Update on Jan 22, 2015

Post date: Jan 21, 2015 9:49:6 PM

Construction Project Update:

• • We have appointed Orcutt Winslow as Architects for this project. Orcutt Winslow is one of the leading architectural firms having an impressive portfolio of executed projects.

  • We have also appointed M H Engineering as the Civil engineers.

Nursery Project Update:

• • Nursery Project was kicked off on Thanksgiving day, 2014. We demarcated a 40’ X 40’ area and prepared it for planting rose bushes. Procured about 72 small rose bushes and planted them with the help of several volunteers participating the picnic on that day. Here is the picture of the area after the plantation activity:

• • Subsequently, we have installed a drip irrigation system, and fenced up the area to protect the plants from rabbits and deers that frequent the place. The storm that hit the area in early December resulted in a mud slide that washed up on the rose garden that we created and covered up most of the plants in mud. The soil was quite soggy for us to do any work until early January. In the past couple of weeks, we dug out the plants, re-planted them and re-installed the drip irrigation system.

  • Overall plan for the nursery:

1. Tilling and cleaning up the rest of the area and prepare for planting.

2. Demarcating two additional plots for other flowers and vegetables.

3. Demarcating the plots for community gardens.

4. Planning and installing the main pipes for drip irrigation.

5. Fencing up the plots.

6. Erecting a green house.

7. Compost facility

• • While the above list is for creation of the facilities, we will have other regular activities like watering, de-weeding, planting, pruning, harvesting, fertilizing, pest control, facilities/equipment maintenance, etc.

  • These activities will keep expanding as we bring more and more land under cultivation and will reach a steady state a few years down the line.

  • There is also a need to rope in volunteers as we have just a handful that are carrying the load for now.

  • We also plan to launch a community garden project to let out small parcels of land to interested parties for growing flowers/vegetables in the area. The proposed operation plan is attached below: