Mill Bay Garden Club
October 23, 2012 Minutes
By Heather Gibbins

Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m.

Ajay Oppelaar presented the Presidents Report. Committee members absent from the meeting, Mary Gale, Historian; Carmen Stanek, Raffle Table; Arlene Dench, Secretary. Ajay thanked Joan and Bill Cawker for looking after the Raffle Table and Heather Gibbins for taking minutes of the meeting.

The minutes of the September 25th meeting were voted upon and accepted with one adjustment to the proposed budget of $150.00 due to no banking fees.Moved by Kerry Davis, 2nd Al Mickalishen. Carried.

The Budget was adjusted at the Executive Meeting on September 11th.
Thank you to the Kitchen Crew and Set up crew. Crew sign-up sheets circulated. Review of the President’s Report from the October newsletter. No questions or discussion.

Diane McAmmon, Cowichan Valley Garden Club is looking for volunteers to work with Diane to set up another joint garden tour with the Cowichan Valley Garden Club. The tour dates have not been set, however they are looking at June or July 2013. Last year Cliff Stainsby’s work on the Garden Tour was a huge success.

Reminder of our Christmas Pot Luck Dinner on December 4th at the Community League Hall.

Ajay brought to our attention the free seeds & small plastic bags for collecting are located on the table, please help yourself to Echinacea, coconut lime and hot lava, along with two varieties of Mortigon Lilly, (white and Pink).

Cliff Stainsby, Vice Presidents Report– Nothing to report.

Gale McIntyre, Treasurer—Reported a Bank Balance of $.

22 members paid tonight.

Sandra Goth, Membership—Welcomed three new members at tonight's meeting.

Heather Gibbins, Flower & Garden Show—Announced the first Committee Meeting will take place on January 14th 2013. Heather also reminded everyone we are looking for volunteers for the show and encouraged every one to participate in the garden show. Ajay told the members what last years garden show raised with $1,000.00 being donated to the Mill Bay Food Bank.

Heather Jenkins, Plant Sales—Sales of plants were going well, with several unusual specimens already sold.

Janice Rose, Library—Noted that she has already ordered several books, among them are books on Vegetable Gardening. Janice encouraged the membership to utilize the library, and to give suggestions of books which they would recommend we acquire for our library. Bill Herring recommended two books, Vegetable Garden Display and Fruit Garden Display. Elaine Scott recommended Edible Landscaping by Rosalind Creasy.

Dianne Regan, Kitchen—Nothing to report.

Members Forum: Elaine Scott recommended the conference, Mixing it up in the Urban Garden , put on by the Master Gardener Association of B.C. A charge of $55.00 per person if you sign up prior to November. The fee covers the conference and food. There are application forms on the table for those interested or contact Elaine Scott or Barb Kohlman for more information.

Joy encouraged members to join her seminar on Nov. 9th—Grow Food With Joy.

Valerie Robinson requested volunteers to work with school children at Ecole Mill Bay School. They are having a work party on November 4th. The children’s garden require seeds, if you have extra please donate.

Barb Kohlman commentated the Brag Table, which was another wonderful display of fall vegetables, fruits, flowers and foliage.

Bill Herring held the Question and Answer period, with a variety of questions ably answered and information given. Plant garlic now in October, 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface, remember to separate the cloves prior to planting. To produce sweet peas in time for our June garden, plant seed directly in to the soil , also in October. When the sweet peas have four leaves, pinch out the centre. October is the month to plant winter lettuce for March crop. A good variety of winter lettuce is Winter Crisp. Gooseberry Fly , Bill recommends you cover the plants with enviromesh before the flowers and foliage appear in spring. Keep plants covered for 8 to 10 weeks. Bill’s recommendation for top soil was to build your own, using manure, compost and sea weed. Shawnigan Lake Soil, by Mason’s Beach was recommended by Ajay.

Cliff Stainsby introduced tonight's speaker , Jeff de Jong, who gave an interesting talk on Pond Gardening using linear plants to naturalize your pond and recommendations including keeping 60 to 70% plant coverage in your pond, this will eliminate algae growth. He spoke on pond placement and use of pond liners as opposed to plastic formed ponds.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.