our 1st meeting notes

URBAN PARADISE
community project 2008
Long Beach, CA

Minutes from meeting #1, July 20, 2008 at 3pm
Present: Rachel Bennish, Jessica Bennish, Annie Gholson, Raul Ruiz, Ivan Jimenez, Elliot Gonzalez, Luz Mack

Small Picture: Create a beautiful garden in the given plot to prove to the city we can do this. Start building a community project out of this one plot. Finish plot in less than 5 months.

Big Picture: Use entire space on top of the library as a community garden, art, and music space.

Short Term Planning and Planting
(See what we have, then make a landscape plan.)

A. We have been given a garden plot on the side of the Library on Ocean and Pacific
-We have a deadline of 5 months to make this plot established
-We are not allowed to use a hose or irrigation system; only water in buckets
-If there is cactus it has to be on top away from children
-the pre-existing bushes have to stay
-pre-existing soil will be needed to be treated with compost and mulch (broken up sticks
to keep weeds under control and dirt moist.)
*Keep in mind- Some plants don’t do well with other plants and will take over!! (city will
be mad at us if this happends.)

B. 1. CUTTINGS and DONATIONS
-We need as many CUTTINGS and DONATIONS as possible
(Including GRAVEL AND ROCK)
*Cutting: a piece of plant that looks like it will grow into a plant
*Examples of plants; Jade, cactus, rosemary, sage, aloe, lavender, flowers, and herbs
*diversity in plants is VERY IMPORTANT!
-Plants need to be succulent, California native, and drought resistant.

-Ivan will create list of succulent and other approved plants

-Elliot has donated $40…for things we really need such as Poppy, etc.

-Everyone is encouraged to start composting but the one at the community garden is
available for us.

-The designated spot to store our cuttings will be at the community garden on 10^th and
Grant and possibly Jessica and Rachel’s backyard.

2. TOOLS
-We have access to the community garden’s shovel’s on 10^th and Grant
-make a list of all the tools you have to donate/share
*Ideas for finding cuttings (tool to get the community involved!)- Ask your neighbors for cuttings, use wagon to go to Belmont shores, knock on doors, and get some cuttings from residents, craigslist.com, door to door, community garden, Local nurseries (search google). Ex.Rosemary: cut and stick it water and it will root.*

C. Talking to the City
-Sandra Gonzalez is the person in charge of landscaping at the library and will ultimately
give the thumbs up or down (she’s who we want to impress!)
- Present something appealing for them to look at.
-Elliot needs to present a landscape outline and or plan to her ASAP
- Convince the city that nothing will be an issue (plants)

Things to work on before next meeting Sunday, July 27 @ 3pm
A. Create landscape plans to share and discuss
-plot of land about 35x70ft
B. Start working on presentable binder for Linda Gonzalez
-work on mission statement and cover page
-outline binder proposal
C. e-mail a list of all the GUARANTEED tools, cuttings, and materials you have to
D. Assign jobs (be ready to assert what you want to do)

Sunday, August 3 @ 3pm- Have a complete binder to show Linda Gonzalez

IDEAS!

*bring in volunteers from meetup.com
*bring the 5 different senses to the garden (touch, taste, smell, sound, sight)
*back of shirt says UP with arrows pointing up..uplifting
*Myspace, blog, google calendar
*Procession of the plants from the community garden to Urban Paradise singing “Wick”
*Encourage all volunteers to learn and self teach
*native plants along the Termino greenbelt
* Post a sign at bottom of first plot with info about the Urban Paradise project

contact us at: oururbanparadise@gmail.com