Troy
Community Gardens Volunteer Subcommittees
Summary of Tasks and Active Dates
Spring Registration
Review and prepare plot applications, garden rules and other documents
for new season. Responsible for all tasks related to getting ready
for the Spring Registration event. Reserve location and recruit Hmong/Spanish
translators. Recruit additional volunteers outside of subcommittee
as needed to staff the event. Subcommittee is active: January through
Spring Registration (generally early March)
Plot Assignment
Responsible for reviewing plot applications and assigning garden plots.
Contact applicants as needed to clarify plot application information.
Data entry of all plot application information in gardener database.
Volunteer at Opening Day as “experts” in plot assignment
details. Subcommittee is active: February through
Opening Day (generally third week of April)
Plot Layout
Make sure garden plots in tilled sections are free of any large debris
that may interfere with plowing. Coordinates plot layout date(s) with
CSA farmer who does plowing of tilled sections of garden. Responsible
for staking and marking boundaries of all plots in tilled sections
of the garden. Mark all plots with plot number/gardener name immediately
prior to Opening Day. Subcommittee is active: April
Opening Day
Responsible for all tasks related to getting ready for Opening Day event.
Recruit Hmong/Spanish translators. Recruit additional volunteers outside
of subcommittee as needed to staff event. Make sure Plot Assignment
Subcommittee representatives are available to answer plot assignment
questions. Distribute hay to plots and row cover to gardeners as they
sign-in to receive their plot assignment. Collect any outstanding fees
and hand out refunds as needed. Subcommittee is active: March
and April
Gardens Site Monitoring
Make sure plots are planted within a month of Opening Day and contact
gardeners who have not planted to warn them their plot may be reassigned
if they are not going to plant it. Monitor plots throughout the season
and contact gardeners who are not keeping their plots tended. Keep
records of untended plots. Monitor garden site in general for any maintenance
that needs to be done and contact Work Day Subcommittee with these
tasks. Subcommittee is active: May through October
Work Day
Compile list of tasks to be accomplished at scheduled work days. Lead
work days by providing at least one person from subcommittee to direct
volunteers. This leader should be familiar with power equipment or
arrange to have a volunteer from Equipment Subcommittee present at
work day. Arrange to have a volunteer who can speak both English and
Hmong to translate work day tasks to Hmong volunteers. Make sure volunteers
record their hours in Volunteer Sign-in binder. Subcommittee is
active: April through October
Water
Turn on water in the spring and repair/replace leaks discovered throughout
system. Supervise the collection, transportation, storage and retrieval
of the approximately 35 individual hoses. Keep water system in repair
throughout season, including repairing hoses. Shut off the water in
the fall, and purge the system with compressed air to avoid winter
freeze up. Leave all of the valves in the system in the open position
after shutting off water. Subcommittee is active: April
through October
Equipment
Maintain all hand tools and wheelbarrows. Maintain power equipment, including
mowers, rototillers and weed whackers. Keep shed clean and organized.
Make sure appropriate fuel is available at work days for power equipment. Subcommittee
is active: March through October
Edible Landscape/Mendota Orchard
Coordinate pruning work with Troy Natural Areas Coordinator. Help organize
the Mendota apple orchard pruning in the spring. Organize pruning raspberries
and grapes in spring. Subcommittee is active: March through
May
Heirloom Garden Plots/Demo Plots
Determine what to plant in the two plots at the front of the gardens.
Organize volunteers to prepare plots in the spring, obtain plant material,
plant plots and maintain plots throughout the season. Communicate work
day tasks for this area to Work Day Subcommittee. Subcommittee
is active: April through October
Newsletter
Prepare monthly newsletter and post card communications to gardeners.
Write articles or recruit volunteers to write articles for newsletter.
Get important communications translated into Hmong or Spanish for post
cards and newsletters. Mail/email newsletters and postcards. Subcommittee
is active: February through October
Harvest Day Festival
Advertise event via Newsletter Subcommittee and arrange to get necessary
equipment and materials for cider pressing at event. Organize other
necessary supplies for potluck and pie making contest. Solicit local
businesses for prizes for pie making contest. Coordinate with Work
Day Subcommittee to have a group of volunteers pick apples from Mendota
Orchard for the cider pressing. Subcommittee is active: September
