SITE RULES North Austin Community Garden I. PLOTS A small individual plot measures 4 x10, a large individual plot measures 4 x20, and a community plot measures 8 x20. The location of a member s plot is specified in the garden membership contract and on the site map. A. GARDEN MEMBERSHIP FEES Membership in the garden is defined in the Commission Documents. All individual plots and community plots will be rented for the time period of one year. The year begins on the first of February. The ADA accessible plots are reserved for garden members who require them to participate in gardening activities. The 5 low-mobility, 24 high ADA accessible plots are available to able-bodied gardeners on half year, or Seasonal contracts only in the event that a plot/plots are not reserved by the last day of the contract year or season, and there are no individual plots available. Seasonal contracts run from the February 1 to the July 31, and from August 1 to the January 31. Renewal fees are to be paid by the beginning of each year. Renewal fees not paid on the due date (last day of current membership) may result in the forfeiture of the plot. A statement will be sent to the garden member at least 14 days before the renewal fee is due. Fees for plots are as follows: 4 x20 individual plot: $90.00 per year 4 x10 individual plot: $50.00 per year
3 x10 ADA accessible plot: $37.50 per year 3 x10 ADA accessible plot: $20 per season. A garden member is limited to one plot per year. For the purposes of this limitation, spouses and children under 18 shall be considered as a single gardener, and there will only be one garden bed allowed per mailing address. The first name to appear on the Gardener s Contract is considered the Primary Gardener. All gardeners on the contract are collectively and severally bound by the contract. Gardeners on multiple gardener contracts agree that the first name on the contract is the designated contact for all business correspondence from the garden. Any new gardener must be added to the contract before being allowed to garden the plot. There will be a returned check fee of 15 dollars for each occurrence. B. NEW GARDEN MEMBERS 1. New garden members must complete the following within the first thirty days of membership or forfeit their plots without refund: A. Clear plot of all plant material other than healthy herbs, perennials, or vegetables and prepared for future planting. B. Complete and record their first service hour. 2. New gardeners must complete and record their second service hour within 60 days of membership and the balance of their required service hours by the last day of the membership year. 3. There is a 30 day grace period after the date gardeners have assumed responsibility of their garden plot (as specified on the Garden Membership Agreement) in which gardeners can voluntarily forfeit their assigned plot and receive a refund of the full amount of the plot rental fee. Gardeners are required to follow the voluntary forfeit procedures and are subject to the plot clean up fees as described under section I.F.6 of this document. C. SERVICE HOURS A cumulative total of one hour per month that the membership contract is active. It is the responsibility of the garden member to record service hours in the NACG binder located at the North Austin YMCA s Welcome Center.
Service hours are not transferrable. There will be designated service hours and duties as determined by the Garden Leadership Group. Garden members can participate in designated service hours, or garden members can contact a member of the Garden Leadership Group to determine a suitable project or job for service hours, or can count any work done during a volunteer day or through a volunteer call. Not all service hours include physical labor. Contact a member of the Garden Leadership Group to learn about these opportunities. D. ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING Garden Leadership Group members will be voted in at the Annual Membership Meeting. All garden members in good standing are invited to the Annual Membership Meeting and will be given at least 30 days notice prior to the event. E. RULES 1. No trees, large cacti or illegal plants may be planted. 2. Smoking is strictly prohibited according to the city of Austin's Smoking in Public Places Ordinance (SIPPO) no. 050303-05. Chewing tobacco is also strictly prohibited. Tobacco carries the mosaic virus, which is deadly to some plants. 3. No permanent structures should be placed on the plot. Temporary structures should not shade a neighbor s plot without the approval of that neighbor. 4. Only organic nutrients and pest controls are to be used in the garden. No chemical treatments of herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides, and no synthetic fertilizers are allowed. When in doubt about a product or method, check with an Garden Leadership Group member. 5. Basic gardening tools will be provided. Gardeners are responsible for any additional tools or equipment they bring. If any of the community tools or other equipment is damaged, please report the damage immediately in the NACG garden binder located at the Welcome Center in the North Austin YMCA. 6. The use of chemically treated wood (i.e. wolmanized wood) and/or CCA pressure treated wood is not prohibited. These products contain arsenic,
