And, is there actually support to justify spending that large an amount? Not for my part.
I also am concerned that after the first year of City sponsored water, each gardener will be asked to pay a fee for water. This would make it impossible for some people to participate, and reminds me of poll taxes which were put in place as exclusionary. Fencing off a large part of the park and then charging for it does not seem something appropriate for community spirit.
After hearing that the Salvation Army down the street from us is considering a community garden, I think it would be much better for us to apply for $15,000 from the City and pool it in with the SA along with neighborhood sweat and create a garden that would really encompass the vision of community.
marcia - The above does not read 'support' in my book, for your neighbors efforts on behalf of the community, which is a committee reporting to the Board, not the entire Association. It is the Boards role to bring information to the entire Association from a sub-committee. The sub-committee is all volunteers, therefore a very large amount of flexibility is required to produce an application of this complexity.
or maybe it's just a punctuation thing?
the Salvation Army garden proposal has no specifics at all, a time line, by-laws, requirement for inclusiveness, etc. No one knows what kind of garden they plan. in addition, did you review the grant application process to see if teaming with them would even be possible?
The process for the Neighborhood Grant Community Garden has been very open and inclusive to the members of the Association, including any help that anyone would care to provide.
as an atheist, I definitely would not be involved with the Salvation Army garden.
i repeat, being supportive of your neighbors is a good thing! Helping out is a good thing too!- mark