Community Gardens

Violations of any of these rules can result in revocation of garden plot(s):

• Respect your fellow gardeners. Abusive behavior towards others, stealing produce, vandalism, etc. will result in expulsion from the garden.
• Gardeners are responsible for upkeep of everything inside of fence. This includes weed control and maintenance of
  the adjacent pathways. This means keeping your paths free of weeds, tools, or other items. It excludes any structural repairs like a broken water line, County-owned fence, etc.
• Make sure you lock the gate and turn the water off. This includes shutting off at your hose valve. Close and lock all gates. • Water is shut down for the winter and turned on in the spring. Anticipated turn off is November and anticipated turn on is April.
• No ornamental trees or shrubs are to be planted within your garden. This restriction includes:
• Fruit trees, including fig trees, cannot shade out someone else’s plot or block the pathways.
• Roses and fruit shrubbery allowed ONLY if small growing and not an intrusion to your neighbor’s garden.
• Gardeners are allowed to install their own fencing provided the posts are not installed using concrete. If the gardener leaves the community garden, fencing and other materials must be removed. Use of concrete and barbed wire fencing is prohibited.
• Fencing: Stakes that are under 4 feet in height MUST be covered with material such as tennis balls, pipe insulation, water bottles, etc. for safety purposes. Many box stores sell caps for this purpose.
• Gardeners are responsible for providing their own seeds, plants, and fertilizers.
• Pesticides/herbicides: We need pollinators. Any pesticides used in the garden must be labeled for edible crops. Nothing beyond a “Caution” signal word is to be used. It is much better to practice good habits such as early weeding and environmentally friendly soap-type sprays. • Bee hives are not allowed. • Park and Recreation provides trash bags and pick-up. Please bag up your trash for collection.
• Composting: No open composting inside or outside the fence. Open composting encourages mice, rats, and more. Compost bins have to be above ground with the ability to close tightly.
• Garden produce cannot be used for commercial use. You cannot grow for selling.
• PROHIBITED: Smoking, vaping, alcohol, and drugs.
• Children under 16 must have adult supervision at all times.
• No pets, only service animals are allowed. Please clean up after your service animals; bag and remove off site.
• Cleanliness: If a garden or paths adjacent to your garden, are deemed excessively weedy, the garden captain or Park and Recreation will inform that gardener and give them two (2) weeks to repair. If the garden plot is still unkempt, the gardener may have their privilege in the community garden revoked. This policy is in place year round. If you plan to be away for any length of time, you still need to comply with this rule. Contact your garden captain with plenty of lead time to see if help can be provided.
• Any complaints or issues go the garden captain first. If needed, Park and Recreation will step in.
• Do not share the lock code with guests or visitors.
• Any complaints or issues go the garden captain first. If needed, Park and Recreation will step in.
• No plastic or fabric allowed on paths. No plastic allowed as a “mulch” for your garden.

• Garden captains if their schedule allows will arrange and lead a spring and fall clean-up for the area inside of the fence.
• Garden captains will meet and orient new gardeners if possible. Park and Recreation representative could also be called upon to perform this duty.
• Garden captains are the first point of contact for complaints or issues. They will copy any emails to current Park and Recreation representatives.
• Garden captains will inform gardeners if their plot(s) is excessively weedy. Two weeks notice will then be given to the gardener to clean the plot(s). Copy Park and Recreation on any emails.
• Garden captains do not have the responsibility to evict a gardener. That is a Park and Recreation responsibility.
• Have a good time and thank you for your leadership!

• Park and Recreation provides water, compost, and mulch.
• Locks for gates: Replacements will be provided by Park and Recreation.
• Compost and mulch are provided once a year in the spring. The provided compost comes from Compost Central. If a second request is made, Park and Recreation will review it.
• With the provided water, please be responsible with the amount you use.
• Park and Recreation will maintain the outer fence and the weeds at base of fence line.
• For community gardens with no tool shed, Park and Recreation may provide a tool box for tool storage only. Construction trash bags will be provided for “Trash Out.” You are welcome to provide paper trash bags.
• Crushed concrete for pathways is provided by request. It will be the gardeners’ responsibility to install.
• Park and Recreation does not till or do any other plot preparation.
• Park and Recreation does not provide any plants or seeds.