Kingston Garden Club
Meeting Minutes for April 21, 2010
Be Inspired!
Program
Breane Martinez, PT, MPT, and Stephanie, Marketing Director, of Kitsap Physical Therapy in Kingston gave a presentation and demonstration on Staying Healthy in the Garden. Gardening is great exercise - weeding burns 290 calories per hour! Exposure to the sun when we’re out gardening increases our bodies’ Vitamin D production too. However, we must be wary of the potential for injury.
The most frequent injury for gardeners is rotator cuff impingement, the symptom of which is pain radiating down the arm. Physical Therapists refer to these common shoulder injuries collectively as GRASS – Gardeners’ Repetitive Arm & Shoulder Syndrome.
Starting 2 to 3 months before the growing season (year round if possible), we should spend 10 - 15 minutes 3 - 5 days a week working on strengthening our muscles, stretching before gardening, building up our endurance, and concentrating on our balance. Breane and Stephanie helped us to find our neutral spine position, which should be maintained during all of the above.
To further avoid injury, Breane encourages the use of knee pads and kneeling down instead of crouching down with knees bent. Knee and back injuries are common in gardeners.
Remember, if your nose is turning, your toes should be going too! Always pick up your feet and turn your hips when shoveling – do not twist your knees and hips.
If you do sustain an injury, remember RICE – Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.
The program at our May meeting will be Creative Gardening with Sue Goetz. Afterwards we’ll tour the gardens of Nancy M. and Sharon N.
Hospitality Report
New Business
Our Vice President Karen has organized a presentation for us on Attracting Birds and Butterflies at Foxglove Nursery Wednesday May 12 at 10am. We will be able to make purchases at that time. Foxglove Nursery is open to the public on Saturdays. Directions and additional information will be sent to the membership via E-mail.
President Maxine H. asked that if we stop by any of the nurseries that have contributed to our plant sale, please be sure to thank them. Contact Noel L. for which nurseries these are.
Community Announcements
The Suquamish Farmers Market is held every Wednesday afternoon starting April 14 located across the street from the gas station.
The Kingston Farmers Market is every Saturday from 10am until 2pm starting May 1 at the Mike Wallace Memorial Park.
A new book is available at the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center titled Great Adventures for Kitsap Peninsula The Book.
Master Gardener Carol P. informed us the Kitsap County Conservation District is offering financial assistance via a grant to county residents willing to install a rain garden on their property. The property must meet certain criteria to receive up to 50% off the cost of construction of a rain garden. Please contact the Conservation District for more information.
Old Business
All copies of Seattle Tilth’s “The Maritime Northwest Garden Guide” were sold to club members for $11 each. If you still want a copy, please call Karen A. – a minimum order of 15 is needed to reorder.
Kingston Garden Club Quilt Raffle
Raffle tickets are a dollar each, and $1000 has been earned so far!
Aloha Wright Grant Program
Chairperson Dawn V. announced Aloha Wright grant money was awarded to the Village Green, the Chamber of Commerce, the Kingston Middle School, Gordon Elementary School, the Kingston High School Key Club, and the Kingston Community Beautification Committee.
Kingston Community Beautification Committee
Kay P. informed us there will be a Village Green Planning Meeting taking place Monday April 26 from 6:30 to 8:30pm at the Kingston Cove Yacht Club. Also, the BigBelly solar trash compactors have been installed in downtown Kingston – please go take a look!
Anne W. announced the next Kingston Community Center cleanup (trash pickup and weeding) party will be Saturday May 8 at 9am.
Kingston Garden Club Plant Sale
Plant sale chairperson Noel L. passed around the plant sale sign-up sheets for us to double check. The plant sale will be held on Saturday May 1 from 9am to 1pm. Each member is expected to bring 10 plants to the plant sale, which should be dropped off at the Kingston Community Center on Friday or by 7:30am on Saturday morning.
Please remember to label your plants with common name, Latin name, how tall/wide, shade/sun, annual/perennial, aggressive (?). Contact Noel for plant labels and pricing sticks. Noel brought in an example of a plant we do NOT want to see at the plant sale i.e. dead leaves, weeds in the pot, no label, stickers and dirt on the outside of the pot.
A silent auction of plants was conducted during the break for KGC members.
Pearls of Wisdom
c2010 Kingston Garden Club