We - the Mamie D. Lee Community Garden Association - had our annual Spring meeting this morning. We had a good turnout, with numerous returning gardeners from last year, and a few new ones. Some are recent graduates of the Neighborhood Farm Initiative. We had a good meeting, with a discussion of many things, including our community of gardeners.
Byron Adams and Ann Bemen led our meeting, while our secretary and treasurer collected dues in the back of the room. Our annual dues have increased for the first time in years, to build up a reserve to cover the costs of capital expenses, like water repairs, fence repairs, and replacing our aging tool shed. The Garden Board of Directors, elected last fall, made the decision to raise the dues, to the protest of some gardeners. One woman expressed concern that this decision was made without input of the garden community. From the board's perspective, this one-time increase is the simplest - and easiest - way to to cover capital expenses.
As a former community garden manager, I know the financial challenges of running a garden. It costs money to run a garden, and we were blessed to have gardeners donate significant amounts of money (over $1000) last year. This money went to repair the fence that keeps the deer from eating our Swiss chard, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes, and to keep the midnight shoppers from helping themselves to the fruits of our labor. This money also went to repair the underground irrigation system that allows us to water our plots without having to drag hoses long distances.
At the same time, I understand that gardeners want to have input on major decisions affecting the garden. All of us want to know where the money goes. The board - and our brand new treasurer - shared major expenses from last year. They have also pledged to share that information at our fall meeting and to be more transparent in decision making.
I understand that the increased dues may pose a hardship for some gardeners. The board is offering scholarships to those who are unable to pay. (I have donated to this cause.) Gardeners who have been with Mamie D. Lee for over twenty years will continue to pay the lower dues. The grandfathers have been grandfathered in, so to speak, with lower dues. A few gardeners suggested alternative means of raising money for capital improvements, such as having those who are unable to work their community hours pay more, or applying for grants, or using Amazon.Smile. A fundraising committee was born today.
We are a community of gardeners, comprised of a lot of wonderful people. Among us, we have many lifetimes of gardening experience. We may not always agree - what group of people does? Let us put our differences aside and have a great 2017 garden season.
