We talked about the timing for next Saturday and I think the earlier window works better for everyone. Kate mentioned she has a class that runs until noon so if we aim for 1pm that gives her enough time to get over. The space at the community room should be available since I already checked the calendar and nobody had reserved it. We will need to bring our own chairs because they only have the folding ones and not enough for the group. Laura said she can bring a couple of side dishes and I will handle the main course. Let me know if you think we should ask anyone else to bring something specific. I can also pick up extra napkins and plates if needed. The room has a small kitchen area with a fridge so we can keep things cool. Weather looks decent so maybe we can also step outside for a bit.

I think the approach you suggested for the backyard layout makes a lot of sense. The raised beds along the south side will get the most sunlight and the path between them is wide enough for the wheelbarrow. I measured the space again yesterday and we have about 12 feet of usable width before the slope starts. For the soil mix I usually do one part compost, one part peat moss, and one part vermiculite. That combination drains well but holds enough moisture for tomatoes and peppers. If you want to start seeds indoors this year I can loan you the grow lights I used last season. They are just sitting in the garage anyway. The peppers especially benefit from the extra weeks before transplanting. I have some leftover seed packets from last year if you want to look through them. Most are still viable since they were stored in a cool dry place. Let me know if you want to come by this weekend to sketch out the final plan on paper.