Members Questionnaire Spring 2005: Below is a summary of the CGAS Members' Questionnaire returns. With only nine forms returned the sample cannot be fully representative of the whole membership. The results are nonetheless interesting and worthy of publication.
Q1 - Trading: Most showed interest in the trading activities from the container - so long as the terms were favourable. The items in which interest was shown were -
- General (multi-purpose) compost (4)
- Special compost (eg seed/cuttings)
- Lime (3)
- Slug pellets (4)
- Garden canes (4)
- Seed potatoes Limited seeds to supplement general order (2)
- Unusual varieties of veg/soft fruit
- Rotavator hire (!)
- Glysophate weed killer (!!)
- Fleece
- Derris dust (3)
- Liquid feeds Gromore Blood, fish & bone Cabbage collars (2).
Also one committee member wondered what size of discount we could negotiate if we pooled our order for loads of manure, say a minimum of ten loads.
Q2 - Social Diary: There were seven positive returns commenting fovourably on last year's gathering and meal at the Axe and Square and the mulled wine at Christmas. Two were blank.
Q3 - Organised Escursions: Eight out of the nine said "Yes".
Q4 - Working Parties: Seven out of the nine returns were amenable to joining working parties for the communal good. Of these five indicated a preference for Sunday morningss, one for Saturday afternoons and one would prefer Saturday in spring and Sunday in winter.
Q5 - Ideas/Projects for the Community Area and Ag: Ideas entered here included -
- Children's involvement.
- Weather monitoring station.
- Metered water to each plot.
- Main paths improvement.
- Toilet.
- Orchard and grassed area improvement.
- Soft fruit bush collection in the orchard to complement the apples and plums.
On the raising of extra funds for such projects - should it be necessary -
- Five were amenable to rent increase.
- One was definitely opposed to rent increase.
- One was in favour of a prize draw.
- Four were in favour of social fund raising events.
- Two were in favour of the bonus ball/lottery scheme
- (Most of the returns had more than one option chosen)
Q6 - What spoils the enjoyment on the Ag: There were some interestin and surprising rplies to this -
- Muddy uneven main paths.
- Limited water access.
- Smoke from burning rubish. Sometimes left for days. A possible health hazard.
- Mechanical equipment e.g. rotavator engine noise.
- No toilet.
- Those throwing plastic on bonfires - a health hazars and pollutant.
- Lack of car park hard standing.
Q7 - What could the Committee do better: Most comments were very favourable but the two constructive coments which were returned were -
- Control of the water supply.
- Involve the membership in tasks, projects and maintenance.