Atwood Community Gardens. Gardener Handbook 2015

Transcription

1 Atwood Community Gardens Gardener Handbook 2015 Goodman Community Center 149 Waubesa Street Madison, WI / Atwood Community Garden Gardener Handbook

2 Resource People for Atwood Community Garden We encourage everyone to get involved in running the gardens in Please contact a resource person in the area that you wish to help out with! Garden Resource Chairperson: Annette Nekola (anekola@att.net, ) Harvest Share: Ralph Johnson (rjohn2210@sbcglobal.net, ) coordinates the annual community garden/food pantry harvest share. Distribution dates will be Wednesdays, August 12 and August 26, from 6:00 to 8:00. Volunteers will be needed on these dates. Plot Monitors: Sarah Murray (scmurra1@yahoo.com, ). Sarah will lead the plot monitors who will check plots to make sure that they are being used and kept up. Please start tending your plot and gardening by May 10. Abandoned/untended plots will be re-assigned on June 1. Registration Coordinator: Larry Weber (ljweber@wisc.edu, ). Larry will take s (1 st choice) and calls from people who want plots at Atwood Community Garden or gardeners who want to give up their plots. He maintains the waiting list and assigns plots to new people as plots become available. Larry also will stake out new plots. Spring Cleanup Coordinators: Steve Meyer (meyer152@charter.net, , ) & Ralph Johnson (rjohn2210@sbcglobal.net, ). On Saturday, April 25 beginning at 9 a.m., Ralph and Steve will lead the cleanup and can assist in hauling waste from plots to pick up areas. Marsh Hay: Marsh hay/straw orders will be included in the billing for your plot. Payments are due April 20. Joanne Herfel and Ralph Johnson will coordinate the delivery on a date to be announced. Volunteers will be needed Water Committee & Hoses: Sparky Watts (wattaspark@gmail.com, , ). Sparky and fellow volunteers Steve, , and Sean Size, , help keep the water running. Goodman Community Center Garden Coordinator: Amy Mach (amymach@goodmancenter.org, ). Amy coordinates garden sign ups. Goodman Center will accept payment for the garden plots in cash, check or by credit card. Payments may be made by mail or in person at the Center..Garden plots need to be paid for by Monday, April 20. Unpaid plots are subject to re-assignment after April 20. Contact Amy with phone, address, changes. She maintains the master list of gardeners. Atwood Community Garden Gardener Handbook

