Gardening Guidelines and Expectations 2022
River Valley Area Community Gardens, Incorporated
Welcome to the 2022 Gardening Season!
The Board of Directors of River Valley Area Community Gardens (RVACG), wants you to have a great experience gardening. Please notify a Board member if you have a question.
Expectations of Gardeners: Throughout the course of the growing season Gardeners are expected to
Registration: New and returning gardeners must meet with the Registrar to review the Gardening Guidelines before planting. All plots are rented for a gardening year. Late registrations will be accepted for an extended period of time into the summer.
Refunds: Gardeners who choose to forfeit their plot after registering must contact the Treasurer.
Plot Forfeitures and Transfers: If a gardener gives up the plot before the end of the season, the Gardener must contact Doug Rouse or R.E. Schneider.
Weeds: Spring Green Village ordinance 300.6 states that all weeds and grasses are to be kept under 6 inches. Weeds should be placed into the designated weed pile for composting or each Gardener may keep a compost pile in their plot. Any questions on weed management should be directed to Doug Rouse. A list of noxious weeds designated by the Village of Spring Green is posted in the Gardener’s shed.
Equipment: A tiller, mulching push mower, wheelbarrow, and wagons are provided for Gardener use. Please return equipment to the storage area. Equipment should not leave the garden site.
If the gas can is emptied or equipment isn’t working, please notify Doug Rouse and leave a dated message on the equipment.
Tools: Gardeners may borrow tools from the Gardeners shed, as long as they return them – Tools may not be taken from the Garden site.
Organic Gardening Standards: The Garden practices organic gardening techniques. Acceptable fertilizers include compost, composted manure, green manure, leaf mold, and worm castings.
If using any chemical fertilizers, pesticides or other soil amendments, they must be approved by the National Organic Program (NOP), which is administered by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). A registry of NOP-approved and prohibited substances may be found by visiting: www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/programs-offices/national-organic-program..
The graphics labels for the following organizations approving garden chemicals may be found at the bottom of the page:
Organic Materials Review Institute, US Depart of Ag Agriculture Marketing Service National Organic Program, and Midwest Organic Services Association.
Irrigation system. Irrigation ports are available in each garden section. Gardeners may provide their own hose or use the hoses provided by the Garden. Drip irrigation installation is permitted. Doug Rouse is available for consultation on installing drip irrigation systems.
Compost. Compost bins and a tumbler are available for garden waste. Composted manure is provided. Gardeners may add their own compost..
Mulch. Biodegradable mulch such as compost, leaves, straw, and hay are acceptable and encouraged. Gardeners may use from the bales of marsh hay provided by the Garden. With the exception of glossy ad sheets, newspapers may be laid in garden rows as a weed inhibitor and topped with mulch. Non glossy cardboard is also acceptable. All nonorganic mulch such as plastic sheets must be removed by Closing Day. Carpet, stone and wood mulch are not allowed in plots.
Tall Plants: Tall plants such as sweet corn or pole beans or trellises should be placed where they will not shade neighboring plots. Tall support structures must be sturdy and reinforced so they do not fall into a neighbors’ plot.
Prohibited Activities: The Garden is located on land owned by the Village of Spring Green. Village ordinances prohibit target shooting, and open fires. The Gardens prohibits alcoholic consumption on-site when operating equipment. Gardeners are encouraged to smoke in the picnic area for fire safety purposes.
Pathways and Plot Boundaries: Lawn pathways are to be kept clear of tools, hoses, garden equipment, weed piles and other obstacles. Gardeners may not extend plots past the boundary markers. Plants growing into pathways may be mowed. The boundaries of individual plots are marked with posts which should not be removed. When planting, allow a foot on all boundaries for walking, plant overgrowth, and mowing.
Temporary absence(s) due to vacation, illness, etc. Gardeners who are unable to care for their plot/s due to vacation, illness, or some other event shall be responsible for finding someone to care for their plot until their return or contact the Superintendent to discuss arrangements for caring it.
