Friday, 6 March 2009
Probably the worst poster/flyer in the world
....
Map
hello! just been looking up sources of fruit and veg, mostly from waitrose as this was easiest access although you'd think them being posher they would have more uk produce! Just incase we wanted it in our presentation Anyway we can add more dots, I remember natalie having a good list of origins!
Thursday, 5 March 2009
finance report
to pay for the gardeners wage of £5713.92 we will use our gov grant of £3000 and fundraiser money, (approximatly 4 events a year to fit with the seasons, estimating at £700 per night) of £2800.
B&Q will be our sponsor providing us with £230 to cover basic tool costs.
I have worked out our subscription form to be £4 a month = £36 a year giving something around 30 meters squared.
this will pay for maintenance and expansion plans to our project and the composter as well as going towards paying for a fence and direct mail.
thoughts anyone?!
post by: natalie
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
“We all need to grow”
Mission Statement:
The mission of Urban Patch is to make a positive difference to the lives of students in the Dundee area by providing local vegetable gardens for them to tend. Urban Patch aims to provide a friendly and enthusiastic environment as well as the equipment needed for students who wish to learn more about the vegetables they eat and the effect that obtaining these vegetables can have on the environment.
By encouraging students to grow and eat their own vegetables Urban Patch hopes to generate a sense of pride and satisfaction amongst the student community whilst promoting good health and reducing the carbon footprint that buying vegetables can often create.
Elevator Pitch:
Urban Patch is a sustainable service that provides vegetable patches and the tools required for local students to grow their own organic vegetables.
Through fundraising and government funding we provide an affordable and environmentally friendly way for students to grow their own vegetables and learn more about the vegetables they eat. We address growing concerns over the current economic and environmental turmoil by reducing carbon footprints and production costs and only charge a small subscription fee for the use of all equipment and the right to have some of the vegetables that are grown.
Our team of young designers is devoted to creating a truly sustainable service that has great scope and room for expansion.
Have a look. They seem kind of similar, but I think they are sort of supposed to be like that.
Please edit because I’m really not sure if this is what is required, especially the elevator pitch.
post by: mike
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Another "green" method of clearing weeds is to cover the ground with old carpets for a couple of months. This will kill most weeds but not all. Click herefor another GardenAction page on how to clear strong weeds such as couch grass.
Pest control
We need to budget for fencing canes and string aswell, noticed it wasn't on the price list.
Support netting (4m by 2m) £2.44 (6m by 2m) £3.42
Potting shed twine £4.95
Bamboo canes £2.44
sourced from Plant supports & twine - mydeco
I found a website that suggested growing a hedge round the plot. This may be a problem should we wish to expand but just thought I would put it out there.
Some green methods for keeping out slugs was the beer can method - the slugs are attracted to the yeast in the beer fall into the can and can't get out. Also broken egg shells around the base of the plants. Another one is copper plate round the plant bases. I'm sure there are other methods but don't think we have to say anything other than we have thought about it and considered some solutions which are both economic and green.
posted by Alison
Monday, 2 March 2009
Wednesday?
Jenny
Presentation.
Sunday, 1 March 2009
Equipment costs
so...
small garden shed- £74.98
wheelbarrow- £24.48
Wilkinson sword power spade- £24.98 *2= £49.96
Dutch hoe- £5.36*3= £16.08
hand tool set- £2.48*3=£7.44
digging fork- £12.98*2=£25.96
watering can- £3.98*2= £7.96
total: £206.86
post by: natalie
Saturday, 28 February 2009
Brand Values... Getting there.
Friendly:
We will listen and understand. We are welcoming. We enjoy working with the community. We treat everyone one who comes into contact with us with respect.
Refreshing:
We want to make a change. We want to find a new way of doing things, that will benefit everyone. We look at things from a different perspective.
Honest:
We practice what we preach. We admit to our mistakes. We can be trusted to do what we say we will.
Encouraging:
We will help wherever it is needed. We believe our clients make us a success. We motivate and generate enthusiasm throughout the community.
Responsible:
We take responsibility for our actions. We do not pass the blame.
Aware:
We know what is going on around us. We take note of what is happening in the World. We believe that knowledge is key to our successes.
