First meeting of Tai Peng Community Shared Garden will be held today at 5:00 pm
place: 75 Tai Peng Old Village
(turn at the top of the hill when you can see the store. Walk past the store and continue until you have passed the public latrine. #75 is through the next gateway on your right hand side. The meeting is on the ground floor of the second house.

If you need more information please call 9192 7067

Suggested Agenda:

5:00 - 5:15 Introductions
5:15 - 5:30 Sharing of visions for a garden
5:30 - 6:00 walk around the garden site
6:00 - 6:25 Discussion
1) landlord's requirements
2) organisation - co-op or not co-op?
3) what form of decision making process?
4) physical design of garden i.e. raised beds(family plots) vs. large shared garden areas - (or both)
6:25 - 6:30 closing comments (reflections on meeting process)

_________________
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

Garden meeting went ahead with 11 people attending and it looks like the garden has lots of support.

It was generally agreed that the garden ought to be open to a variety of different forms and levels of participation:
- some are keen on organic vegetable growing, while others prefer to grow flowers or herbs. One is most interested in the ponds while another envisages a comfortable communal sitting area. Surely a community garden is an ideal place for diverse visions to find a comfortable home together! There were also a variety of levels of potential time commitment from those who were just curious, having little time at the moment, to a few prepared to commit to core organizational involvement. And in terms of skills, or gifts to contribute among this nascent garden community, we discovered a carpenter, experienced gardeners and landscapers, a frog expert, one who works with special needs kids and sees a place for their involvement, a labourer with a chainsaw, teachers, and more

There also seemed to be some level of general support for the garden organising itself as a co-operative society under the auspices of AFCD. http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/agricult ... r_sim.html

It was decided we should forge on while the momentum is high, so the next meeting will be in 2 weeks at the same time / place. (May 20th at 5:00 pm)

_________________
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

Thanks to Tavis for conceiving the idea of a community garden in Tai Peng, working to get the land available to us, and for hosting the first meeting. Nice group of people. I look forward to helping make this happen.

Thanks Nancy - you are very kind

Of course, I'm also motivated by a certain degree of self-interest, as I really think this garden will do a lot to improve quality of life for myself and my children. I'm really looking forward to seeing how it all develops!

_________________
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead