruit new eggcom members. >> Check. >> Hi, Paul. >> Check. >> I second to check.
>> There was another guy I'm supposed to show up, >> but um I don't know where he is. So, >> so we still have if you know long as you're actually interested and you want to join, we'll still >> Oh, definitely. Yeah, >> we'll still have two more open seas. We
have one full position and then two alternates. >> Okay, >> full position is a three-year term. >> The alternates are one year. They get renewed every year if you >> So, >> yeah, >> if you just want to try it out, you might want to be an alternate if you think you're going to be committed. >> Um, >> I'm all in, you know.
>> Okay, cool. That's fine with me. >> Um, I don't know. >> So, it gets renewed every three years. You may come in during the middle of that threeear cycle. Yeah, >> I'm not sure where that cycle is on that that seat.
>> Yeah, I don't know off top of my head. >> So, it may be good for one year, maybe good for two. It may you may be coming in. It might be a three-year term. >> Yeah. >> Um >> Thank you. >> You'll have to get sworn in at the town hall. >> You have to do a conflict of interest um
thing with the state. >> It's all online. It takes >> Oh, I think I just got a notification. I agree. And they start bugging you a lot about it now. Like they it used to be the town used to be the town that bugged you and now it's actually the state website that
automatically tells you you got to do it. >> Sure. >> But um it's pretty easy. It takes a few minutes. >> Yeah. >> But yeah, the first step would be to go and tell the uh select board.
I will go to your meeting. >> Yeah, I'll try. No, first you got to fill out the questionnaire. I'll try >> application. It's a short application. >> I'll try to find the link to it, send it to you. >> Um, >> well, I'll be your April 8th anyway.
>> Cool. >> Yeah, I'm going to have it figured out by then. Yeah. >> I don't know if they'll point you by then. Sometimes, sometimes they do it right away. Sometimes it takes months. Um, it depends on their, you know, how much stuff they have on their agenda. Um,
so USDA farm to school grants, that's just something we've been talking about. >> Oh, um, I don't think we have any updates on yet. >> I was looking at I was hunting the MDAR site. Yeah. >> And I couldn't seem to find anything that
would be something that would >> apply to >> apply to us. They have a lot of other things that you can apply new farmers or you know farm people who want to be farmers or women in far all kinds of different things but there just wasn't anything that I could
>> new stuff pops up all the time >> right I think it was just a >> you got to keep checking it right so >> right well I figured I'd start with um seeing what they needed at the school >> what they had you know that we could
already work with and then um and and then move forward on it once we got like an area cleaned up or something. Um they want to they want to actually they're excited about turning the the courtyard into >> Right. What about this mini
>> usable space? >> What about this mini grant? >> Well, that's what I wondered. I >> They got that $200 for >> I don't know. So, I was going to look to see if I could I didn't see any of that when I was on the MDR site. So, um, but I certainly will. >> Who made this list? I don't even know where this came from.
>> Was this Jen? >> Maybe. You know, it probably was Jen. I didn't do it. >> So, these ones are underlined. I'm wondering if those are actually the links or not. >> I don't know. >> Did she send any email? >> There might be an email, too. >> I'll ask.
>> But, yeah, that's I figured we first we had to see what we needed, see who was involved. um you know who've and and they seem to think they can get you know teachers and kids involved to help with a lot of the stuff cuz I said you know I our biggest thing is we're
there to help you and assist you and maybe meet you up with things. I actually called Lord Pioneer Valley Collaborative >> yesterday and they didn't get back to me. Um, I was asking to talk to the head of landscape and horiculture because if
we could find Southwick kids who attend there from our town, >> um, we I'd like to convince the teacher to allow the kids maybe to do projects by helping to design some of
the courtyard stuff and maybe take on a mini section >> because we had talked about um a courtyard I had done when I was teaching in West Springfield and we made it usable for all subject areas. So there was like a reading nook that you there
were benches and kids could go out and read and you know we talked about getting like perennial flowers but we can just get people in town who have perennials when you're splitting them up. >> Yeah. you know, who
>> donate them so that they can just get some things that kind of take care of themselves because it's, you know, you don't want to make it a huge maintenance. >> Yeah. You know, but it's I mean it's a great area because it's fenced in completely by the building, right?