Thought I would drop trustworthy because I couldn't think of anything to say about it. Haha. I think honest covers it though. Feel free to edit. I know some of them are a bit cheesy or maybe just shit.
post by: Mike
Friday, 27 February 2009
What we need, the basics
suggest any other equipment! So far my list is
1 composter
1 wheelbarrow
2 spades
3 forks
3 trowels
1 hose (not sure if we have a watering main)
2 watering cans
1 rotavator (turning soil thingy)
still to look up stuff that helps support plants when they grow, think it is just sticks with string...
now this is just the basics to get the allotment started and of course we will then accept donations but i feel we kinda need to supply ourselves with the basics first.
natalie
Composting
http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/product/Composting_Compost%20tumblers/GCO-185.htm
This is quite a good site and more maybe purchased... I realise that this is quite expensive but it will be a key element in the success of the veg.
natalie
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Sorted!
well isn't that a handy little source of funding!
Just been thinking though about direct mail and welcome packs etc, would we have to think about the use of paper since we've to be sustainable? Maybe an online starter pack that you get the password for when you subscribe? or email direct mail?! not sure what do you think? or would the packs be ok?
also just a question about subscription forms... are we charging the same amount subscription no matter how long they spend in the garden and how much they want out of it? because if this isnt constant we would have to find out what they wanted out of it before getting bank details etc. perchaps a paypal account which could be paid into once they know the full cost? doubt people would be that happy just to put account details on a subscrition without knowing full charges? For customer security anyway what do you think would be best?
big up bros with hoes.
Jenny
Pay Day
Hey guys, I have identified a source for our grant
http://www.communityfoodandhealth.org.uk
If you visit the site you will see that we tick all their boxes when you go to the 'funding page' and scroll down to 'what we fund'.
this is a grant of £500-£3000 so now guys, lets decide on the grant we want! I'm thinking since we tick all their boxes, we may be entitled to the max grant of £3000 to spend on tools and equipment and sending out direct mail etc.
let me know your thoughts!
Post by: Natalie
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Mission Statement
We are an organisation that provides sustainable local vegetable gardens for you and your neighbours to tend. Our aims are to help you and your family and friends stay healthy, by enjoying the best local veg, and to lower carbon footprint from imported vegetables.
We hope to keep being healthy social, or as an activity that everybody can enjoy, and bring good honest home-grown vegetables to your table, for free! All you have to do is tend your patch; we provide the land, tools and seeds you need. Healthy doesn't have to be pricey, so even if you are a skint student your local patch will provide you with the vegetables.
Urgh, cheesy.
:)
Post by: Corinne
Welcome Booklet
Initial brand values.
Here are the list of values that our company encapsulates
- Refreshing
- Aware
- Honest
- Trustworthy
- Encouraging
- Friendly
- Responsible
Feel free to add any that you think are missing, or change it if you want to.
post by: Mike
Subscription Form + Target Market
Also done the target market but was running short of things for the wee mind map thing at the bottom :S again if there's anything you think I should put in let me know.
Post by: Corinne
Direct Mail
I was thinking of "we all need to grow" on the front as a double meaning, we all need to grow (as in our own vegetables) and as in the actual seeds we'd send in the envelope :)
Post by: Corinne
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Bee Organic
Gives an idea of where veg comes from too, so if we could supply some of the stuff they still get from abroad then we'd win! Shows what people would pay for the organic veg too.
https://bee-organic.co.uk/bo2/boxcontents.asp?b=boxes
(p.s. hope you've all had your pancakes!!!!)
Jenny
Another Website
http://www.allotment.org.uk/index.php
jenny
Website
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Just some links...
Just thought I'd post up the links for the stuff I had with me on Wednesday.
http://club50.co.uk/veggardencalender.aspx
(I hope I don't end up on this website when I'm 50...) but its a good chart for the veg.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/jan/19/ethicalbusiness.supermarkets
A little bit about carbon footprint.
http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/gardens/article3547012.ece
"A guide to growing your own vegetables"
Post by: Corinne
Just some of the good things.
Just found this page that details some of the advantages of growing your own vegetables. It seems relevant. It also gives some of the advantages of using your own compost on the soil, which we could do.
http://www.carboncounted.co.uk/CarbonFootprintInTheGarden.html
posted by: Mike
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Company name
We were thinking of having a similar style of textured typeface as this ^ as this implies you will get your hands dirty.
any thoughts??
Post by: natalie and corinne
Area for allotment
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Monday, 16 February 2009
Garden Allotment Service
During our meeting today, dhtp8 has finally got a project direction!
We propose to provide a service enabling the community to grow their own produce by supplying them with the equipment needed, the area of land itself, knowledge and protection in order to achieve a lower carbon foot print with basic necessities.
Post by: Natalie