3 Rules and Expectations The Atwood Community Gardens are Madison s most visible community gardens. You will be celebrating the beauty of your garden with thousands of residents and visitors from near and far who will greatly appreciate your efforts. The Atwood Community Gardeners are committed to keeping their gardens maintained and to abiding by garden rules for the following reasons: To create a beautiful, safe and functional garden space. To limit the spread of weeds and pest plants to other gardens and surrounding areas. To foster cooperative and friendly relationships with gardening neighbors. To maintain the privilege of gardening in the Atwood Community Gardens Corridor. For personal pride and satisfaction. These rules and expectations are required by the City of Madison as stated in the lease held by the Goodman Community Center. Organic. These are organic gardens. Do not use herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and/or artificial fertilizers. Acceptable soil amendments are compost, composted manure, straw, hay, garden lime, bone or blood meal, and other compostable organic matter such as leaves, grass clippings, green manure, etc. The Dane County Cooperative Extension at can provide general gardening advice and information about safe pest control. Do not use plastic film (clear or black) or woven synthetic mulch, commonly known as landscape cloth. None of these are biodegradable and they remain in the soil indefinitely if not removed. Suggested substitutes include newsprint, biodegradable fiber materials such as burlap, wood chips, straw or leaves. Area along bike path. The City of Madison Parks Department mows 3 along the bike path side of the plots. Nothing may be planted within three feet of the bike path. You are responsible for keeping the 3 buffer free of rocks and gardening material. For example, no branches of berries, roses, or other shrubs may hang over this area where they can hit the faces of the people mowing. Garden ornamentation and structures. The Atwood Community Gardens are very visible to the public. Ornamentation gives a plot a sense of personality, however, these things can be a temptation for theft, vandalism, and an eyesore. Gardens containing ornamentation with sensitive subject matter will receive notification for removal. Gardeners who have items in their plots which present a safety issue or are deemed by the plot monitors or members of the neighborhood as eyesores will be asked to get rid of them. Plantings. Be mindful of neighboring gardens when placing plants in your garden. Do not plant so close to pathways that when mature, the plants block the pathway. Do not plant trees in your garden. Trees grow large and will shade neighboring plots. Similarly do not place tall plants (sunflowers, corn, etc.) where they will shade your neighbor s plot. Permanent structures. Permanent structures are features of a particular plot that are not easily removed. This includes items such as arbors and trellises, large stones, railroad ties, stone walkways, mailboxes, bee hives etc. Because these plots are not spaces you own, permanent structures are discouraged. If you do place structures or other large objects in your garden you are responsible for eventual removal if you cease gardening. The exception is terracing. Because many of the plots are sloping, gardeners have built retaining walls or created terracing, which is fine. All structures must be maintained! Structures such as arbors need maintenance for safety reasons as well as aesthetics. Fencing around your plot. If you choose to erect a boundary fence, the only acceptable material is wire fencing supported by metal stakes. You are still responsible for the entire area of your plot, without regard to where your fence is located. Fencing within your plot. Gardeners may erect fences within their garden plot. These can be made of any fencing material you choose, except shipping palettes. All fences must be free of protruding nails or other sharp edges. Low fencing that may be obscured by snow must be removed at the end of each growing season. Atwood Community Garden Gardener Handbook

4 Personal property. You can keep your tools at your plot if stored them neatly in one area. All personal property must be removed from the garden plot at the end of the growing season. Waste. Keep your plot weeded and free of trash and diseased plants. Gardens must be cleared of all annual plants each fall. Organic, non-diseased plants and well-shredded waste can be composted neatly within your plot or you may take it to the City s drop-off site, located at 4602 Sycamore Avenue. Vandalism and theft. Goodman Community Center cannot patrol gardens, nor control vandalism and theft that may occur. These plots are located in a highly traveled area and you garden at your own risk. Police can only help if they arrive while a person is stealing from or destroying your plot. Write down descriptions and license numbers of cars you suspect are improperly at your or your neighbors sites. Let your neighbors know if you witness a theft from their plot. Talk with people you do not recognize who are in your plot or your neighbor s plot. Erect fences and natural structures to deter theft. Harvest your produce. Extra produce. Harvest your ripe vegetables! If you have more than you can use, produce can be dropped off at the Goodman Community Center anytime the Center is open for distribution to needy families. Contact the Goodman Center if you d like food pantry staff to harvest your produce while you re away on vacation. Harvest Share. In 2009 we held our first annual community garden/food pantry harvest share during the food pantry hours. It was a tremendous success and appreciated by the food pantry participants. We are holding it again this summer on Wednesdays, Aug. 12 and Aug. 26, during the food pantry hours of 6:00 to 8:00p.m. Please mark these dates on your calendar and consider joining in this Harvest Share. If half our 100-plus gardeners contribute something, no matter how small or large an amount, this will be a tremendous success. Details will be available as the event approaches. Plot boundaries. Plot boundaries will be marked each spring on St. Paul Avenue with spray paint. The three foot buffer by the bike path needs to be kept free of plantings, structures and debris so that the city parks department can mow it. Gardeners are responsible for the upkeep of the area between this mowed buffer and the back of their gardens. Gardeners whose plots border on St. Paul Avenue are encouraged to plant annual or perennial flowers along the front of the plot to hold soil in place and beautify the neighborhood. Mulching this area is also acceptable. For plots larger than 200 square feet, gardeners will observe at least an 18 inch path between plots to be maintained by both gardeners; not less than 9 inches on either side to be maintained by each gardener. For plots 200 square feet or smaller, gardeners may have the path between plots be 10 inches each gardener contributing five inches. Paths should be mowed or kept tidy with wood chips or other path substances. The paths should be clear of all objects, so that wheel barrows may be brought in on the path and so that people may walk safely on the paths (i.e. no hidden rakes or other garden tools waiting to sabotage someone s stroll down the path). Co-Gardeners: All co-gardeners must be identified at the time of garden sign up each year.complete contact information including address, phone and must be provided. Garden Cleanup/Work Days All gardeners are expected to attend and participate in spring and fall cleanups and other work days that may be scheduled during the season. It is a time to come out and lend a hand to get the gardens ready for the new season and build community within our garden. If you are not able to attend the designated cleanup days, please take care of your plot beforehand. Atwood Community Garden Gardener Handbook

