Green Acres Neighborhood Association

August GANA Potluck & Meeting

2010-08-10T12:34:00.002-04:00

Date: Tuesday, August 17 (rescheduled from Tuesday, August 10)
Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow
Location: Green Acres Neighborhood Garden, 2601 Dekist

Neighbors Present: Al, Kathy, Jelene, Ann, Colin, Jessica, John

Neighbors enjoyed some great foods from the GANG and a private neighbor garden. Yum!
A representative of B-Top came and taped the group talking about the bypass. The city is offering an Ice Cream Social grant and the group decided it was a good idea. They settled on Sunday, September 12 for the date. More details coming soon.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, September 14. Potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow, kindly hosted by Al & Kathy 2605 E 5th.

GANG 2010 - Workshop #4

2010-08-01T08:00:00.002-04:00

Summer Begets Fall: Planting the Fall Garden
Sunday, August 1, 1-5 p.m.
Just as summer crops are planted in spring, fall crops are planted in summer. This workshop will focus both on caring for the garden in the high heat of summer and on planting the foods that will be harvested through the coming cool. This is the hay-day of the garden and we will hopefully have yields galore. But, the weeds and insects and drying sun are also trying to make their way, so mulch, shade cloth, row cover and other techniques will be employed as we keep the summer crops vibrant and give our fall crops a running start. Snacks and beverages provided.

Check out Ann's blog for additional pictures and narratives from the workshop.

GANG WORKSHOPS 2010
A Project of the Green Acres Neighborhood Association
And an educational project of the Association of Regnerative Culture
At the Green Acres Neighborhood Garden (GANG), 2601 DeKist St.

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 7.25.10

2010-07-25T12:10:00.000-04:00

Green Acres is a great place to live; convenient to IU, downtown, and eastside ammenities. Check out the latest listings of homes for sale in our neighborhood.

July Potluck and Meeting

2010-07-13T10:59:00.001-04:00

Date: Tuesday, July 13
Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow
Location: Jelene's home, 2521 Eastgate Lane

Neighbors Present: Jelene, John & Jessica, Ann, and Mary

There was no pressing GANA business and so the neighbors passed a pleasant evening enjoying great food and each other's company.

The next meeting is Tuesday, August 10. Potluck begins at 6:30 with meeting to follow. Location is currently TBA.

Meet Alyce

2010-07-08T18:02:00.001-04:00

After many attempts to find a home for this rouge rabbit, he was adobted by the GANG and will be a permanent resident of the garden. Make sure to say Hi when visiting the garden and sampling the fine eats you can find there.

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 7.4.10

2010-07-04T18:16:00.007-04:00

Green Acres is a great place to live; convenient to IU, downtown, and eastside ammenities. Check out the latest listings of homes for sale in our neighborhood.

GANG 2010 - Workshop #3

2010-06-26T22:10:00.000-04:00

How's It Going? Problem Solving and Re-design
Saturday, June 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This workshop, led by Rhonda Baird, will ask the all-important questions "Is this working?" and "How can it work better?" We will use permaculture thinking to re-evaluate the design and function of various elements of the GANG site. We may make small physical changes and work in the garden, but this design workshop is intended as a thought pattern exercise that can be applied to any landscape. This is an all-day workshop so BYO lunch. Snacks and beverages provided.

Check out Ann's blog for more pictures and descriptions from the workshop.

The next workshop in the 2010 series is "Summer Begets Fall: Planting the Fall Garden;" held Sunday, August 1, 1p - 5p.

Workshop space is limited. To pre-register, please contact Ann Kreilkamp 812-334-1987or arkcrone@gmail.com. Suggested donation per class: $5 to $15.

Weekly GANG Work Parties Return

2010-06-17T09:06:00.002-04:00

Beginning Thursday, June 17 the weekly Green Acres Neighborhood Garden (GANG) work parties return for the second year. The 2010 work parties will take place Thursday evenings at 7pm and will last until 9pm or as individual participants need. If you would like more information or you cannot do Thursdays but would still like to be invovled, please contact Ann K at arkcrone@gmail.com.

Volunteers receive shares of the garden's harvest, in addition to the positive benefit of connecting with your neighbors for a common good.

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 6.13.10

2010-06-13T07:58:00.001-04:00

Green Acres is a great place to live; convenient to IU, downtown, and eastside ammenities. Check out the latest listings of homes for sale in our neighborhood.

June Potluck and Meeting

2010-06-08T20:50:00.000-04:00

Many of our regular attendees were out of town, so we decided to have an informal gathering in the Green Acres Neighborhood Garden. We will return to our usual potluck and meeting format in July. More pictures from the June gathering are in the full post.

Pictures from Blooming Neighborhoods 2010

2010-06-05T21:44:00.001-04:00

Ann and Jane with their awards!
(more pics in the full post)

City Council Member Susan Sandberg present Green Acres Neighborhood Association with the 2010 City Council Neighborhood Enhancement Award

Ann, Colin, Mary, and Jane accepting the City Council Neighborhood Enhancement Award on behalf of Green Acres

Jane receiving a Certificate of Recognition for HAND Neighbor of the Year

Green Acres' Blooming Neighborhods Table

Mary and Ann chat with a community member taking part in the Blooming Neighborhoods Celebration

Ann sharing community garden information with an interested attendee

Green Acres gave away tomato starts as part of our neighborhood table and they went quickly!

To see even more pictures from the event, including other neighborhood tables and other award winners, check out the City's HAND website.

Green Acres Wins at Blooming Neighbors 2010

2010-05-29T09:51:00.008-04:00

Blooming Neighbors will take place Saturday, June 5 and Green Acres will receive two honors at this annual city event. Check out the full post for award notifications, Blooming Neighbors schedule of events, and nomination letters. Come celebrate your neighborhood and the accomplishments of the folks who live here!

Click on images for larger view.

City Council Neighborhood Enhancement Award Winner Notification Letter

HAND Neighbor of the Year Certificate of Recognition Notification Letter

Blooming Neighbors Schedule of Events

City Council Neighborhood Enhancement Award Nomination Letter
HAND Neighbor of the Year Award Nomination Letter

GANG Update - 5/26/10

2010-05-26T21:45:00.000-04:00

Ann has posted an update on her blog, so check it out and stay informed.

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 5.23.10

2010-05-23T21:43:00.003-04:00

Green Acres is a great place to live; convenient to IU, downtown, and eastside ammenities. Check out the latest listings of homes for sale in our neighborhood.

6th Annual Plant Share - Saturday, May 22

2010-05-22T18:30:00.000-04:00

Enjoy Jelene's report, including pics, on the 6th Annual Plant Share:

Here are some photos from the PlantShare. It went really well. We had 11 people participate. You could not have asked for a nicer day either.

One of the great things was that Mary and Abby are master gardeners who volunteer some of their time at Hilltop Gardens and the Director of Hilltop, Greg Speichert, gave GANA a very nice assortment of plants left over from last week's sale. We got a lot of varieties of tomato plants, mint plants (chocolate and sweet), some grasses, and other wonderful plants. We also had other people bring nice plants to share.

Picture 1: L-R, Mary Sasse, Nancy Anderson, Valerie Cox, Mary Wheeler, Abby Pietsch
Picture 2: L-R, Mary Wheeler, Ann Kreilkamp, Abby Pietsch

6th Annual Plant Share - Saturday, May 22

2010-05-16T19:20:00.000-04:00

Details are in the full post in case the flyer image isn't clear.
GIVE…TAKE…SHARE…PLANTSHARE

Saturday, May 22nd 9 – 11am

2521 EASTGATE LANE in GREEN ACRES!

(In case of rain, plants will be in the garage behind the house!!!)

• Share your leftover seedlings, plant divisions, indoor houseplants, etc.
Also extra garden tools, gloves, materials, etc.

• Put plant in a pot or a plastic bag with roots wrapped in wet paper towels.

• Provide the name of the plant and, if possible, planting instructions (e.g., sun/shade, size, color, annual/perennial/ season of bloom)

• Bring donated plants to the PlantShare location between 8:30-9am. If you need a pickup, contact Jelene Campbell at jjcampbe@indiana.edu a few days ahead of time.

☺Help Make Green Acres Beautiful!!!☺

GANG 2010 - Workshop #2

2010-05-15T22:28:00.000-04:00

Get Growing, GANG: Start The Garden
Sunday, May 15, 1-5 p.m.

Led by Rhonda Baird and Nathan Harman, this workshop will provide an overview of spring garden tasks. The first half of the workshop will be indoors and the second half, hands on in the garden. Let's see how those raised, heavily mulched, lasagna beds we built last year are coming along and build a few more, too. We will cover starting seeds in flats and direct seeding, transplanting starts, using the cold frame, checking for weeds, damage and problems, as well as soil analysis and amendment. Snacks and beverages provided.

Check out Ann's blog for more pictures and descriptions from the workshop.

The next workshop in the 2010 series is "How's it Going? Problem Solving and Redesign;" held Saturday, June 26.

Workshop space is limited. To pre-register, please contact Ann Kreilkamp 812-334-1987or arkcrone@gmail.com. Suggested donation per class: $5 to $15.

May GANG Meeting and Potluck

2010-05-11T20:55:00.002-04:00

Date: Tuesday, May 11
Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm, with meeting to follow
Location: Ann's house, 134 N Overhill

Topics: Project Updates, Upcoming Events, and anything else neighbors want to discuss

Neighbors Present: Ann, Al & Kathy, Jane, Alfio, Asiri, Mano, and Kacey

Kids! - We were happy to welcome three Green Acres children to our meeting. Kids have been come to meetings from time to time and it is always wonderful to have the participation of neighborhood youth. We hope this is a trend that will continue. Parents - if you have hesitated to come to a meeting because you weren't sure what to do with your kids during that time - please come and bring the family with you!

Noise concern revisited - our noise issue discussed last month continues, although the neighbors close to the home report that some progress is being made. Efforts to have no parking signs installed are paying off, but they are not always being properly enforced. Neighbors report that they have been told by City Parking Enforcement that they are not responsible for patrolling the area for parking violations. Ann was able to track down a potential contact for one of the noisy homes. Jane reminded the neighbors to speak with Tim Mayer, City Council At-Large and Green Acres Neighbor, to see if he has any ideas of what else to try.

GANG - We toured the garden to see the completed work from the SPEA project, as well as the individual efforts of neighbors and the workshop participants - stop by the garden yourself to check out the progress, it is awesome! The second GANG workshop for year 2 is Saturday, May 22.

Blooming Neighborhoods - we still need a few people to sit at the Green Acres table at the event. Jane will call for volunteers via the listserv. The GANG has been nominated for the City Council Neighborhood Enhancement Award and Jane has been nominated for the HAND Neighbor of the Year Award - congrats to both on the nominations. A win in any category earns the neighborhood $100 (which would be great to use towards a Small and Simple Grant).

The June meeting will be Tuesday, June 8 and currently has no where to call home. Jane will call for a volunteer via the listserv.

GANG Update - SPEA Project Wrap Up

2010-05-05T10:42:00.001-04:00

Check out Ann's blog for an update on the GANG and the culmination of the SPEA spring project.

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 5.2.10

2010-05-02T19:37:00.001-04:00

Green Acres is a great place to live; convenient to IU, downtown, and eastside ammenities. Check out the latest listings of homes for sale in our neighborhood.

GANG and IU SPEA Project - Weekly Blog Update

2010-04-23T22:49:00.000-04:00

GANG 2010 - Workshop #1

2010-04-18T22:58:00.002-04:00

Less is More: Pruning For Fruit
Sunday, April 18, 2-4 p.m.
This workshop, led by Nathan Harman, will be a strolling explanation and demonstration of techniques for keeping backyard fruit trees healthy and productive. We will work on assorted ages, sizes, and types of fruit trees within a one block walk of the GANG site, including apples, peaches and pears as well as bush and cane fruit. Pruning is by far the most important factor in the health and production of a fruit tree, after soil and climate, and is an essential task every year.

Check out Ann's blog for more pictures and descriptions from the workshop.

The next workshop in the 2010 series is "Get Growing, GANG: Start The Garden."

Workshop space is limited. To pre-register, please contact Ann Kreilkamp 812-334-1987or arkcrone@gmail.com. Suggested donation per class: $5 to $15.

GANG and IU SPEA Project - Weekly Blog Update

2010-04-16T10:45:00.000-04:00

April GANA Potluck and Meeting

2010-04-13T15:27:00.002-04:00

Date: Tuesday, April 13
Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm, with meeting to follow
Location: Jane's house, 2611 E 5th

Topics: Noise concerns, Project Updates, Upcoming Events, and anything else neighbors want to discuss

Neighbors Present: Jelene Campbell, John and Jessica Gaus, Ann Kreilkamp, Al & Kathy Ruesink, Jane Spearman

Noise concern - Jane reported that a neighbor on 8th street emailed the neighborhood gmail account to voice concerns over noise. She is frustrated that she is not getting the response she expects when she calls police with a noise complaint. Jane invited her to attend a meeting and gave her the HAND contact info and that of Tim Mayer, Council person. Neighbors present shared stories of various noise issues that they have faced over the years.

GANG - Coca Cola is donating three white barrels to the garden for compost bins; Dave Parsons gave the garden some free compost; the SPEA students continue their work on the garden and will install the compost bins on Saturday, April 17; the first GANG workshop of 2010 will be Sunday, April 18; the GANG got free woods chips from a company cutting trees in the neighborhood and they are being used to create better aisles between the beds in the garden; lots of wonderful collaborations happening because of the garden

Quick reminders:
* Vote for Bloomington's Community Orchard Project
* Join the Bypass Email list to get involved in bypass action

Upcoming Events:
* Jelene's band, The David Gohn Band, CD release party - Friday, April 23
* GANA 6th Annual Plant Share and Neighborhood Clean Up - Saturday, May 22nd
* Blooming Neighborhoods Celebration - Saturday, June 5th

The May meeting will be Tuesday, May 11 and will be kindly hosted by Ann, 134 N Overhill. Potluck begins at 6:30 with meeting to follow.

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 4.11.10

2010-04-11T11:56:00.002-04:00

Green Acres is a great place to live; convenient to IU, downtown, and eastside ammenities. Check out the latest listings of homes for sale in our neighborhood.

GANG Updates - 4.10.10

2010-04-10T13:33:00.003-04:00

Lots of exciting things happening in the garden and tons of collaboration and neigbhorhood invovlement. Read on for details!

Current news on the GANG:

• Lots of seedlings growing inside, and more to be planted soon.

Lots of stuff coming to us for free!

• We got three white barrels from Coca Cola, free, thanks to Ria's advocacy (160 barrels are coming in over the next few months for sustainability projects). Coke has committed to do two projects of this kind per year.

• Dave Parsons, who has a compost business, and a member of the Transition team, had a truck load of gorgeous compost in his truck that he dropped off after the last meeting here, five of us shoveling it out. We'll put it at under the roots of every seedling when it goes in the garden.

• Thanks to Nathan and Colin's persistent efforts, we got several loads of wood chips from the company that was chopping down the trees at the corner of 5th and Overhill, and are spreading it over the ugly carpets between the garden beds.

• Jean has agreed to use his sit-down mower to mow the outside of the garden.

Also:

• Due to his other commitments, Nathan is now more consultant and advisor to the GANG, with Colin doing the work Nathan would have been doing. Colin has dug the hold for the picnic table, filled it with gravel, and put the picnic table back in. Still to be done, tiling the top of the table. Colin and Nathan have prepared the bottom underneath three sides of the fence for plants that we will put there to begin our living fence.

* SPEA workshop on for 2 p.m. next Saturday. Design for three-barrel compost system is in hand, materials to be picked up probably Tuesday. 35 undergraduates plus their teacher will be crawling over the garden, and we'll put them to work in a number of ways. Colin will direct the construction process. I'll direct and the rest of their activities (weeding, chopping up branches, etc.)

Also, in other garden-related news, Jami Scholl will be the person who creates a garden for Doug Hanvey's folks, with a permie from the permie guild as her apprentice.

Over and out!

Ann

GANG and IU SPEA Project - Weekly Blog Update

2010-04-09T18:54:00.000-04:00

This spring semester 2010, an Indiana University undergraduate class of 35 students is learning how to design and construct a state-of-the-art compost system for the GANA garden. This class, “E400 Environmental Sustainability,” has been created by Melissa Clark, a lecturer at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Various members of this class have been assigned to write a blog. This week's post(s) follow.

From: Brodie Burgess
Subject: Weekly Blog Entry

Hello and welcome to the Blog Group’s update on the Green Acres Neighborhood Association Garden project for Indiana University’s Environmental Sustainability course. As the report draws near, each group is working hard to complete their chapter of the report.

The Bloomington Neighborhoods and Initiatives group has made some progress in finding city community gardens that are involved in composting. The Renaissance Farm and Permaculture Center uses compost and grows and sells organic products to educate people on the importance of sustainability and encourages them to buy these organic products to reduce waste and save natural resources. SPROUTS (Students Producing Organics Under the Sun) garden, a student organic group at Indiana University is trying to educate people about environmental sustainability through gardening by minimizing and reusing wastes. The Strangers Hill Organic Farm is a farm business specializing in Certified Organic products. They use a lot of compost and donate plant beds to other places- Farmer's market, Bloomingfoods, Hoosier Hills Food Bank etc. The Hoosier Hills Food Bank has a plot which was donated by the Strangers Hill Organic Farm. Hoosier Hills Food Bank gets compost from waste materials that they do not need and also passes crates to farmers at the Farmers Market for farmers to dispose any wastes, unused and unwanted products. In addition, the Bloomington Community Orchard will be planted in Winslow Woods Park. The community is very interested in growing organic fruits and using compost. They haven’t started planting yet and will be having their first meeting on April 12th. It aims at getting people to work together to grow food and the harvest will be available to the whole community.

The budget group is revisiting the groups they have asked support from and are in the process of nailing down the exact amount they need donated. In addition to that, Bloomingfoods has offered some physical donations, such as supplies.

The Compost Design group has received the official pick for the composting bins, the three-barrel system. In addition to this, the group has made some final adjustments for their portion of the final report.

The Newsletter Group is working hard to complete the newsletter, which is nearing completion, they are finishing up sections on GANA, general permaculture, urban gardening techniques, and composting. They will be finishing up the section on the three-barrel system of composting soon.

This concludes the Blog Groups update on the GANA Report progress. You can look forward to another update next week, and pretty soon after we will have the final report edited and done for your reading pleasure.

GANG and IU SPEA Project - Weekly Blog Update

2010-04-02T20:20:00.000-04:00

This spring semester 2010, an Indiana University undergraduate class of 35 students is learning how to design and construct a state-of-the-art compost system for the GANA garden. This class, “E400 Environmental Sustainability,” has been created by Melissa Clark, a lecturer at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Various members of this class have been assigned to write a blog. This week's post(s) follow.

From: Scott Byrne
Date: Fri, Apr 2, 2010 at 12:51 PM
Subject: Weekly Blog Entry

Not to much to report this week. A lot of groups are wrapping up their projects so we should see a lot more happening in the coming weeks. I've copied our blog entry as well as attached it in a word document.

The weathers warming up and a lot of groups are looking forward to seeing the garden in action. With only 5 weeks left in the semester our project and our groups are heating up too. Many of the groups have reported that they are wrapping up their portions of the project and we are looking forward to seeing it come together.

As for some specifics, the budget group has recently been in contact with Bloomingfoods and a lot of environmentally active campus groups to find a source of funding either for this spring or next academic year in the fall. A lot of campus groups have allotted their funding for the year, but would like to help in the future.

In other news, students have been working on contacting other Bloomington neighborhood presidents in order to find out if they have any plans in the works for a community garden. What they’ve found is GANA is a very ambitious and unique project and is something the other groups are now considering if they can find the space and community initiative to pull it off. The closest thing to an additional active garden is McDoel Gardens in the southwest quadrant of Bloomington, which is in the beginning phases of organizing a community garden.

We are also happy to announce that we should have a newsletter soon. It is currently an active rough draft and is being cleaned up before it is released next week. The newsletter will focus on composting methods, benefits and techniques and the GANA garden and the benefits it brings to the community.

-Blog Group

GANG Workshops - Year 2

2010-03-28T12:12:00.008-04:00

GANA and ARC are pleased to announce the 2010 GANG Workshop Series. Details of the workshops follow. See you there!

GANG WORKSHOPS 2010
A Project of the Green Acres Neighborhood Association
And an educational project of the Association of Regnerative Culture
At the Green Acres Neighborhood Garden (GANG), 2601 DeKist St.

Workshop space is limited. To pre-register, please contact Ann Kreilkamp 812-334-1987 or arkcrone@gmail.com. Suggested donation per class: $5 to $15.

[April 17: Compost design system Construction: Melissa Clark’s SPEA class: others are welcome to observe and/or participate.]

Less is More: Pruning For Fruit
Sunday, April 18, 2-4 p.m.
This workshop, led by Nathan Harman, will be a strolling explanation and demonstration of techniques for keeping backyard fruit trees healthy and productive. We will work on assorted ages, sizes, and types of fruit trees within a one block walk of the GANG site, including apples, peaches and pears as well as bush and cane fruit. Pruning is by far the most important factor in the health and production of a fruit tree, after soil and climate, and is an essential task every year. We will not prune in the rain, so the rain date is Sunday the 25th.

Get Growing, GANG: Start The Garden
Sunday, May 15, 1-5 p.m.
Led by Rhonda Baird and Nathan Harman, this workshop will provide an overview of spring garden tasks. The first half of the workshop will be indoors and the second half, hands on in the garden. Let's see how those raised, heavily mulched, lasagna beds we built last year are coming along and build a few more, too. We will cover starting seeds in flats and direct seeding, transplanting starts, using the cold frame, checking for weeds, damage and problems, as well as soil analysis and amendment. Snacks and beverages provided.

How's It Going? Problem Solving and Re-design
Saturday, June 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This workshop, led by Rhonda Baird, will ask the all-important questions "Is this working?" and "How can it work better?" We will use permaculture thinking to re-evaluate the design and function of various elements of the GANG site. We may make small physical changes and work in the garden, but this design workshop is intended as a thought pattern exercise that can be applied to any landscape. This is an all-day workshop so BYO lunch. Snacks and beverages provided.

Summer Begets Fall: Planting the Fall Garden
Sunday, August 1, 1-5 p.m.
Just as summer crops are planted in spring, fall crops are planted in summer. This workshop will focus both on caring for the garden in the high heat of summer and on planting the foods that will be harvested through the coming cool. This is the hay-day of the garden and we will hopefully have yields galore. But, the weeds and insects and drying sun are also trying to make their way, so mulch, shade cloth, row cover and other techniques will be employed as we keep the summer crops vibrant and give our fall crops a running start. Snacks and beverages provided.

So... Much... Food! Storing the Harvest
Sunday, August 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In the midst of summer, it's easy to think the zucchini and tomato flow will never quit. But cease they shall, and that's when we turn to the cupboard full of the years stored sunlight in the form of canned, dried, frozen and fermented garden foods. This workshop will teach a variety of preservation methods useful to the home gardener. We will spend an hour with slides and handouts and then harvest, process and sample. Learn how to reduce food costs while increasing nutrition and flavor through the winter. BYO lunch.

Putting the Garden to Bed and Celebration
Sunday, November 7, 2-5 p.m., then celebrate
Though there are still winter-hardy plants in the ground, this is the time to clean up and compost any garden wastes, mulch well, tidy up, and put season-extending hoop-houses and cold frames over more tender greens. Learn what plants require what degree of care in this risky weather and just how far into winter they can go. We will also spend time putting our tools to bed, cleaning, sharpening, oiling and storing to be sure they last as long and work as well as possible. It's difficult to get excited about spending less time in the garden and that's why we'll enjoy our second annual harvest potluck dinner and celebration afterwards!

GANG and IU SPEA Project - Weekly Blog Update

2010-03-26T18:30:00.000-04:00

This spring semester 2010, an Indiana University undergraduate class of 35 students is learning how to design and construct a state-of-the-art compost system for the GANA garden. This class, “E400 Environmental Sustainability,” has been created by Melissa Clark, a lecturer at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Various members of this class have been assigned to write a blog. This week's post(s) follow.

The project is finally starting to get underway with all the groups now that we are back from spring break.

The Design Group has been researching different compost designs and calling local hardware stores to estimate each design's price. They are currently in the process of finishing their official report which will be submitted to the GANA so they can make their final selection for which compost design will be constructed.

The Budget Group is still working on securing funding from local Bloomington businesses and groups. They have also been in contact with a local construction group that will help with possibly donated materials to build the compost bins.

The City Ordinance Group has visited city hall and spoke with Rachel Johnson about city ordinances pertaining to community gardens on private land. Some details include that retail sales shall be prohibited on the community garden site, except for the sale of produce grown in the community garden. Such sales shall be in compliance with Subsection 20.05.109(b), Farm Produce. Hours of operation shall be restricted to between 5am and 11pm daily. Community gardens shall adhere to the noise standards in Title 14 of the Bloomington Municipal Code. Cultivated areas shall not encroach onto adjacent properties. The community garden site shall be maintained free of high grass in compliance with Title 6 of the Bloomington Municipal Code.

The Bloomington Initiatives Group has found other examples of community gardens in the city of Bloomington and has even visited one such as the Willie Streeter Community Garden near the YMCA on the Southside of town. They are also getting information from the Bloomington, IN Neighborhood Association, which will providing them with the contacts for presidents of local neighborhoods to see if they have any neighborhood garden or composting programs. So far, they have not had any luck finding other neighborhood garden and composting programs not operated by the city. The group has also found that most city operated gardens strongly advocate composting as the primary fertilizer.

The Newsletter Group is still developing the content to include in the neighborhood newsletter. They plan on keeping everyone informed of the general overview of the garden and its purpose and objectives. A more detailed description of why it is important and why we want more community involvement is to be included as well.

--
Marguerite Kaye Huber
Indiana University
Alpha Gamma Delta

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 3.21.10

2010-03-21T16:04:00.000-04:00

Green Acres is a great place to live; convenient to IU, downtown, and eastside ammenities. Check out the latest listings of homes for sale in our neighborhood.

