COMMUNITY GARDEN
MEMBER AGREEMENT & GARDEN RULES
COMMUNITY GARDEN RULES
This section sets out the rules that govern the Community Garden. These rules are intended to help all Members grow fresh, healthy food and flowers in a thriving garden, to help create a sense of community among members, and to help the garden to be a good neighbour to the surrounding community,
The Garden Committee has complete authority to interpret and amend these rules at its discretion without advance notice. The Garden Committee will provide all Members with a copy of the current rules and post a summary of these rules at the garden.
Payment of membership fees to the Community Garden constitutes acceptance of this Member Agreement and Garden Rules.
1. ACCESS TO THE GARDEN
Season:
The annual garden membership runs from November 1st to October 31st.
Members commence active gardening no later than June 15th.
Members may only garden in the Community Garden between dawn and dusk.
Garden Shed and Security:
Where applicable, the Garden Committee will give each Member the combination or code to open the lock for the tool shed. On leaving the Community Garden, Members are responsible for locking the shed.
2. GARDEN PLOTS
Allocation Process:
Plots are allocated on a first come first served basis and are allocated by address (which must be located in Chelsea, Quebec) for the period of November 1 through October 31.
Email and social media will be used to communicate availability of plots before and during the allocation process. Advance notice will be given to residents Hendrick Farm*. Plots may be requested at any time by emailing jardincommunautaire.hf@gmail.com.
Plots are allocated according to the following schedule until there are no plots or requests remaining:
If you were a member of the community garden at the end of October, you will receive an email to renew your membership and these renewals will be processed up to January 31. A member will only be allowed to renew one plot at this time. Members who do not renew their plot by January 31 run the risk of losing the plot gardened during the previous season as plot allocation will be driven by demand.
New requests for membership will be considered starting February 1.
Requests for additional plots by members will be considered starting in March. Allocation of additional plots are done on a yearly basis and depend on plots being available. A member who is allocated an additional plot recognizes that renewal is not guaranteed from one year to the next and any amendments to that plot are done at the member’s own expense and risk.
New plots and additional plots will be allocated after payment is received and no later than May 1. The order of allocation will be based on payment date.
Once all plots have been allocated, subsequent requests will be added to a waiting list and will be considered as plots become available.
*Communications will be sent to Hendrick Farm residents via the Hendrick Foundation Newsletter, HomeOwner Associations’ (HOA) Newsletters, and the Hendrick Farm Residents’ Facebook page before being sent to the greater Chelsea community.
Garden plots are approximately 11 feet x 11 feet. Members may not alter the dimensions of their plot(s).
Members will not construct raised beds out of wood, stone or other materials.
Members may use only the plot(s) assigned to them. Members will maintain their plants within their plots and will trim any plants that extend into neighbouring plots or into common areas.
Members may plant vegetables, fruits, and/or flowers.
Plants or plant-supporting structures that impede adjacent Members’ access to sunlight by the nature of their height, material or density are not permitted.
Members are responsible for the planning and management of their own plots, including providing their own seeds, plants, organic fertiliser, and any tools not provided by the Garden Committee or Members collectively.
Members will garden organically. Use of compost and organic mulch is acceptable.
Plot Maintenance and Trash:
Members will maintain their plots and adjacent paths in a clean and neat fashion, removing any weeds, overgrowth, or other waste.
Members are responsible for hauling away and disposing of their own trash, such as weeds, boxes, trays, bags, packets, and similar items.
Members will promptly harvest ripe produce.
Yearly Clean-up:
Members will perform a yearly clean-up of their plots by the end of the season (i.e., October 31).
Compost:
Members will place any organic waste generated in the garden such as weeds, dead plants, or rotten produce in the compost pile designated by the Garden Committee. Organic waste should be cut to manageable lengths before putting it into the compost pile and members will follow other compost rules as designated by the Garden Committee.
Absence:
Members will not abandon their plots. Abandonment means failing to maintain a garden plot. A Member who expects to be away from the garden for more than 3 weeks must inform the Garden Committee. The Member and the Garden Committee will then determine an alternative, such as a temporary substitute, acceptable to both. Members who are away for more than 2 months will forfeit their plots.
3. COMMON AREAS AND TOOLS
Common Areas:
Members will keep any common areas, such as pathways and storage sheds clean and neat. Members will promptly report any concerns about the safety of the Community Garden to the Garden Committee. If there is vandalism, storm damage, or other damage to the garden, all Members are expected to help in cleaning up and restoring the Community Garden to its prior condition.
Pets are not permitted in the community garden.
Tools:
The Garden Committee and Members collectively may provide a set of tools to be stored in the garden shed for use by all Members. Members will return these tools clean to the garden shed as soon as they are finished using them. If any of these tools appear dangerous or in disrepair, Members will inform the Garden Committee immediately.
Members bringing their own tools into the garden are responsible for any damage caused by these tools and so should use them with care. The Garden Committee is not responsible for the loss of these tools.
Hoses are available and Members are responsible for watering their own plot(s). Members will ensure hoses are returned and the water supply is shut off.
4. RESPONSIBILITIES
Garden Work Events:
All Members must participate in a minimum of 4 Garden Work events per year where members clean and maintain the Community Garden. All members must participate in the end of season clean up. The Garden Committee will organise these sessions on a monthly basis.
Members are encouraged to attend an orientation session to become familiar with how the garden functions and their responsibilities as a Member of the Community Garden
Members are encouraged to provide suggestions about garden operations to the Garden Committee.
Members should contact the Garden Committee with any questions relating to day-to-day operational matters.
5. COMMUNICATION
The Garden Committee will use email as its primary means of correspondence to members and occasionally post messages to the Jardin Communautaire Hendrick Farm Facebook page
To facilitate communication among members, the Garden Committee will post a list of members’ names and plot assignments at the garden
Members must tell the Garden Committee of any change to their contact e-mail addresses or phone numbers. The Garden Committee and Members will not use any personally identifiable information, including Member’s name, email address, telephone number, or street address, for purposes other than the operation of the Community Garden.
6. CONDUCT AND PROBLEM RESOLUTION
Members must comply with the Member Agreement and Garden Rules
Members are expected to be courteous, honest, and collaborative in dealing with the Garden Committee and fellow Members.
Members may bring guests into the garden, provided that the guests comply with the rules. Members will be responsible for the conduct of their children and their guests.
Members must garden their own plots. Use of another Member’s tools or supplies, or harvesting another Member’s produce will only be allowed with permission of the other Member.
Members will grow plants considered legal or non-invasive under provincial or federal law.
Members may install a small personal sign to identify the Member's plot(s) and must refrain from putting up other signs.
Members will inform the Garden Committee of any disputes that may arise in the garden or with fellow Members.
7. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE MEMBER AGREEMENT AND GARDEN RULES
If a Member violates any of the garden rules, the Garden Committee will inform the Member of the violation by sending an email. If the violation is not corrected as determined by the Garden Committee, it may, at its discretion, terminate the Member’s membership in the Community Garden.
Members will not be entitled to any refunds, other damages, or any other forms of compensation from the Garden Committee as a consequence of termination of membership in the Community Garden.