Wagon Hill Community Garden Guidelines
We are fortunate that the Town of Durham leases this space to us on Wagon Hill Farm which has been farmed continuously for 300 years. We need to be careful stewards of the land. We offer local residents access to garden space, local food production, educational programs and community. We appreciate your cooperation and community spirit to make this a successful program. These guidelines are designed to help the garden run smoothly for all.
- Annual membership & Plot Use Period: Annual membership and plot use begin when first registered or at the spring renewal meeting and end with final clean-up of plot(s) on the last Sunday in October. “Plots” refers to raised beds, as well as in-ground plots. Annual membership fee is $30.00, non-refundable. Submit fee with completed membership form. This fee allows you one plot for the season, with soil, water and tools. Additional plots will cost $5.00 per plot. Some financial assistance is available. Plots are not transferrable. If you are unable to garden, notify the Membership Coordinator.
- Work Commitment: Gardeners are expected to contribute 4 hours of work for the well being of the Community Garden. Hours of service may be fulfilled at scheduled work days in the garden. Be sure to sign in on work days. Work days will be used to maintain the general garden area. Work Days will be held the second Saturday of every month beginning in April. Reminder emails will be sent. If you are never available to come on a Saturday, there are other ways you can fulfill this requirement. Check message board for updates on needed work and email the Membership Coordinator to report your hours. For this seasons dates see link WHCG important dates
- Plot Maintenance: Plot maintenance is the responsibility of the individual gardener. Keep your area free of weed, disease and insect pests. If you will not be able to tend your garden for 10 days due to illness or travel, email the Garden Steward. If possible, find someone to water, weed and harvest and tell the Garden Steward the name of the person who will be tending the plot. Make sure this person knows precisely which plot is yours and clarify exactly what you’re asking them to do. Harvest your vegetables in a timely manner. Rotting produce attracts insects, diseases and rodents. Donate extra produce to the Food Pantry.
If a plot appears to be untended or unharvested, you will be contacted by the Garden Steward by email or by phone. If your plot is not cleaned up within two weeks after that contact, it will be reassigned. Remember the community garden is like a crowded neighborhood; your actions or inactions can affect everyone.
- Path Maintenance: Keep paths clear of rocks, weeds or other debris. Be sure your plants stay inside your plot.
- Water & Hoses: Hoses must be coiled and off the ground after each use to avoid being chopped by the mowers. Water faucets must be turned off at the conclusion of watering. Be careful not to drag hoses through other peoples’ gardens.
- Tools/Wheelbarrow: Some tools are available in the shed, and we ask you to return tools and the wheelbarrow to the shed in clean condition ready for the next person to use. They are all we have, so please take care of them. If you break something, please leave a note on the clipboard in the shed so we can repair or replace.
- Fertilizer & Pesticides: The gardens are organic, so do NOT use “chemical” fertilizers or non-organic pesticides. Plastic mulch is allowed, but not preferred. Any non-organic mulch must be removed at the end of the season. If you have any questions about products, consult the garden web site or the Garden Steward. Read the new Pest & Disease Control Guidelines posted online and in the shed.
- Plant Debris & Compost: Follow the directions which are posted in the compost area. Diseased plant material should be removed from the garden and disposed of in your trash at home. Weed and weed seeds should not be placed in the compost. Plant material for the compost pile should have soil shaken off in your bed, then break or chop plants into small pieces so they will compost more quickly. Plastic plant markers, pots or stakes MUST NOT be placed in the compost. Wooden plant labels are available in the shed to mark your plants.
- Plant restrictions: Planting perennials is no longer permitted. If you do have perennials already, it will be your responsibility to remove them if/when you leave the community garden. It is also your responsibility to contain any plant material within your plot.
- Structures: Individual fences are not in keeping with the spirit of a community garden or appropriate for the aesthetics of Wagon Hill Farm, therefore, no fences will be allowed around individual plots. Other structures that are intended to support or control plants (peas, tomatoes, squash or cucumber vines, etc.) will be allowed, but should not shade someone else’s garden or inhibit movement on garden paths. A structure should be sturdy enough to support what it is intended to support, and must be taken away from the garden at the end of the season. This includes standing stakes, poles, wire, wood, tomato cages, etc. The shed cannot accommodate storage of materials used by gardeners.
- 11. Plant donations: Check with the Garden Steward before donating tools, newspapers or cardboard to the garden. Also, check with the Garden Steward before you accept large donations of plants from a local greenhouse. If the donation is approved, you must take responsibility for watering the donated plants and disposing of remaining plants offsite if they have not been planted within a few days.
- Gleaning: In the last week of September, the Food Pantry Team will glean specific vegetables from the entire garden. Produce will be donated to the Food Pantries in Durham. Gardeners will have an opportunity to opt out.
- Other: Respect other gardeners‘ plots as you would like them to respect yours. Do not take plants or produce from their plots or allow your weeds to invade their space. Do not bring illegal substances to the garden or dogs off leash. There is no smoking at Wagon Hill Farm. Leaving open containers of standing water in the garden provides a perfect mosquito breeding ground. Please report theft, vandalism, or unusual activities to the Garden Steward.
Wagon Hill Farm Community Garden 