Estelline, SD

Check out progress in the Community Garden.  The blackened rectangles represent a pumpkin and children’s garden on the east, two big sites for rental and public use sites.   The poles for a shelter are in the northwest corner. 

Anyone who cares to help can start raking and removing sod, tree roots, and rocks from the tilled areas.  The tillage crew sited some glass pieces and other rubbish, so be careful and remove that dangerous stuff to the trash pickup at your home.  Please put the organic material to be composted at the edge of the plots for later pickup to the compost area. 

Application forms  for renting a 20X25 plot will be available at Reliabank and Country Corner soon. 

Does anybody know how to put on a counter? Faith SD has one and it would be nice to know how many people checked out the Estelline page.

What do you think of having the SD sanctioned chili cook-off in Estelline?  It is one of the ideas that came up after the Tues. meeting.

Who would like a job in Estelline?  Can you help us find a  Farmers Market manager (every Friday night for 18 weeks and promotions time), and a unit director (full time) and a part time staff person to serve a Boys and Girls Club.   Here are three new jobs for Estelline — exciting      YES!     Job descriptions need to be developed: can you help?

We also need leadership help for getting the Club going.  So speak up if you could help out with working or giving ideas.   Contact Tonya Williams.

SDSU Cooperative Extension Service and our community coordinator popped the question  –HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO CELEBRATE  — achieving intermediate Horizons goals?  After mid July sometime they’ll provide the cake and funds!! Whoooopeee!!!!

April 15th we mulled it over a bit and thought a party on Friday in conjunction with Farmers Market would be good.  What do you think?

And “thank yous” to Northwest Area Foundation, and SDSU,and CES staff, and especially the always cheerful Cheryl Jacobs, our coordinator.

I feel the meeting went well tonight. Lots of discussion on the farmers market–it is more than you think it is.  You must learn about it to truly understand it’s a process.

We are looking for a few good men and women to help head up the boys and girls club.  It was talked about running for a term so you don’t feel trapped in to staying for the rest of your life. If you have any questions or want to help out leave a comment at the very bottom of the page in blue writing where it says “No or 1,2,3,4, and so on, comments “–click on that.

Let’s remember this is truly a community effort and we all need to step forward when the time is right for the individual.

Horizons Program is taking applications for the 2008 Community Garden growing season.  The Lister Donley Memorial Garden located at the southeast end of 6^th Street South in Estelline will be tilled and marked with 20 feet by 25 feet plots which will be made available to individuals, families, local organizations and truck gardening entrepreneurs.  Rent for the season is set at $15 per plot; for the inaugural year of the garden this amount will be refunded if the garden is clear of debris at the end of the growing season. 

            If you are an experienced gardener, you will find this location full sun and well drained.  The underlying sandy stratum makes it excellent for melons.  Water source will be available 

            If you would like to begin as a gardener, this is an excellent site, with plenty of opportunity for assistance and we will even hold some classes if interest is expressed. 

            Produce for home use and sharing is encouraged.  We will organize some distributions through the Food Pantry. 

            Those who would like to be involved for fun, food, and profit as well are welcome to participate in the Horizons Farmers’ Market as well.  Horizons is taking applications for vendors (contact Linda Svec with questions, forms at Reliabank).

            Should you have questions about the Garden or be interested in volunteering with developing the garden, helping with the children’s plot or the general use plots, or contributing resources to the effort, please contact Harvey Donley (cell phone # 690-9494 or local 873-4000).

            Applications can be picked up from Country Corner or Reliabank.

            The Horizons program which seeks to address poverty in rural communities is funded by Northwest Area Foundation with administration by the Cooperative Extension Service through SDSU.   

At the school cafeteria we will start an effort to get some monetary support for your interests.  Bring writing materials and, if you have some idea or proposal already, bring it along.  We will be presenting basic information from the experts, a glossary, and some suggestions for funding sources.

You do not have to be aiming your effort towards a Horizons project to participate, but we surely welcome your help and a community orientation. 

Introductory evening everybody will get the vocabulary and some “moral support” so we can move ahead with preparing a preliminary draft.  There will be some sample materials to work with, and teamwork is encouraged – a few of the ideas are for individuals though, and some are for youth age 8-18.  Then we have one week to think and work on the project.

On the second session we will have some of the experienced assess our efforts.  And remember, a full proposal is usually months in the making, so consider this community work just a beginning in the process of asking for help in reaching our dreams.  Also remember that over 80% of funding supporting non-profit agencies comes from individuals ( that is you and me buying memberships, making donations, sharing our aluminum cans, eating at fundraisers and patronizing sales, and putting our charities in our wills), so our begging from people/foundations with deep pockets is the tip of the iceberg when all is actually done.  And grant agencies expect the applicant to have a plan to continue the good work after their participation is complete.  Northwest Area Foundation expects Estelline Horizons to move forward on our own after June 2008, for example. 

Additional sessions will be arranged — Horizons will fund professional assistance as we progress in the preparation process.  We have several volunteer editors in our network wanting to help, and at least one has multiple projects he wants to see funded through his program.   

Light supper provided; child care provided in the Kindergarten room (more kids have more fun).

A burst of April get togethers — getting prepared for summer!

9th    Grant writing,  school cafeteria 6:30- 8pm

14th   Farmers’ Mkt committee  school cafeteria  6-6:20pm followed by Garden committee 6:30- 8:30pm

15th   Strategic Planning  east room Trails’ Edge  6:30-8:30pm

16th   Green Group meets to discuss spring cleanup etc.    school cafeteria  6:00-6:20pm followed by

16th   Grant writing   school cafeteria  6:30-8pm

Estelline Named Blog of the Week!

March 20th, 2008 by Cheryl Jacobs

Estelline is the latest Blog of the Week! This prestigious award was given to the community of Estelline for giving their blogs a new jump start! We held a blog training on March 11th and had several new users get signed up. We have seen a lot more traffic and some new posts in the last week or two.

Thanks to technologically savvy Karl S. they have a shiny new header with images from Estelline and they added the minutes of their monthly meeting. New blogger Ron O. has also been putting in his 2 cents worth and Don G. shared some photos. Thanks for your renewed efforts and we hope to see lots more as you get some of your strategic plan projects started!

The Estelline City Council voted to allow vendors who live in South Dakota to participate in the Estelline Farmers Market without having to obtain a city Peddlers License. This action removes another burden from Dakotans who wish to sell their produce in Estelline’s Farmers Market.