Guidelines for Garden Use
Mission Statement: The Olds
Community Garden Guild includes people from all walks of life who want to
participate in and learn about the growing of their own food. The OCGG is open
to collaborating with other groups who are interested in learning and sharing
information about gardening techniques. The OCGG supports eco-friendly
sustainable gardening.
The garden is being designed for long term use and permanency. The garden has a common area of fruit trees and bushes, perimeter shrubs, fencing, gates, trees, walkways and a rest/picnic area. We hope to make it accessible for long term use to anyone who enjoys gardening in our community. We hope that garden members who are in good standing and enjoy the community garden will have a plot year after year. We have picnics or potlucks after a work bee or clean up day. To improve the aesthetic look and beauty of the garden, everyone is encouraged to help with soft and hard landscape projects that will improve the garden over time. The garden is eco-friendly. This means that pesticide use will be prohibited for the health and safety of all.
General Benefits and Expectations:
The Olds Community Garden Guild will provide:
Garden Guild Members are expected to :
These guidelines have been chosen by collecting data on other successful community gardens as well as the data collected from the survey that was conducted in the Town of Olds. These guidelines will be added to or amended as needed to suit our members.
OCCG Committees:
A Garden Selection Committee will handle plot allocation. This committee will be made up of one board member and one Garden Guild Member. Plots will be rented out on a first come, first serve basis. The number of plots is limited to one per household unless there are extra plots available.
A Garden Committee will be formed to deal with general maintenance of the garden. This committee will deal with weeds or other problems that may arise. It will be formed from two board members and one Garden Guild Member.
OLDS COMMUNITY GARDEN GUILD P0LICIES
Fees and Allocation of Plots:
1. Fees are due by May 1st of each year. Clean-up deposit is payable at the same time as the rental plot.
There will be a rent fee for each plot per year (except for non-profit organizations) and an equal amount of money for each plot as a clean-up deposit. The cleanup deposit will be refunded at the end of the gardening season if the garden member has complied with the garden policies. People who pay for a plot (or community groups who commit to a garden plot) will automatically be Community Garden Guild Members. Board and committee members also pay for plots.
Small plots for the general public (approx. 12’x15’): $30.00
Clean-up deposit is $30.00
Small plots for seniors or people with special needs: $ 25.00
Clean-up deposit is $25.00
Community Groups: Free or by donation
Clean-up deposit is $30.00
Large plots (approx. 12’x 30’): $50.00
Clean-up deposit is $50.00
THE CLEAN-UP DEPOSIT WILL BE REFUNDED TO GARDEN MEMBERS AT THE END OF SEASON PROVIDED THE GARDEN PLOT IS MAINTAINED AND CLEANED UP IN THE FALL TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE GARDEN COMMITTEE. The refunded clean up deposit cheques must be cashed by Dec. 31 of each year. OCCG will consider their deposit a donation if the cheques are not picked up by Dec. 1 and they have been previously contacted by phone or email.
An effort will be made to accommodate a wide spectrum of the community and to use the following percentages as a general guideline:
· 20% of plots will be allocated to seniors (over 65) or individuals with special needs
· 20% of plots will be allocated to community groups
· 60% of plots will be allocated to the general public
Each household will be given 1 plot. If more than one is desired, their name will go on a waiting list. If there are extra plots available, they will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis by the Garden Selection Committee. If all plots are not claimed by June 1st, then OCCG members can plant into empty plots.
2. Each renter is responsible for keeping their plot weed free and watered. Mulches can be used as a weed control, and will also hold soil moisture. Grass is considered a weed in the garden.
Plots are properly maintained if weeds are pulled and grasses are dug up regularly. Plants that have reached the end of their productive life should be removed. Cleanliness of the plots is a key to our long term success as gardeners.
3. The OCGG Garden is Eco-Friendly and garden members must comply with specifications in the OCGG document extracted from the SOUL guidelines. (See SEPARATE Document). The garden will be chemical/pesticide free.
4. If a plot is abandoned or unreasonably weedy, the Garden Committee will first contact the garden member by phone. From the time notice is given, the garden member will have 2 weeks to clean up the problem. If the problem is not remedied, action will be taken to clean up the plot and their “cleanup deposit” will be retained. Those garden members who have lost their deposit will not be able to obtain another garden plot for one year.
5. Compostable materials should be placed in the bin/piles provided. All annual plant material must be removed. Please take all your garbage away. Trash or compost should not be thrown in the common areas or on other plots. To get the deposit back at the end of the year the rented plot must be clear of corner stakes, fencing, trellises, string and all inorganic materials before the end of Oct.
6. Garden Guild Members will be expected to donate 1- 2 work sessions a season for general planting, maintenance or clean-up of the garden. Many hands make light work and relieve an unfair amount of work on very few.
