Hi everyone,

There is a wonderful article on the front page of the Taste Section of
today's Sacramento Bee about Heidi Watanabe and the Watanabe Organic Farm.
 Heidi and her husband are from West Sacramento and grow organic produce
and sell at a number of the farmer's markets in the area.  I happened to
have become acquainted with Heidi when going to one of the farmer's
markets she participates in.  She is a really wonderful person, and they
have really good produce.  The article also has a sidebar with all the
farmer's markets in the greater Sacramento area listed.  It is well worth
getting a copy of and/or looking at.

Our next Organic Sacramento meeting will be this Monday night (May 2,
2005) at 6:30 p.m. at the Stockton Blvd. Resource Center, 5625 Stockton
Blvd. (the southeast corner of Stockton and Fruitridge in the Fruitridge
Shopping Center).  We hope you will be able to attend this meeting, as we
have a number of important agenda items to address, including a
presentation by Ian Oeser on a forthcoming Green Directory, debriefing
about The Future of Food screenings and a possible follow-up meeting for
the Sacramento event, organizational/logistic prospects and update on the
website, possible fundraiser for Soil Born Farm, West Nile Virus update,
and thoughts on attending the County Plan meetings, etc.

Bill Maynard has distributed an update about the status of new and
upcoming community gardens in and around Sacramento, which is included
toward the end of this e-mail.  It is great to see what kinds of things
are happening, and the energy that is going into creating these gardens.
Bill is doing a wonderful job !!  (I don't know if this had been mentioned
before, but Bill was recently nominated for a special award for his work
with community gardens, where the first prize was receiving a car for
life.  While he didn't win the car, he was one of the finalists and did
receive a trip to Washington, DC as well as other significant recognition
and, I believe, prizes.  It was quite an honor, which he is well deserving
of !!)

Also, the County of Sacramento is currently working on the County Plan for
the next 10 years.  They will be holding a series of meetings, which would
be good for Organic Sacramento and other like-minded groups to participate
in, in order to include the "green" perspective.  We are hoping to have at
least 2 people at each meeting, so if you, or someone you know, would be
willing and able to attend one or more of these meetings, would you let me
know, so we will know that that day and location is covered.  I am
attaching the schedule below, as well.

Be sure to check out our website when you have a chance.  We are making
changes to it, and are open to input and to suggestions as to other
possible ideas and design as well as content options.  (I can't guarantee
about if and when the changes will be done, but we are doing the best we
can to make as much happen as quickly as possible.)

Hope you are having a wonderful week, and will be able to make it to
Monday's meeting.  Keep in touch !!  (See additional information below.)

                                                                                                             Kim



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SACRAMENTO AREA COMMUNITY GARDEN COALITION

MAY MEETING:
Tuesday, May 17, 2005 (I believe this is the date, but it is best to call
to confirm)
6:30 p.m. 46th and T street, Coloma Community Center (Sacramento)
Room to be posted.  (We are resuming the meetings after conflicts with
meeting dates and locations... but we are ready to press on...lots to talk
about...)


*******************  THIS IS AMAZING ! ! ! ! !  *************

8 new community gardens are starting up this year !!

NOW OPEN:
Phoenix Park Community Garden - near Hazel and Madison (must live in the
Fair Oaks
Park and Recreation District)

OPEN NOW AND TAKING PLOT RESERVATIONS:
Florin Reservoir Park and Community Garden (City of Sacramento - Power Inn
Road and 53rd) open to residents of Glen Elder and Lemon Hill areas).

OPENING IN APPROX 30 DAYS TO GARDEN
Hazel Strauch Park and Community Garden (City of Sacramento - Northgate
area).

COMING SOON:
Elk Grove Community Garden (south of Elk Grove Park) BREAKING GROUND ANY DAY.

Johnson-Neely Park (Fall 2005) Out to BID at this time (City of Sacramento
- 11th and F Sts.).

2 - Oak Park Community Gardens! Tilling and staking taking place.

Fremont Mews - (Ron Mandella Community Garden Remainder parcel -Name not
confirmed
at this time) should be open at the end of 2005.

*******
COMMUNITY GARDENS IN THE PLANNING STAGES:
Ninos Park Way (city of Sacramento)

******************************

WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE !
People are NOW asking for community gardens in their parks and schools!

****

Just in time to help...a NEW CROP of MASTER GARDENERS for Sacramento
County !!!!
Graduating in MAY, 2005. CONGRATS !