Variance Request

2010-03-17T20:29:00.005-04:00

Hello All,

I have just recently purchased the two houses at 2210 & 2214 E. 7th Street. They are currently each a two bedroom rental house. There are four separate city lots.

I have spoke with City Planner Rachel Johnson about the two houses and she has suggested that an email be sent out to the Green Acres Neighborhood Association stating what my plans are and to solicit any comments that the neighborhood has regarding those plans.

Basically the plan is this: There are four individuals lots that run East/West at the SW corner of 7th and Roosevelt. The lots are very small, 25' x 125' each. The two houses, 2210 & 2214 E. 7th Street, straddle the two middle lots(which is an nonconforming use). What I want to do is to reduce the number of lots from four to two by running a new lot line North/South down the middle. This would put each house on its own separate lot and therefore making them more conventional.

They could then be sold separately and have owner occupied potential and prevent other housing from being built on the two lots that are empty. The above picuture illustrates what I hope gives good representation of what I have described.

The reason I have to go to Zoning Variance is because if they are reduced from four to two lots, the square footage of the two lots will be less than the minimum lot size currently allowed under the UDO.

We request that comments be sent by March 26th, 2010 to both Rachel and myself at:

johnson@bloomington.in.gov and tgallagh52@gmail.com

Thank you,

Tom Gallagher

--
Tom Gallagher
812 333-5252
812 333-5228 FAX
tgallagh52@gmail.com

GANG and IU SPEA Partnership Project - Weekly Blog Update

2010-03-14T09:00:00.001-04:00

March GANA meeting and potluck

2010-03-09T12:30:00.002-05:00

Date: Tuesday, March 9
Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm, with meeting to follow
Location: Ann's house, 134 N Overhill

Topics: Blooming Neighborhoods Celebration, 6th Annual Plant Share, GANG updates - lots to share, Bypass Expansion Project, Upcoming Events

Neighbors Present: Jelene Campbell, John and Jessica Gaus, Ann Kreilkamp, Al & Kathy Ruesink, Jane Spearman

Blooming Neighborhoods Celebration - Jane did the table last year, but due to her pregnancy will not be able to do it this year; neighbors agreed it was still important to have a table and that we will do it; Jane will let Vickie know that Green Acres will participate again this year. Part of this event is the three awards, all of which come with $100 prize for the winning neighbor/neighborhood. This is a great way to get match money for Small and Simple Grants. We will have nominations for at least two of the three categories.

6th Annual Plant Share and Neighborhood Clean Up - Jelene will host the 6th Annual Plant Share on Saturday, May 22nd. Neighbors also agreed that we would continue with last year's idea and do a neighborhood clean up following the plant share. More details on both will be circulated later.

GANG - Instructors for the 2nd year have been chosen and Ann has secured a grant from ARC to cover their fees; a SPEA class is partnering with the GANG to build a compost system and to address other issues of the GANG; Ann is working on possible grants from Bloomington in Bloom; Ann is working with the city to address liability issues and how they limit the ability of community gardens to flourish; the GANG will be featured as part of the City's Parks and Rec Department's Garden Tour; GANA has been contacted by Stepping Stones about opportunities for collaboration and this is being worked on.

Bypass Expansion - The project is scheduled to be let on May 12. The mayor addressed the bypass during his State of City Address. The project will start at the west end, near Kinser Pike and work its way east; it could be 3 or more years before ground is broken near Green Acres.

Upcoming events - The 10th Street Mobility Study findings will be presented Thursday at 5:30 at Monroe County Public Library. Immediately following and also at the library will be a showing of the film "In Transition 1.0" sponsored by Transition Bloomington.

Jelene's band will be having a CD release party on April 23; details to come later.

The April meeting will be Tuesday, April 13 and will be kindly hosted by Jane, 2611 E 5th Street. Potluck begins at 6:30 with meeting to follow.

respectfully submitted by me :)

GANG and IU SPEA Partnership Project

2010-03-07T11:17:00.003-05:00

GANG Partnership Project: Compost Design and Construction

In order to further the educational and community building missions of the year-old Green Acres Neighborhood Garden, we are creating partnerships of various kinds. This spring semester 2010, an Indiana University undergraduate class of 35 students is learning how to design and construct a state-of-the-art compost system for the GANA garden. This class, “E400 Environmental Sustainability,” has been created by Melissa Clark, a lecturer at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Melissa is also a member of the Bloomington Commission of Sustainability and the Environmental Resource Advisory Council for Parks and Recreaction. Various members of this class have been assigned to write a blog. Here are the first and second posts. — Ann K.

3/02/10 Brodie Hopkins writes:

Here is the first blog. No doubt it is atrocious, but I have never written a blog and I got very little information from the groups.

This is the first attempt at a blog regarding the G.A.N.G. community garden and the E-400 Environmental Sustainability class’s project. The class is divided into groups that will focus on various aspects of the community garden, such as the building of a compost bin, fundraising, as well as a case study. Each week this blog will update the readers on the progress of these groups. While it is early in the project, the class is working hard, researching and planning. The compost group is researching design options, as well as investigating local prices of the supplies needed to construct a compost bin. The fundraising group is drafting up fundraising ideas and finding local businesses that are willing to support the community garden. The case study group will be studying community gardens in a major city in the United States and trying to apply the successes to Bloomington, while avoiding the struggles. At this time, I’d like to end the first blog, please join us next week for updates on the progress each group is making.

3/5/10 Chelsie Hopkins writes:

IU's E400 class is hard at work putting together their plans for the Green Acres Neighborhood Garden this week. So far, we have only received one of the completed plans from the group that is focusing on city ordinance issues.

Their plan maps out different things they would like to accomplish with G.A.N.G such as: prohibiting the sales of any retail items on the garden site, restricting hours of operation to 5 am-11 pm daily, having on-site storage container restrictions, vegetation limits, livestock limits, limitations on the size of garden, etc. They are currently waiting for an update form the city of Bloomington to give them more information on restrictions they need to be aware of.

Stay posted as it is still early in the planning process of this project and we will have more information regarding the garden to come in the following weeks.

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 2.28.10

2010-02-28T11:35:00.003-05:00

Green Acres is a great place to live; convenient to IU, downtown, and eastside ammenities. Check out the latest listings of homes for sale in our neighborhood.

February Potluck & Meeting

2010-02-09T18:30:00.002-05:00

NOTE: This meeting was cancelled due to the weather. Green Acres encourages you to be safe, stay warm, and take care of each other!

Date: Tuesday, February 9
Time: Potluck begins at 6:30 with meeting to follow
Location: Ann's, 134 N Overhill

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 2.7.10

2010-02-07T15:10:00.004-05:00

Check out the latest listing of homes for sale in Green Acres. Find a wonderful place to call you own and be a part of our neighborhood.

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 1.17.10

2010-01-17T14:26:00.002-05:00

Check out the latest listing of homes for sale in Green Acres. Find a new home and come join our lovely neighborhood!

January Potluck and Meeting

2010-01-12T14:32:00.002-05:00

Date: Tuesday, January 12
Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow
Location: Kindly hosted by Al & Kathy, 2605 E 5th

Topics: Bypass, GANG, neighbor news

Neighbors Present: Jelene Campbell, John and Jessica Gaus, Ann Kreilkamp, Kevin Polk, Al & Kathy Ruesink, Kimberly Wagner

Bypass: Neighbors discussed the recent H-T article stating that the bypass project is the most important project of 2010. John brought up the idea that since there are lots of houses on the west side of the by-pass and very close to it, perhaps a wall could at least built there? He wants to look at the idea of trying to fight for just this stretch of the road: don't widen this final stretch; slow the speed limit down. Ann will attend the B-Top meeting January 11 (tomorrow evening) and report back to the group anything of interest to us.

GANG: Neighbors discussed what we want the garden to be in its second year. How will the garden continue its educational and community-building mission as well as grow food? An IU Sustainability class will be working with the garden during spring semester to design and build a state-of-the-art compost system using bins. Ann is meeting with Vickie Provine (City's HAND Department) tomorrow for lunch to discuss the garden. Neighbors agreed to leave the ferrocement fence as is and to finish the painting so it is uniform. Also want to make a sign this year. Colin has volunteered to do all the little building projects that remain during the growing season this year: finish the picnic area, build the tool shed, and make permanent cold frames for the front area of the garden. More neighbor support, as well as ideas for what the garden should look like this year, are needed. Ann presented a slide show (created by Jane) on the GANG's first year to the McDoel Gardens Neighborhood Association which got them very excited to do something similar in their neighborhood. We would love to share this presentation with other neighborhoods, so get the word out. We will talk with Nicole from the Service Learning Center at IU to see if there might be a graduate student who could intern at the garden in some way. John brought up the idea of saving seeds from the garden and giving to people in the neighborhood to establish their own gardens. Neighbors talked about the community gardens in the city and thought about the idea of HAND setting up a tour of different types of community gardens that already exist in Bloomington.

Fond Farewell: Kevin and Kimberly announced that they are leaving Bloomington and moving to Athens, Ohio, where they will simplify their lives and start a permaculture garden on 4.5 acres with an existing trailer. They hope to build a straw bale house there eventually. Neighbors were excited to see them take that next step on their journey and sad to know their wonderful friendship and participation would be missing from future GANA life. Best Wishes to Kevin and Kimberly - you will be missed tremendously!

Next meeting Tuesday, February 9 at 6:30pm; kindly hosted by Ann, 134 N Overhill

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 12.27.09

2009-12-27T14:10:00.002-05:00

Check out the latest listing of homes for sale in Green Acres. Find a new home and come be a part of this great neighborhood.

December Potluck and Meeting

2009-12-08T20:48:00.002-05:00

Date: Tuesday, December 8
Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow
Location: Kindly hosted by Ann, 134 N Overhill

Topics: Transition Town Bloomington, the City's new Leadership program, and anything else neighbors want to discuss

Neighbors Present: Jelene Campbell, John & Jessica Gauss, Ann Kreilkamp, Jane Spearman
Guests: Dex Conaway, Keith Johnson, Scott Routen, Danny Weddle

Due to some technical difficulties, the full time of the meeting was spent on a Transition slideshow. We learned about the need for cities and neighborhoods to adapt to what is called the Long Emergency. This emergency is caused by the convergence of Peak Oil, Climate Change, and Economic Instability. The slideshow discussed the principles of Transition and how they relate to sustainability. Following the slideshow, neighbors and guests discussed how our neighborhood can prepare and respond. If you would like to learn more, do a web search on Transition and check out a website such as this one; or join in one of the many presentations that will be hosted in our neighborhood and city.

The next meeting is Tuesday, January 12 at 6:30pm; kindly hosted by Al & Kathy Ruesink, 2605 E 5th Street.

Notes respectfully submitted by me!

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 12.6.09

2009-12-06T20:31:00.001-05:00

Follow this link to see the latest listing of homes for sale in Green Acres. Come be a part of this wonderful neighborhood.

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 11.15.09

2009-11-15T13:53:00.004-05:00

Follow this link to see the current listing of home for sale in Green Acres.

November Potluck and Meeting

2009-11-10T12:58:00.006-05:00

Date: Tuesday, November 10
Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow
Location: Kindly hosted by Jelene, 2521 Eastgate Lane

Topics: Proposal for dry cleaning business inside of Sahara Mart, GANG Celebration, City's Peak Oil Task Force Report, and anything else neighbors want to discuss

Neighbors Present: Jelene Campbell, Tom Capshew, John & Jessica Gaus, Ann Kreilkamp, Kevin Polk, Al & Kathy Ruesink, Georgia Schaich, Jane Spearman, Kimberly Wagner
Guests: Young Bae (Spring Cleaners) and Rachel Johnson (City of Bloomington Planning)

Dry Cleaning Proposal
Young shared with neighbors her interest in opening a pick-up/drop off branch of Spring Cleaners inside Sahara Mart East. It would occupy about 1,000 square feet of front (south) part of the Sahara Mart building. It would have a seperate entrance, which is already located appropriately. Rachel explained that this would require Young to request a parking variance (due to fewer spots than city deems necessary); Sahara Mart is already approved for a parking variance. Neighbors asked questions about the business, including proposed hours, number of employees, and sustainable/green practices. After discussion, neighbors present agreed that Young's prosal would be fine. Jane will send a note of approval to Rachel for Young's variance petition, in case it is needed.

Dues
Georgia collected dues from members. Georgia will get all dues together for Jane to deposit into the GANA account. A dues report will be provided at the December meeting.

GANG Celebration
Ann reported that the GANG celebration went well. Mostly the usual, wonderful faces, but some new folks too. The garden was sucessful put to bed and one complete year of community gardening was heralded by the group. Ann was really please with the number of people (11) who volunteered to canvas the neighborhood with flyers about the celebration. Kudos to everyone involved!

Other News
* Ann will give a talk on Transition Town Bloomington and the Peak Oil Task Force report at the November CONA meeting (11/18, 7pm, City Hall). Ann would like someone to give this talk at the next GANA meeting.
* Meteor Shower - Leonids meteor shower should take place on November 17.

The December meeting will be Tuesday, December 12; kindly hosted by Ann Kreilkamp, 134 N Overhill.

respectfull submitted by me

Green Acres Celebration - Bedtime for the Garden

2009-11-07T10:40:00.005-05:00

(click image for full size flyer)

GANA would like to thank the volunteers that helped distribute the flyer for this event to the entire neighborhood. Thank you to Valerie and five of her children, Georgia, Jelene, Emily, Nathan, Megan, Jane, and Colin!

To find out how the celebration went, check out Ann's blog.

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 10.25.09

2009-10-25T12:55:00.001-04:00

To see the current listing of homes for sale in Green Acres, follow this link.

GANG - Workshop #8

2009-10-24T11:04:00.000-04:00

"Extending the Growing Season"

Ann and I were both absent from this workshop. Fortunately, Megan does a great job sharing the details of the day on her blog post. Participants in this workshop built hoop houses and cold frame boxes to extend the growing season, so even after we put most of the garden to bed, we will still have some foods emerging! Speaking of which, GANA will be sponsoring a celebration - part work party and part harvest dinner - to put most of the GANG to rest for the season. Details will be announced soon!

October Potluck and Meeting

2009-10-13T22:49:00.000-04:00

Date: Tuesday, October 13
Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow
Location: Kindly hosted by Kevin & Kimberly, 2621 E. Edwards Row

Topics: Dues collection, bypass expansion, Neighborhood Improvement Grants, neighborhood fun, and anything else we want to discuss

Neighbors Present: Jelene Campbell, Valerie Cox, John & Jessica Gaus, Ann Kreilkamp, Kevin Polk, Georgia Schaich, Jane Spearman

Before we began the meeting, neighbors enjoyed some good food and great conversation. Especially nice was the hot cider provided by Kimberly and Kevin. Yum!

Dues
Georgia collected GANA dues from neighbors. We will provide a final dues tally at the next meeting.

Bypass
The bypass expansion has been delayed at least until spring. Neighbors asked about the contacts for the bypass issue and a reminder of the various means of sharing information about the bypass. Jane will send an email after the meeting with the contacts and information. Jelene shared an article from the H-T; the article details the top ten crash prone intersections in Monroe County, three of which are on the bypass. Ann suggested that someone should write a letter about this. Jane agreed to write the letter.

GANG
It is time to put the garden to bed and Ann wants to have a work party and harvest dinner. We decided on Saturday, November 7. Ann shared some flier ideas. Kevin reminded Ann that we have an account at White Rabbit. Ann will finalize the flier and several of us will help distribute them closer to the date.

Ann said we need to get more people eating from the garden. There was plenty of food this year and not enough people enjoying its bounty. Spreading the word to the students and reminding the permanent residents will help.

The final workshop of 2009 is Saturday, October 24. We will be learning about ways to extend the growing season. More details are at this link.

Follow Up
The home on 8th Street that appears to be abandoned and falling apart was given until the end of September to repair the home or seal it. Here is the information provided by HAND about the property:
"Under the Unsafe Building law, the city has three remedies for buildings that are falling into a state of disrepair: 1) Orders to Seal; 2) Orders to Repair; and/or 3) Orders to Remove. Which one we select is based on a lot of factors, including state law. For simplicity sake, if a property is in a state of disrepair, but is structurally sound and can be sealed against the elements and unauthorized entry, we do Orders to Seal. That is the most common unsafe order done by HAND. In this particular instance, the owner received Orders to Remove or Seal – giving the property owner the choice. He chose to seal the property. Neighborhood Compliance Officer Michael Arnold verified on September 10th that the property had been sealed. We will conduct periodic drive-bys to make sure that the property remains sealed.
So, what this means is that the property can remain unattractive as long as it is sealed up. I know that this is not what the neighborhood had hoped would be the resolution, but this is really what we can do within the bounds of the law. If you see any activity in the house, please contact the Bloomington Police Department. If it seems urgent, please call 911. If it does not appear urgent, the non-emergency dispatch number is 339-4477. If you notice that the property has become unsealed (someone breaks in a window or door), please contact HAND."
Neighbors commented on seeing open areas in the home still. If that is the case, they should contact HAND.

Odds & Ends
* A different home on 8th Street was seen having a street sign, complete with GANA topper, in the front window of their home. This was reported to HAND and they contacted the police. The sign is no longer in the residence.
* Regional Neighborhood Network Conference - Ann and Jane, along with Prospect Hill Neighbor Sarah, attended the 2009 RNNC in Decatur, Illinois. Jane and Ann shared their experience with the group.
* Wireless Internet for the Green Acres - Ann shared an idea for getting a group wireless access point in the neighborhood. Perhaps a service provider would be interested in doing this. The fee could be paid by those wanting to use the service and would be significantly cheaper than individual accounts. This might be something of interest to the students as well.
* Jane is working on making contacts with the group home in the neighborhood and getting the folks involved in our activities.
* Georgia is working on the Tri-Ad Friendly Visitor Program. The program is targeted at home-bound individuals who would benefit from a weekly visit. If you could use this service, or know someone who could, email us and we will put you in contact with the group.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, November 10 beginning at 6:30pm, kindly hosted by Jelene 2521 Eastgate Lane.

Respectfully submitted by me!

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 10.4.09

2009-10-04T17:42:00.003-04:00

To see the most recent listing of homes for sale in Green Acres, follow this link.

GANG News 10.1.09

2009-10-01T21:27:00.000-04:00

Welcome to this week's GANG News post!

Details of the past week's efforts, how to volunteer, and the current wishlist follow. Enjoy!

GANG Group Volunteer Hour 10.1.09
We used this week to pull up the grass at the edges of the fence and in the front corner of the garden. It is going to seed and will easily spread to the beds. Preventing this will make weeding the beds easier in the coming year. We shared stories and happenings with each other as we worked and were continuously joined by new faces throughout the hour. It was a great time; when spending time in good company you don't even notice that you are working. A very natural sharing of space and time occurs that is really wonderful.

Outside of the Hour
The seventh workshop, "Preserving the Harvest:Canning, Drying, and Fermentation," took place on Saturday, September 26. Follow this link for pictures and information from the workshop.

Why & How to Volunteer
We invite all neighbors to join us at the GANG. By volunteering you can earn shares of the gardens bounty; shares earned are based on volunteer hours. There is a weekly group volunteer hour Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm, but you are welcome to volunteer anytime. There is volunteer log we use to track volunteer hours and what work was done during your time. The volunteer log (white binder) is located on Ann's porch, 134 N. Overhill.

GANG Wishlist
* volunteers to help plan and implement the garden for future seasons
* help putting the garden down for the season; various work days will be planned and announced on the GANA email list (email greenacresneighborhood@gmail.com)
* plastic blind slats (we will cut them up and use them to label plants in the beds)
* leaves, leaves, and more leaves to feed and protect the beds throughout fall and winter
* compost and mulch materials
* buckets

A Lovely Brunch

2009-09-27T13:36:00.000-04:00

Today, Jessie & her mom, Diane, hosted a potluck brunch for friends and neighbors. Since it was Lotus weekend, we all shared out stories from the festivities. Everyone heard musical acts they liked and we found out that there is (or was) a marching band in Green Acres who performed at Lotus. We enjoyed viewing Diane's art displayed throughout the house and sharing each other's company. Thanks to Jessie for hosting this fun & sunny brunch!

GANG - Workshop #7

2009-09-26T21:16:00.000-04:00

"Preserving the Harvest: Canning, Drying, and Fermentation"

We spent most of the morning watching a slide show and discussing the various techniques for preserving foods. Several of the methods are low or no energy and one of them actually enhances the nutritional/health value of the food (fermentation). After we learned, we got to work in the kitchen. Preparing vegetables and fruits for drying, fermenting, vinegar preserving, and canning. Many foods lend themselves to several methods of preservation, so there are many options for each person's preferences. Check out Ann's blog for additional photos and details.

GANG News 9.24.09

2009-09-24T21:55:00.000-04:00

Welcome to this week's GANG News post!

Details of the past week's efforts, how to volunteer, and the current wishlist follow. Enjoy!

GANG Group Volunteer Hour 9.24.09
We were rained out this week. Some usual volunteers used this time to learn more about sustainable gardening and to begin dreaming about next year's crops.

Outside of the Hour
The seventh workshop, "Preserving the Harvest:Canning, Drying, and Fermentation," will take place on Saturday, September 26. A few spots are still available, so send an email to arkcrone@gmail.com if you would like to join. Follow this link for more details on the workshop.

Why & How to Volunteer
We invite all neighbors to join us at the GANG. By volunteering you can earn shares of the gardens bounty; shares earned are based on volunteer hours. There is a weekly group volunteer hour Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm, but you are welcome to volunteer anytime. There is volunteer log we use to track volunteer hours and what work was done during your time. The volunteer log (white binder) is located on Ann's porch, 134 N. Overhill.

GANG Wishlist
* volunteers to help plan and implement the garden for future seasons
* help putting the garden down for the season; various work days will be planned and announced on the GANA email list (email greenacresneighborhood@gmail.com)
* plastic blind slats (we will cut them up and use them to label plants in the beds)
* leaves, leaves, and more leaves to feed and protect the beds throughout fall and winter
* compost and mulch materials
* buckets

GANG News 9.17.09

2009-09-17T21:45:00.001-04:00

Welcome to this week's GANG News post!

Details of the past week's efforts, how to volunteer, and the current wishlist follow. Enjoy!

GANG Group Volunteer Hour 9.17.09
No official volunteer hour was held this week so that Green Acres neighbors could attend the Regional Neighborhood Network Conference in Decatur, IL.

Why & How to Volunteer
We invite all neighbors to join us at the GANG. By volunteering you can earn shares of the gardens bounty; shares earned are based on volunteer hours. There is a weekly group volunteer hour Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm, but you are welcome to volunteer anytime. There is volunteer log we use to track volunteer hours and what work was done during your time. The volunteer log (white binder) is located on Ann's porch, 134 N. Overhill.

GANG Wishlist
* volunteers to help plan and implement the garden for future seasons
* help putting the garden down for the season; various work days will be planned and announced on the GANA email list (email greenacresneighborhood@gmail.com)
* plastic blind slats (we will cut them up and use them to label plants in the beds)
* leaves, leaves, and more leaves to feed and protect the beds throughout fall and winter
* compost and mulch materials
* buckets

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 9.13.09

2009-09-13T21:12:00.003-04:00

Follow this link to see the latest listing of homes for sale in Green Acres. Cheers!

GANG News 9.10.09

2009-09-10T20:24:00.000-04:00

Welcome to this week's GANG News post!

Details of the past week's efforts, how to volunteer, and the current wishlist follow. Enjoy!

GANG Group Volunteer Hour 9.10.09
No official volunteer hour was held this week so that Green Acres neighbors could attend the City's 10th Street Mobility Project Study.

Outside the Hour
Ann penned this thoughtful and inspiring piece for her blog. Give it a read!

Why & How to Volunteer
We invite all neighbors to join us at the GANG. By volunteering you can earn shares of the gardens bounty; shares earned are based on volunteer hours. There is a weekly group volunteer hour Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm, but you are welcome to volunteer anytime. There is volunteer log we use to track volunteer hours and what work was done during your time. The volunteer log (white binder) is located on Ann's porch, 134 N. Overhill.

GANG Wishlist
* volunteers to help plan and implement the garden for future seasons
* help with weeding the beds; be careful not to distrub the small areas where the hay has been pulled back, these are the areas with new plants; put pulled weeds in the pile against the fence
* plastic blind slats (we will cut them up and use them to label plants in the beds)
* picnic table - materials for, and/or labor to create
* water plants for the pond
* ornamental plants for the areas around the pond and the front area of the garden
* compost and other mulch materials
* buckets

September Meeting and Potluck

2009-09-08T12:18:00.003-04:00

Date: Tuesday, September 8
Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow
Location: Kindly hosted by John and Jessica Gaus, 2638 E Dekist

Topics: Bypass expansion (meeting held at home that borders the bypass), use variance petition, neighborhood fun

Neighbors: Megan Assaf, Jelene Campbell, Tom Capshew, Colin Cudmore, John & Jessica Gaus, Nathan and Lulu Harman, Ann Kreilkamp, Kevin Polk, Al Ruesink, Jane Spearman, Kimberly Wagner

Update on Use Variance Petition
Tom filled the group in on the withdrawl of the use variance petition. There were several factors that led to this decision, chief among them was the cost of the city required property upgrades (sidewalks, paved driveway, curbs, etc.) and that there are deed restrictions on the Green Acres Covenant. These restrictions do not allow for a residential property to be used as a business. Doing so would open up the property to lawsuits from other Green Acres neighbors.

Bypass
The meeting was held at a home bordering the bypass. Neighbors toured the yard area that abuts the SR45/46 and the sounds from the bypass dominated the conversation. Jelene offered to make audio recordings of the sound level from this property. We will try and post them on the blog. Jane reminded people of the various methods of sharing info about the bypass project (see this post for info). Ann stressed the importance of writing letters to the editor to keep this issue in the community discussion. The group decided it might be a good idea to do a petition or maybe GANA statement that we can send to the city, the chamber, IU, INDOT and other groups we think need to hear our concerns - Jane will start a rough draft and send out for fine-tuning.

