Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
WATER
Cover your watering setup. Encourage people to keep water areas tidy and to conserve water by shutting off
hoses, if applicable. Talk about water etiquette—don't take down someone's prize tomato as you're pulling
the hose to your plot. If you have an irrigation system, discuss this.
OTHER FEATURES
Include anything else gardeners need to know. If you have a compost program, explain how that works. If
you have chickens in your garden, explain the rules for interacting with them or gathering eggs. If you have
berries or fruit trees that are a shared asset, discuss what gardeners are allowed to harvest. Your garden will
be unique—this is the time to make sure all elements of the collective dream are nurtured and appreciated by
the community.
DOGS
Determine if you will allow dogs in the garden. Many gardens do not for sanitary reasons. This makes dog
owners very sad, because they think their dog is special and would never pee on anyone's vegetables. A good
compromise is to find a spot in the common area, away from where food is growing, that dogs can be tied up
or hang out with their owners.
HOW TO REPORT ISSUES
Remind members that they have signed a hold harmless waiver, and that it is everyone's responsibility to
keep the gardens safe. Let gardeners know how to report issues or concerns. If you are in a neighborhood
with crime issues, you may want to talk to your local police before orientation about providing additional
safety instructions. Law enforcement agencies are almost always willing to help, and starting a relationship
with the local authorities can go a long way toward a positive community experience.
KEEPING IN TOUCH
Remind gardeners how to communicate in general. Encourage gardeners to send questions through e-mail, to
post on your social media venues, or to call someone. If the garden is part of an organization that has a phys-
ical office (like a community center or a senior facility), let gardeners know when they are welcome to come
by and to whom they should talk.
SAY THE MAGIC WORDS: THANK YOU
Remember, your gardeners may also be your main volunteer base. They don't have to be there. They are
choosing to be part of the community and need to feel welcome and appreciated. Encourage them to chime in
with any additional rules or guidelines they think might be useful over the course of the season. And, as the
garden community matures, be open to revisit and adjust the rules accordingly.
REINFORCE ORIENTATION WITH SIGNAGE
You can turn your orientation document into a sign. Post it in a very visible place—or several visible
places—to remind gardeners and reinforce the rules of engagement.
When young people under eighteen years of age want to volunteer or garden without their families,
waivers need to be signed by a parent or guardian. If you are working with a school group or another
youth-oriented program for a volunteer day, ask the person in charge if they have an existing waiver in
place and if it will cover volunteers on the community garden property. Request a copy of the paper-
