Project Grow is one of the few area non-profits that is member-driven (like a co-op) rather than director-driven. Unlike director-driven non-profits, the Project Grow Board is elected by the gardeners to represent their interests.

Each year, four people are elected to the Project Grow Board at our annual meeting. If any board members have resigned, then additional candidates may run to serve out the terms of the people who resigned. 

As a gardener, you are a member of Project Grow and are strongly encouraged to attend the annual meeting to meet other gardeners, the current Board and the candidates. As an added enticement for members to attend, Board members will be bringing a dessert potluck for everyone. Please bring your appetite but not a dessert!

The 2014 annual meeting is at 7:00pm on Thursday, October 9th, in the Nature House, at the Leslie Science Center at 1831 Traver in Ann Arbor. This year five people are running for Board positions. David Corsa, Joet Reoma, Pam Schwarzmann, and Marcella Trautmann are already on the board and would like to be re-elected to another three year term. . Dan Noble was appointed to fill out Craig Urwin's 2013-2016 term and is running to have that appointment confirmed by the membership.

Each board candidate submitted a short statement of why they would like to serve on the board and you can read the statements here.

For ANNUAL PLOTS

• Remove all fencing, cages, stakes, string, plastics and all other non-organic material from your garden and take them home with you. Do not place any material in sheds or anywhere around the garden without permission from your site coordinator. Please leave in place the numbered marker stakes put in by Project Grow in the spring to identify your plot.
• Remove rock borders and large rocks and put them in designated rock piles.
• Remove all tomatoes and diseased or once infected materials from your plot and discard at home.
• Pull out all plants that have tough stalks or long vines, such as sunflowers, corn and pumpkins,and cut them into 12-inch pieces. These can be spread around your plot and will be tilled in later this fall. Similarly, chop all uninfected plant materials into 12-inch pieces and spread around your plot. Please do not leave them in piles or throw them outside the garden perimeter.
• If you have unused bales of hay, spread them around your plot to facilitate tilling.   
• On closing day, all annual plots should be ready for tilling.

For PERENNIAL PLOTS

• Pull out dead annuals and weeds or cut them to the ground.
• Remove all tomatoes and diseased or once infected materials from your plot and discard at home.
• Cut uninfected plant materials into 12 inch pieces to compost in your plot, at home or spread on your garden.
• Remove all stakes, trellises, tomato cages, etc. that are not in use and take them with you or store neatly in your plot.  
• Remove all bottled liquids, fertilizers, soil supplements, etc., and take them home with you.
• Clean up and weed pathways within and around your plot.
• Help your site coordinator and fellow gardeners ready common areas for over-wintering.
• Please do not leave tools on site through the winter.
• On closing day, all perennial plots should have a neat appearance and be free of all non-organic materials that are not in use.

Failure to Clean Up 

Those who do not clean up will not be allowed to garden with Project Grow again.  If you know you will not be able to clean up your plot please contact kirk@projectgrowgardens.org. 

Events at Leslie Science and Nature Center for October

Cool events for adults and kids at LSNC this month!

The Nature of...Chocolate

Thursday, October 2 7:00-8:30 p.m. Adults, ages 15+; $8/person
Raptor Feeding

Saturdays, October 4, 11, 18, & 25 3:00-4:00 p.m. All ages. Free.
Critter House Open Hours

Sundays, October 5, 12, 19, & 26 Noon-3:00 p.m. All ages. Free.
Parents' Night Out - Astronomy Adventure

Saturday, October 4 5:00-9:00 p.m. 6-12 years old. $30/child; $25/child for LSNC Members.

Fall Flight

Sunday, October 5 1:00-2:00 p.m. All ages. $9/person or $34/family; $8/person or $30/family for LSNC Members.

Tykes Preschool Program - Fall Frenzy

Four Tuesdays: October 7, 14, 21, 28 9:00-11:00 a.m. Ages 4-5, caregivers welcome but not required; $50/child non-member; $45/child LSNC members.
Tiny Tots - Fall Fun

Tuesday, October 7 9:15-10:45 a.m. Ages 1-3; caregiver required. $8/child non-member; $7/child LSNC members.

Nature Tales - A Nutty Tale

Saturday, October 18 10:00-11:00 a.m. Ages 1-5; caregiver required. $4/child non-member; $3/child LSNC members.
An Evening With Sandhill Cranes

Saturday, October 18 2:00-6:00 p.m. All ages. $10/person or $38/family.

Fireside Fun - A Good Old-fashioned Campfire Circle

 Sunday, October 19 6:30-8:00 p.m. All ages - FREE!
Animal Haunts

Saturday, October 25 6:00-8:00 p.m. All ages. $9/person or $34/family; $8/person or $30/family for LSNC Members.

For the full press release on all these events, click here.