>> So it but it it's convenient and so we talked about >> is it going to be in the middle or like off to one of the sides or a corner? >> Well, the greenhouse is at one of the ends of the our son there. >> What's this at Powder Mill School? >> Mill. >> Oh, near the library. You could see it
from >> water. Yep. >> Okay. >> The about half of from what I could look at because the there's only trees established good big established trees on one side. They said most of the sun is on the other side. But if you had,
you know, some perennials and stuff that and if like you had the reading section under the trees, people could sit out, kids could sit out there. They down the far end they have picnic tables, quite quite a few of them down there. Um, and they have some cement benches, but like
they need to be fixed because they're kind of wonky at this point and it needs just maintenance. The gardens need some upkeep. Um, there's some some little like mini gardens. There's a rose bush and there's an apple tree that produces apples, >> right? >> Yeah. Was Chuck said he actually ate one
last year and it was good. I'm surprised they don't get like the wood shop from the high school. Come down there. >> There isn't a wood shop at the high school, is it? >> There used to be one in the middle school. >> I went to wood shop. >> There used to be. I don't think it's there anymore. >> Trade school forever. >> The kids go to other trade schools. >> They don't have it there anymore.
>> They don't have any. >> Oh, they got rid of metal shop. They got rid of wood shop. >> It went years ago before my kids. >> Do they even have graphics anymore? >> They do have graphics. I think >> I'm not going back there. >> You're a little >> No, there's there problem is there isn't >> Wow. I didn't know that
>> you have to go to Lower Pioneer Valley >> if you if you want to trade or you have to go to Westfield to the >> Yeah, but it wasn't a trade. You went in there. >> It was my second period. >> Oh, wood shop. I four years of wood shop. >> I don't think they have any.
>> It's like art. You took art. >> Took all the fails. >> There was metal shop. That's why I fig we could maybe find some kids that went to the trade schools and get back >> cuz they're still south kids. And if you could get them to
>> still part of the town. >> Um and like with lower Pioneer Valley, they do half a day at the high school and half a day over in West Springfield at the school >> cuz that's where our Mark went was for the landscape and horiculture program. And um so and they I know they do stuff
like that. They do design. They do, you know, setting things up. They do a lot of things there. So, I thought, well, that would be maybe we could get some high school kids involved in it, uh, along with other things. Um, I was
thinking too if it was a a a group thing between the eggcom and the school, you know, if we wanted to do something even if we were asking for donations of like items cuz I mean I've got pots and stuff I can donate and and the library's got seeds so we could do something like
that. But if there was other stuff they needed, um, if we wrote an article for Southwoods and were asking for this is a collaboration, were there any people that would be interested in helping with the collaboration to, you know, help
with their expertise, if they had anything, you know, we might find that we might even be able to find some seniors that might be interested in helping it. it. You know, they love the idea of a multigenerational thing where maybe we have a few work
days where we, you know, gather a bunch of people from all different aspects to help, you know, they could get the teachers could get their families, the kids could get their families, and it wouldn't take long to clean that whole
courtyard up and get it decent. So then, you know, and and donations of perennials so that they they could plant perennial gardens so they'd get pollinators in there and, you know, so the kids could see more of what was actually going on, make it a usable,
you know, I mean, I'd love to see them do a a compost. Uh they had they made little compost bins. It was kind of cute. They had to design them. It was probably for the STEM requirement for science. And they most of the kids used you had to buy you couldn't buy you had
to use recycled stuff. So they were using like five gallon buckets and they had it so that they could get air and water into them. But I mean you're not going to get any compost in such a tiny little thing. But >> it was the idea. They had to design it themselves and they had to implement making it and there they have all those
out there. Um, but I think, you know, it they seem to think that they would love it if there was more like community involvement and it went it spread to a wider thing, especially for donations of stuff. >> You know, if people had extra pots or
trays or whatever that, you know, they were going to pitch or didn't use, then, you know, could help the kids. And I was talking with the teacher about >> do they have storage for that kind of stuff? Um, they could be stored in the under under the shelves in the greenhouse.
