Community Garden
Community Gardens at Alexandria United Methodist Church
Gardener Guidelines 2011
We are so happy that you are interested in being a gardener at the Community Gardens at Alex UMC. Community Gardens are places to share the love of gardening, cultivate friendships, strengthen neighborhoods, relieve hunger, improve nutrition, enjoy recreational and therapeutic opportunities, and positively use this great resource of land.
Community Gardens at Alex UMC exist because of a generous grant from West Central Wellness. In 2010, volunteers built eighteen, 4 x 8, raised garden beds. one of those beds is wheelchair-accessible. In May 2011, volunteers intend to construct at least 15 more beds. In the future, we hope to add a rain garden, compost site, and rain barrels.
To make the growing experience enjoyable for everyone, we have created the following guidelines:
1. Community Gardens will start accepting garden bed requests February 1st of each year. You may request up to two beds, size 4x8, for the annual gardening season. Request lists will be maintained on a first-come, first served basis, except a first bed will be given to returning gardeners who request it by March 1st.
2. Beds will be assigned on or before April 15th of each year (2011 will be later as new beds are being added). Beds will first be assigned to provide each requesting household one bed to allow as many people to enjoy the gardening experience as possible. if you request a second bed, your name will be added to a waiting list. If each requesting household receives one bed, those at the top of the waiting list will receive a second bed. Any extra beds will be part of the Pay-it Forward Patch. The Pat-it-Forward Patches will be planted as decided by the garden committee and maintained through the collaborative efforts of all gardeners.
3. Gardeners are asked to complete a diagram of what was planted in their garden by July 1st of each year, so that garden soil nutrient content may be appropriately maintained. (If someone only plants tomatoes in their garden in year 1 and does not wish to keep their garden bed, the garden may be assigned to someone who will use it for growing other produce in year two.)
4. All gardens must be planted on or before June 10th of each year. Any gardens remaining empty on June 11th will be reassigned or planted by the Garden Committee.
5. You may plant annual vegetables, flowers, or other produce legally grown in Minnesota. The Gardening Committee and volunteers will maintain one herb garden amongst the beds.
6. Gardening hours are from sunrise to sunset.
7. Whatever you grow may be for your personal use. You are encouraged to share extra produce with the Douglas County Food Shelf, United Way's Food Drop, and Alex UMC's community breakfast.
8. Please be a good steward of the land and create organic produce. Please maintain the gardens as herbicide and pesticide-free.
9. The gardens, and all of Alex UMC property, is tobacco and alcohol-free.
10. Please be respectful and considerate of your gardening neighbors as well as the church's neighbors by creating and maintaining a quiet and peaceful environment.
11. Please supervise your children and teach children respect for gardening and boundaries.
12. Please pick up trash and take it home.
13. Community Gardens were built and continue through the labor of volunteers. Please participate by helping in future builds, being on the garden committee, and/or maintaining the pay-it-forward patches.
14. Please maintain your produce within the confines of your assigned garden bed and keep the bed area, including the walking paths, weed-free.
