City of Davis

Community Gardens -
Policies & Information for 2012

The City of Davis Community Services Department operates the Community Gardens located at 1825 Fifth Street. There are currently 116 rentable plots, as well as a Garden Center, Herb Plot, Perennial Plot and Donation Garden. Full plots are 18' x 20' and there are a few half plots. The annual (January to December) rental fee allows the City to provide land, water and limited facility maintenance and administrative staff support to gardeners. These Community Garden policies support a positive gardening experience in productively used garden plots, which become an asset to the community. By following the policies and guidelines, you show that you want to garden successfully in a community garden plot.

Annual Fees

• Full plot - $70
• Half plot - $35
• Non-resident within Davis Joint Unified School District - $7 additional fee
• Non-resident outside Davis Joint Unified School District - $13 additional fee

Cleaning Deposit

A one time $35 ($17.50 for half plots) cleaning/damage deposit is required for each new plot rental. The deposit is refundable when the plot is vacated, pending approval from the Garden Coordinator. (Please see "Leaving").

Rentals

Garden rentals are for one calendar year (January – December) with registration taking place in January. Renewal applications are mailed to current gardeners in good standing in December for the following year. If the signed rental form and payment are not received by the due date, the plot will be made available to those on the waitlist. There is a limit of 1 plot per household, which must be gardened by the registered renter; no subletting permitted.

Waitlist

A waitlist is maintained by the Garden Coordinator. As plots become available, the first person on the list will be contacted and will have 15 days to respond. If no response is received by this deadline, the next person on the list will be contacted and the first person’s name removed from the top of the list.

Garden Coordinator

The Community Gardens is supported by a part-time paid Garden Coordinator whose duties include garden inspection, policy enforcement, maintenance of physical facilities, organization of work parties, maintenance of approved renter’s list and waitlist and other 'hands on' activities.

Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee meets quarterly, or as needed, to provide feedback to the Garden Coordinator, to discuss policies, problems and plans for the gardens. Those interested in attending a meeting or volunteering on the Advisory Committee should contact the Garden Coordinator. Meeting dates will be posted on the kiosk in the garden center and sent via email.

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Davis Community Garden Policies

Gardening in the Community Gardens is not exactly like gardening in your own backyard. How you care for your plot impacts many neighbors. The City of Davis Community Gardens program encourages all gardeners to use organic gardening methods to enhance food safety, ground water quality, and a healthy ecosystem. The Garden Coordinator will provide information on organic gardening methods upon request.

Garden policies are set by the City of Davis, with input and suggestions from both the Garden Coordinator and Advisory Committee. Failure to comply with policies and guidelines may result in loss of plot without refund and prohibition on future rentals.

Use and Care of Your Plot

Gardens must be actively used for growing crops and must be cared for throughout the year, including during the winter. Plots that are not used or cared for will be reassigned. Plots may not be used to grow crops for sale. Gardening is generally permitted from dawn to dusk, seven days a week.

Regular care includes:

• Watering
• Harvesting when necessary
• Prompt removal of weeds and spent crop plants

Paths and Boundaries

You may not extend your garden beyond its official defined boundary as marked by four corner posts. These posts should not be disturbed or used as fence posts or plant supports. Please report missing or damaged corner posts to the Garden Coordinator.

• Paths must be kept clear, level, and free of all obstructions. This includes weeds and garden plants – plan for growth when planting near the edges of your garden. Any plant extending into the path may be removed or trimmed by the Garden Coordinator.
• Paths are the joint responsibility of the gardeners on both sides of the path. Gardeners with plots on the north, west, and south borders of the Community Gardens are responsible for maintaining a clear, walkable path at least 3 feet wide on these borders.
• Do not use boards, plywood or carpet for 'mulch' in the paths – they present a tripping danger. The City has been advised that individual gardeners can be held legally liable for any injuries on a path adjacent to their plot caused by poor path maintenance.

Weeds

All plots and adjacent paths must be maintained weed-free throughout the year. Please note that herbicides are not allowed (see "chemicals" section).

Tall Plants, Pest Plants

Please be considerate of your neighbors!

• Locate tall plantings (sunflowers or bean trellises) where they don’t shade adjacent gardens.
• Trees and large perennials (shrubs, cacti, etc) are not allowed.
• Be very careful with plants that are invasive and hard to eradicate. Ex: mints, morning glories. (see http://invasivespeciesinfo.gov) Don’t let them get away, or they may be considered weeds.

Pests and Diseases

Gardeners are encouraged to keep insects and other pests under control so they do not spread into other plots (please see notes in "chemicals" section). Dispose of diseased plants in a way that limits the spread of disease (such as hot composting or removal from the gardens area).

Chemicals

The Community Gardens are located on City of Davis property and therefore obligated to follow its policies. The City of Davis prohibits the application of chemical pesticides on its property unless approved in writing by the City’s Integrated Pest Management Coordinator and is applied by a trained, certified technician. Any gardener who believes their plot has a pest problem that would justify the use of chemical pesticides should contact the Garden Coordinator for a consultation. Gardeners must consult with the Garden Coordinator before using any herbicide, including those on the "less-toxic" lists.

The use of chemical fertilizers in the garden is prohibited. Organic fertilizers such as compost, composted manure, seaweed, fish emulsion, bone meal, blood meal, coffee grounds, earthworm castings, bat guano, and cover crops are permitted. Please see "IPM" for additional information.

