Setting Rules for a Community Garden

The rules that you establish before you start a community garden can be the difference between a community garden the thrives and a community garden that is unorganized chaos. No matter where you live or what type of community garden you start, there will be rules that are necessary to make the entire process flow smoothly and for the garden to grow effectively. These must have rules for a community garden are necessary no matter what type of plants you grow or where you choose to grow them.

Rules for a Community Garden #1: Dues and Dates

Establish a set of guidelines that pertain to the amount that members will be required to pay for dues related to the community garden and also a date at which time those dues must be paid. If there are not monetary dues then maybe there will be volunteer time related to the upkeep of the garden as a means of helping out as part of membership. Whatever the dues will be, make sure that you establish the guidelines pertaining to these dues in advance and inform members about them so that everybody knows what their part in the community garden is.

Rules for a Community Garden #2: Garden Upkeep

Set rules that pertain to the way each community gardener will maintain his or her area of the garden. This could include a time frame in which weeds must be removed, and also the role that gardeners will play in the upkeep of the remaining areas of the garden. Will one person maintain the entire walking areas one week and rotate to someone else the next? How and when the garden will be kept up should be clearly addressed in the community garden application so that members can attest to their abilities and commitment to the garden for the season.

Rules for a Community Garden #3: Allowance of Children or Pets

It is not recommended that any community garden allow pets as they tend to be harmful to the garden area and difficult to control. The allowance of children should be specified on the enrollment application for the community garden. Are children allowed in the garden? Will they be allowed unattended? Are children allowed to be the sole maintainers of a plot of the garden or will there be a child's community garden zone? These are all things that must be considered in the planning phase of the community garden and then the rules should be set forward.

Rules for a Community Garden #4: Fertilizer Use

There should be no fertilizer use throughout the garden as this could effect the plants of other gardeners. It is best suited for a community garden to set forth rules forbidding fertilizers. Rather than use fertilizers, the rules should govern that community gardeners should maintain a clean plot that is free from weeds. It is recommended that chemicals be avoided and forbidden entirely in the community garden.

Rules for a Community Garden #5: Crop Use and Cleanup

Finally, there should be rules set forth that pertain to the use of the crop. It is best to make sure that community gardeners only use their own crops unless they are given permission to use other crops within the garden. There should also be rules set forth governing the fall cleanup of the garden after the harvest. Setting forth such rules will assure that your community garden runs smoothly and that all members of the garden are informed as to their part!