Thanks, Scott!!!
Here are the guidelines for the Community Garden...
Garden Guidelines:
By accepting this community garden plot, you agree to the following rules for the garden:
1. Gardening courtesy and communication:
One of the main goals in community gardening is to work together or next to each other in relative
harmony. Please be courteous in all interactions. Respect the peace of neighbors; no loud noise or music,
foul language or disrespectful conduct, alcohol or drug use is permitted at the Community Garden.
Smoking must be kept outside the garden area as tobacco can carry viruses which are harmful to
vegetables.
Garden managers will check plots regularly to encourage productive use
by participants.
2. Definition of a “working garden”:
A garden plot must be maintained, planted or mulched, and stay within its boundaries. Plots must not be
consistently weedy, untended or filled with debris. During the growing season, gardeners are expected to
spend at least two hours per week (on average) tending the plot.
3. Gardening Hours:
Gardening hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The use of power equipment is restricted to the hours of
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
4. What is appropriate to grow:
Vegetables, herbs, flowers and small fruit plants for home consumption and donation are appropriate. No
large structures, trees, or large collection of non-plant items are allowed. Crops must be legal and for
personal use or donation.
5. Gardening Season:
Gardeners are responsible for keeping the plot gardened, cover-cropped or mulched. For most gardeners,
the growing season will be from April or May until August or September. Some gardeners, however, will
put in early spring crops as early as February, and others may have crops growing late in the fall.
No matter what crops you decide to plant, you are responsible for basic plot maintenance. Weedy plots
are subject to warning and loss of garden privileges. Perennial crops and some annual hardy winter crops
may be over-wintered, but should be maintained.
6. Water Availability:
Water in the gardens is turned on by April 1 and shut-off by October 31.
7. Spring Preparation & Planting:
By
May 15 your garden should be in the “getting started” stage. This deadline exists to motivate our
gardeners to show that they are going to use the garden plot, and not waste it. Some garden plots are
reserved with the best of intentions, but end up not being planted. If you haven’t started preparations by
this date, there is probably someone who would be willing to take over your plot. The minimum
requirements of “getting started” include:
Weeding and planting; edging weeds along borders
o
Working the soil in preparation for planting
o
Harvesting of crops, if appropriate
o
Pathway clean-up
8. Summer Planting and Growing:
PLANTING: By
June 1, there should be substantial progress towards a productive garden, which includes:
o
At least half of the plot(s) worked and planted
o
Removal of remaining weeds
o
Establishing and caring for plants
o
Continued pathway maintenance
By
June 15, there should be gardening activity, and weeding throughout the entire plot. If these
deadlines are not met, you plot will be offered to the next person(s) on the waiting list and your
registration fee will be forfeited.
9. Fall Harvest and Clean-up:
Annual crops should be harvested and the plants cleaned up and composted. Garden plots should be
cover-cropped, and/or mulched around perennial plants by October 31.
10. No Garbage Service:
There is no garbage service at the Community Garden. Please keep trash and litter cleared from your plot
and take it home for disposal.
11. Garden Debris:
Garden compost bins are available for your use from mid-spring until harvest time in the fall.
Please use
these compost bins ONLY for garden debris waste (no garbage or plastic) and ONLY for
materials from the Community gardens – not from your home.
12. Pets in the Garden:
Dogs and other pets are not allowed in the garden area.
13. Plot
Registration and Fee Required Annually:
Plots are $25.00 each annually
and are not transferable without the permission of the Environmental
Commission Community Garden Committee. Gardeners are responsible for keeping addresses and phone
numbers current with the coordinator.
14. No refunds:
The garden registration fee you pay only partially covers the costs of operating the Community Garden
Program. If you give up your garden plot after you have registered or if you fail to maintain your plot and
it is transferred to another gardener, your plot fee
will not be refunded.
15. Pathways:
The Village does not mow or provide regular upkeep to the pathways or other common areas at the
Community Garden. Rather, each gardener is responsible for keeping the surrounding pathways weeded
and well tended. Your garden space may stop at the edge of your plot—but
your responsibility includes
the pathways surrounding your garden
.
Everything you plant must remain within the perimeters of the designated plots, allowing adequate space
for growth and keeping pathways clear. Allow for access within your own plot.
16. Vegetable Theft:
Any gardener reported for taking vegetables, flowers or supplies from another’s plot may have their
garden privileges revoked. Gardeners are encouraged to harvest your crop regularly to reduce the
temptation of theft by others.
17. Natural Gardening Encouraged:
Use of herbicides and/or weed killers is prohibited. Use of chemicals or propellants banned by the federal,
state, or local government, shall be grounds for forfeiture of the privilege to use the Community Garden.
Gardeners are encouraged to use natural gardening techniques. Free brochures will be available with
suggestions for natural gardening techniques.
18. Children in the Garden:
Children are encouraged to garden with their parents or grandparents, but they must stay on the paths of
their assigned garden without going through the plots of other gardeners.
19. Rodents, Other Animals and Fences:
Because rodents and other wild animals may be prevalent in the undeveloped area surrounding the
various garden sites, it will be the responsibility of the individual gardener to control these pests within
their own garden space.
Non-permanent fencing is allowed, but may not cross garden pathways.
20. Composting:
On-site composting is encouraged, but must be limited to compostable materials
produced at the
community garden site
.
21. Newspaper Mulching:
Newspaper is not allowed as a mulching agent/weed barrier. Although this may be an acceptable practice
in home-gardens, the Environmental Commission does not want complaints from other gardeners and
from area residents, about newspapers blowing around the area because they were not adequately
covered up and maintained.
22. Gleaning Program:
Often times a problem that arises with community gardens is that produce goes to waste in the field
during harvest time. We will be partnering with"" by collecting “extra” produce for
donation to the food pantry which serves approximately 200 families per week.
Gardeners wishing to participate in the “Growing & Giving” gleaning effort will be notified in advance when
to harvest what they need. Any ripe produce left in your plot will be collected, washed, chilled, prepared
and delivered to "" the next day.