Waste & Compost

• All trash must be disposed of properly. Please take trash with you, as we have no trash pickup service.
• Plant debris is best utilized by composting, digging it into the soil, or as a mulch. That which is not, must be placed in the designated plant debris area. (See Garden Coordinator)
• Do not dump anything under the trees on the north edge.

Water

Hoses are provided. Hose breakage should be brought to the attention of the Coordinator.

Gardeners must provide their own water faucet key to turn faucets on and off, otherwise the faucet stems get damaged. Keys are the T-handled type "sill cock key" (or some are 4-in-1 keys). Report any defective faucets to the Coordinator.

Do not leave running water unattended. This leads to flooding and is an inconvenience to other gardeners. Water left on unattended will be turned off.

In the event of a water emergency, such as a broken water line, contact the City of Davis Parks Division (during business hours, Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.) at 530-757-5656 or Police Dispatch (outside of business hours) at 530-747-5400. Please leave a message for the Garden Coordinator to let her know that the City has been contacted and the problem will be resolved.

Tools

In the shed you will find a few basic tools: shovel, rake, spading fork, and wheelbarrow. Please return them promptly when you are through using them, so they are available to other gardeners. Report missing or broken tools to the Garden Coordinator. Tools are used and maintained at the gardener's own risk. Tools are donated for garden use.

Pets & Children

Pets must be kept on a leash and out of other people's gardens. Dogs that create problems should be identified if possible and reported to the Garden Coordinator or to Animal Control (530) 668-5287.

Children are welcome in the gardens! For their safety and in consideration of neighboring gardeners, children must be supervised at all times and must remain within their household’s garden plot or on established paths.

Parking

The garden area is not accessible to motorized vehicles. All supplies should be unloaded in the parking area and transported to the garden area via hand, handcart or wheelbarrow. Please do not block the roads. Parking is minimal in the driveway; additional parking can be found along 5th Street.

Community Work

All gardeners are encouraged to participate in the repair, maintenance and improvement of garden facilities and common areas for at least a few hours each year. Regular workdays are scheduled for such projects. If the workday times are inconvenient for you, please contact the Garden Coordinator for other ways to help.

Vandalism & Theft

Vandalism and theft in the Community Gardens can be a problem, especially during harvest seasons. If you observe an intruder in the garden area, please contact the Police Department at (530) 747-5400.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecosystem based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties. Pest control materials are selected and applied in a manner that minimizes risks to human health, beneficial and non-target organisms, and the environment. The City's IPM policy is posted at the garden center kiosk. It can also be found online, along with more information and resources at http://cityofdavis.org/pgs/ipm/.

Additional recommended online resources include:

• http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/index.html
• http://www.ourwaterourworld.org/Portals/0/documents/pdf/products_by_pests.pdf
• http://www.ourwaterourworld.org/Portals/0/documents/pdf/IPM_School_Booklet_9-14.pdf

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Notices and Other Procedures

Contacting You

Important information (renewal packets, etc.) will be mailed to your last known address. Notices to individual gardeners may be mailed, sent via email, attached to the clip on their plot marker post, or made by phone. General notices will be posted on the bulletin board in the center of the gardens.

It is your responsibility to keep the Garden Coordinator informed of any changes of address, phone numbers or e-mail address.

Leaving / Deposit refunds

If you decide to give up your plot, please clear your plot and contact the Garden Coordinator.

The Garden Coordinator will inspect it and see if it is in "refundable condition", which means: no weeds, plants, stakes, wire, trash, etc. Healthy crop plants (and their supporting structures) may remain at the discretion of the Garden Coordinator.

When the plot passes inspection, your deposit refund will be issued within 4 weeks via check to your address. There are no refunds of the rental fee for early returns.

If the plot does not pass inspection, you will have 1 week to clean it up. At the end of this week if the plot does not pass inspection, the deposit is forfeited. You may appeal to the Garden Coordinator in writing. Plots vacated due to eviction or abandonment are not eligible for a refund of the deposit.

Abandonment

Any garden that appears to be abandoned will be sent an Abandonment Notice. You will have five days to restore the plot. If progress has not been made the plot will be reassigned and your deposit will be forfeited.

Vacations & Extended Absences

Vacationing gardeners are not exempt from weed and other maintenance rules, or compliance deadlines. It is your responsibility to contact the Garden Coordinator before you go on extended vacation so we know that you are not abandoning the plot.

If you are unable to care for your plot for an extended period, please consider giving it up so that someone else can use it. In special circumstances, where illness, injury or other commitments will only be for a few months and have a known ending date, other arrangements may be made if approved by the Garden Coordinator.

Policy Enforcement

The Garden Coordinator is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the policies.

If the Coordinator determines that a plot or its owner is in substantial violation of garden policies:

• The Garden Coordinator will contact the gardener.
• If substantial progress or corrective action is not made, a written notice will be mailed, with a deadline.
• If the deadline is not met, the gardener will be evicted and will forfeit the deposit.

Gardeners are encouraged to discuss the situation with the Garden Coordinator at any time during this process. Special circumstances will always be taken into account and other arrangements may be made at the discretion of the Garden Coordinator. All final evictions are reviewed by the Parks Division Community Projects Specialist. Appeals may be made to the Parks Supervisor.