65  Group Check In 23FEB2026

Date: February 23, 2026

65.1 Attendees

  • Nora Pearson
  • Brianna Hayward
  • Patty Burns
  • Steph Hankerson (first meeting)

65.2 Introduction: Steph Hankerson

  • Joining team for community engagement and outreach support; timing aligns well!
  • Will be paid through the lab to support community connection opportunities
  • Role is nascent and will be developed collaboratively

65.2.1 Steph’s Background

  • U of M degree in food science
  • Extensive experience in environmental community organizing, ommunity garden projects, urban forestry
  • Previously worked for urban farms in St. Paul
  • Principal in MN Seed - native pollinator plant seed project focused on:
    • Teaching seed skills
    • Creating free hyper-local pollinator plant seed economy
    • Currently conducting plant propagation workshops with community
    • Focus on native pollinator perennials endemic to region
    • Also teaching veggie plant propagation as season progresses

65.2.2 Current Community Work

  • Working extensively with community members on safety in St. Paul
  • Plant propagation activities with Urban Farm and Garden Alliance
  • Teaching community members to grow their own plants
  • Responding to reduced availability of free plant sources due to environmental sector funding cuts
  • Utilizing state funds through Lawns to Legumes program for plant propagation
  • Supporting urban farmers and community gardeners with indoor seed starting techniques

65.3 Data Entry and Classification Work

65.3.1 NASIS Data Entry (Patty)

  • Working on entering 2025 pedons into NASIS
  • Brianna completed all 2025 pedon entries into Survey 123
  • Nora provided all pedons in spreadsheet form for database upload
  • First batch uploaded to database
  • Currently QC-ing first batch in NASIS

65.3.2 Concept Decision Tree (Patty and Adam)

  • Adam sent updated version of decision tree for concepts to Joe, Patty, and Randy
  • Currently on Version 2 of concept outline, created after last bimonthly meeting with Randy
  • Waiting for Randy’s input, which will be particularly valuable due to his urban disturbance experience

65.4 Residential Reports and Lab Data

65.4.1 Residential Report Status

  • Nora inquired about timeframe for sending out residential reports
  • Patty unsure of specific timeline or whether reports have been sent yet; Nora will ask Ava
  • Some initial residential reports may have been completed but unclear if distributed
  • Lab analysis in progress

65.5 Administrative Items

65.5.1 Meeting Constraints

  • Lab lunch scheduled for noon, requiring Nora and Brianna to leave meeting early
  • Patty heading to Bay Lake after meeting to resupply Scott with supplies

65.5.2 UCard for Steph

  • Steph inquired about obtaining UCard for building access
  • All campus buildings now locked and require card access
  • Changes appear to be permanent
  • Steph can obtain UCard through payroll status
  • May be available at St. Paul Student Center for convenience
  • Recommended to obtain card if any campus access needed during season

65.5.3 Building Access Changes

  • University recently implemented stricter building access requirements
  • All buildings locked at all times
  • No indication of policy reversal
  • Team members need UCards for any campus building access

65.6 Action Items

  • Steph: Obtain UCard for campus building access
  • Nora: Check with Ava at lab lunch regarding residential report distribution timeline
  • Patty: Continue QC work on first batch of 2025 pedons in NASIS
  • Patty: Continue reviewing Adam’s concept decision tree
  • Randy: Provide detailed feedback on concept decision tree when time permits
  • Team: Continue developing Steph’s role in community engagement and outreach