FAQ and RulesThis information can also be found in the garden handbook (pdf). Finding your Plot Plots are mapped on a chart on the bulletin board in front of the garden. If you are not sure where your plot is, contact Matthew at 250-1767. You may start to garden when your two forms and payment are received. New gardeners It is mandatory that all new gardeners attend an orientation session. Dates are listed on the garden calendar.To sign up for a session call Pat at 233-2321 or email pmsode@sbcglobal.net If you are a returning gardener, you may also attend one of these sessions. Garden By-laws Members of the garden should be familiar with the Garden By-Laws. These are available at the Spring and Fall potlucks and on the website. Please ask for a copy. Message board Check the message board or garden shed whenever you come to the garden. They will have reminders, updates, information on classes, etc. Good Neighbor Rules The Sheboygan Garden is an organic garden. Pesticides, insecticides, herbicides or fungicides are not allowed. Garden plots must be reasonably utilized for growing food or flowers. Gardeners are responsible for clearing weeds in their garden and in the paths bordering their garden, and for harvesting produce in a timely manner. Gardeners are responsible for maintaining low borders. It is a violation if your border blocks sunlight from your neighbor’s garden. In general, your plants should be under four feet tall if they are on a border that will shade a neighbor’s garden. Gardeners are responsible for making sure their plants stay within their plot.Do not enter anyone’s plot without permission. If you are ill or on vacation, you are responsible for finding someone to care for your plot. Dead plant material, equipment and garden props must be removed by closing day. Work Hours Gardeners are required to contribute a minimum of 4 work hours per plot. Contributing more hours is welcomed and encouraged. Workday schedule will be posted and is also included in this handbook. Wear protective clothing and shoes, work gloves, sun protection and water. Be sure to sign in and out. The following activities are approved work-hour tasks: Participating in Work Days. Gardeners will be notified of scheduled Work Days via e-mail. Work Days will also be posted on the Sheboygan Community Garden Website (www.cacscw.org/gardens/sheboygan/), in the garden shed, and on the front bulletin board. They are also listed in this handbook on the garden calendar. Participating in board activities or on committees Independent work including: Weeding the common areas Tending the perennial flower beds at the front of the garden Laying woodchips in the common areas Mowing common areas or weed whacking Other tasks posted on the Sheboygan Community Garden Website or in the garden shed. The following activities are not considered work-hour tasks: Filling the water barrels Taking out or putting away the water hoses Working in your own plot. Working in someone else’s garden unless pre-approved by the work committee or posted on the Website or in the shed. Reporting Hours Gardeners are responsible for reporting their work hours to the timekeeper so that they may receive credit for service done. There will be a sign-in sheet available at the planned Work Days to record hours worked. Report other completed work hours directly to the timekeeper or sign the clipboard in the shed with name, amount of time and task completed. Timekeeper is Lauren Nagle; river5@charter.net Penalties for not meeting work hour requirements In past years, the board did not exercise any penalties when gardeners did not complete their required 4 hours of work. Be advised that beginning this year, the following penalties may apply: No guarantee of receiving the same plot next year. Reduction in plot size for the following year. Being moved to the bottom of the waiting list. No plot assigned for the following year. Elderly and handicapped gardeners may be exempt from work hours. Contact Lauren for exemption. Tools The garden owns tools and wheelbarrows for all to use. When you are finished using tools, clean them, and hang them neatly in the shed. Wheelbarrows should be put behind the shed. Turn them upside down and leave them neatly placed. Always close and latch the shed door and make sure the bottom is closed tightly (A gentle kick may be required) Tool donations are welcome. Put them in the shed. Water rules: Conserve and Share The water will be available May-October, during frost-free months. When you turn on the water, you are responsible for turning it off and putting the hoses away at your spigot and across the road. If you are finished watering and are leaving the garden, please ask others if they would like to use the water before you turn it off. If they do, make sure they understand that the water and hoses are now their responsibility to turn off and put away. After turning the water on, walk around to make sure that other spigots are off so water is not wasted. If you turn the water on, you do not have exclusive rights to the water. Before you water your plot, make sure that the water barrels near you are filled. This ensures water is available to everyone at all times. If you are the last person at the garden, even if you did not use the water, please check that the water is turned off. If it is still on, turn it off at the hydrant and put the hoses away. Limit your use of hoses to evenings and weekends to avoid hose damage from traffic. Use the water in the barrels during weekdays, 8am-5pm Do not turn the water on and leave. Stay at the garden until done watering. After watering, be sure to turn off the spigot you used. Soaker hoses are not allowed. Fencing/storage ALL items stored under the pine trees must be removed before the workday on Wednesday, June 11th. Anything left after this date will be disposed of. Watch the garden board and newsletter for upcoming information about possible winter storage for 2008/2009. Perennial gardens If you want to help with maintenance of the garden (and earn work hours) contact Mike Peterson at 274-2179 or Pat Soderholm at 233-1321. Parking Parking is not permitted in the lot from 7:45am am to 5 pm on weekdays without a permit. You may get ticketed during these hours. If you garden live far form the garden, are handicapped or elderly and need to park during weekdays, please contact Pat for a parking permit. Compost Use compost from pile nearest shed. When this is gone, second pile will be turned. Do not add any new plant materials to these piles. A new pile will be started in back for dead plant material. Look for a sign to indicate this new pile. Vandalism and theft Theft of vegetables, tools and compost has occurred in past years. Pick your vegetables when they are ripe to reduce the chance of theft. Take valuable tools and items home We are in a public place and cannot police it. If you suspect someone of stealing, you have the right to confront them and tell them to leave. Please report any thefts to Mary or Pat. Trash, Sticks, and Stones There are no trash barrels at the garden. Take all of your trash home, including unwanted garden materials. Put hard or woody material in the brush pile in back. Take home any diseased plant material. Put stones and rocks in back near the woodchip pile Don’t put trash, stones, wood, tools, or metal items on the grass. This makes it dangerous to mow. When you come to the garden, pick up any trash you see. Plant-a-row, vegetables for food pantries We have set aside spaces for growing and collecting produce for area food pantries. Please watch the bulletin board for more details of how we can provide vegetables for local food pantries. We need a coordinator for this. Would you like to volunteer? Wood chips A pile of wood chips is located in the back on the other side of the drive. Please use these to maintain walking paths between plots. State Property Warning: there is a pile of covered dirt and bales of packaged peat moss in back on the other side of the road. These belong to the DOA. Do not use them!! Hay Hay will be delivered in back by the Community Action Coalition as it becomes available. It is free to all gardeners. Please take only as much as you can use so that all may have some. Pets in the Garden Pets are not allowed in the garden. The exception is service dogs. These must be on a leash at all times and may not be in plots. Pick up after your dog. Rototilling If you want your plot rototilled, call Bill at 231-1741 or email: jadennis@wisc.edu
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