7. If you are on holidays, it is up to you to find someone to look after your plot.
8. Smoking and chewing tobacco is prohibited. Tobacco carries the mosaic virus, which is deadly to some plants (ie.tomatoes).
9. Parking is available in the college lots east of the garden ONLY when the students are gone for the summer. Otherwise, use the south end of the Aquatic Centre Parking lot.
10. PLEASE, NO PETS.
11. Families are welcome; children under 12 should be accompanied or supervised by an adult.
12. Permanent structures should not be placed on the plot. Temporary structures are allowed as long as they do not shade a neighbour’s plot and there is approval granted from their neighbours. We encourage people to install border stakes on the corners of their plot to prevent dragged hoses from entering other plot areas by mistake.
13. Plots, unless designated, are private property of that plot renter. Please respect everyone’s property, do not walk across other plots. If problems arise please bring your issue to the attention of the Garden Committee. AVOID DRAGGING HOSES ACROSS OTHER PLOTS.
14. Annuals and perennials can be planted in the plots except those listed on the restricted weed list (AB government website). Please do not weed other peoples’ plots without their permission. What is a weed to some may be a crop to others.
See website: www.mountainviewcounty.com/weeds
15. Please, do not use other people’s tools and materials without permission. Lost, stolen, or broken tools and materials will not be replaced by the garden guild.
16. The Garden Guild is not responsible for damages to the renters plot or harvest. The Garden Guild is not responsible for damages due to vandalism or stolen materials. The renter will not be compensated or be given replacement value for crop or equipment damages.Please report any problems to the Garden Committee. We will all need to work together to prevent and find solutions for acts of vandalism or theft.
OCCG WILL be responsible for damages to the common areas; all fixed materials, pathways, furniture, art or plant materials within the garden. If it is within the community gardens’ budget to repair any damages, the Garden Committee will be responsible for the replacement of items and organizing the labour to repair damages.
17. If a Garden Guild member voluntarily withdraws from the garden in mid-season due to unforeseen circumstances and wishes a return of the clean-up deposit;
Contact Information: Barb Hazenveld: 403-556-2005
The garden is being designed for long term use and permanency. The garden has a common area of fruit trees and bushes, perimeter shrubs, fencing, gates, trees, walkways and a rest/picnic area. We hope to make it accessible for long term use to anyone who enjoys gardening in our community. We hope that garden members who are in good standing and enjoy the community garden will have a plot year after year. We have picnics or potlucks after a work bee or clean up day. To improve the aesthetic look and beauty of the garden, everyone is encouraged to help with soft and hard landscape projects that will improve the garden over time. The garden is eco-friendly. This means that pesticide use will be prohibited for the health and safety of all.
General Benefits and Expectations:
The Olds Community Garden Guild will provide:
- access to water.
- opportunities to learn and share aboutgardening techniques.
- opportunities to work and socialize with others while building an aesthetically pleasinggarden environment.
- the satisfaction of growing your own food, flowers, or herbs.
- use of the garden shed and have access to garden tools.
- access to a share in the harvest of the fruits and vegetables planted in common areas within the garden fence.
Garden Guild Members are expected to :
- provide everything you need within your own plot: special tools, water containers, stakes, seeds, etc.
- control weeds within their garden plot.
- volunteer time for at least one work bee during the season for overall garden landscape and maintenance.
- follow pesticide free guidelines, outlined by the OCGG.
- cooperate with the guidelines and policies set out by OCCG
These guidelines have been chosen by collecting data on other successful community gardens as well as the data collected from the survey that was conducted in the Town of Olds. These guidelines will be added to or amended as needed to suit our members.
OCCG Committees:
A Garden Selection Committee will handle plot allocation. This committee will be made up of one board member and one Garden Guild Member. Plots will be rented out on a first come, first serve basis. The number of plots is limited to one per household unless there are extra plots available.
A Garden Committee will be formed to deal with general maintenance of the garden. This committee will deal with weeds or other problems that may arise. It will be formed from two board members and one Garden Guild Member.
OLDS COMMUNITY GARDEN GUILD P0LICIES
Fees and Allocation of Plots:
1. Fees are due by May 1st of each year. Clean-up deposit is payable at the same time as the rental plot.
There will be a rent fee for each plot per year (except for non-profit organizations) and an equal amount of money for each plot as a clean-up deposit. The cleanup deposit will be refunded at the end of the gardening season if the garden member has complied with the garden policies. People who pay for a plot (or community groups who commit to a garden plot) will automatically be Community Garden Guild Members. Board and committee members also pay for plots.
