Gardening Guidelines and Expectations 2021 River Valley Area Community Gardens, Incorporated
Welcome to the 2021 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 or a suggestion. Garden Plots: Each plot must be used for the cultivation of vegetables, flowers, fruit, or herbs. Gardeners may not sell produce. Excess produce may be shared with area food pantries, friends, school kitchens, nursing homes, etc.
Registration: All plots are rented for a gardening year. Priority in plot assignment is given to returning gardeners. 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 Transfers: If a gardener gives up the plot before the end of the season, the plot may be transferred to another individual ONLY if the Garden Superintendent or Treasurer is contacted
Weeds: Gardeners must manage weeds so that they do not flower and go to reseed. Weeds should be placed into the designated weed pile for composting. Any questions on weed management should be directed to Duane Miller. A list of noxious weeds designated by the Village of Spring Green is posted in the Gardener’s shed. Many of these occur in our garden area.
Expectations of Gardeners: Throughout the course of the growing season Gardeners are expected to
Be conservative in using the irrigation system. Drip irrigation may be installed
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. Take into consideration the growth or spread of plants being planted so that they stay within the boundaries.
Enter the plot of another gardener only when invited or permission is given.
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..
Check the labels on garden chemicals for the following institutional approval of organic authenticity: . Organic Materials Review Institute / Midwest Organic Services Association / US Depart of Ag Agriculture Marketing Service National Organic Program
Irrigation system. Irrigation ports are available in each garden section. Gardeners may provide their own hoses or use the hoses provided by the Garden. Drip irrigation installation is permitted. Doug Rouse is available for consultation on installing a drip irrigation system.
Compost. Compost pile and a tumbler are available for garden waste. Don Koller is compost manager. Gardeners may use the compost when Don determines it is ready. Composted manure is added to garden plots before tilling. Gardeners may add their own compost also.
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 such as grass clippings or marsh hay or straw. All non-organic 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 unlikely to fall onto neighbors’ plantings.
Prohibited Activities: The Garden is located on public parkland owned by the Village of Spring Green. Village ordinances prohibit target shooting, open fires, and alcoholic consumption are on-site. Gardeners are encouraged to smoke in the picnic area for fire safety purposes.
Pathways and Plot Boundaries: Paths are to be kept clear of tools, hoses and weed piles. Gardeners may not extend plots past the boundary markers. Plants growing into pathways may be mowed. The boundaries of individual plots are marked with wooden posts which should not be removed. Rocks, sticks, weeds, garden equipment, and other obstacles should not be left in the lawn pathways
Pets: For the sake of public health and safety, dogs and other pets are not allowed on-site. We apologize for the inconvenience. Temporary absence(s) due to illness, vacation, etc. Gardeners who are unable to care for their plot/s due to illness, vacation, 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 and biennial fruit and vegetable crops. The planting of more permanent crops needs to be discussed with the Superintendent.
Tools: Gardeners may borrow tools from the Gardeners shed, so long as they return them. Tools may not be taken from the Garden site. Equipment: A tiller, mulching mower, wheelbarrow, and wagon are provided for Gardener use. Please return equipment to the storage area. Equipment should leave the garden site. If the gas can is emptied or equipment isn’t working, please notify Duane Miller and leave a dated message on the equipment.
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. Other gardeners are experienced gardeners and have a wealth of information.
Picnic area: The Village of Spring Green provides two picnic tables in the picnic area for public and Gardener use. Enjoy them for a brief respite after gardening, or to enjoy a meal!
Waste receptacle: Any garbage or recyclable waste should be placed into the appropriate receptacles. Please do not litter. Plastic seedling packs or pots and starter trays are recyclable and are given to the RVHS Ag Department. Please place them in the designated tote in the Gardeners shed.
Orchard: Gardeners may pick strawberries, raspberries, and other fruit in season.
Work Days: Work days are planned to provide time to prepare and maintain the Garden site. Gardeners are invited and encouraged to participate.