2008 Troy Community Gardens General Information, Rules and Expectations

TROY GARDEN SUBCOMMITTEES: The community gardens are organized by volunteers and divided into many subcommittees to meet the needs of the gardens. The list of the subcommittees and their leaders will be posted on the kiosk located in the center of the gardens by the shed. Please refer to this list and call the appropriate leader should the need arise. All gardeners are encouraged to volunteer for a subcommittee. Please check our website www.troygardens.org for a complete listing of subcommittees and their responsibilities.

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS: Beginning 2008, gardeners have the choice of working 3 volunteer hours per plot OR paying for the volunteers hours at $10.00/hour (1 plot = $30.00, 2 plots = $60.00, 3 plot = $90.00, 4 plots=$120.00).

• When gardeners complete the 2008 application they must choose to work ALL volunteer hours or pay for ALL volunteer hours at that time. Payment for volunteer hours must be paid when the application has been turned in.
• Refunds of volunteer time payment will be granted only if a gardener does not receive the requested number of plots.
• Gardeners may not pay a partial amount per plot. Each gardener must work either 3 volunteer hours OR pay $30/plot. A gardener may not work 1 volunteer hour and pay $20 for the other two hours.
• No refunds of volunteer time payment will be granted if a gardener chooses to volunteer throughout the season.
• If a gardener chooses to volunteer time and does not work their agreed upon volunteer hours throughout the 2008 season, they will be required to pay for the volunteer hours they did not give at a rate of $10.00/hour before we accept their 2009 application. If they do not pay, their application will be moved to the bottom of the priority list and they may not receive a plot.

If a gardener has chosen to work 3 volunteer hours per plot those hours may be fulfilled by attending workdays or by participating on a subcommittee. If you cannot participate in the scheduled workdays you may complete your volunteer hours by doing regular garden maintenance and recording your hours in the notebook located in the mailbox of the garden kiosk. The last day to satisfy your Volunteer Hours Requirement for 2008 will be November 30, 2008. Since the last organized volunteer work day is Closing Day, 10/25/08, from 9 a.m. to noon, it is highly recommended that you complete your required volunteer hours prior to or at Closing Day. If you cannot meet this commitment, please contact Christie Ralston at the FTG Offices, 240-0409 or infoattroygardens.org.

PLOT AND SITE CARE: You are responsible for your own plot, the abutting paths, and putting in your required volunteer hours during the season. Garden plots should be cared for at least once a week. Non-organic (tilled) plots must be cleared and ready for plowing by Closing Day on October 25th. For no-till gardeners: You may garden year round and keep fences and trellises up through the winter. Please tidy up and mulch your plot at the end of the season to prevent erosion.

The responsibility for volunteer hours, maintenance of plot throughout the season and clean up of garden plot by Closing Day remains with the gardener assigned to the plot(s) without exception. If the assigned gardener agreed to work volunteer hour and did not fulfill this requirement, the gardener will be required to pay for the volunteer time they missed (see above). If the plot has not been maintained or if the plot is not cleaned out by Closing Day (tilled sections only), the assigned gardener will be penalized by being moved to the bottom of the plot assignment priority list for the following year.

Troy Gardens accepts no responsibility for personal items or produce left in tilled plots after 9 a.m. of Closing Day – October 25, 2008.

WEEDS: With so many gardeners in one location, invasive weeds, diseased plants and trash can be a nuisance to your garden neighbors. A flagging policy will be used to notify gardeners when their plots become a problem. Here’s how it works:

A yellow plastic flag with the date on it will be placed in your plot to let you know that your plot needs attention. If your plot has not been tended in a week, a red flag with the date will be placed in the plot. If after a week, the plot has still not been tended, the plot will be deemed abandoned. If we cannot reach you and your garden is not maintained, we may mow your plot and give it to someone else.

ILLNESS/VACATION: If you are unable to care for your plot for a time because of illness or vacation, find someone to care for your plot in your stead or notify Troy Gardens. If we cannot reach you and your garden is not maintained for a long period, we may mow your plot or give it to someone else.

ABANDONED PLOTS: If you can no longer tend your garden, move away, or change your phone number or email address, notify Troy Gardens. If your plot has not been planted a month after Opening Day, it may be reassigned. This applies to gardeners in no-till sections as well. Gardeners who are assigned abandoned no-till plots receive the plots ‘as-is’.

