Use of a community garden plot is a privilege and gardeners are expected to abide by the guidelines below set by the CGC as well as the leader(s) of their garden. Check with your garden leader for guidelines specific to your garden.

Garden leaders are volunteers helping to organize gardens and gardeners in their spare time. They are in charge of assigning plots, keeping the garden organized and interacting with the property owners. If a gardener persistently fails to follow guidelines or instructions, the garden leader(s) may ask a gardener to use a different, smaller plot or to leave the garden and reassign their plot. The Community Garden Coalition board may be asked to help moderate any disputes as needed.

• You are responsible for the care and maintenance of your plot, and it is intended for growing food, flowers and herbs for personal consumption.
• If you need to be out of town, please arrange for someone else to tend to your plot. If you are having trouble taking care of your plot or decide to give it up, please contact your garden leader(s) as soon as possible. If your plot becomes overgrown and your garden leader(s) can’t get in touch with you, your plot may be assigned to another gardener.
• All gardeners are required to help with the general upkeep of the entire community garden. Your garden leader(s) may organize work parties for this purpose. If you are unable to attend a scheduled work session, please plan to spend approximately two hours per month on your own to help maintain the common garden areas. Contact your garden leader for chores that need doing.
• Please pick up trash wherever you see it. Ask your garden leader about trash disposal at your garden site.
• If your garden has a compost pile, put weeds, dead plants, etc. into it. Any diseased plants should be bagged and put in the trash so as not to contaminate the gardens.
• Gardeners are not allowed to erect permanent structures.
• Gardeners should not create or claim plots without permission from their Garden Leader. Do not apply anything to or pick anything from another gardener’s plot without their express approval.
• Organic gardening is required in the Claudell Lane garden and strongly encouraged in the other gardens. If you need or have questions about gardening organically, contact your garden leader or email info@comogardens.
• Please remember to turn off the water, roll up the hose at the faucet area, return tools to the shed and lock the shed before leaving the garden.
• At the end of the gardening season, please clean up your plot. If you are not returning next season, remove all plants and non-plant materials. If you plan to return, please remove any invasive weeds and diseased plants, cages and other temporary supports. For returning gardeners, it may be fine to leave certain living cover crops, overwintering plants (like garlic) or the stalks of dead plants that might benefit pollinating insects over the winter. See your garden leader for more specific information.
• Smoking and chewing tobacco are discouraged in the gardens; tobacco can transmit a lethal virus to tomatoes, and cigarette butts are loaded with toxins.
• Use common courtesy and be considerate in all communication with your garden leader(s) and gardening neighbors so that everyone can enjoy the garden. The use of harsh or aggressive language will not be tolerated.
• At this time, the coalition does not charge gardeners a fee for gardening. However, some individual gardens may choose to charge a nominal fee.
• We encourage all gardeners to make a donation to the Community Garden Coalition of any amount you can afford to help cover the cost of insurance, compost, tools, supplies, water and other expenses. Your contribution will go a long way towards sustaining the CGC and your own community garden.