Many thanks to the Urban Roots volunteers who worked on the Communal Plot, the Serafina Plot, the swale and the orchard. We have since enjoyed peaches from the orchard 🙂 It takes a community to run a successful garden.

Also a great big thanks to UT Professor Steve Ross’s Architecture class who worked on a keyhole garden and improved our paths. Many hands make light work.

Thanks to our community for supporting our treasured urban garden.

A great big thank you to “Keep Austin Beautiful” volunteers for helping in the garden! A total of 60+ volunteers and gardeners helped to keep Festival Beach Garden beautiful!

If you were unable to help in April, the next workday is Saturday May 14 from 8am – 11am.

Be alerted about the upcoming elections for FBCG leadership positions! Interested or want to nominate a leader? Please use the form below. Get completed forms in asap, but no later than the May 14 Festival Beach Workday. It takes a community to have a successful garden.

Help us build a stronger FB community garden!

We need your help to strengthen our volunteer communication and organization so we can build a bright future for our democratic, participatory community garden.

We Need You!

__Sign up to run for a position on our new Elected Steering Council

__Pledge to attend our first general members meeting Sat., May 14th

__Read our proposed new by-laws here to be voted on May 14th

Elections will be held at our general meeting right after the Sat., May 14th workday

Elected positions to choose from (Coming soon! find new by-laws & more detail on SC positions at our website festivalbeachgarden.org)

Steering Council Facilitator shall be responsible for scheduling and creating an agenda for monthly Steering Council meetings, as well as arranging for facilitation of the meetings;

Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining the membership list and the all-members e-mail list, collecting annual contracts, maintaining a data base of plot assignments, collecting plot fees, keeping financial records; 

Secretary shall take minutes of meetings and make them available to Steering Council;

Site Manager shall coordinate all aspects of caring for and maintaining the physical site; 

Outreach/Educational Liaison shall recruit new gardeners, coordinate outreach in the community, recruit volunteers, coordinate classes/education series with the library;

Communications/Technology Liaison shall maintain the garden website/calendar, email list/Google, manage social media;

Membership/Orientation Liaison shall maintain the garden waiting list, schedule orientations for rental of plots, assign garden plots, arrange payment plans or scholarships as needed, assist in obtaining signed yearly contracts, monitor abandoned plots;

Fundraising/Grants Liaison shall oversee fund raising events and seek out and apply for relevant grants;

Stewardship Team Liaisons (3 positions) share responsibility for communication with garden   teams.

Nomination Form for New FBCG Elected Steering Council

Yes! I nominate myself for (circle ONE only please)

Steering Council Facilitator        Outreach/Educational Liaison

Treasurer                                           Communications/Technology Liaison

Secretary                                            Membership/Orientation Liaison

Site Manager                                    Stewardship Team Liaisons (3 positions)

Fundraising/Grants Liaison

 ___________________________ X_____________________

Your name – please print!                         Your cell

_______________________X _____________________

Your email                                               Best time to call you

Yes, I am interested in running for a Steering Council position but I want more info

________________________________X_____________________

Your name – please print!                                    Your cell

_____________________________X_____________________

Your email                                                            Best time to call you

Yes, I nominate ____________________________

for the Steering Council position of (choose 1 above)

_________________________________________

_____________________X _______________________

Name of nominator (print)        Your cell

Has your nominee agreed to run?       (Yes/NO)_____

You can send your nomination form or email nominating committee at Karen Krog at kekrog2@gmail.com or Regina Mitchell at reginarmitchell@gmail.com

Thank you for supporting your FBCG!!

http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/top-news/mexico-documents-big-rebound-in-monarch-butterflie/nqYh7/

The Farm Effect: How Dirt Makes you Happy and Healthy by Christiane Northrup, M.D.

Gardeners, come one, come all to our monthly work day. We will be having a contest!!!! The team with the most members attending this Saturday, will win a prize.

Also as a reminder, we are soliciting volunteers for the leader nominee committee, so please thoughtfully consider serving on this temporary, but important committee.

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It’s the city wide It’s My Park Day event and we have 60+ volunteers at FBCG from 9am to noon. We need your help:

• Need 3-5 people to arrive by 8:15 am to help with set up (water jugs, registration table, setting out tools, etc.)
• Need 2-3 people to help with registration table (getting them to sign in, giving them their t-shirt, answering questions, etc.)
• Need 5+ people to help oversee volunteers (they’ll be mulching trees, working in the herb garden and swale, etc.)
• Need 2-3 people to help with clean up and dropping off tools (12 pm –  1pm)

Contact Katie katie.falgoust@gmail.com

Also, the City of Austin is providing trash pick up. This is your chance to get rid of any trash, boards etc. The drop off point for trash is the North Gate into the garden. When dropping off your trash, please do not block the sidewalk for the street.

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FBCG Plant Sale Day 9am until 1pm

This a fundraiser for our garden. Plan to bring a friend and shop. All organic, beautiful transplants including tomatoes, kale, lettuce, basil and more.

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The Neighborhood Orchard Project

The Neighborhood Orchard Project will be distributing fruit trees to neighbors who live along the East Cesar Chavez Corridor from the Food Forest by the south gate. If you live in the area and want a tree please come by between 10am-noon, with proof of residence to choose a tree.

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Come one, come all. This will be a very active, hand on and happy day at Festival Beach Community Garden.