hexavalent chromium and other toxic substances, which may leach into the soil. 7. Tools and wheelbarrows should be used only for the purpose for which they were intended and should be returned clean to their proper place in the tool shed. Only gardeners over 18 years of age are allowed to use powertools. Gardeners should use equipment in a responsible manner and report any mechanical problems. 8. Unattended watering is not allowed with the exception of soaker hoses. Soaker hoses may be left on unattended for no more than 3 hours during the daylight hours only. Any soaker hoses left unattended should be run at low pressure. Gardeners using soaker hoses must remain on the North Austin YMCA s premises while watering and keep water from running off their plot. Irrigation systems must be maintained and in good repair. Gardeners using sprinklers or hoses should take into account wind and temperatures to ensure as little waste as possible. No water timers or sprinkler systems are allowed. Please be considerate of other gardeners and limit watering times when others are waiting and do not drag hoses through other plots. 9. Pets are not allowed on the garden premises with the exception of service animals. 10. Each gardener is responsible for disposal of trash. Do not place any trash in common areas, roadways, or in your plots. Only organic, compostable material is to be placed in the composting area. No trash from off the property may be placed in the trash receptacles. 11. No alcohol, illegal substances, or glass containers are allowed on the property. 12. No gardener may sell any produce or flowers that they produced in the North Austin Community Garden in any venue. 13. No fuel storage is allowed on site. 14. Gardeners should not dig trenches around the perimeter of their plots, and should not extend their garden dimensions. 15. To build and maintain healthy soil structure, gardeners will use
compost, organic fertilizers, mulch and a rotation of plant varieties. Three inches of compost shall be maintained to prevent soil loss and compaction. 16. All piles of mulch, soil, and compost will be contained to prevent runoff and sedimentation. 17. No harassment, threats, verbal abuse, or acts of violence will be tolerated by any person against any other person. Such acts should be reported to the Garden Leadership Group, and if necessary, proper authorities will be called. Any person committing such acts may be asked to forfeit his/her gardening plot, may lose their membership rights (as outlined in the Commission Documents), and/or may lose the privilege of future membership. F. MAINTENANCE AND FORFEITURE 1. Garden plots and adjacent aisles must be maintained at all times. 2. Plot maintenance is defined as: a. Vegetables and/or fruits are harvested regularly b. Plots should not be overrun with weeds c. Plants that have reached the end of their productive life must be removed d. Gardens are not to be left neglected/unattended (unwatered and/or overrun with weeds) for more than two weeks without prior notice and/or arrangements with the Garden Leadership Group e. Plots should be free of diseased or infested plants 2. Common areas (as outlined on the site map) are to be maintained. 3. Plots shall be monitored regularly by Rules Committee members for compliance. 4. When a garden is out of compliance, a. Two members of the Rules Committee will agree on the noncompliance and notify the Vice-Chair of the Garden Leadership Group. b. Official Noncompliance Notice The Vice-Chair will notify the Garden Leadership Group. The Chair will send official notice of noncompliance by mailing notice of noncompliance to the gardener at the mailing address on file with North Austin Community Garden. A certificate/receipt of
mailing from the US Postal Service or a private carrier such as Fed Ex or UPS shall be conclusive proof of the notice being mailed. c. Final Warning Period A gardener shall have 21 days from the date of mailing of the Official Noncompliance Notice to bring the plot into compliance. Noncompliance at the end of the 21 day period will result in forfeiture of the plot. The date on the certificate/receipt of mailing shall be proof of the date of mailing. The Chair, Vice- Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Zone Coordinator, in their sole discretion, shall determine if the plot has been brought into compliance. d. Official Forfeiture Notice. If the plot is not in compliance at the end of the 21 day Final Warning Period, official notice of forfeiture shall be given by mailing notice of forfeiture to the gardener at the mailing address on file with North Austin Community Garden. The plot will be automatically forfeited and available for rental to another gardener at the end of 10 days from the date of mailing. Any produce, plants, equipment, tools or other items left on the plot or common area shall be considered abandoned. A certificate/receipt of mailing from the US Postal Service or a private carrier such as Fed Ex or UPS shall be conclusive proof of the notice being mailed. The date on the certificate/receipt of mailing shall be proof of the date of mailing. If the plot is subject to renewal during this process, a renewal statement will not be sent to the gardener until the compliance issue is resolved. If the plot is returned to compliance, the due date for the renewal fee will be adjusted. 