Rules – General Garden Membership

•  Garden membership is open to any adult age 18 or over upon submission of a membership form
  and payment of annual dues.
•  Membership is renewable annually. Dues are payable by the first of April of each calendar year.
• Garden members are encouraged to join one or more committees and actively participate in the
  running of the Garden. This especially applies to plot holders and members on plot waiting
  lists.

Rules – Garden Visitors

Please refrain from the following:

• Soliciting.
• Smoking or Vaping.
• Feeding birds or squirrels.
• Littering.
• Blocking pathways.
• Walking in the flower beds or picking flowers.
• Roller skating, skateboarding, riding bicycles or scooters – either adults or children.
• Holding outside events without approval by the Garden’s Board or delegate.
• Behaving in an unruly fashion, including verbal, physical or sexual harassment.

Please note:

• The Garden is not responsible for anyone’s personal property.
• Pets must be curbed before entering the Garden. Pets may not be permitted to defecate or
  urinate anywhere in the Garden. Pets must be on a short leash, with their owner and kept
  on the pathways.
• The Garden reserves the right to take photos at any time within the Garden premises
  and can use these photos for promotional purposes.

Rules – Garden Security

• Vegetable and flower plot holders will be issued keys to the vegetable garden and tool shed.
• Members are responsible for the security of their vegetable garden keys. A fee will be charged
  for replacing lost keys.
• Members should close and latch the gate while working in the vegetable garden.
• Members must lock the tool shed when they are finished working in the Vegetable Garden.
• Members must lock both Vegetable Garden gates when leaving, after checking to make sure
  they are the last person working.
• Visitors to the Vegetable Garden must be accompanied by a Garden member with a Vegetable
  Garden key.

Rules – All Flower and Vegetable Plot Holders

• Vegetable and flower plots can be assigned to Garden members who are Manhattan residents.
• A plot that becomes available is assigned to the next member on the waiting list.
• When a member reaches the top of both the flower and vegetable plot wait lists, they must
  choose one or the other (they may not hold two plots), and they will no longer be on the
  alternate waiting list.
• Neither flower nor vegetable plots can be given away or inherited.
• The plot holder’s first year is probationary to demonstrate they can maintain the plot.
• Plant and tend to your plot only.
• Use only organic pesticides and fertilizers.
• Clean tools and return them to the shed after each use.
• Refrain from leaving Garden-owned tools in individual plots.
• Do not remove any Garden-owned tools from the garden.
• Keep pathways clear of all tools and other objects.
• Flower and vegetable plot holders should always carry their keys.
• Do not add weeds or diseased plants to the Garden’s composting system; place them in the
  brown city compost bins or the available clear plastic bags. This will keep them from reseeding
  through the compost.
• All plots must be planted, weeded, and maintained during the growing season.
• The Garden will adhere to any water conservation rules issued by the City.

Rules – Vegetable Garden

Purpose of the Vegetable Garden:

To give members the opportunity to grow vegetables for their personal or family use, with most of the space being dedicated to vegetable planting.

Vegetable Plot assignments:

• Beginning 2025, all new vegetable plot assignments will be for a five-year term.
• Plots originally assigned between 2004 and 2024 will be redistributed starting 2026 (consult
  Row Captains for details).
• Members assigned plots before 2004 (“Grandfathered class”) may keep their plots if they
  are properly maintained.
• Members of the Grandfathered class who also have an individual flower plot must choose in
  2030 to keep either their flower or vegetable plot – but not both.
• Plots that become available go to the next Member name on the waiting list.

Responsibilities of Vegetable Plot Holders:

• Maintain assigned plot for the entire growing season, which generally begins in April and
  continues through October. Substantial planting must be underway by the end of May.
• Clear the vegetable plot once crops have been harvested, so that spent plants, trellises etc.
  do not fall over into pathways or neighboring plots.
• Only low-profile support structures that do not cast significant shade on adjacent plots are
  allowed.
• Restrain any plants which could reach into the aisles or into neighboring plots. Be mindful of
  plot height and prune back, if necessary.
• Refrain from altering the composite material which forms the vegetable plot boundaries
  (i.e., do not penetrate any part of the composite material with screws, nails, staples, etc.).
• Do not perform any work or harvest plants in anyone else’s plot, unless given specific
  permission by the plot holder.
• Work with fellow plot holders and/or Row Captain on any impingement between plots.
• Respond in a timely manner to Row Captain’s concerns regarding their plot.
• The borders of the vegetable garden are not for individual gardening.
• Vegetable plot holders may harvest herbs from the herb garden, while leaving enough of
  each variety for others to share.
• Pets are not allowed in the vegetable garden.Role of Caretakers and Helpers:

If a plot holder is unable to maintain their plot for part of the growing season, they must tell their Row Captain.If a plot holder is unable to maintain their plot for part of the growing season, they must tell their Row Captain.

• The plot holder may make arrangements with other garden members, family
  members or friends for temporary help.
• Harvesting arrangements will be determined by the plot holder and the temporary
  helper.
• The plot holder must provide their Row Captain with the name and contact information of anyone coming into the Garden to work on their plot.
• A plot holder who is unable to maintain their plot for the entire growing season,
  must tell their Row Captain.
  • The Vegetable Committee will assign a ‘Caretaker’ for the growing season.
  • Caretakers are defined as Members on the vegetable plot waiting list who are assigned to serve as temporary caretakers for plot holders who will be away for the season, or cannot maintain their plots due to illness, etc. 
• Caretakers will serve for the growing season, then relinquish the plot to the original plot
  holder.
• Caretakers can only serve in that role for one year; this will not affect their right to be assigned
  as a regular plot holder for a five-year term.
• A Caretaker plants and harvests their own choice of crops but should not remove “permanent”
  plants in the plot unless agreed to by the regular plot holder.
•  Caretakers must clean out the plot at the end of the season.

Good Gardening Practices for Vegetable Plot Holders:

• Be mindful of invasive species, g., mint. Rhizomatous plants that can spread to neighboring plots or pathways are best planted in a container within the vegetable plot.
• Do not forget to harvest ripe produce. A plot holder who cannot make it to the Garden to harvest their vegetables should let their Row Captain know. Row Captains can then harvest those vegetables and leave them for others to share.

Responsibilities of Row Captains:

• Be mindful of invasive species, e.g., mint. Rhizomatous plants that can spread to neighboring plots or pathways are best planted in a container within the vegetable
  plot.
• Do not forget to harvest ripe produce. A plot holder who cannot make it to the Garden to
  harvest their vegetables should let their Row Captain know. Row Captains can then harvest
  those vegetables and leave them for others to share.

Rules – Flower Garden

Purpose of the Flower Garden:

To provide a peaceful, relaxing open space for the Community to enjoy, and to provide Garden members with the opportunity to care for flowers and plants.

The Flower Garden is comprised of:

• Individual flower plots which are assigned according to the waitlist.
  Community areas which are managed by a leader with a team. Any garden member can join a community area team.

Responsibilities of Individual Flower Plot Holders and Community Area Teams:

• Grow plants and flowers for the enjoyment of the general public.
• Refrain from harvesting cut flowers from plots.
• Clear spent tulip bulbs by late May.
• Plant the majority of summer plants by the end of June.
• Keep plots free of weeds, and water as needed.
• Keep the path area around plots neat and clear of debris and overgrowth.
• Keep plots clear of invasive species, which may spread to other areas.
• Maintain appropriate plant height, particularly around the amphitheater, to preserve
  sightlines for performances.
• Refrain from planting any large trees or shrubs.
• Refrain from displaying signage or decorations that may be sensitive for religious or
  cultural reasons.