Neighborly Fun/Welcoming New Neighbors
The group discussed ideas for neighborhood fun. We decided it would be too late in the season for an ice cream social. Other ideas include a harvest pie social, a battle of the bands, and several small block parties. Nathan has met some of the other musicians in Green Acres and he will see if there is interest in the battle of the bands. Jane passed out some GANA contact cards (card containing logo, email, and website) and encouraged folks to give these to new neighbors. They make it easy to say hi and share information about the neighborhood.

Neighborhood Dues
Al asked about dues. Jane will check with Georgia to get the details.

Next Potluck and Meeting will be Tuesday, October 13, potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow, location is currently TBA

respectfully submitted by me

GANG News 9.3.09

2009-09-03T21:59:00.002-04:00

Welcome to this week's GANG News post!

Details of the past week's efforts, how to volunteer, and the current wishlist follow. Enjoy!

GANG Group Volunteer Hour 9.3.09
Volunteers checked the general condition of plants; harvested cucumbers, red cabbage, pumpkin, beets, greens, tomatoes, and ground cherries; checked the fish and pond life; watered the beds.

Outside the Hour
Tom and Kevin continued finalizing plans for the storage of the GANG tools.

Why & How to Volunteer
We invite all neighbors to join us at the GANG. By volunteering you can earn shares of the gardens bounty; shares earned are based on volunteer hours. There is a weekly group volunteer hour Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm, but you are welcome to volunteer anytime. There is volunteer log we use to track volunteer hours and what work was done during your time. The volunteer log (white binder) is located on Ann's porch, 134 N. Overhill.

GANG Wishlist
* volunteers to help plan and implement the garden for future seasons
* help with weeding the beds; be careful not to distrub the small areas where the hay has been pulled back, these are the areas with new plants; put pulled weeds in the pile against the fence
* plastic blind slats (we will cut them up and use them to label plants in the beds)
* picnic table - materials for, and/or labor to create
* water plants for the pond
* ornamental plants for the areas around the pond and the front area of the garden
* compost and other mulch materials
* buckets

GANG News 8.27.09

2009-08-27T22:25:00.001-04:00

Welcome to this week's GANG News post!

Details of the past week's efforts, how to volunteer, and the current wishlist follow. Enjoy!

GANG Group Volunteer Hour 8.27.09
Volunteers checked the general condition of plants; harvested cucumbers, greens, tomatoes, and ground cherries; and sprayed the plants with seaweed (plant food).

Outside the Hour
On 8/22, the workshop "Drought and Stress-Proofing Your Home and Garden" took place. Visit this link, to see details and photos of the day.
On 8/25, Jane and Ann planted leaf lettuce and kale, for fall harvest.

Why & How to Volunteer
We invite all neighbors to join us at the GANG. By volunteering you can earn shares of the gardens bounty; shares earned are based on volunteer hours. There is a weekly group volunteer hour Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm, but you are welcome to volunteer anytime. There is volunteer log we use to track volunteer hours and what work was done during your time. The volunteer log (white binder) is located on Ann's porch, 134 N. Overhill.

GANG Wishlist
* volunteers to help plan and implement the garden for future seasons
* help with weeding the beds; be careful not to distrub the small areas where the hay has been pulled back, these are the areas with new plants; put pulled weeds in the pile against the fence
* plastic blind slats (we will cut them up and use them to label plants in the beds)
* picnic table - materials for, and/or labor to create
* water plants for the pond
* ornamental plants for the areas around the pond and the front area of the garden
* compost and other mulch materials
* buckets

Update on the Use Variance Petition

2009-08-24T22:44:00.002-04:00

The Use Variance Petition submitted by Tom C. and Ann K. has been withdrawn. If you have any questions, you may contact Tom at 812-219-6734.

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 8.23.09

2009-08-23T22:28:00.003-04:00

Follow this link to the see the latest listing of homes for sale in Green Acres.

GANG - Workshop #6

2009-08-22T21:39:00.001-04:00

This workshop was a full-day class on permaculture. We learned, and learned, and then learned some more. Keith's extensive slideshow led the day, along with discussions amongst the participants and specific questions relating to each persons own unique microclimate. After lunch, we took a tour of some Green Acres homes to talk about permaculture applications for various yards. It is amazing how easy it can be once you become attuned to the specific needs and abilities of your home and landscape. Check out Ann's blog for more details and pictures.

GANG News 8.20.09

2009-08-20T22:38:00.000-04:00

Welcome to this week's GANG News post!

Details of the past week's efforts, how to volunteer, and the current wishlist follow. Enjoy!

GANG Group Volunteer Hour 8.20.09
Volunteers checked the general condition of plants; harvested cucumbers, greens, tomatoes, and ground cherries; and planted several seedlings for fall harvest. During the hour, several new neighbors stopped by to learn more about the garden and how to get involved. Keep spreading the word about the garden to your neighbors, it is for all of us to work in and enjoy from.

Outside the Hour
GANG Workshop, "Drought- and Stress-proofing Your Home and Garden," is next Saturday, 8/22/09. You can find more info, including how to sign up, at this link.

Why & How to Volunteer
We invite all neighbors to join us at the GANG. By volunteering you can earn shares of the gardens bounty; shares earned are based on volunteer hours. There is a weekly group volunteer hour Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm, but you are welcome to volunteer anytime. There is volunteer log we use to track volunteer hours and what work was done during your time. The volunteer log (white binder) is located on Ann's porch, 134 N. Overhill.

GANG Wishlist
* volunteers to help plan and implement the garden for future seasons
* help with weeding the beds; be careful not to distrub the small areas where the hay has been pulled back, these are the areas with new plants; put pulled weeds in the pile against the fence
* plastic blind slats (we will cut them up and use them to label plants in the beds)
* picnic table - materials for, and/or labor to create
* water plants for the pond
* ornamental plants for the areas around the pond and the front area of the garden
* compost and other mulch materials
* buckets

GANG News 8.13.09

2009-08-13T22:12:00.001-04:00

Welcome to this week's GANG News post!

Details of the past week's efforts, how to volunteer, and the current wishlist follow. Enjoy!

GANG Group Volunteer Hour 8.13.09
Volunteers checked the general condition of plants; harvested cucumbers, greens, tomatoes, and ground cherries; watered the beds, created little poles for the pole beans to climb; and worked on weeding. During the hour, we were treated by a visit from neighbors with their child and friends of theirs and their children. It was great to see neighbors being ambassadors to the garden and to see the children playing about the garden, observing and learning about what is going on.

Outside the Hour
GANG Workshop, "Drought- and Stress-proofing Your Home and Garden," is next Saturday, 8/22/09. You can find more info, including how to sign up, at this link.

Why & How to Volunteer
We invite all neighbors to join us at the GANG. By volunteering you can earn shares of the gardens bounty; shares earned are based on volunteer hours. There is a weekly group volunteer hour Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm, but you are welcome to volunteer anytime. There is volunteer log we use to track volunteer hours and what work was done during your time. The volunteer log (white binder) is located on Ann's porch, 134 N. Overhill.

GANG Wishlist
* volunteers to help plan and implement the garden for future seasons
* help with weeding the beds; be careful not to distrub the small areas where the hay has been pulled back, these are the areas with new plants; put pulled weeds in the pile against the fence
* plastic blind slats (we will cut them up and use them to label plants in the beds)
* picnic table - materials for, and/or labor to create
* water plants for the pond
* ornamental plants for the areas around the pond and the front area of the garden
* compost and other mulch materials
* buckets

August GANA Potluck and Meeting

2009-08-11T22:28:00.000-04:00

Date: Tuesday, August 11
Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow
Location: Kindly hosted by Ann K., 134 N. Overhill

Topics: Use Variance petition, bypass expansion, neighborhood fun

Neighbors Present: Megan Assaf, Jelene Campbell, Tom Capshew, Valerie Cox, John & Jessica Gaus, Ann Kreilkamp, Yusuf Nur, Kevin Polk, Jane Spearman, Kimberly Wagner
Gues: Rachel Johnson, City of Bloomington Planning Office

Use Variance Petition
The meeting began with a tour of 2601 E Dekist, the site of the proposed Center for Healing and Community (CHC). The garden fence and the CHC require variance approval. Tom gave an overview of the process. Follow this link to the blog post containing a message from Tom and links to the variance petition and proposed floor plan. Rachel is helping Tom and Ann on their petition and explained the process from Planning's point of view. There are several potential issues in granting this variance, including the need (expense) of putting in a sidewalk and the fact that the variance would be in perpetuity. If you would like to write a letter of support, please send it to Rachel Johnson (johnsor@bloomington.in.gov); Rachel will include letters of support in the variance packet given to the Planning Commission. The Planning hearing is August 31, so get your letters to Rachel at least 3 days prior.

Bypass
Jane reminded everyone of the bypass email list and Facebook group; follow this link for the blog post with info on how to join and also, info on the blog that was put together after this meeting. We are to understand currently that INDOT is waiting on feedback from the City and IU regarding concerns with the bypass design. INDOT does not want to meet with the public until these changes have been incorporated (or rejected) so as to not meet about a plan that may not be the actual, final plan.
John got copies of portions (it is a 200+ page doc) of the plan, as it currently stands, that are most relevant to our neighborhood; these plans were passed around the meeting. John and Jessica would like to host the September meeting at their house. They live on the dead end of Dekist and would like other neighbors to experience the sound level of the bypass when school is in full swing.

Ice Cream Social
Everyone agreed that we would like to have an ice cream social. GANA has had one the past few years, and even though we didn't win the Edy's contest, we would still like to do this. Jelene and her band would be willing to play and so Jelene will get back with some dates that will work and we will select a date from there.

Newsletter
Jane would like to create a newsletter for distribution. The idea would be send it to the email list and more importantly, to canvas the neighborhood to let new neighbors know what is going on and how to get involved. Jane will explore the City's assistance for newsletters and Kevin said some funds for advertising that were part of the Small & Simple Grant we received. Tom offered assistance in creating the newsletter. If you have anything you want to see in the newsletter, let us know.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, September 8, kindly hosted by John and Jessica Gaus, 2638 E Dekist; potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow.

Respectfully submitted by me!

Use Variance Petition for GANG and CHC

2009-08-10T12:41:00.002-04:00

Tom Capshew, a soon-to-be Green Acres neighbor, together with Ann Kreilkamp, as owner, have filed a Petition for Use Variance with the City of Bloomington to allow for the use of the yard at 2601 E. Dekist St. to be used as the Green Acres Neighborhood Garden (GANG) and the house at the same address to be used as a Center for Healing and Community (CHC). The Petition will be heard by the Plan Commission on August 31 and the Board of Zoning Appeals on September 24, 2009. If you have specific questions or concerns, you are welcome to call Tom Capshew at 812.219.6734.

Link to the petition: http://docs.google.com/View?id=d3k9sk9_52fzhpzxfs
Link to floor plans: http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=d3k9sk9_53dhsn6hgq

Bypass Email List, Blog, and Facebook Group

2009-08-08T20:27:00.005-04:00

Get involved with the coalition of neighborhoods and concerned citizens as we join together to oppose the bypass, especially as it is currently planned. Ask questions, share ideas for action, and find out ways to join together to make our voices heard.

To join the email list, send a message to bypass+subscribe@b-top.org

To read the blog, follow this link http://b-top.org/blog/

To join the Facebook group "Bloomington Residents Opposed to the Bypass Project", follow this link http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=109141005676.

GANG News 8.6.09

2009-08-06T20:37:00.001-04:00

Welcome to this week's GANG News post!

Details of the past week's efforts, how to volunteer, and the current wishlist follow. Enjoy!

GANG Group Volunteer Hour 7.30.09
Tri-pods were created out of bamboo poles and used to tie up burgeoning tomato plants. Beds were weeded, seedlings and recent plantings were checked for progress, watermelons formation was observed, plants were watered and merriment was had by all. Volunteers took home a variety of plants - flowers to display indoors (from some broken plants), greens, ground cherries,tomatoes, and herbs among others.

Why & How to Volunteer
We invite all neighbors to join us at the GANG. By volunteering you can earn shares of the gardens bounty; shares earned are based on volunteer hours. There is a weekly group volunteer hour Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm, but you are welcome to volunteer anytime. There is volunteer log we use to track volunteer hours and what work was done during your time. The volunteer log (white binder) is located on Ann's porch, 134 N. Overhill.

GANG Wishlist
* ideas for compost bin creation and location, as well as materials to create the bins
* ideas for the future of the garden - what we can do for it and what it can do for us and the community
* help with weeding the beds; be careful not to distrub the small areas where the hay has been pulled back, these are the areas with new plants; put pulled weeds in the pile against the fence
* plastic blind slats (we will cut them up and use them to label plants in the beds)
* picnic table - materials for, and/or labor to create
* water plants for the pond
* ornamental plants for the areas around the pond and the front area of the garden
* compost and other mulch materials
* buckets

Send an email to greenacresneighborhood@gmail.com for more info and to share ideas & materials.

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 8.2.09

2009-08-02T19:02:00.000-04:00

Follow this link to see the homes currently for sale in Green Acres Neighborhood.

GANG News 7.30.09

2009-07-30T20:21:00.001-04:00

Welcome to this week's GANG News post!

Details of the past week's efforts, how to volunteer, and the current wishlist follow. Enjoy!

GANG Group Volunteer Hour 7.30.09
Volunteers were rained out this week. However, it was discovered that something (later decided to be a deer based on some pretty solid evidence) broke part of the fence at the northwest corner of the garden. Fortunately, the zip ties that hold the fence parts together were broken and not the fence itself. We quickly mended the fence with new zip ties and added a few extra for good measure.

Outside the Hour
GANG Workshop, "Planning, Prepping, and Planting for the Fall Garden," happened Saturday, 7/25/09. Check out the GANA blog post about the day, which contains a link to Ann's informative and inspiring blog post.

Why & How to Volunteer
We invite all neighbors to join us at the GANG. By volunteering you can earn shares of the gardens bounty; shares earned are based on volunteer hours. There is a weekly group volunteer hour Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm, but you are welcome to volunteer anytime. There is volunteer log we use to track volunteer hours and what work was done during your time. The volunteer log (white binder) is located on Ann's porch, 134 N. Overhill.

GANG Wishlist
* help with weeding the beds; be careful not to distrub the small areas where the hay has been pulled back, these are the areas with new plants; put pulled weeds in the pile against the fence
* plastic blind slats (we will cut them up and use them to label plants in the beds)
* picnic table - materials for, and/or labor to create
* water plants for the pond
* ornamental plants for the areas around the pond and the front area of the garden
* compost and other mulch materials
* buckets

GANG - Workshop #5

2009-07-25T19:47:00.000-04:00

Planning, Prepping, and Planting for the Fall Garden
As you can see from the photo, we will have some yumminess to pick from the garden this fall! We made our own seedling mix, prepared seedling beds, direct sowed other seeds, and we even found time to work on staining the ferrocement fence. Check out Ann's blog for great details on the workshop including Keith's recipe for the seedling soil mix.

GANG News 7.23.09

2009-07-23T22:17:00.001-04:00

Welcome to this week's GANG News post!

Details of the past week's efforts, how to volunteer, and the current wishlist follow. Enjoy!

GANG Group Volunteer Hour 7.23.09
Volunteers weeded the beds, used leftover fencing to create a cage for a very large tomato plant, watered the thirsty plants, fed the undernourished plants, and harvested some tomatoes, lambs quarter, and chard.

Outside the Hour
GANG Workshop, "Planning, Prepping, and Planting for the Fall Garden," is this Saturday, 7/25/09. Additional info at this link.

Why & How to Volunteer
We invite all neighbors to join us at the GANG. By volunteering you can earn shares of the gardens bounty; shares earned are based on volunteer hours. There is a weekly group volunteer hour Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm, but you are welcome to volunteer anytime. There is volunteer log we use to track volunteer hours and what work was done during your time. The volunteer log (white binder) is located on Ann's porch, 134 N. Overhill.

GANG Wishlist
* help with weeding the beds; be careful not to distrub the small areas where the hay has been pulled back, these are the areas with new plants; put pulled weeds in the pile against the fence
* plastic blind slats (we will cut them up and use them to label plants in the beds)
* picnic table - materials for, and/or labor to create
* water plants for the pond
* ornamental plants for the areas around the pond and the front area of the garden
* vegetables and herb plants for the beds
* compost and other mulch materials
* buckets

GANG News 7.16.09

2009-07-16T20:30:00.000-04:00

Welcome to this week's GANG News post!

Details of the past week's efforts, how to volunteer, and the current wishlist follow. Enjoy!

GANG Group Volunteer Hour 7.16.09
There were two special visitors to the garden for this week's volunteer hour - Christie and Marino. Marino, a brother of a Green Acres neighbor, is visiting from Spain where he is an organic farmer. Christie is a college roommate of Ann's and is a Agricultural Economics professor who has done work in Africa. What a wonderful pair to have in the garden!
Volunteers cut and lay carpet for the aisles, weeded the beds, treated the tomatoes with phosphate (too much nitrogen, not enough phosphate for tomatoes to flourish), watered the thirsty plants, and repaired squash borer damage (remove and eliminate borers, bandage plant with tin foil) on the squash plants.

Outside the Hour
On Friday morning (7/10) Tom and Ann met with Nicole Schonemann and Andrew Libby of the IU Office of Service Learning, along with Melissa Clark of SPEA to discuss as possible semester-long sustainabiity project with the GANG and a new 400-level class she will teach next spring.

On Friday (7/10) afternoon, Kevin and Tom met to look at tools to order for the GANG and to decide how to design the toolshed for them.

Why & How to Volunteer
We invite all neighbors to join us at the GANG. By volunteering you can earn shares of the gardens bounty; shares earned are based on volunteer hours. There is a weekly group volunteer hour Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm, but you are welcome to volunteer anytime. There is volunteer log we use to track volunteer hours and what work was done during your time. The volunteer log (white binder) is located on Ann's porch, 134 N. Overhill.

GANG Wishlist
* help with weeding the beds; be careful not to distrub the small areas where the hay has been pulled back, these are the areas with new plants; put pulled weeds in the pile against the fence
* plastic blind slats (we will cut them up and use them to label plants in the beds)
* picnic table - materials for, and/or labor to create
* water plants for the pond
* ornamental plants for the areas around the pond and the front area of the garden
* vegetables and herb plants for the beds
* compost and other mulch materials
* buckets

July Potluck and Meeting

2009-07-14T23:30:00.001-04:00

Date: Tuesday, July 14th
Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow
Location: Kindly hosted by Jane S., 2611 E. 5th

Topics: bypass expansion, GANG update, neighborhood fun

Neighbors Present: Jelene Campbell, Tom Capshew, John & Jessica Gaus, Ann Kreilkamp, Marino Lucas-Lledo, Jen Naylor, Yusuf Nur, Kevin Polk, Jessie Rome, Al & Kathy Ruesink, Jane Spearman, Kimberly Wagner, Katie Zukof

New & Announcements
* Katie placed around flier for "Dine Local Week"; each day different restaurants will have a local special, proceeds from which will got to support the Local Growers Guild.
* Ann shared updates from the garden: Tom & Kevin are ordering the tools and working on a system of storage and labeling that will keep the tools safely at the garden (this is a condition of the grant and just a good practice as well); Tom is building a picnic table for the garden; the garden needs compost bins, but it still being determined what type(s) will work best in the space.
* Tom talked about plans for the Dekist house (house that shares the property with the garden). The plans are to use this space as a Center for Healing and Community. Tom would live in one of the bedrooms and the rest of the residence would be used as cooperative space; meaning it will be for both producers and consumers. Rooms could be used for meetings, classes, movie showings, and much more. The Center would require variances and Tom is working on that. The plan goes before Zoning in August and Planning in September. Tom needs folks to write letters of support for this project. If you would like to write a letter of support, let us know.

Bypass Expansion Project
Neighbors spent some time discussing what they have heard about the project. Most of us have heard that the project is going to happen and that it is too late to stop it. We agreed that if this is true, we would do better to focus our efforts on trying to make changes to the plan. Some of things that we might be able to change include buffering and crosswalks, both of which would help protect pedestrians and cyclists. Jane discussed the recent timeline of neighborhood involvement in the project; timeline is at this link. Neighors are concerned about several issues including: environmental impact (impact study doen 20 years ago), drainage/runoff issues (at one time, the plan included routing drainage through the neighborhood), increased traffic (the plan includes right turn only into and out of the Eastgate Lane entrance) and traffic noise (no sounds dampening walls in the plan), pedestrian and cyclist safety (underpass at 7th is still in the plan). The plan is available at the City's Engineering Division; they recommend calling ahead before you visit, contact info at this link. Ann called Tim Mayer (At-Large Representative on the City Council and Green Acres neighbor) during the meeting and shared our concerns. Tim will be back in contact within 2 days.
Action Plan:
* Al will talk with Mike Satterfield (District III Representative on City Council and Park Ridge East neighbor)
* Jane will contact Matlock Heights neighbors (other neighborhood that borders the bypass)
* Jelene will contact Park Ridge neighbors
* Jessie will lead a letters to the editor project. Al & Tom volunteered to help fact check letters (not a good idea to gain support with bad info). Jessie will solicit letters via the GANA email list.
* Jane will prepare and send a list of contacts, as well as a timeline of recent bypass events, to the GANA email list.
* Neighbors will share information and calls to action via the GANA email list.

We ran out of time talking about the bypass and didn't get to discuss neighborhood fun. In the meantime, think about what type of fun events you would like to see take place in Green Acres and bring those ideas to the August meeting.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, August 11; kindly hosted by Ann K. 134 N. Overhill. Potluck begins at 6:30 with meeting to follow.

Respectfully submitted by me.

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 7.12.09

2009-07-12T08:12:00.000-04:00

To see the most recent listing of homes for sale in Green Acres, follow this link.

GANG News 7.9.09

2009-07-09T21:54:00.000-04:00

Welcome to this week's GANG News post!

Details of this week's efforts, how to volunteer, and the current wishlist follow. Enjoy!

GANG Group Volunteer Hour 7.9.09
We planted 70 bush bean plants and continued weeding beds.

Outside the Hour
On Friday 7.3.09 we completed planting willows outside the fence.

Why & How to Volunteer
We invite all neighbors to join us at the GANG. By volunteering you can earn shares of the gardens bounty; shares earned are based on volunteer hours. There is a weekly group volunteer hour Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm, but you are welcome to volunteer anytime. There is volunteer log we use to track volunteer hours and what work was done during your time. The volunteer log (white binder) is located on Ann's porch, 134 N. Overhill.

GANG Wishlist
* help with weeding the beds; be careful not to distrub the small areas where the hay has been pulled back, these are the areas with new plants; put pulled weeds in the pile against the fence
* plastic blind slats (we will cut them up and use them to label plants in the beds)
* picnic table - materials for, and/or labor to create
* water plants for the pond
* ornamental plants for the areas around the pond and the front area of the garden
* vegetables and herb plants for the beds
* compost and other mulch materials
* buckets

GANG News 7.2.09

2009-07-02T20:30:00.000-04:00

Welcome to this week's GANG News post!

Details of the past week's efforts, how to volunteer, and the current wishlist follow. Enjoy!

GANG Group Volunteer Hour 7.2.09
We created cages for the tomatoes using bamboo poles and string; this should keep the plants off the ground and allow them to grow better. We planted more willows along the outside of the fence; as they start to grow, they can be woven into the fence. We planted a beet bed at the end of bed one. We watered the new plants.

Outside the Hour
On Wednesday, July 1st several neighbors and friends gathered in the afternoon to complete the ferrocement fence. After the fence, they planted more vegetables in the beds and began planting willows on the outside of the fence.

Why & How to Volunteer
We invite all neighbors to join us at the GANG. By volunteering you can earn shares of the gardens bounty; shares earned are based on volunteer hours. There is a weekly group volunteer hour Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm, but you are welcome to volunteer anytime. There is volunteer log we use to track volunteer hours and what work was done during your time. The volunteer log (white binder) is located on Ann's porch, 134 N. Overhill.

GANG Wishlist
* help with weeding the beds; be careful not to distrub the small areas where the hay has been pulled back, these are the areas with new plants; put pulled weeds in the pile against the fence
* plastic blind slats (we will cut them up and use them to label plants in the beds)
* picnic table - materials for, and/or labor to create
* water plants for the pond
* ornamental plants for the areas around the pond and the front area of the garden
* vegetables and herb plants for the beds
* compost and other mulch materials
* buckets

GANG - Workshop #4

2009-06-29T18:27:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend, we worked on fencing the garden in and fencing the deer out. Additional details in the full post.

We made a fence at the front corner of the garden using the ferrocement technique and then used an open fencing for the remainder. The ferrocement fence provides a nice balance to the corner opposite the pond and the open fencing allows passerbys to see what is happening in the garden. Hooks were embedded in the ferrocement fence to hold the future GANG signs! We thought of ways to use the open fence; we could put climbing plants on both sides, we could hang neighborhood art, we could post announcements and much more. It was fun to envision the many uses of our neighborhod space, both inside and outside the garden. Check out Ann's blog for a much better description of the day's events! If you can't make the workshops, you can join us for the weekly volunteer hour, Thursdays from 5:30-6:30pm.

GANG News 6.25.09

2009-06-25T20:09:00.000-04:00

Welcome to this week's GANG News post!

Details of this week's efforts, how to volunteer, and the current wishlist follow. Enjoy!

GANG Group Volunteer Hour 6.25.09
We transplanted tomato plants from their location at the end of bed one, to a more soily area in bed two, which should help them thrive. We also continued to weed the beds and discuss plans for next year's beds that will eliminate (or greatly reduce) this particular need. We discussed the bypass project and the meetings held this week to address it (hint: coming to the GANG volunteer hour helps you keep on top of juicy neighborhood news). At the end of the hour, we took home some fabulous greens - mesclun, lambs quarter, and chard; makes a tasty reward for a little bit of work!

Outside the Hour
Tom C., a new Green Acres neighbor who will be moving into 2601 DeKist Street in August, has volunteered to build the toolshed for the new tools that GANA will purchase thanks to Kevin's successful grant application to HAND. Kevin will also help design the toolshed to optimize security and tool retention. Ann K. has volunteered to finance the materials for this project.