5 Spring cleanup/opening Day. Organic Waste. Garden waste will be collected by city crews as part of their normal neighborhood collection which begins early-april. Place your garden waste near the curb (not in the street) in the grassy areas near St. Paul and Ohio or St. Paul and Corry. Do not place anything on the bike path or leave materials at the curb side of plots. A general spring cleanup day will be held Saturday, April 25, beginning at 9 a.m. This will be an opportunity to work as a group to finish garden cleanup, including common areas and also to get assistance in getting your organic waste from your plot to the pick up area. Bring a wheelbarrow if you have one. Inorganic Waste. Place any inorganic waste (trash, junk, etc.) that you are unable to dispose of yourself to the grassy area along but away from the sidewalk bordering Corry or Ohio Street on or before April 25 th. Garden volunteers will handle its disposal. Fall cleanup. Any non-perennial plant must be removed in a timely manner from the garden. Perennials with winter-interest may be left standing; others should be trimmed back. Seed heads (of sunflowers and others) may be left for foraging birds and animals. All items, except structures, must be removed from the garden plot before winter. Tomato cages, stakes, tools, buckets, milk jugs, black plastic, wheelbarrows, ornamentation, etc., are NOT to remain on-site over winter. These items present a safety hazard, especially when hidden under snow. Use of the Water System The water will be turned on in May, around Mother s Day. (The City will not turn it on earlier because the pipes could freeze.) Gardeners need to have their own hose or bucket to move water (or work it out with your neighbors and share). Please be responsible with the water as it is a precious resource. Gardeners must be present while watering their garden plot - no leaving sprinklers or soaker hoses running when you're not present. Please limit use of the spigot to about minutes, especially if others are waiting. Mulching is a great way to make the most out of the water you apply. Spigots: Be careful to not over-tighten the spigots should be finger tight, only. Over-tightening will damage the seal, so next time you will have to tighten even more eventually, you cannot stop the leak and the spigot must be repaired or replaced. Over-tightening of the shutoff valve resulted in the repairing/replacing of multiple valves during past gardening seasons. Pliers should not be used to turn off the spigot because this can twist the riser pipe and break the connection to the main underground pipe (expensive to repair). How do I turn on the water? At the City hydrant, there are two main valves that control the main water line. These valves should remain on throughout the summer, but can be turned off if necessary. One of these controls the water flowing towards Corry St. and the other controls water flowing towards Ohio St. If there is a leak or damage anywhere in the system, please turn the respective valve off and contact someone on the Water Committee immediately. For those with a garden plot in the central area, between Ohio St. and Corry St., simply connect a hose to the desired spigot and turn the water on. Be sure to turn the water spigot off when you are finished, but only fingertight. For those whose garden plot is west of Ohio Street or between Corry Street and Waubesa Street, you will find a long, heavy, rubber hose hung on the back of the mural on the corner. There is a double spigot on the standpipe connected to the mural. Connect the hose to one side of the double spigot and drag the hose across the street. Do not turn on the water yet!! Be sure no hose ends or unions are in the street, as cars will damage these very quickly and they may damage car tires. Once safely across the street, connect the hose to one side of the double spigot on the end standpipe. Open this spigot so water can flow into the system, being careful that the other spigot on the end standpipe is closed. Now open the spigot on the main water line your hose is connected to so water flows across the street. This will fill the underground pipe across the street and you can connect a hose to any spigots to water your plot. Atwood Community Garden Gardener Handbook