************
Want to start a Community Garden in YOUR neighborhood? Come to the meeting
and find out how!

School Gardens ... now is the time to start planning for next year ...
Symthe and Northwood Schools contacted SACGC for help in planning their
garden for the fall.

Jonas Salk School Urban Ag. Project in Development / Study stages
Jed Smith School Urban Ag. Project in Development / Study stages

************
Need to borrow a tiller for your community garden plot? SACGC has a tiller
and equipment to loan out... but you have to attend the meetings to gain
access to it.

************
Garden Mosaics Program - gardening with kids educational seminar Grant
High School April 30th 9-1p.m. RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW by contacting Bill
by phone or at the meeting.....approximately 8 spaces left !

***************

HAPPY 2nd SEASON TO
Southside Community Garden
and
HAPPY 3rd SEASON TO
the Carmichael Community Garden at Sutter Park

******************

YEAR Number 3 for SACGC coordinating National Make a Difference Day in
Sacramento
Saturday October 22, 2005  9- 4pm. We will again have access to over 400
workers ... all dedicated to work on School and Community Gardens and
Urban Green Spaces!...May / June 2005 will be the call for your
projects...don't miss out on your crew of 10 workers for your site!

**************************

UPDATES
American Community Garden Association's 2006 Conference. This is being
tentatively being planned for Los Angeles (alternate city - Boston, Mass.
or Hartford, Conn.).

**********************
For more information, contact: Bill at 508-6025.


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County Plan Town Hall Forums

Overview - Town Hall Forums (as presented on the County of Sacramento
Website)

The Town Hall Forums are designed to be interactive sessions where you can
provide input into the development of the General Plan. There are three
phases of the Town Hall Forums in addition to the public hearing and
adoption phase.

Overall Schedule

Below includes Timing, General Plan Topic, Outreach Phase, and
Opportunities for Input

May-June 2005, Issues and Vision, Phase 1: Neighborhood Level, 14 Town
Hall Forums
January - February 2006, Land Use Alternatives, Phase 2: Community Level,
12 Town Hall Forums
Spring 2006, Policies and General Plan, Phase 3: Citywide Level, 3 Town
Hall Forums
Early 2007, Environmental Analysis, Public Hearings and Adoption Planning
Commission and City Council Hearings
Note:  Meeting dates will be posted here as they are set.

Phase I is focused on developing a vision for the City and our
neighborhoods over the next 25 years given the growth we are expected to
experience during this period.
Phase II focuses on the land use alternatives and the choices we face in
our communities as we grow. Participants will discuss and analyze the
trade-offs associated with different development patterns.
Phase III looks at the entire city and what the General Plan means for all
of us. Participants will gain an understanding of what the
Council-approved land use plan means for the city as well as for our
neighborhoods and businesses.

Public hearings will be the final opportunity for input. The Planning
Commission and the City Council will both hold public hearings on the
draft General Plan and Environmental Impact Report. Adoption of the
General Plan is expected to occur at the end of the public hearing
process.

Phase I: Issues and Vision

The following Town Hall Forums have been scheduled for phase I. Click here
for a schedule you can print. (In PDF format)

May 16, 2005, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
George Sim Center, 6207 Logan Street, Sacramento

May 18, 2005, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Kennedy High School, 6715 Gloria Drive, Sacramento

May 19, 2005, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Meadowview Services Center, 2812 Meadowview Road, Sacramento

May 21, 2005, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
South Natomas Center, 2921 Truxel Road, Sacramento

May 23, 2005, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Hart Senior Center, 915 27th Street, Sacramento

May 25, 2005, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
La Familia Counseling Center, 5523 34th Street, Sacramento

June 1, 2005, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Robertson Community Center, 3525 Norwood Avenue, Sacramento

June 4, 2005, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Clunie Community Center, 601 Alhambra Boulevard, Sacramento

June 6, 2005, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Ben Ali Shriners Center, 3262 Marysville Boulevard, Sacramento

June 8, 2005, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
McClatchy High School, 3066 Freeport Boulevard, Sacramento

June 11, 2005, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Consumnes River College - Cafeteria, 8401 Center Parkway, Sacramento

June 15, 2005, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Coloma Community Center, 4623 T Street, Sacramento

June 16, 2005, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Natomas Charter School, 4600 Blackrock Drive, Sacramento

June 18, 2005, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Consumnes River College - Cafeteria, 8401 Center Parkway, Sacramento

Phase II - Land Use Alternatives/Choices
Coming in January - February 2006. No meetings have been scheduled.

Phase III - Policies and General Plan
Planned for Spring 2006. No meetings have been scheduled.

--
Kim Glazzard
Organic Sacramento