Tom has also volunteered to design and build a picnic table that we will place near the pond under the shade for community use. We would love help in both purchasing the materials for this project as well as doing the actual carpentry from our GANA neighbors.

We will be putting up fence's in the garden this weekend for June's workshop. Details are here.

Why & How to Volunteer
We invite all neighbors to join us at the GANG. By volunteering you can earn shares of the gardens bounty; shares earned are based on volunteer hours. There is a weekly group volunteer hour Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm, but you are welcome to volunteer anytime. There is volunteer log we use to track volunteer hours and what work was done during your time. The volunteer log (white binder) is located on Ann's porch, 134 N. Overhill.

GANG Wishlist
* help with weeding the beds; be careful not to distrub the small areas where the hay has been pulled back, these are the areas with new plants; put pulled weeds in the pile against the fence
* plastic blind slats (we will cut them up and use them to label plants in the beds)
* picnic table - materials for, and/or labor to create
* water plants for the pond
* ornamental plants for the areas around the pond and the front area of the garden
* vegetables and herb plants for the beds
* compost and other mulch materials
* buckets

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 6.21.09

2009-06-21T12:32:00.000-04:00

Follow this link to see a current listing of the homes for sale in Green Acres.

GANG News 6.18.09

2009-06-18T19:52:00.001-04:00

Welcome to this week's GANG News post!

Details of this week's efforts, how to volunteer, and the current wishlist follow. Enjoy!

GANG Group Volunteer Hour 6.18.09
We cut and lay carpet scraps for the aisles between the beds and we continued weeding the beds. We checked the plants for growth and general health; some plants were pruned and some were feed to address possible issues. We welcomed some new faces and enjoyed talking together as we worked.

Why & How to Volunteer
We invite all neighbors to join us at the GANG. By volunteering you can earn shares of the gardens bounty; shares earned are based on volunteer hours. There is a weekly group volunteer hour Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm, but you are welcome to volunteer anytime. There is volunteer log we use to track volunteer hours and what work was done during your time. The volunteer log (white binder) is located on Ann's porch, 134 N. Overhill.

GANG Wishlist
* help with weeding the beds; be careful not to distrub the small areas where the hay has been pulled back, these are the areas with new plants; put pulled weeds in the pile against the fence
* plastic blind slats (we will cut them up and use them to label plants in the beds)
* picnic table - designing, materials for, and/or labor to create
* water plants for the pond
* ornamental plants for the areas around the pond and the front area of the garden
* vegetables and herb plants for the beds
* compost and other mulch materials
* buckets

GANA wins small and simple grant!

2009-06-16T22:44:00.004-04:00

Good news! I just found out today that Bloomington's Small and Simple grant program will help us buy tools for the Green Acres Neighborhood Garden (GANG).

If you have attended the monthly GANG workshops, it may appear that tools just (ahem) grow on trees. In reality, instructor Keith Johnson has lugged wheelbarrows, shovels and myriad other tools to class from his urban homestead each time. Problem is, we need the tools much more than once a month, and we'll need them season after season to come.

That's why Ann has committed to building a tool shed at the GANG site by August 1. The City is chipping in for the tools themselves, and GANA will secure and maintain them. So as we approach harvest time, we'll have the carts, shovels, forks, shears, and other tools needed to prep and maintain the garden through Fall and Winter.

GANG News #1

2009-06-11T17:14:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the first GANG News post! Our plan is to update the blog weekly with what is going on in the garden.

Details of this weeks efforts, how to volunteer, and the current wishlist follow. Enjoy!

GANG Group Volunteer Hour 6.11.09
We identfied the plants in the beds, worked on weeding the beds, and planted some new foods.

Bed Inventory (Beds numbered by proximity to the pond, plants listed from west to east)
Bed 1 - Berry plant (1)(not sure what type yet), green leaf lettuce(32), caraway (7), marjoram (2), oregano (2), dill (3), carrots (1), sunflowers (3), several varities of tomatoes (17), basil (9), and some surprise plants (9).
Bed 2 - brassica (6), red chard (2), giant lambs quarter (3), green chard (4), brassica (2), collard green (1), green chard (8), red chard (4), red coxcomb (1), yellow coxcomb (2), heirloom tomatoes (2), giant lambs quarter (1), berry (1)(not sure what type yet)
Bed 3 - green leaf lettuce (lots), red leaf lettuce (6), cauliflower (6), brassica (6), tomato (1), potato (5), mizuna (8), leeks (lots), berry (1)(not sure what kind yet), tomato (1), pumpkin (4)

New Plants (all in middle of bed 2)
We planted - cucumber (14), beets (15), carrots (16)

Pond - the koi have new friends, about 100 tadpoles

Why & How to Volunteer
We invite all neighbors to join us at the GANG. By volunteering you can earn shares of the gardens bounty; shares earned are based on volunteer hours. There is a weekly group volunteer hour Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm, but you are welcome to volunteer anytime. There is volunteer log we use to track volunteer hours and what work was done during your time. The volunteer log (white binder) is located on Ann's porch, 134 N. Overhill.

GANG Wishlist
* help with weeding the beds; be careful not to distrub the small areas where the hay has been pulled back, these are the areas with new plants; put pulled weeds in the pile against the fence
* plastic blind slats (we will cut them up and use them to label plants in the beds)
* picnic table - designing, materials for, and/or labor to create
* water plants for the pond
* ornamental plants for the areas around the pond and the front area of the garden
* vegetables and herb plants for the beds

June GANA Potluck and Meeting

2009-06-09T12:00:00.007-04:00

Date: Tuesday, June 9th
Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow
Location: Kindly hosted by Ann K., 134 N. Overhill

Topics: Ann K.'s Award and Blooming Neighbors, discussion of our neighborhood plan and how to move forward with our objectives, news & announcements

Neighbors: Jelene Campbell, John & Jessica Gaus, Ann Kreilkamp, Kevin Polk, Al & Kathy Ruesink, Georgia Schaich, Erik Schedler, Jane Spearman, Kimberly Wagner, Katie Zukof
Special Guests: City of Bloomington Housing and Neighborhood Development staff, Vickie Provine and Bob Wolford

Ann Award & Blooming Neighbors
We discussed Green Acres' participation in the Blooming Neighbors Celebration on June 6th and Ann's Certificate of Recognition in the HAND Neighbor of the Year category. Ann's award was passed around and neighbors gave Ann a round of applause for her accomplishments. Check out the blog post with pics of Green Acres' table and Ann receiving her award.

Neighborhood Plan (link to plan, pages 21-28 were discussed)
Vickie introduced Bob Wolford, who was able to step in for Nate Nickels (City Planning). Everyone thanked Bob for taking the time to join us in Nate's stead. Vickie read through our plan item by item and neighbors talked about the progress on goals and items of concern. Highlights include:
* drainage issues at Clark & 5th and Hillsdale & 5th, Vickie will report these issues; neighbors also shared their disappoint in the way the street and drainage project on east fifth did not follow more sensible, environmentally beneficial plans
* seemingly abandoned house on 8th & Clark; Vickie will report to HAND
* 3rd street sidewalk - neighbors are interested in seeing work begin on extending the sidewalk along the entire north side of E. Third Street; Bob reports that this is in the works and has city support, but neighbors should still speak with planning and their council persons to show the eagerness of the neighborhood to see this project move along
* Bypass - neighbors would like to see the plan (Vickie mentioned that City Hall should have one as should Planning, MPO, and IU Architect's Office); there is some possible action needed soon that might postpone the start of the widening project and neighbors could be needed to mobolize quickly on this issue; updates will be shared via the email list (to join, send us an email)
* Painting signal box at 3rd and Hillsdale - neighbors were curious what it would take to get the okay to paint the signal boxes, Vickie suggests contacting Miah Michaelson to discuss
* Signs - we discussed sign ordinances, both for neighborhood markers and for the GANG, it is likely that the sign for the garden will need a variance, so Vickie suggests that we talk with planning
* energy usage - neighbors discussed ideas for addressing energy usage in the neighborhood, such as carbon cutting workshops and teaching neighbors how to determine their energy usage

Vickie announced that the fall 2009 Citizen's Academy course had only 3 spots left. Jane will email the list right after the meeting about this opportunity.

Ann is working on plans for the home next to the garden. She would like to use it as a Healing and Community Center and is finding out about the variances needed to do this. The space could be used for neighborhood gatherings, movie nights, workshops; Ann would also like to have an artists space for more individual work and the garage would be available for use as a workshop to learn sustainable skills.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, July 14 hosted by Jane Spearman, 2611 E 5th; potluck begins at 6:30 with meeting to follow

Blooming Neighborhoods Celebration Weekend

2009-06-06T17:43:00.002-04:00

Ann K. receiving her award

On Friday, June 5th, Jim Diers' gave a presentation on community building. Green Acres won a HAND goody bag (complete with a copy of Jim's book) for having the most neighbors in attendance!

On Saturday, June 6th, the participating neighborhoods set up tables to display neighborhood information. This occured at Farmer's Market and during this time, the neighborhood awards were given. Our own Ann K. received a Certificate of Recognition in the HAND Neighbor of the Year category.

Thanks to all the neighbors who helped create and staff our table, and to those who came to cheer for Ann. Thanks also to Ann for making the neighborhood garden a reality and giving us something to cheer about! More pictures from the day are in the full post.

To see broadcasts of Jim's presentation, check the CATS schedule at this link.

Kevin P., Kimberly W., and Jane S. at the GANA table
Ann K. receiving her award
Jane S. and Roxy at the conclusion of Blooming Neighbors

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 5.31.09

2009-05-31T22:34:00.001-04:00

Click here to see the listing of homes for sale in Green Acres.

GANG - Workshop #3

2009-05-23T21:32:00.000-04:00

The Lasagna Style No Dig Instant Garden - how great is that!

We planted, and planted, and planted some more. Vegetables, herbs, edible flowers annd ornamental plants. First though, we made the beds which consisted of stacks of materials that will break down and feed the plants on top - cardboard, newspapers, sticks and twigs (great sources of water as they break down), grass clippings, and hay all make great bed layers.

If you have plants to donate - food plants, water plants, or decorative plants, please email greenacresneighborhood@gmail.com to make arrangements for your donations!

Check out Ann's blog for greater detail and more pictures from Workshop #3.

5th Annual Plant Share

2009-05-16T12:09:00.006-04:00

More photos and event details in the full post.

Event Details
Jelene Campbell will be hosting the fifth annual Green Acres
Neighborhood plant share in her front yard (2521 Eastgate Lane) on
Saturday, May 16, from 9-11 am. This is a FREE event! In case of rain, plants will be in the garage behind her house.

Need plants? Here's a great way to get day lilies, tomatoes, peppers
and many more for your garden. You don't have to bring anything in
trade (we all have to start somewhere!), and free informational
brochures about gardening will be provided.

Do you have extra seedlings, plant divisions, houseplants, garden
tools, gloves, trays, or other useful garden items to share? Just
bring them to Jelene's between 8 and 9 am on the morning of the plant share. If you need a pickup, contact Jelene (jjcampbe@indiana.edu) a few days before the event. Be sure to put any plants you bring in pots or in bags with the roots wrapped in wet paper towels. Also provide the name of the plant and, if possible, planting and care instructions (e.g. sun/shade, size, color, annual/perennial, season of bloom).

Whether you donate, take, or both, mark your calendar for May 16 and join your neighbors for some gardening fun.

Mini Neighborhood Cleanup

2009-05-16T12:08:00.000-04:00

Last year, we held a huge neighborhood cleanup where the City provided a chipper, hazardous waste truck, dumpster and staff. The City says it won't provide the equipment and personnel two years running, so this year we're going with Plan B: a one-hour mini-cleanup.

Details in the full post.

Schedule
Saturday, May 16
11:00 am - Meet at 2521 Eastgate Lane at the conclusion of the Plant Share. Claim a street or two (we'll provide a map), pick up a blue HAND bag (or two), and fill it up with litter from "your" streets.
12:00 pm - Join us at Green Acres Neighborhood Garden (GANG), NE corner of Overhill and DeKist, for a group photo and refreshments. Bring a full bag,take home a yummy vegan scone.
Afterward- Bring the HAND bag home and put it out with your regular trash later in the week for a free pickup.

Things to Bring:
Garden or work gloves, maybe a whisk broom and a small dust-pan.

Hope to see you there!

May GANA potluck and meeting

2009-05-12T12:44:00.003-04:00

Date: Tuesday, May 12th
Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow
Location: 2621 E. Edwards Row

Topics: update on the GANG, upcoming plant share and neighborhood clean-up, follow up on April meeting items, and anything else neighbors want to discuss

Neighbors in attendance: Jelene Campbell, Valerie Cox, John & Jessica Gaus, Yusuf Nur, Kevin Polk, Al & Kathy Ruesink, Georgia Schaich, Jane Spearman, and Kimberly Wagner

We had some new neighbors at the potluck, so we shared introductions and learned some new things about each other. Georgia brought a few Green Acres shirts for neighbors who did not have one yet - thanks Georgia!

April follow up
* Al spoke with his contact at IU regarding usage of the Raintree house for GANA gatherings. Raintree house has no bathrooms and there are fire ordinance issues that prevent IU from allowing these types of gatherings at Raintree. Al's contact is looking into the theater annex as a possibility.
* Jane contacted City Planning about DIY GANA signs for yards. No response yet, but this was to be expected since initial contact email sent two days ago.

Projects
* GANG - the second workshop is now complete. Neighbors and friends gathered April 25and 26 to complete the water features at the GANG. Pictures and descriptions are available on the GANA blog and Ann's blog.
Jane passed around a GANG wishlist. Neighbors are encouraged to get involved by donating items, time, design ideas, etc. Contact us if you want to have something to share for the GANG.
Kevin presented the volunteer log book that he created and talked about having a set day once a week that people could gather to socialize and work on the garden. Neighbors agreed that this is a good idea and decided that Wednesdays from 5:30pm - 6:30pm would be Volunteer Day at the GANG. Volunteering is not limited to this hour, so please volunteer whenever you want/can. For folks wanting shares of the GANG harvest, specific volunteer hours must be logged (details still being decided). The volunteer log book will be on Ann's porch, so check the book for an updated wishlist and to log your time in the garden.
* Green Acres table at Blooming Neighborhoods Celebration - Green Acres will again be hosting a table at this event, held this year on June 6th. Georgia and Jane have volunteered to work on the table and anyone else who is interested in working on this project please let us know - help us showcase Green Acres and the wonderful neighbors we have!
* Yard Sale - Natalia (not in attendance) sent an email to the GANA listserv about hosting a GANA yard sale. The response has been minimal and so Natalia is thinking about just donating her items rather than having a yard sale. If you are interested in working on a GANA yard sale, let Natalia know ASAP.
* Fundraiser for GANA - Jelene brought up using a FlowerPower order to raise some funds for Green Acres and neighbors discussed this idea. Usually FlowerPower prices are set so that they get 50% and the neighborhood gets 50%. In order for neighbors to support GANA and still get flowers at a good price, we agreed to offer the bulbs at 60% of the set price, so that the neighborhood would get 10% of anything sold. Jelene will have the order form at the PlantShare. If you can't attend the PlantShare, but want to order bulbs (and support GANA!!!!), contact Jelene.

Upcoming Events
* PlantShare - Jelene reminded everyone that the PlantShare is Saturday, May 16th. Jelene passed around fliers to share with other folks that might be interested in participating.
* Mini cleanup - Kevin reminded everyone about the neighborhood cleanup that will take place following the PlantShare. Kevin will bring maps for teams to select routes. Kevin and Kimberly will have scones for neighbors to exchange for each bag of trash collected. Group photo of trash collected and the trash collectors will take place too, so wear your Green Acres shirts.
* IU Bike Auction - Jane shared fliers about the bike auction that is happening May 16th. Group discussed successes and not-so-successes that they have had with the bike auction.
* B-Line Trail discussion - the City is hosting a coffee discussion about the B-Line Trail (funding, stimulus impact, grand opening, etc), May 14th at Village Deli, 7:30-8:30am.
* David Gohn Band - Jelene's band will perform at Peoples Park on Tuesday, June 2nd from 11:30am - 1:00pm. This performance is sponsored by the City of Bloomington Parks & Rec Department and is part of the ongoing Peoples Park Tuesday Lunch Concert Series.
* Blooming Neighborhoods - this two day event is coming up soon. June 5th is Jim Diers' talk and June 6th is the Neighborhood Awards and Celebration (details of both here). Because GANA signed up to host a table at the Celebration, we won a copy of Mr. Diers' book. Jane is almost finished with the book and will pass it on to Valerie. If you are interested in reading this book, please let us know.

Observations and Concerns
* Georgia noticed an item in the Herald Times Hotline column about For Rent signs and how long they are posted. It seems that some property owners keep these signs in their yards year round, regardless of the current rental status. Georgia thought this might be a good issue for CONA to pursue.
* There is a dilapidated house on 8th street that seems to be violating all kinds of ordinances is becoming quite an eyesore. It was recommended that HAND be contacted to come look at the property and to issue violation notices as appropriate.
* Many neighbors are concerned about the traffic that will be coming through the neighborhood during and after the 45/46 Bypass widening project. Neighbors discussed the history of traffic calming in Green Acres and agreed that we should start talking with City Planning to revisit traffic calming in light of the Bypass.

Next Potluck and Meeting
* Vickie Provine (HAND) and Nate Nickels (City Planning) will be joining us at the June gathering to discuss next steps in fulfilling our neighborhood plan. Jane passed out copies of the plan so neighbors could look it over and come prepared for June. If you were not at the meeting, but want a copy of plan, let us know.
* June's gathering will be Tuesday, June 9 at Ann's (134 N Overhill); potluck begins at 6:30 with meeting to follow.

Respectfully submitted by me!

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 5.10.09

2009-05-10T19:46:00.005-04:00

Click this link to view the current listing of homes for sale in Green Acres.

GANG - Workshop #2

2009-04-26T19:21:00.000-04:00

Or as I like to call it "Oh my goodness, we made a pond!!!"

Okay, so we did much more than make a pond. In just two days, April 25 and 26, we also created a bog and more plant beds, we made keyholes in the beds for easier access, we planted some lettuces and berries, we introduced water plants to the pond and so much more. Truly amazing what can be accomplished by a small group of people working together! Ann's blog has many more pictures and details, so check it out (day one and day two).

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 4.19.09

2009-04-19T20:44:00.001-04:00

Click this link to view the current listing of homes for sale in Green Acres.

April GANA potluck and meeting

2009-04-14T12:08:00.004-04:00

Date: Tuesday, April 14th
Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm, with meeting to follow
Location: 2611 E 5th Street

Topics: update on GANG workshops, 10th street mobility project, Rogers/Binford traffic, upcoming events of interest, blog content and function, and anything else neighbors want to discuss

Neighbors Present: Jelene Campbell, John & Jessica Gaus, Ann Kreilkamp, Kevin Polk, Kathy & Al Ruesink, Georgia Schaich, Erik Schedler, Jane Spearman, Kimberly Wagner, Katie Zukof

* Update on GANG - the first workshop went very well, despite rainy conditions. The next workshop will be April 24 and 25 and will be work to complete the pond.
* 10th Street Mobility Study - neighbors discussed ideas and concerns about the area to be studied. Information on the study, public meetings, and a survey can be found here.
* Rogers/Binford traffic issue - neighbors discussed the public meeting that was held at the schools on March 30th and our continued involvement with the issue. The neighborhoods in the affected school district would like the MCCSC school board to form an advisory committee to help study this issue. Neighbors discussed if there was anyone in the neighborhood that would like to serve on this committee if such a committee were assembled. Neighbors present do not have school aged children and as mentioned by many, our school district is University Elementary. If you were not at the meeting, but know someone who would be interested in this outreach opportunity, let us know.
* Blog - neighbors viewed the blog and talked about potential ideas for the site. Jane is working on a calendar of events for the site and is currently working on technical bugs to get this going. Please use and share our blog, http://greenacresneighbors.blogspot.com, and our general purpose email, greenacresneighborhood@gmail.com.
* Plant Share - the date of the plant share has been set for May 16th, details are forthcoming.
* Neighborhood Clean-up - since Green Acres was awarded a Neighborhood Clean-up last year, we are not eligible this year. Several neighbors expressed interest in doing a clean up anyway, albeit on a much smaller scale than what we are able to do with the equipment provided by the city. It was decided that a clean-up would take place following the plant share on May 16th. Details of the clean-up are forthcoming.
* Street sign toppers - John mentioned that several GANA sign toppers are missing. Kevin will give toppers to the city's Public Works department for reposting.
* Meeting space - John asked why we weren't using IU buildings in the neighborhood for our monthly potluck and meeting. Neighbors discussed ideas on meeting space from previous meetings and the benefits and risks of each. Al has agreed to talk with a contact at IU about using the Raintree House or the theater annex for this purpose.
* Signs at neighborhood entrances - John asked why nothing had come of this yet, based on conversations at previous meetings. Neighbors discussed the types of grants available for this type of project and that the deadlines for some of grants for this year had already passed. For the meantime, Jane brought up the idea of DIY signs that neighbors could post in their own yards if they chose. It was suggested that there might be city ordinances that could affect this possibility; Jane will look into the ordinances adressing yard signs.
* Blooming Neighborhood Awards - Green Acres has signed up to host a table at the awards celebration on June 6. Because Green Acres was one of the first neighborhoods to sign up, we were rewarded with a goodie bag from HAND. This bag contains materials for use in organizing and celebrating neighborhood events; it also contained a copy of the Jim Dier's book, "Neighbor Power: Building Community the Seattle Way." Jim will share his insights on June 5. Details of both events are here. Jane is currently reading the book; neighbors interested in being next in line can let us know.
* Upcoming City and IU Events of Interest:
Hazards in the Home - presented by Janet McCabe, Executive Director of Indiana
Kids Environment (IKE); Wedensday, April 15 at 7pm, McCluskey Room of City Hall,
sponsored by CONA.
Be More Awards - April 21st, 7pm at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater
IU Electronic Waste Recycling - May 2nd, 9a - 2p, Memorial Stadium parking lot. This is a great opporunity to dispose of your electronics in a safe, environmentally sound way and at no cost. Share this opportunity with everyone you know who would be interested.
* May potluck and meeting - the May gathering will be Tuesday, May 12th and will be hosted by Kevin and Kimberly, 2621 E Edwards Row

Respectfully submitted by me

Celebrate Your Neighborhood and Win an Ice Cream Party

2009-04-02T20:44:00.005-04:00

Edy's is delighted to host its 5th annual Slow Churned Neighborhood Salute ice cream block party contest. Neighbors nationwide are invited to enter to win one of 1,500 free ice cream socials by submitting an essay, 350 words or less, explaining why their neighborhood deserves a Slow Churned Neighborhood salute. Winning neighborhoods will scoop up 10+ cartons of Edy's Slow Churned Ice Cream in a variety of flavors and a "Party in a Box" filled with enough supplies (bowls, scoops, spoons, napkins, tablecloth, etc.) to host a summer gathering for up to 100 neighbors, family and friends.

Visit the Edy's Neighborhood Salute website beginning March 3, 2009 through May 29, 2009 to nominate your Green Acres neighborhood. Contest rules are available at the website or by calling (888) 590-3397.

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 3.29.09

2009-03-29T19:56:00.001-04:00

Click this link to view the current listing of homes for sale in Green Acres.

GANG - Workshop #1

2009-03-28T20:42:00.000-04:00

What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday - with neighbors and new friends taking the first steps toward a sustainable garden. Ann says it much better than me, so check out her blog post about the day. It was truly inspiring and exciting to see community in action.

March GANA meeting and potluck

2009-03-10T12:06:00.012-04:00

Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow
Location: Kindly hosted by Al & Kathy Ruesink, 2605 E Fifth Street

Topics discussed: 3rd street sidewalk,update on Dekist garden project, special guests for April meeting

Neighbors Present: Rob Archangel, John & Jessica Gaus, Ann Kreilkamp, Kathy & Al Ruesink, Georgia Schaich, Erik Schedler, Jane Spearman, Katie Zukof
Guests: Joe Fish, City of Bloomington Transportation Planner

The majority of the meeting was spent with Joe Fish discussing his project, the College Mall Pedestrian Accessibility Study. The study looked at the College Mall area from 3rd & High to Jackson Creek area. Joe shared maps for the study. One of the majors areas of concern for the neighborhood is the extension of the 3rd street sidewalks from High to College Mall on the north side of 3rd street. This extension is one of the major recommendations from this study. The study should be completed in the first part of 2009. Implementation of study recommendations will follow, however there is no timeline at this point. Joe encouraged neighbors to voice their support for the projects by contacting their city council representatives and city hall in general. For more imformation about the study, contact Joe at fishj@bloomington.in.gov. Neighbors wanted to know more about how the bypass extension would effect the intersection at 3rd and College Mall. Neighbors expressed many concerns regarding the bypass project. Unfortunately, the bypass project is handled by INDOT and as far as INDOT is concerned, the discussion period has passed and plans will go forward as is. Joe encouraged neigbhors to address concerns regarding the bypass to INDOT.

* Dekist garden project - the project has a name, Green Acres Neighborhood Garden (GANG) - Dekist. The workshop has been publicized in several outlets and an article will be in this weekend's Herald Times. There are 20 spots available for the workshop, so sign up soon if you are intersted as spots are filling quickly. Info
* Pick it up bags were made available to neighbors. See the February 2009 meeting notes for more information. If you were not at the meeting and would like some of these bags, let us know.
* April meeting special guests - Vickie Provine (HAND) and Nate Nickels (Planning) will be attending the April meeting to discuss our neighborhood plan. Note: due to a schedule conflict, Vickie and Nate will attend the May meeting instead of the April meeting.
* April meeting date and location - Tuesday, April 14th at Jane and John's, 2611 E 5th Street; potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow

Respectfully submitted by Jane

Green Acres Real Estate Update - 3.8.09

2009-03-08T20:44:00.003-04:00

Click this link to view the current listing of homes for sale in Green Acres.