COVID-19 Update & Gardening Recommendations

Residents of the City of Columbia and Boone County are currently under a “stay at home” order until April 24. Please help mitigate the effects of the new virus by staying at home except for essential activities. (For more details on the order and coronavirus resources, see here.)

We want our gardeners to know that your community gardening activities are considered to be essential because they are for the purpose of food production. City staff have assured us that gardeners can continue to use their community garden plots. However, there are new rules in place.

Here’s what Stephanie Lilly, health educator for the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services has told us:

“Community gardens provide food, therefore are considered essential. There shall be no more than 10 people working in the garden at a time and shall practice social distancing at all times!”

There is a possible $1,000 fine for violating this rule, which means that gardens should not have any group work days until the shelter in place order ends.

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Below are our recommendations for gardening at this time:

1. Do not come to the garden if you are not feeling well or someone you live with does not feel well.
2. Do not enter the garden if there are already 10 people there; come back later. According to the Boone County order there is a possible fine of $1,000 if you violate this rule and it is reported.
3. Keep your distance (6 feet or more) from other gardeners. The CDC says this virus can be spread by persons before they have any symptoms.
4. Clean off tool and hose handles before and after use because the virus has been found to survive up to 3 days on hard surfaces. We recommend you bring a towel or rag and use a solution of 4 teaspoons of bleach per quart of water to wipe down any tools that you use after removing any dirt.
5. Please wash your hands with soap and water before and after gardening. If soap is not provided then consider bringing some with you.
6. Use your own hand tools if you have them.
7. Wear gloves if possible. Although they can spread the virus, they may help you remember not to touch your face.

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The Community Garden Coalition is still figuring out how to safely facilitate a distribution of cool season transplants, row cover, hoops and additional seeds to member gardens. Stay tuned to news from your garden leader in the coming days!