3/26/24 landscaping minutes

Work parties planned:

 -Irrigation testing: First session: April 3rd wednesday 6pm - dark

   Second: April 17th wednesday 6pm- dark

-this SAturday (3/29) After cafe: walk about picking up garbage and pulling weeds (and remove the stakes around the lawn)

Attendance: Vicky, Alex, Laura (first half hour), Robin, Mary, Kay, Vinnie, Kellie (notes)

Topics:

-Unit 1 elm removal cherry replacement

 -irrigation testing

   -Tree work done by vinnie

  -Boom lift rental

  -Arborist

-stump treatment

   -lawn

-swale

-rain barrels

Elm removal near unit 1/replacement cherry tree   

Laura came to talk about the small elm tree near unit 1 that needs removal. So long as we cut it before it grows more we should only need a chainsaw and ropes. We will not need any cars to move. Should also treat the stump. Decided to have neighbors nearby handle. 

ACTION ITEM: Kellie will talk to Amy, Chelsea and Laura to schedule

 Laura suggested planting a cherry tree in place of the elm. Amy offered to donate 1-2 cherry trees. Behind the lilac behind the dumpster there is a place that gets full sun.  Landscaping approves this. 

 Note to the community: if you’re handling an adopt-a-spot area, please consult with landscaping before planting any trees. Other plantings don’t need approval, but probably best to consult landscaping if it’s a large bush that could have invasive roots. 

Irrigation water  turn on

  The irrigation water can’t be turned on for the season until May, but in April landscaping will do a series of short work parties to test areas for leaks. 

   Equipment needed: flags (search workshop) for marking leaks, irrigation key, inner office keys, notebook for note-taking

The backflow preventer next to unit 25 has been taken off for the winter,  and  we will need to clean off the attached pipe from debris and check for any leaks. Ideally we could do this before the work party and then put it back on before water on the east side can be tested 

  Vinnie has kindly volunteered to do this

   Open action item: The following work party dates will need one person to take notes and photos (Kellie will be 1 hr late, and can take over notes after 7:15). 

Kellie will leave out necessary equipment before the work party

   First session: April 3rd wednesday 6pm - dark

   Second: April 17th wednesday 6pm- dark

Meet  at the common house!

What is involved: with Kay’s expert help, we will have people turning on sections of the irrigation to check for leaks. Kay will check the workshop for the equipment to do repairs. We would like landscaping/the community to take ownership of the water system so Kay doesn’t have so much on her plate, so documentation will be important to sharing the skills and knowledge. 

Tree work 

  Two weeks ago, Vinnie completed the following tree work:

• Removed dead maple between Ben and Kerry’s unit

• Dead bradford pear near unit 25

•   Took out the large limb hanging over the west parking lot on the common house side

Thomas: Can we use the trailer when his brother is done using it to clean up remaining branches  

Eliza’s brother can use siberian elm branches since he uses a wood stove exclusively for heat. Let him know beforehand and approximately how much, and we can avoid paying the arborist to haul away the branches. Eliza’s brother will load into his trailer and haul away anything 8 inches or wider. 

  Large boom rental for tree work

Next step for tree work is renting the  40 ft boom lift, which we reserved $1k for in the budget. 

     Per Vinnie’s research: a one week rental is $785. Several community members have trucks capable of towing the boom lift. It is battery operated, so we’ll need to charge it after use, It can be plugged into a regular outlet

    Vinnie has the PPE except harness (Mary suggests checking NPS industrial side)

    Timeframe: earliest is April 6th/7th for rental of the boom lift (remember the open house is on the first week of may) 

   Equipment we already have: electrical community saw, Vinnie’s tall saw, Travis has his gas powered saw. Will need a trailer for branches to haul to the dump (these will mostly be smaller than the 8in width)

    Plan: Mostly in the west lot, some in the east lot (more was blown down in the storm). All cars in the uncovered portion of the west lot would need to move so they don’t get hit by falling branches.  East lot cars don’t need to move. Need people on the ground cutting limbs into smaller pieces/ loading debris into trailer.

  Vinnie will look into the boom lift rental 

Arborist

Need an arborist to look at dangerous limbs overhanging buildings 

Mondays are good for Vinnie and Kellie for walk-throughs.

Management large spend process would require 3 bids, Vinnie will consult the emails for reference companies

Stumps

    Best practice to kill the stump and prevent elms from sprout: apply epsom salt and vinegar monthly, chip away any new growth. Alex proposes hacking into the outside of the stump periodically. Can also use a reciprocating saw to take out the exterior part of the stump.

     Also have several stumps that need to be exposed to treatment: unit 23’s backyard has 5 stumps with new growth, unit 20’s backyard, and unit 25’s backyard and between the garage and unit 25,  near unit 11. 

   Add to task list for landscaping/pay or play: Treat the stumps either with the drilling with epsom salt and industrial vinegar treatment, or using the reciprocating saw to take out the outer layers.

   Process for applying: Drill into stumps, start small and work up to ¾ inch, then apply epsom salt and vinegar to the holes, then cover with a tarp (consult this tutorial, which only uses epsom salt, but same idea). Large bits required, which Cheryl has. 

  

The lawn

  Some grass is sprouting, not a lot, but it’s still very cold. 

    Agreed to take the stakes out this saturday night, Mike may want to mow. Leave big signs just to encourage minimal traffic, but easter egg hunt is okay on the full lawn. 

Swale: 

  Mini landslide caused the swale drain near the mail room to be covered with dirt. Can be removed by shovel, several wheelbarrows worth.

Rain barrels

  The rain barrel by the common house was moved for some work.  It is now by Mary’s house. It was never attached

  Lots around the water barrels around the property

  Request: is there anyone in the community that would like to lead the project of hooking up the water barrels in the community?  Landscaping can help facilitate but can’t lead the project. 

Work ideas:

Lots of plastic blowing around: spend a day walking around picking them up?

Decided: this SAturday (3/29) After cafe: walk about picking up garbage and pulling weeds (and remove the stakes around the lawn)