>> Um, but there was a lot of I I talked to the teacher about the fact that you can't really put in a complete garden because nobody's there, >> you know, and when I was in Springfield, it's like we couldn't put in a garden because nobody's there in the summer. So, you have to find vegetables and
things that the kids could plant. And I said, well, if you put in garlic, they can plant it in the fall. They can watch it. they can get to the scapes before before it's time for them to be out of school. So, the only thing they would miss is harvest and maybe they could
have a special day where they met with the teacher or something in the summer and and actually harvested the garlic. >> Or they could start plants and bring them home with them. >> They could them at home. >> They could do that, too. But I said there's a lot of things that they could do that would fulfill
>> uh criteria for their the standards that they have to fill for science, math, whatever. I mean, we used to use ours for math. We used to do perime perimeter and area all the time in our courtyard because you could plot out things with
with stakes and the kids would have to configure different shapes of the same area but with different um distances on the sides. And >> so, but it was a real hands-on for kids that need the hands-on. So, there were a
lot of things that we talked about and different crops that, you know, I said you can plant and if you're, you know, there's ways of doing it. I mean, you guys do spinach in the in the fall and that way come mud season, it's already growing,
>> you know. She goes, "I didn't know you could do that." I'm like, "Yeah, you can plant in I mean, I've done potatoes. I've overwintered potatoes in the ground and then they've come right up in the spring." >> About about the low fat parsnips. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Just think are they greenhouse not being used at all right
now? Like they're not doing anything like the roof is >> they're not doing anything with like their courtyard right now or not right now. No, it at one time it was in the other teacher said at one time it was in good shape. >> Yeah, my mother used to work on that a lot
>> and they used to go out and do that but at this point it's gotten in disrepair and it needs to be >> Yeah, it seems to happen like a cycle every time. You've got to get a teacher. And this woman who I spoke with, um, who's going to be Shannon Namitz,
uh, seems like she's in her 30s. She's a science teacher for I think maybe fifth or sixth, one of those, one of those two. and um seems very enthused and you know excited about the prospect of
having a little bit of help and to help her get things rolling and um so I said well we'll work on it. So I told her my job was to start looking up the cost of pieces to repair the greenhouse. >> Yeah. If you get a parts list
>> um right you had a number in mind of what you know you need to >> Right. Right. for for that kind of thing. So I said, "Well, I can start." >> Could could the Westfield Technical School could be encompassed
there to do work? You know, maybe maybe they have parts. Well, parts and >> Westfield does an a thing. I don't think they do >> the carpentry department, you know. >> Yeah, it's it's not a wooden greenhouse. It's a metal.
>> Well, metal, but whatever. I don't know if they would >> be able to get them to make a new panel though. I was going to have David just do a trim one out of wood out of the cuz the one of the flaps the air vents is >> they could look at his project thereof and >> yeah, >> it's hard to get it's hard to get them.
I tried one time to get them to to look into something and you got to be on their dock at like the woodworking department. They plan a whole year in advance. >> Okay. >> They tried getting them to do a couple projects for the what's a riding club too. >> Yeah. And they they book in so stinking
far in advance. Um cuz they build houses. They >> Yeah. They just framed a house around the not far from where I live. West. >> Yeah. But I that's why I figured well if I tried Lower Pioneer Valley, maybe I could get >> Do they do that kind of stuff?