5. Repeated documented episodes of non-compliance as defined by three times in one year will be grounds for forfeiture. 6. If a gardener voluntarily withdraws from the garden, the following requirements must be met or they will be charged with a cleanup fee of $10.00 for 4 x10 plots and $20.00 for 8 x20 plots: a. Complete a Withdrawal Form and forward it to a member of the Garden Leadership Group by the 15th of the month, or by the last day
of the month if it is within the first 30 days of the Garden Membership Contract. b. Plot cleared and in good condition for next gardener to begin work by the last day of the month. c. These conditions must be met within the term of the gardener s contract. Please note that: Membership fees will not be refunded for the remaining portion of the term unless forfeiture occurs within the first 30 days of the Garden Membership Contract Membership is non-transferrable Withdrawing does not absolve any debt still owed to the garden II. ROADS No one is allowed to drive a motor vehicle on the compost/bulk material staging area access driveway or anywhere on the garden site without authorization from an Garden Leadership Group member. III. COMPOST AND BULK MATERIALS 1. The compost pile(s), as specified on the site map, are considered a common resource. a. Any garden member can take or add on to the compost pile(s) if they are labeled for that use. b. Compost is distributed on a first-come first-serve basis, but must be used immediately on a garden plot (it cannot be reserved). c. Compost is solely for use on the North Austin Community Garden site. d. No one is permitted to add the following to any compost pile on site: Weeds and weed trimmings Animal products other than eggshells Plants that are known to be diseased
Anything other than fresh fruit and vegetable scraps, dried leaves, shredded paper (non-glossy), and eggshells e. Improper use or failure to follow these guidelines will be grounds for revocation of compost use privileges and/or forfeiture of plot and membership. 2. Bulk materials (eg. mulch, soil, straw) are solely for use on the garden site. They will be clearly labeled with proper signage as to whether they are for community use or are being reserved for a project and are off limits. a. Improper use or failure to follow usage guidelines for bulk materials will be grounds for revocation of bulk materials usage privileges and/or forfeiture of plot and membership. IV. SAFETY AND SECURITY a. The garden site is closed between 10pm and 5am. No one, including garden members, are to be on site during these hours. b. The tool sheds and applicable gate(s) are to remain locked when the garden is closed. c. Do not leave the combination locks hanging open or with the combination exposed. e. All children under 12 must be under adult supervision at all times and are not allowed in the tool shed. f. YMCA/City of Austin activities have inherent risks and in consideration for participation, all garden members, and participants hereby assume all risks and hazards incident to participation in all activities, due to the negligence of the YMCA/City of Austin or otherwise while in, about, or upon the premises of the YMCA/City of Austin and/or while using the premises or any facilities or equipment thereon or participating in any program affiliated with the YMCA/City of Austin including volunteer service. Garden members and participants further waive, release, absolve, indemnify and agree to hold harmless the YMCA/City of Austin, organizers, volunteers, supervisors, officers, directors, participants, coaches, referees, as well as persons or parents transporting participants to and from activities from any claims or injury sustained during use of the YMCA/City of Austin property or participation in programs. The YMCA/City of Austin is not responsible for personal injury or property damage
by any plot renter or visitor, or for theft, loss, or destruction of any property owned/rented by any gardener. g. Photo/Media Release: By participating in the North Austin Community garden, all garden members and participants grant the YMCA of Austin/City of Austin the right to use, reproduce, assign and/or distribute photographs, films, videotapes, and sound recordings of yourself for use in materials they may create. V. AMENDMENTS As provided by Article 11 of the Bylaws of the North Austin Community Garden, changes to these site rules shall be adopted and become effective as set by the Garden Leadership Group.