Foodlums Minutes 4/15/11b

Ken Meter
- Speaking tomorrow 12-1 in the CABIN!
- our posters say "Ken Meter is known as one of the most experienced food system analysts in the United States. His work integrates market analysis, business development, systems thinking, and social concerns. As president of Crossroads Resource center, Meter holds 39 years experience in inner-city and rural community capacity building."

Earth Day Festivities
- Foodlums have a table for the Earth Day festivities that are actually going on Thursday of this week from 10:30 -2 on campus mall.
- Stop by the Foodlums table if you have time during those hours and help power the table with good foodie energy.

Bees
- Our buzzing friends were welcomed into their happy hive in the grassy knoll this week with a hearty homecoming parade mostly made up of Dr. Hupy's class.
- Ellen told the theatrical tale in which she slammed a box of bees on the ground and almost lost the queen under Dr. Hupy's instruction while learning to introduce the bees into the hive.  As a bonus she had the privilege of being excused from her exam until later in the day to lead the bee introduction.
- As a conclusion to our Friday meeting those in attendance moseyed over to the bees' grassy knoll to welcome them in a more low-key fashion. Turns out that grassy knoll is a secret garden. Remnants of an ancient garden were discovered as curious Foodlums surveyed the area to ensure that the bees were in safe surroundings. A compost box, bricks, boards. Secret garden.
-Of course, upon considering the space further, it was decided that the grassy knoll would also be a fantastic location to erect a hoop house! Which could double as a model beehive for instructional use during the summer. It could be the Foodlums hive! Kinda like a club house for foodies.

Raised Beds
-Ellen and Dane cruised over to Menard's to pick up lumber for building raised beds. Dr. Hupy had suggested a plastic, hollow lumber to ensure a long life for lumber that didn't need to be treated. Because the plastic lumber was especially wide and not ideal for several other reasons, they decided to get cedar which came highly recommended by Ellen's drumming circle leader who also happens to work at Menard's. (His raised beds are made of cedar and have lasted 8 years with no problems)
- Considering the budget, raised beds will be 1- 1 1/2 ft. high.
- Straw needs to be collected to fill the bottom of the beds for straw-bale gardening.
- Grounds says that we can use their compost to fill our raised beds as well. Horray!
- Jenna has spare lumber back home that she can bring back for the corner support pieces of the raise beds.
- A lumber-cutting party took place on Jenna's screened porch on Saturday morning. Dr. Hupy's saw was used to cut all of our lumber down to size-- 8ft x 3ft 10in. for 8x4 raised beds. Cold but productive.