>> Um I don't know. Well, I'm waiting to hear and as soon as I get a hold of the landscape guy cuz I'm thinking even if I could just make it so like he made it a a project for the kids to do, you know, make it a or he or she, I don't know who it is, but make it a project that said,
"Okay, could you design this or could you help with this?" And maybe because they used to do it for the Big E cuz Mark did one for the uh Future Farmers of America. They do a um a booth a section in the farmer rammer building
and each class I mean his class did one different schools did the whole display and everything. So the kids are I know they do do that they do design and things like that. So I thought well there's a whole bunch of different things that you know maybe we
could do and and get involved. There certainly is interest there and I think uh that that's the age to target them third grade through sixth grade because I think if you can get them hooked there then maybe the high school kids when they went to the high school they might
still be interested >> in it. It's one of those things that you kind of have to catch them when they're younger. I just don't see high school kids jumping right in. >> Not too many. No, it's it's it would be much more limited and and most of those would go to trade school. They would go
if they were really interested, they'd be in the programs and it's not at the high school. So, >> um I I'll I'll keep working with them and, you know, see what we can do. And um the biggest thing will be expense.
You know, it's probably going to be a couple hundred for the stuff to rehab the greenhouse. And that's that'll be the biggest thing is coming up with >> um >> boy, I'd be surprised if it was that little $5. >> They weren't that bad on Amazon.
>> How big's a greenhouse? >> It's not very big. It's um >> Is this room? >> No, no, it's a small greenhouse. >> It's a small one. >> Um it's it's the same size as mine except it has a double walkway and I think mine is I don't know 6 by10.
>> How big are the panels? like 24 by 24 or >> I got to measure them exactly. They're cuz there's ours has 5 foot panels, but this one has >> two pieces, one over the top of the other and then the roof. >> Okay. >> Um
>> is the roofing location? >> No, there's a couple panels and it looks like they've replaced some in the roof, but I don't know if they got the right thickness because they come in two different thicknesses. They come >> fit in there or they clip in. You have to literally unscrew the things and then
slide them in the tracks and then put the pieces back on >> cuz it's it's all a metal track system that holds it. And I don't think they took it apart when they put these in cuz a lot of the panels that are newer >> are actually not staying in. It almost looks like they're too thin. Like they
ordered they got the thin one. They got them from some teacher's husband who worked someplace that year. But there's 32 and there's six >> and there's the two different ones. And I think they may have gotten too skinny. >> Yeah. Except it doesn't stay in the
slot. So some of them have like >> they're plastic so they warp, right? >> Yes. And they have the roof. One of the panels was like sagging and one was missing completely. And um so it wasn't that bad. You could some of the panels you could get for a couple hundred bucks. You could you could probably
replace all the ones that needed replacing. >> Would glass be an option? >> I don't think with kids. You'd have to have tempered glass if it was children safety wise and that would be >> I know IBS does some glass and plastic cutting or if they had like scrap pieces laying around that you donate.
>> I don't know cuz this stuff you use the it's the stuff that has two wall and the corrugating thing in in between. >> Um and there's quite a few that but they had them on Amazon and they weren't that bad. I >> it's almost like the signs are signs what they're made out of in New Orleans
farm. These are clear, you know, that's the difference. But, >> you know, I I think they could do it for a couple hundred bucks. I think we could get it back in shape. >> Um, you know, decently. So, that's the biggest thing is coming up with and that
to get that rolling. Um, as for the rest of the the courtyard, I don't think it will be expensive at all because it's just manual labor. It's labor. Clean up, you know, get it going. I'd love to see them start a compost pile right there so that
they could see how compost actually works, you know, and and make it. Um, there's a lot of things they could do, you know, with different designs of garden beds if they wanted to put in a few small ones and grow a few things, you know, that that were more things
that you plant in the fall and can watch it grow some. Um, but yeah, in the greenhouse, they could do things that they could take home >> if they were going to do that. Third grade usually does bean seeds cuz they do that's a one of the standards for
third grade when I taught it was you needed to do the parts of a seed and how it grows and that kind of stuff. And then uh I think fifth or sixth grade does some sort of they're growing lettuce in their classroom right now because they don't have any place else to grow it.
>> Uh so they were growing lettuce. it's in the works and you know uh you know if anybody thinks of things or sources we could get money but I thought well maybe you know sometimes an article in the Southwoods generates interest or
>> you know maybe would get people who would be interested in donating to it with the heck knows if you don't ask I mean I want to hit a large target >> you plan on collaborating with that teacher >> okay >> yes she um I mean Chuck Desak the vice
principal is the one that wanted to get it going, but this teacher seems like she and I'll be the ones that are >> Who would write the article? You or >> I'd read the article. >> She could commission you to do it. >> Oh, I read the article and put it in, you know, saying that we're collaborating between the
>> because that's the stuff I don't think that would get done otherwise. I think they've got to get it. >> Yeah. I mean, if you want to get that going, maybe slip in there too that we have openings. >> Yeah. Yeah. There's a little paragraph at the end of our last article. So, you just picked that right up. >> We're filling positions. But I think
that something like that I've got to talk to her and Chuck about it and you know once I get prices to them maybe that as a way of getting things going that you know getting some support of stuff and telling people cuz people start cleaning the perennial gardens out
and >> ideas of like what you're looking for or they'd be looking for too. >> Yeah. But I mean almost it's a big space. It's a big space there and you know they had nice areas with some stuff in it. It would be good. >> Yeah. Maybe if their math classes could
plot it out and you know work with science. I mean it's all STEM, right? >> Yeah. >> All goes hand in hand. So >> it does. It does. So I figured I'll probably have one time where the teacher Shannon and I will sit down and we'll go through the standards. I don't think
they've changed since I was teaching pretty much the thing. And you know, we'll see if we can get some of the other teachers involved where they could actually plan to do some of the curriculum things in helping out to get the get it going out there. >> Get a game plan and >> yes, >> go from there.
>> But they seem excited, so I'll roll with it. >> Cool. >> All right, sounds pretty good. Um, master plan action items
kind of just a work in progress. Um, Jen met with there's a new maybe a conventional hotel. >> Oh, I saw that she open the open space one. >> Yeah, the open space one. She went to
their meeting yesterday. Yeah. >> Um, and they're going to come to our April meeting, I believe. So, we're we're collaborating with them. >> Okay. >> Which I think is added to our action plan
items. Um, >> yeah, I read I read through the um that document that the Kane >> Well, Margaret Mark is coming to the meeting, I believe. >> Okay. Good. There's a lot here. >> Yeah.
This is like on top of where Yes, >> this print out with that has organize a taste. I thought that went to >> Yeah, it did. I think that maybe that's an older copy. >> I think the list came off a bar, but it
did. >> Yeah, we're Yeah, we're not doing taste. He said I got I got a print out, too. >> Like, wait, wait, wait. Did this come back? Did this come back somehow? >> I got I got an old budget print out, too. This is completely changed, too. Um, actually, that's one thing I didn't >> I should have talked about in the budget
thing. Um, >> you no longer have five separate accounts. >> So, yeah. Uh, Jen and I met with Margaret, um, with Nicole Parker on
Tuesday. Uh everything is going to be so we have this um but community garden is completely separate but we have supplies and then we have the public outreach are going to be our only two
accounts. Um and then any any donations we got I believe go into our they'll just go into the public outreach I believe how that works. Um, >> well, so they take it at the end of the year.
>> Before if it was, you know, someone gave us money for open farm day, it had to go into an open farm day account. Now it's more of a general fund. So we don't have to be so specific where, you know, a dollar came in from this, it dollar has to be spent on that. It's just it's kind
of like an events because we do events. So if it comes in as like an event money, it's going to be used, >> right? But we could use it if we wanted to do the like the 250th parade stuff because that is like a not all the time thing, but it would come out of events.
>> Yep. >> So it it makes our lives a lot easier when it comes to spending money. >> And then Oh, the gift account. That's the other one. Um donations go into the gift account. Okay. >> Um in a gift account, we can spend on
anything. Um this is where actually our um what we get from the town our budget goes into two only two specific accounts now instead of the five we had.
So it's it's I think I believe we're still calling a public outreach. This isn't the updated version. Um, and then so yeah, the community garden gets a specific uh specific budget and then the
rest goes into the other one. It's more like a general fund >> and then our gift account. It's on this list. No, >> that's money we can kind of spend on anything. So
>> Okay. And that doesn't expire either, >> right? Regular budget we have to use by June 30th or we lose it, >> right? >> Um I asked for more money for the community garden. She said we probably won't get it, but it's good to ask.
Um but yeah, she I asked for like an additional 500, I think. >> Yes. >> Um I don't know what we're doing. I want to get those water tanks filled. >> Yeah. >> Um we either need more batteries or we need to get a gas pump. Um,
>> yeah. Let me look into the I've been we've talked about this many times. Let me look into the batteries. >> I'd like to get them filled by the end of April. >> Len just asked and could we borrow one from you? All we got to do is fill them and then you give it back to you. >> Yes. Gas pump.
>> Um, they have B. I mean, >> you don't like Mark has one. >> Does it have like a regular size hose inlet? >> Uh, adapt to it. He has he uses a >> So, our inlet's about We can only go up to like a 1 in hose.
>> I know. His outlet is a regular hose. >> Yeah. >> I don't know. I'd have to look at it. I >> You need a small hose to pump it out of it. >> I had to drill a hole through the six inches of concrete. >> Oh, yeah. That's right. You told me that. >> Builds from that or if it fills from the
big hose because he has like a fire. >> I mean, if we can adapt adapt down to >> I don't know. But his is easy. I can pick it up. I mean, it's it's >> three Jamaicans. >> You can we got to pay them not in our budget. >> We'll have to refill the tanks.
>> Who knows? Every >> I mean, we have two huge tanks. I don't know how quickly. I mean, it's a test. I mean, this will be a test. >> Um, and I'd like to get some >> at least for one of them, some kind of attachment for the hose. >> I found them on Amazon. not expensive,
>> but they go right onto >> and you want to do it in April. >> I'd like to have it filled up by the end of April so people can start watering in May. You know, that's when things will be planted. >> All right, I'll put that on my to ask him list. >> But we don't want to We don't want to fill them up and have the tanks freeze
either because that'll destroy them. >> Ours are empty right now. >> Yeah. No, those are empty, too. >> I I mean, it's it's easy enough to pick up. >> Okay. You know, we store it in a big tote so that it stays, you know, but um >> and just gas.
>> Yeah. >> Mixed fuel or just regular? >> I think it's just I think it's just gas. >> Cool. >> But he uses it when he has our tanks. And then if he's trying to do like the whole squash field for our squash and
pumpkins, he'll just he has a couple of sprinklers and he just cranks the thing up and it runs it, you know, while we're >> cool >> while he waters the field and then he's done. He moves it. >> But he just got a new one last year cuz he had one before and it
>> we don't have an electric outlet out there somewhere. >> No, >> cuz that cuz those electric pumps are nice. >> I have a generator. I >> what we would want it for. >> I have a generator. >> I can bring that out. >> I wonder if we get ever source to bring
a line in there. But yeah, that would be cool. >> The gas is easiest for >> 11,000. Is it going to not not >> a 200 foot extension cord from his house for
>> my father-in-law. He'll pump out of his brook. >> He's got one of them electric. They're like 65 bucks, but the thing can run two sprinklers. >> It's got good power. You know, >> I have a suitcase type generator that I use at the farmers market if you wanted to use that.
>> Do that, too. So, >> it's electric. >> No, it's a generator. >> Gas generator. >> Oh, generator. I thought you said we have a generator, but it's Yeah, I mean, take a couple people to pick up. >> Two Jamaicans. Two Jamaicans. >> Like a little Honda or something. Yeah.
>> Yeah. >> My father-in-law has one, too. I could borrow. But yeah, we have options. If you can get the electric pump before I mean, >> I'm going to go try it out. See if it still works. He hasn't used it in a couple of years. >> Okay. Maybe he could donate it.