PLOT LIMITS: There is a 1 plot limit for new gardeners. If you maintain your plot well in the first season you may apply for one more the following season. There is a four plot limit. This limit may be lowered if there is a high demand for plots in a given year.

PLOT STAKES/MARKERS: Plot corner stakes and plot number/name markers must be left in place all season.

ANNUAL RE-APPLICATION NECESSARY: All gardeners must re-apply to Troy Community Gardens each year.

REFUNDS: There are no refunds if you choose not to garden.

GOOD NEIGHBORS: Keep your plants within your own plot. If you grow plants 4 feet high or taller, plant them in the middle of your plot so your neighbor’s plot will not be shaded or ask your neighbor for permission to plant them on the edge. If you grow spreading plants, be sure there is room in your plot.

PATH CARE: Keep plot boundaries free of trash, rocks, weeds or anything that may interfere with mowing or trimming equipment.

TRASH: Please take home ALL trash.

PROBLEM PLANTS: Do not plant jerusalem artichokes, mints (including catnip), Comfrey, horseradish, or other root plants that spread. They live through the winter and may be problems next year for you or someone else. No-till gardeners: Woody trees or shrubs, raspberry-like plants, and grapes are not permitted

VANDALISM AND THEFT: Troy Gardens cannot patrol gardens to control vandalism and theft that may occur. Police can help only if they arrive while a person is stealing or destroying property. Theft applies not only to vegetables, but to compost and any garden property such as tools. If you suspect someone of stealing, as a gardener, you have the right to confront them and tell them to leave. If you encounter a theft, please contact the Garden Site Monitoring leader listed on the garden kiosk or contact the Troy Offices at 240-0409.

COMPOST: Please help keep compost areas picked up, weeded and neat. COMPOST IS FOR TROY GARDENERS ONLY. It is not for the general public or for home use. (If you need compost at home, it can be purchased from the county and is very inexpensive.)

MANURE: Fresh manure is not to be used in the gardens.

MULCH: Biodegradable mulch such as compost, leaves, straw, and hay are acceptable and encouraged. Carpet mulch, stone mulch, and wood chips are NOT allowed in garden plots. Remove any non-organic mulch by Closing Day.

TOOLS: If you use Troy Gardens’ tools, please return them to the storage shed when done. Keep the shed doors closed when not in use.

ROCKS AND STICKS: Don’t put rocks, sticks, or weeds in paths. Take rocks and sticks to the designated areas at the back of the gardens. Rocks in particular are dangerous for the person mowing Troy.

PLANT REFUSE PILES: In the past gardeners were allowed to place plant refuse and weeds in a pile or bin at the back of the garden. We have no way to turn these piles to produce any useable compost, and we must pay to have them hauled away. Therefore, starting in 2008, gardeners are strongly encouraged to abstain from putting their weeds in the plant refuse piles in the back of the property. Pulled weeds should be left in gardeners plots to dry out in the sun, act as mulch and ultimately turned back into the soil. Weeding weekly will help prevent weeds from growing too tall. If plants or weeds are large and stalk-like, cutting them into smaller 8” sections will help break these plants down faster.

WATER: Water must not be wasted. Turn off water after using it. Fix hose leaks with the menders provided or notify the Water Subcommittee of any leaks.

CHILDREN: Parents or accompanying adults are responsible for children. Teach your children the garden rules, especially to respect others’ plots and the water system.

PARKING: Do not drive into Troy. Parking is available on Troy Drive, but DO NOT BLOCK RESIDENTIAL MAILBOXES. The post office will not deliver mail to these residences if they cannot access the curbside mailbox.

HERBICIDES: Never use any herbicides (weedkillers).

PEST CONTROL: Gardeners in all sections at Troy are encouraged to employ their own organic pest control methods. Synthetic pesticides and fertilizers are strictly prohibited in the organic sections.

PETS: Dogs are allowed in the Gardens area but they must be on leash. No dogs, leashed or unleashed are allowed in the actual plots themselves. Dogs are allowed off leash on the part of the property north of the Gardens (prairie area).

USE OF PLOT: Your garden plot(s) should only be used to grow produce or plants for your consumption or use. It is not to be used to grow produce or plants that will be sold.