Community Announcements
Shared Community from the Ground Up
by Matthew Young, CTC Garden Coordinator 2017
Consider this passage from American author and farmer, Wendell Berry, on what community is all about:
“A community is the mental and spiritual condition of knowing that the place is shared, and that the people who share the place define and limit the possibilities of each other's lives. It is the knowledge that people have of each other, their concern for each other, their trust in each other, the freedom with which they come and go among themselves.”
Call me crazy, but I also believe that we at CTC have a chance to build such a community here, not just among those of us as community gardeners. We can also do so as gardeners sharing with our neighbors about how, what, and why we grow fresh fruits and vegetables through diligence, innovation, patience, and at times muscle-aching work. We truly share our garden plots, our growing spaces with each other, alongside all of the knowledge, concerns, trust, freedoms, and responsibilities needed to be our best stewards of our slice of Earth.
So, you can imagine my own personal and our collective frustration & sadness to have witnessed at least four different incidents of garden produce theft during the 2017 growing season. Communities cannot and should not fall into apathy and cynicism that stealing garden produce is an "inevitable" or "normal" activity. We cannot afford to lose trust in each other and feel divided from our neighbors as we try to cultivate community across our cooperative.
Are we not already divided enough as a society across economic, political, societal, and other lines of fracturing identities and interests?
I believe that community gardens provide at minimum a refuge in a crazed world, and in their fullest potential, they provide the seeds of growing confidence, diversity, empathy, hope, strength, and trust for healthy communities. We cannot and will not shy away from such opportunities to be the best community stewards of our CTC gardens, including in sharing trust with each other.
I also believe that these past incidents provide all of us an opportunity to remember that there is a zero-tolerance policy on theft of garden tools, garden water, garden soil, and garden produce. If you have observed any of these items missing from your plot at any point, please let me know as soon as possible. We can work with CTC Management and the CTC Board of Directors to report such incidents, as well as take any additional steps as needed.
I'll gladly plan to be in touch as we at CTC Management and among CTC gardeners & residents plot out how we can make for safer, more respected, and more valued community gardens into the 2018 season and beyond. Overall, it has been an incredible growing season outside of these theft incidents, involving over 50 plots and hundreds of our cooperative’s residents and families. I hope we can grow on these successes for our neighbors as we learn all together how to cultivate community in the months and years ahead. Never forget the power of shared community!
Fall Pest Control Reminders
The house mouse is remarkably well-adapted for living year-round in homes, food establishments and other structures. Residents are especially likely to notice mice during winter, following their fall migration indoors in search of warmth, food and shelter. Once mice become established inside a home, they can be extremely difficult to control, especially when unreported.
*Preventive measures you can take
-Be sure to keep all doors closed
-Keep all grain foods (i.e. rice, cereal, bread) contained in plastic containers
-Be sure NOT to leave food out
-Maintain a clean household (i.e. sweep and mop floors regularly)
-Report sightings and traces of rodents to CTC Office for Pest Control treatment
Holiday Office Hours
In Observance of Thanksgiving
Thursday 11/23-CLOSED
Friday 11/24-CLOSED
Winter Parking at CTC – Plan in advance
Snow Emergencies: will be declared on an as needed basis with advance notice
Traveling over winter months: If you travel over the winter months be sure to make arrangements for your vehicle to be moved in case of snow emergency to avoid being towed. Store your vehicle at another location or give a friend your car keys to move if necessary. CTC has a designated winter parking lot area on a monthly fee basis.
Contact CTC Office about the winter “Snow Bird” parking area available on a come first serve basis. Parking fees will apply.
Events and Activities
Learn more about all events and visit umnctc.org for the events calendar for full details.
November 16, 2017- 7:00PM
November 17th, 2017- 6-7:30 pm
Come watch Free Birds, a funny take on the Thanksgiving menu from the perspective of two turkeys.
November 19th, 2017- 2pm
Join us for a big traditional dinner! CTC will provide many staple items for Thanksgiving, but we are encouraging everyone to bring a dish to share (10-12 servings). Sign up in the CTC Front Office if interested.
Learn and/or practice to sew with Marlys Gray every Wednesday 10am -12 pm.
Gloria leads this group meets every Tuesday from 10-11:30 am. This is a great way to practice your English and get to know your neighbors!
Early Childhood Family Education(ECFE):
Sign up for two new sessions coming to CTC!
Ages 1-16 Months
Tuesdays 11:00am-12:00pm
October 31, 2017-December 5, 2017
Jan 23, 2018- Feb 27, 2018
CTC Community Center Playroom
Parents may register online at www.isd623.org/ecfe . Only 8-12 slots available.