>> Oh, is he going to kill till this year? >> Yeah, I think he's up for it. >> Okay. >> Might be his last till. >> I know. What are we going to do after that? >> Probably have to hire someone. >> We have two tillers, three tillers. Okay.
>> Of different of varying sizes. >> He has got a trailer to bring it there. >> He has a big one. >> He has a trailer. It's a 16ft trailer. >> Okay. That's great news. >> Yeah, he he has a trailer because that's what he takes his stuff around and when he takes it to the farm because he has a
ramp and he just >> because he takes he has a couple he has he has a big walk behind. >> He's got a little air raator on the back of it. >> He's on his walker. >> He has he has a plow. He had a roat tiller. >> That's what >> he has.
>> Yeah, it's one of those. It's the big one. You know, he's the only one that can use it. We can't even get our hands around. >> Oh, I don't want to. >> You have to be really tall and have really long fingers. We can't even get >> We can't use it. It's too big for us. >> Who's that? Your boy.
>> Yeah. >> But, you know, he has um he has the walk behind which works great. But he has different attachments. So, he's got a a harrow that does one of these things one that makes it nice and level. And um
yeah, he's got that. But we have a and then we have a rodent seller that's we call it the midsize one. My husband and I can use it without killing ourselves uh for that >> and that works. That one works fine, too. I mean, we go through and I
actually went over and did depot after >> uh >> Ron did it. Well, I did cuz she was having trouble with one section, a couple of sections where they it only just took like the grass off. It didn't really get down there. And I said, "Let's just bring the roots cleaner over." And we buzzed through there and
she's like, "Whoa, that worked. I mean, it really got down in once the grass was all off." >> Um I'm guessing my husband over there. >> How did that work out? How did those gardens come out? Did they do they get into it? >> They got a freezer full of stuff. She ended up buying
>> just her or every some other people involved. >> One other person who decided they were going out there. So she planted five and he planted one five of the squares. She just planted all five cuz she's like, "Well, I'm not just leaving them." But she bought some tarps so that she covered the other ones while she was
waiting. >> Yeah. >> And so they're going to ask again if if people are interested in the complex. Um, but she actually took one of the spaces and is doing perennials >> in it so that she could have a few raspberry plants and a couple of Yeah.
couple blueberry bushes. But she just had a bowl issue cuz she said she's looks at the pictures. She sends me pictures and I'm like, "It looks like you got bowls in there cuz it they are popping up, you know, all over the place cuz it's wet and and the soil." I'm
like, "Yeah, I got them in my backyard." >> I said, "That looks like they're bowls." And she's like, "What's going to eat them?" I said that the hawk, she said, "Oh, good. The hawk will be back." Because she has one that we sit out there. And I'm like, "Well, because you can't really do anything else with them. Let the hawk get him." But he went out the other
way. >> I I do that. I whail him with stuff. And >> when the dog corners them, then I get him. >> Um, but she There's She went out to look and it's the snow just melted off of it. And uh no, she's all excited to >> Cool.
>> get going again. She and the other guy, Scott Seagull, he did >> he planted and he's excited about putting his in too. >> Oh, good. But they she got I mean she did she had to go out and buy a freezer, a little 5 cubic foot freezer cuz I had to go get it and pour her in the truck
and and she froze filled it full and she had vegetables and all kinds of stuff from the garden >> which is great cuz then she had food always. >> But yeah, she said she kept asking people and they're like, "Oh yeah, yeah." And then they just never went
out. So but there's new people that I mean they come and go and >> people exit in different ways. uh from there and so then new people come in and you know she said she'll open it up at the meeting again this year to ask if people want to
>> be part of the garden. So >> cool. >> Um yeah >> gardens everywhere. People have their little their little victory plot gardens matters that we need to discuss.
The journment might not be bad. go another hour. All right. I make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> All right. Good night, everybody. >> Paul.
>> Yes. I'm sorry. What? Pass it.