Small plots for the general public (approx. 12’x15’): $30.00
Clean-up deposit is $30.00
Small plots for seniors or people with special needs: $ 25.00
Clean-up deposit is $25.00
Community Groups: Free or by donation
Clean-up deposit is $30.00
Large plots (approx. 12’x 30’): $50.00
Clean-up deposit is $50.00
THE CLEAN-UP DEPOSIT WILL BE REFUNDED TO GARDEN MEMBERS AT THE END OF SEASON PROVIDED THE GARDEN PLOT IS MAINTAINED AND CLEANED UP IN THE FALL TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE GARDEN COMMITTEE. The refunded clean up deposit cheques must be cashed by Dec. 31 of each year. OCCG will consider their deposit a donation if the cheques are not picked up by Dec. 1 and they have been previously contacted by phone or email.
An effort will be made to accommodate a wide spectrum of the community and to use the following percentages as a general guideline:
· 20% of plots will be allocated to seniors (over 65) or individuals with special needs
· 20% of plots will be allocated to community groups
· 60% of plots will be allocated to the general public
Each household will be given 1 plot. If more than one is desired, their name will go on a waiting list. If there are extra plots available, they will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis by the Garden Selection Committee. If all plots are not claimed by June 1st, then OCCG members can plant into empty plots.
2. Each renter is responsible for keeping their plot weed free and watered. Mulches can be used as a weed control, and will also hold soil moisture. Grass is considered a weed in the garden.
Plots are properly maintained if weeds are pulled and grasses are dug up regularly. Plants that have reached the end of their productive life should be removed. Cleanliness of the plots is a key to our long term success as gardeners.
3. The OCGG Garden is Eco-Friendly and garden members must comply with specifications in the OCGG document extracted from the SOUL guidelines. (See SEPARATE Document). The garden will be chemical/pesticide free.
4. If a plot is abandoned or unreasonably weedy, the Garden Committee will first contact the garden member by phone. From the time notice is given, the garden member will have 2 weeks to clean up the problem. If the problem is not remedied, action will be taken to clean up the plot and their “cleanup deposit” will be retained. Those garden members who have lost their deposit will not be able to obtain another garden plot for one year.
5. Compostable materials should be placed in the bin/piles provided. All annual plant material must be removed. Please take all your garbage away. Trash or compost should not be thrown in the common areas or on other plots. To get the deposit back at the end of the year the rented plot must be clear of corner stakes, fencing, trellises, string and all inorganic materials before the end of Oct.
6. Garden Guild Members will be expected to donate 1- 2 work sessions a season for general planting, maintenance or clean-up of the garden. Many hands make light work and relieve an unfair amount of work on very few.
7. If you are on holidays, it is up to you to find someone to look after your plot.
8. Smoking and chewing tobacco is prohibited. Tobacco carries the mosaic virus, which is deadly to some plants (ie.tomatoes).
9. Parking is available in the college lots east of the garden ONLY when the students are gone for the summer. Otherwise, use the south end of the Aquatic Centre Parking lot.
10. PLEASE, NO PETS.
11. Families are welcome; children under 12 should be accompanied or supervised by an adult.
12. Permanent structures should not be placed on the plot. Temporary structures are allowed as long as they do not shade a neighbour’s plot and there is approval granted from their neighbours. We encourage people to install border stakes on the corners of their plot to prevent dragged hoses from entering other plot areas by mistake.
13. Plots, unless designated, are private property of that plot renter. Please respect everyone’s property, do not walk across other plots. If problems arise please bring your issue to the attention of the Garden Committee. AVOID DRAGGING HOSES ACROSS OTHER PLOTS.
14. Annuals and perennials can be planted in the plots except those listed on the restricted weed list (AB government website). Please do not weed other peoples’ plots without their permission. What is a weed to some may be a crop to others.
See website: www.mountainviewcounty.com/weeds
15. Please, do not use other people’s tools and materials without permission. Lost, stolen, or broken tools and materials will not be replaced by the garden guild.
16. The Garden Guild is not responsible for damages to the renters plot or harvest. The Garden Guild is not responsible for damages due to vandalism or stolen materials. The renter will not be compensated or be given replacement value for crop or equipment damages.Please report any problems to the Garden Committee. We will all need to work together to prevent and find solutions for acts of vandalism or theft.
OCCG WILL be responsible for damages to the common areas; all fixed materials, pathways, furniture, art or plant materials within the garden. If it is within the community gardens’ budget to repair any damages, the Garden Committee will be responsible for the replacement of items and organizing the labour to repair damages.
17. If a Garden Guild member voluntarily withdraws from the garden in mid-season due to unforeseen circumstances and wishes a return of the clean-up deposit;
- Inform someone on the Garden Committee.
- Clear and leave the plot in good condition for the next gardener to begin work.
- These conditions must be met within the term of the gardener’s contract.
- Membership fees will not be refunded for the remaining portion of the term.
- Refund of the Clean-up deposit will be up to the Garden Committee
Contact Information: Barb Hazenveld: 403-556-2005