6 Hoses. When you are done, please ask the other gardeners if they will need to use the hose soon, and if not, turn the water off, disconnect the hose, coil it loosely, and store it on the wall-mounted hose brackets located on decorative wall next to spigot. Please do NOT leave hose on the ground in mowed or shared areas. (In 2010, several hoses were accidently mowed over because they were overlooked or not visible.) Similarly, if you are the last person at the garden, please shut the water off and make sure the hose is disconnected and carried back across Ohio/Corry and neatly coiled and placed on mounted brackets so that it is ready for the next gardener to use. Avoid digging into buried pipe be careful if you are digging a deep hole or if driving in a post deeper than 18 inches or so. DO NOT dig or drive posts deeper than 2 feet. The plastic water pipe is buried in the front half of the garden (front being the St. Paul Avenue side). The pipe meanders around buried and above-ground obstacles and is generally 4 to 25 feet from the curb. The water pipes are buried between 2-4 feet deep. If you have a problem with a spigot or see a serious leak (or other problem with the water system) call our water committee chair Sparky Watts & , Steve , or Sean or Amy at Goodman Community Center. If necessary, turn off the water at the fire hydrant near Talmadge Street (no tools are needed just move the valve until the handle points away from the pipe). Plot Monitoring System A team of volunteers will monitor plots for weeds and maintenance throughout the gardening season. Please maintain your plot by doing the following: Keep weeds down from spring to fall. Weeds make the gardens look bad and under used, affect productivity of your garden and impact neighboring gardens as they spread by seed or underground. Do not use pesticides, herbicides or fungicides unless labeled for use in organic gardening. Keep your plot free of garbage, excess organic wastes, unsafe or untidy materials. Observe plot boundaries with your neighbor s plot. Keep dirt and grass out of St. Paul Ave. so it doesn t wash down gutters and into the lakes. Keep the 3 buffer between the bike path and back of your plot mowed & free of debris. Start tending your plot and gardening no later than May 10. The monitors will check all plots at that time for evidence that they are being worked, including weeding, tilling, mulching and planting. For any plots that look like they have not received any/enough attention, the gardener will be contacted to ask if he or she plans to garden for the season. We want to be able to reassign unused plots as early as possible in the season to give new gardeners a full growing season. The monitors will check plots periodically from May to September. The monitors will look for evidence you are actively working your garden (signs of planting, weeding, etc.) and for problems such as invasive weeds or garbage/junk. If your plot is not well maintained, the monitors will contact you and ask you to correct the problems. If the situation is not corrected or explained to the monitors within a week, they will contact you to discuss the situation. If the situation is not resolved, the monitors will inform the registration coordinator to reassign your plot, and your plot fees will be forfeited. If you are sick or otherwise temporarily unable to care for your plot, be sure to contact the monitors to explain your situation and they might be able to refer you to a volunteer to help you. A final check of plots may be made in November to ensure that gardens have been cleared for the winter and all materials that could pose a safety hazard have been removed. Gardeners will be notified if there are materials that need to be removed. Giving Up or Splitting Plots: If you are unable to continue gardening in your plot, please contact the garden registrar Larry Weber so your plot can be reassigned. You can also work with the registrar to split your plot so you have a more manageable plot size and someone on the waiting list can get a space. Atwood Community Garden Gardener Handbook

7 Becoming a plot monitor: We welcome volunteers to help with plot checks, especially during May. We try to work in pairs and divide the garden into sections so the checks require a commitment of only 1-2 hours each round. Contact Sarah Murray if you can help. Atwood Community Garden Gardener Handbook