Garden Membership Rules

Garden Membership Guidelines

LaSalle Park Community Garden 1314 10th Street
The LaSalle Park Community Garden is a great community green space for neighbors and volunteers to create and maintain a healthy vibrant gardening resource. We encourage all manners of plantings, are interested in furthering education in small plot gardening and environmentally sustainable practices. We want LaSalle Park residents to be proud members of this community effort.
Somewhat unique to our location of 1314 10th Street, our garden is bordered by LaSalle Park residents. In addition to respecting all gardeners inside the boundaries, please show respect to those neighbors directly along our boundaries. Failure to comply will result in dismissal from LaSalle Park Community Garden. For the safety, fairness, and enjoyment of everyone inside the garden and out, the following rules will be strictly enforced.

Garden Rules
1. Membership inquires should be directed to Garden Leaders. Only Garden Leaders can make plot assignments.
2. Plots are not transferable or assumed when a member leaves the garden.
3. Gardening is to be done in your assigned plot only. Plots must be in a raised planter bed format according to the garden design.
4. You must maintain your plot in an Acceptable Manner: you must actively garden once a week during the growing season. If you are unable to do so due to an illness, injury, or vacation, make arrangements with another gardener or garden leader to attend your garden. While maintaining your plot, take care of the walkways surrounding your planter box by putting away all tools and removing litter, weeds, or debris to appropriate containers.
5. A garden in an unacceptable manner will be flagged by garden leaders. A warning will be issued to the plot owner. If the plot has not been made acceptable after 10 days, a second warning will be issued. 20 days after the first warning, the plot will be reclaimed for reassignment.
6. Water will be collected in rain water barrels for actively gardened plots only. Due to current water restrictions, water conservation is very important. Be sure to turn the water spigot off and clear all path of hoses/watering cans.
7. A garden member will be expected to maintain the assigned plot but also to help maintain the garden as needed. Members will be given a schedule in advance for mowing, weeding, and turning compost. You may also be asked to assist in planting, planter box construction, and garden repair. Regularly missing additional activities will result in a warning for plot reclamation and reassignment. The schedule for activities will be finalized at the beginning of the growing season. If there is a problem, discuss it with garden leaders immediately.
8. Do not dig, fertilize, water, weed, plant or harvest from anyone’s box without permission. If you do so, you will be issued a warning. A second violation can result in your plot being reclaimed for reassignment.
9. Soil mixes are for use in the garden raised boxes only. This soil is not to be removed from the garden or used on garden walkways.
10. Do not allow pets to roam the garden. All pets must be leashed and accompanied by their owner.
11. The purpose of the garden is not to grow vegetables to sell or sell plants or seeds. A violation will result in a warning. A second violation can result in your plot being reclaimed for reassignment.
12. Growing plants designated as illegal by state and federal law will result in immediate reclamation of your assigned plot and termination of your gardening membership.
13. Vertical gardening and vertical growing plants are allowed but limited to: plots 2 ft wide have a vertical maximum height of 5 ft on the south side of the plot and a maximum of 3 ft on the north side of the plot. Plots 4 ft wide have a maximum vertical height of 6ft high on the south side of the plot and a maximum of 3 ft high on the north side of the plot. For all plots a maximum of 3 ft vertical height on the east or west side of the plot. This prevents inadvertently shading another gardener’s plot. If your vertical height requirements are greater than allowed, discuss with garden leaders for possible plot reassignment for accommodations.
14. Smoking is not allowed in the garden.
15. Children must be supervised while in the garden but are encouraged to work in the garden. A garden member may sponsor a child, allowing the child to be assigned a small garden plot under the member’s instruction. Children will be asked to sign a “Young Garden Member” pledge. Contact garden leaders for more information.
16. This garden is an organic garden. The use of herbicides and pesticides is not allowed. Contact garden leaders for more information.
17. Winter planting and cold box planting (“off season”) is allowable in this garden but must be pre-approved by garden leaders. If you have been approved by garden leaders to maintain an “off-season” plot you are expected to maintain your plot throughout the year. Failure to do so will result in the same warning system used during in-season growing.
18. Unless your plot has been approved for “off season” planting, your plot must be clear of all vegetation, and non-plant materials (string, wire, wood, metal, etc) by October 1st. Failure to do so could result in your plot being reassigned for the next growing season.
19. Winter storage of vegetables through trenching, mounds, clamps, pits, or other storage is not allowed. If you’re growing plants for winter harvest you must be pre-approved and may use tenting as long as weather allows. For winter storage in small places, such as a small yard attached to your home, contact garden leaders.
20. The garden design is such that the Square Foot Gardening (SFG) method of gardening will be most beneficial for growing. Members are not required to use SFG but are strongly encouraged. Garden leaders can provide guidance for SFG.
21. Garden members will be asked to sign a new Membership Agreement annually before the growing season begins. Until the garden design has been fulfilled, a membership fee will be waived. New members will be expected to fund the cost for materials to construct thier planter bed. Once the boxes are all constructed, members will be asked to pay a small materials fee for garden improvement and maintenance. If the fee is a hardship or for more information, contact garden leaders.
I, ______________________________________ of _______________________________ have read and agreed to the Garden Membership Guidelines for LaSalle Park Community Garden.
Date: _________________

For Garden Leader Use Only: Plot Assignment:__________ Winter Garden Approval: Yes No
Date: __________ Processed by: ____________