ECGI Rules, Regulations, and Responsibilities - Dwyer Garden (Revised May 13, 2024)
ECGI Rules, Regulations, and Responsibilities will help ensure that everyone using the garden will have a productive and enjoyable experience. All gardeners promise to follow the Rules, Regulations, and Responsibilities outlined in this document. Failure to comply with these Rules, Regulations, and Responsibilities may result in the loss of gardening privileges, including the loss of the assigned raised bed and registration fees. Applications will be available online at the Beautiful Edison Community Garden webpage at https://EdisonCommunityGardens.org.
Raised beds are expected to be assigned in early April conditions permitting. Each household will be assigned only one raised bed.
General Responsibilities
Gardeners shall be at least 18 years old and a resident of Edison Township.
Gardeners must follow all pertinent local, state, and federal laws. Gardeners must follow the current CDC Covid guidelines.
The garden area is open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset during the growing season. Garden access is controlled by a combination number lock and gardeners may not share the key with anyone else.
Gates must be kept closed and locked at all times. Gardeners must verify that all garden gates are closed and securely in place when leaving the garden.
Children should be supervised by an adult at all times.
Pets are not allowed in the garden.
Vehicles are not permitted on the walking paths
All gardeners must participate in the Spring Garden Preparation Day and Fall Clean Up Day.
All gardeners must attend spring and fall meetings. At the spring meeting, gardeners will be allotted their raised bed and sign up for Volunteer Work Groups.
Each gardener must serve on a minimum of one work group to support the community and ongoing maintenance of the Edison Community Garden- TBD
Gardeners must volunteer a total of 12 hours over the course of the growing season. Edison Community Garden Initiative Committee (ECGI) will announce volunteer needs.
No alcohol drinking or smoking is allowed in the Edison Community Garden.
Gardening Responsibilities
Gardeners are expected to practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Organic gardening in their own raised beds. Applicants will receive information describing IPM and Organic Gardening practices. Gardeners must consult and receive approval from an ECGI member before adding, supplementing, and applying material of any type. Only biodegradable mulching material can be used.
Gardeners promise to keep their raised beds, surrounding areas, and common areas/ resources (compost bin, toolshed, spigots, watering hoses) in good condition clear of weeds, trash, and tools.
Gardeners should make their own arrangements for the care of their allotted raised bed during temporary absence, e.g., vacation. An ECGI member will need to be alerted to the arrangement.
If a leased raised bed does not show clear evidence of active gardening and an ECGI member has not been contacted, the raised bed may be reassigned and registration fees will be forfeited. Abandoned raised beds beyond 1 month will be reassigned and treated as appropriate.
If a member for some reason is unable to continue gardening, they must notify ECGI via email info@edisoncommunitygardens.org within two weeks for handover.
You may not hand over your bed to another individual.
By Fall Cleaning Day, each gardener must clear all corner stakes, fencing, trellises, string and all inorganic material. Any vines or large plants shall be chopped and added to the compost area so a cover crop can be planted.
There shall be no planting of GMO, invasive, illegal, vigorously growing, spreading or poisonous plants.
Temporary fixtures may be installed in raised beds. Fixtures shall be installed in a manner that will not trap birds or insects. Fixtures shall be black, earth tone or natural color to blend in naturally. Supports used by gardeners for fencing of vegetation will be traditional cages, stakes, strings and ties. Installed supports and fixtures may not exceed 60 inches in height. Stakes must be green painted metal or made of wood or wood type products in a natural or earth tone color.
Gardeners must keep their plants growing within the garden bed. No vines, or excessive branches, should be growing in the walkway
Gardeners should harvest only from their raised bed..ECGI reserves the right to harvest from beds where vegetables are not being picked and donate to our local food pantry.
A limited set of tools will be available for shared use by all gardeners.
Community garden tools should be cleaned and returned to storage after use. Gardeners can bring in their own tools and gardening supplies for personal use.
Water leaks, spills, and open water sources should be addressed immediately.
Gardeners will be respectful of everyone’s personal space.