Permitted plants: Gardeners may cultivate annual fruit and vegetable crops. The planting of more permanent crops needs to be discussed with the Superintendent.
Gardeners storage shed: A locked storage shed is available for Gardeners storage of their personal garden tools and supplies as well as community tools for gardener use. The combination will be given to each primary gardener. Gardeners may provide their own storage totes
Car parking: Parking is available along both Westmor Street and Locust Drive. Gardeners may drive only on the north side of the site and on the driveway in the southern area of the site. Contact the Registrar on parking questions.
Gardening resources and advice:. Board members are also a resource specifically Doug Rouse, UW professor of plant pathology and Rose Ellen Schneider, Master Gardener. Also other gardeners have a lot of experience and knowledge. Gardening is a series of experiments that may yield mistakes and successes
Park area: The Village of Spring Green provides two picnic tables in the park area for public and Gardener use. Enjoy them for a brief respite after gardening, or to enjoy a meal!
Waste receptacles: Please do not litter. Any garbage or recyclable waste should be placed into the appropriate receptacles.
Plastic seedling packs: Plastic seedling packs or pots and starter trays are recyclable and given to the RVHS Ag Department. Please place them in the designated tote in the Gardeners shed.
Orchard: Gardeners may partake of community fruits and vegetables in season i.e.strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, apples asparagus and sweet corn
Work Days: Work days are days planned to provide time to prepare the Garden site for the season or the winter and to do tasks to maintain it. Gardeners are encouraged to participate. Work days also include fundraisers. Tasks are also available for people to do on their own time. Task have a range of difficulty.
The Board of Directors of River Valley Area Community Gardens (RVACG), wants you to have a great experience gardening. Please notify a Board member if you have a question.
Expectations of Gardeners: Throughout the course of the growing season Gardeners are expected to
- Be respectful of your fellow community gardeners. Each Gardener has a different viewpoint to gardening. Discuss issues respectfully and bring any disputes or concerns to the Board of Directors where appropriate.
- Plant inside the boundaries of the plot. Allow 1 foot on each side to take into consideration the growth or spread of plants being planted so that they stay within the plot boundaries and the sides are easy to mow.
- Enter the plot of another gardener only when invited or permission is given.
- Manage weeds so that they do not flower and go to seed.
- Keep the pathways free of hoses, weeds, equipment, etc so that they may be easily mowed and not pose a hindrance to walking.
- Participate as able in community garden work days activities to help maintain the Garden site and/or fund raising events
- Check email on a regular basis as this is the method of communication for the Gardens
- Dogs brought on site are to be kept on a leash and out of the garden plots. All waste is to be picked up.
Registration: New and returning gardeners must meet with the Registrar to review the Gardening Guidelines before planting. All plots are rented for a gardening year. Late registrations will be accepted for an extended period of time into the summer.
Refunds: Gardeners who choose to forfeit their plot after registering must contact the Treasurer.
Plot Forfeitures and Transfers: If a gardener gives up the plot before the end of the season, the Gardener must contact Doug Rouse or R.E. Schneider.
Weeds: Spring Green Village ordinance 300.6 states that all weeds and grasses are to be kept under 6 inches. Weeds should be placed into the designated weed pile for composting or each Gardener may keep a compost pile in their plot. Any questions on weed management should be directed to Doug Rouse. A list of noxious weeds designated by the Village of Spring Green is posted in the Gardener’s shed.
Equipment: A tiller, mulching push mower, wheelbarrow, and wagons are provided for Gardener use. Please return equipment to the storage area. Equipment should not leave the garden site.
If the gas can is emptied or equipment isn’t working, please notify Doug Rouse and leave a dated message on the equipment.
Tools: Gardeners may borrow tools from the Gardeners shed, as long as they return them – Tools may not be taken from the Garden site.
Organic Gardening Standards: The Garden practices organic gardening techniques. Acceptable fertilizers include compost, composted manure, green manure, leaf mold, and worm castings.
If using any chemical fertilizers, pesticides or other soil amendments, they must be approved by the National Organic Program (NOP), which is administered by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). A registry of NOP-approved and prohibited substances may be found by visiting: www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/programs-offices/national-organic-program..
