Garden Rules
YOU AND YOUR FELLOW GARDENERS ARE CARETAKERS OF THE WHOLE GARDEN SITE.
IT IS THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS THAT IT WILL BECOME - AND REMAIN - A BEAUTIFUL AND PRODUCTIVE PLACE.
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
The cooperation of the IFCGA Garden members is vital to the success of our community gardens - it is through your efforts that the gardens become - and remain - beautiful and productive places! To ensure an understanding of garden policies and to fairly distribute maintenance and improvement tasks, each gardener must:
Attend the annual Garden Registration meeting in the spring. This will be scheduled within individual community gardens by the Garden Coordinators
New Gardeners must attend the required Quick & Dirty Guide to Organic Gardening class scheduled by your Garden Coordinators
Contribute a minimum of 8 hours per rented plot to community projects and routine garden maintenance , including at least 2 work parties.
Adhere to the IFCGA Gardeners' Code of Conduct and Garden Rules.
Maintain the common pathways that are adjacent to your garden plot.
Track your own completed volunteer hours in the notebook provided at each garden.
Participate at Fall Clean-up (to prepare community areas of the gardens for winter) in October (to be scheduled by your Garden Coordinators).
Plots are reserved in advance and $20.00 of the site fee will be credited only to those Gardeners-in-Good-Standing (GIGS) who have completed all of the membership requirements.
Gardeners who do not meet these requirements for two years will no longer be eligible to have a plot at the gardens.
PROHIBITIONS
DOGS are prohibited in the gardens.
SMOKING is prohibited in the gardens.
Tobacco can transmit a lethal virus to tomatoes.
TIRES are not allowed in garden sites.
FULLY UTILIZE YOUR PLOT
Your plot can be reassigned if it is not worked by May 31. Any plot which remains unattended (overgrown weeds, unharvested) for more than two weeks will be reassigned. If you are a Gardener-in-Good Standing (GIGS) your GIGS status may be rescinded as for any violation of the rules or Code of Conduct. Your plot fee will not be refunded.
If you will be out of town and need help watering or harvesting please notify your Garden Coordinator(s) or make arrangements with a neighboring gardener.
IFCGA COMMUNITY GARDENS ARE ORGANIC GARDENS
The community gardens are proud to practice organic gardening. Organic gardening builds healthy soil which promotes strong plants with natural resistance to pests and diseases. The use of non-organic herbicides (weed killers), pesticides, and fertilizers is strictly prohibited because they do not contribute to the health of the soil or its living organisms. Use organic products according to the label directions. If you have any questions contact your garden coordinator before applying anything to your plot.
MAINTAIN SHARED PATHS ADJACENT TO YOUR PLOT
For safety do not dig into main paths. Keep paths level, rock free and weed free. Keep your own access paths fully within your own plot unless you agree to share them with your neighbor.
USE COMMON COURTESY
Do not expand your designated area beyond the limits staked out. Allow adequate space for invasive, vining and spreading crops and keep them confined to your own plot. Please do not allow plants to encroach into or overhang the paths. Please plan ahead so that you do not shade other plots with tall crops. No structures over 2 1/2 feet are allowed except in common areas.
Please treat hoses carefully and wind them up and return to faucet site when finished watering. Sprinklers must be attended or used with timers. Be careful not to water other's plots without their permission. Water service is off between approximately 10/15 and 3/31.
Closely supervise your children when they are helping at your plot. Please leave all toys belonging to the Community Garden in the play area when you leave the garden.
THERE IS NO GARBAGE SERVICE
Please keep trash and litter cleaned from your plot and take it home for disposal.