The graphics labels for the following organizations approving garden chemicals may be found at the bottom of the page:
Organic Materials Review Institute, US Depart of Ag Agriculture Marketing Service National Organic Program, and Midwest Organic Services Association.
Irrigation system. Irrigation ports are available in each garden section. Gardeners may provide their own hose or use the hoses provided by the Garden. Drip irrigation installation is permitted. Doug Rouse is available for consultation on installing drip irrigation systems.
Compost. Compost bins and a tumbler are available for garden waste. Composted manure is provided. Gardeners may add their own compost..
Mulch. Biodegradable mulch such as compost, leaves, straw, and hay are acceptable and encouraged. Gardeners may use from the bales of marsh hay provided by the Garden. With the exception of glossy ad sheets, newspapers may be laid in garden rows as a weed inhibitor and topped with mulch. Non glossy cardboard is also acceptable. All nonorganic mulch such as plastic sheets must be removed by Closing Day. Carpet, stone and wood mulch are not allowed in plots.
Tall Plants: Tall plants such as sweet corn or pole beans or trellises should be placed where they will not shade neighboring plots. Tall support structures must be sturdy and reinforced so they do not fall into a neighbors’ plot.
Prohibited Activities: The Garden is located on land owned by the Village of Spring Green. Village ordinances prohibit target shooting, and open fires. The Gardens prohibits alcoholic consumption on-site when operating equipment. Gardeners are encouraged to smoke in the picnic area for fire safety purposes.
Pathways and Plot Boundaries: Lawn pathways are to be kept clear of tools, hoses, garden equipment, weed piles and other obstacles. Gardeners may not extend plots past the boundary markers. Plants growing into pathways may be mowed. The boundaries of individual plots are marked with posts which should not be removed. When planting, allow a foot on all boundaries for walking, plant overgrowth, and mowing.
Temporary absence(s) due to vacation, illness, etc. Gardeners who are unable to care for their plot/s due to vacation, illness, or some other event shall be responsible for finding someone to care for their plot until their return or contact the Superintendent to discuss arrangements for caring it.
Permitted plants: Gardeners may cultivate annual fruit and vegetable crops. The planting of more permanent crops needs to be discussed with the Superintendent.
Gardeners storage shed: A locked storage shed is available for Gardeners storage of their personal garden tools and supplies as well as community tools for gardener use. The combination will be given to each primary gardener. Gardeners may provide their own storage totes
Car parking: Parking is available along both Westmor Street and Locust Drive. Gardeners may drive only on the north side of the site and on the driveway in the southern area of the site. Contact the Registrar on parking questions.
Gardening resources and advice:. Board members are also a resource specifically Doug Rouse, UW professor of plant pathology and Rose Ellen Schneider, Master Gardener. Also other gardeners have a lot of experience and knowledge. Gardening is a series of experiments that may yield mistakes and successes
Park area: The Village of Spring Green provides two picnic tables in the park area for public and Gardener use. Enjoy them for a brief respite after gardening, or to enjoy a meal!
Waste receptacles: Please do not litter. Any garbage or recyclable waste should be placed into the appropriate receptacles.
Plastic seedling packs: Plastic seedling packs or pots and starter trays are recyclable and given to the RVHS Ag Department. Please place them in the designated tote in the Gardeners shed.
Orchard: Gardeners may partake of community fruits and vegetables in season i.e.strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, apples asparagus and sweet corn
Work Days: Work days are days planned to provide time to prepare the Garden site for the season or the winter and to do tasks to maintain it. Gardeners are encouraged to participate. Work days also include fundraisers. Tasks are also available for people to do on their own time. Task have a range of difficulty.
Organic Gardening Symbols
The following graphics may be found on the labels of approved garden chemicals
Organic Materials Review Institute Midwest Organic Services Association
US Depart of Ag Agriculture Marketing Service National Organic Program
Organic Materials Review Institute Midwest Organic Services Association
US Depart of Ag Agriculture Marketing Service National Organic Program
