GUIDELINES
INFORMATION AND GENERAL GUIDELINES 2024
1. Garden Plots: The plots are 25 x 25 feet (625 square feet) $30 rental, 12.5 x 25 (312.5 sq ft) $15 rental, and three raised gardens for low mobility gardeners that are 8ft x 4ft $20 rental. The main garden area of full/half plots will be prepared for planting each Spring by turning under a Fall planted cover crop with the garden tractor. There is a one-time refundable tool shed key deposit of $5.00 per key. Plots not reserved and paid for by March 1st of each season by returning gardeners will be made available to new applicants.
2. Supplies: There are gardening hand tools, a wheelbarrow, and a self-propelled walk-behind mower that you are welcome and encouraged to use. Please return them cleaned off to the shed after use. We also have a garden tractor with a roto-tiller attachment for Spring tilling and Fall cleanup. Every gardener is encouraged, if physically able, to help keep the grass around the garden mowed. You will be responsible for 25 feet ( 12.5for half plot) of at least 2 foot high wire fencing for the outside border of your plot (2 feet you can probably just step over, but unless you’re pretty agile you’ll want to provide for a gate if you use anything taller). So that you and all of your fellow gardeners are protected to some extent from animal predators, all of the fences ought to be installed very soon after the garden is ready for planting in mid-May. We’ll keep you informed as to exactly when that occurs.
3. Weed, insect, and disease control: The Monson Community Garden is an Organic garden. It is each gardener’s responsibility to control weeds, destructive insects, and plant diseases by organic methods only. No synthetic or chemically-derived products are permitted at the Community Garden. We currently have 16 plots available, so in fairness to all of your garden neighbors, please be diligent in maintaining yours. Those who do not maintain their gardens will not be invited to return the next year. If you elect to use a synthetic weed barrier/landscape fabric to reduce weeds, it must be completely removed as well as any pins holding it down at the end of the season. This also goes for plastic plant tags. We don't want to pollute the very soil we are raising our food in.
4. Fertilizers: As with weed, insect, and disease control only organic fertilizers are allowed at the garden. Manures are permitted as are prepared fertilizers which are clearly labeled as being “for Organic vegetable garden use” and/or are labeled with the symbols “OG” (meets NOP requirements) or “OMRI” (Organic Manufacturers certified). Please refer to catalogs distributed by companies specializing in Organic products (Johnny’s Selected Seeds/johnnyseeds.com or High Mowing Seeds/highmowingseeds.com are good ones) for guidance.
5. Additional Gardeners’ Responsibilities: Just common sense, really. Don’t plant tall crops where they’ll shade a neighbor’s plants. Place spreading plants where they won’t intrude into a neighbor’s plot, (very many spreading plants can also be staked or trellised). Keep kids and pets under control and out of others’ plots. Respect the rights of your fellow Gardeners and also those of abutters to the property.
6. Parking: There is a good-size parking lot adjacent to the Community Garden. Please park only in the lot, not on the road. Be aware that on the first Sunday of the month, the Keep Museum has a program and open house from 1-3P and parking will be rather competitive during those hours so plan accordingly.
7. Water: We’re fortunate to have, next to the tool shed, a handicapped-accessible portable toilet and, next to that, a water point with four hose attachments In the garden itself, there is a faucet at the corner of each group of 4 plots (for details, see the How-To on the website). Please don’t leave water running unattended. The water supply is on a timer which turns the water on in early morning and shuts it off at around dark. IF YOU’RE WATERING LATE AND THE TIMER SHUTS OFF THE WATER SUPPLY, YOU NEED TO BE CERTAIN YOU’VE TURNED OFF ALL THE FAUCETS BEFORE YOU LEAVE!!Please, occasionally take a moment to hose down the inside of the portable toilet. We’ll all be happier using it if it’s clean. If no other gardeners are there when you leave, please be sure to check that the faucet and hose to the garden are shut off next to the porta-potty.
8. Composting: Composting is encouraged. It’s a good way to utilize disease-free garden waste and chemical-free lawn and yard cleanup materials. The best place for compost bins is in the triangular piece of land between the east side of the garden and Ely Road. We mow part of this area, so leave enough room (about 5 feet or more) between compost bins.We have a very nice, rugged compost screen that fits over our wheelbarrows for sifting your finished compost.
9. End-of-season Cleanup: The season will end at a date to be announced so that a winter cover crop can be established before really cold weather sets in. All garden plots must be cleared completely on or before that date. This includes weed barrier, plant tags, and fencing. Anything that can’t be roto-tilled under must go! Within a couple of days after the final cleanup, we’ll be fertilizing, roto-tilling, liming, and planting our Winter Rye cover crop, so this cleanup is crucial to the garden’s success.
If you pick any rocks out of your plot (and this is Monson, so very likely you will) bring them up to the stone wall by the road. Please don’t toss them into the grassy areas around the Garden. The guy who mows those areas for hay will be VERY upset if his mower hits a rock!
PLEASE, AT ALL TIMES, RESPECT THIS BEAUTIFUL TOWN PROPERTY WHICH HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR OUR USE BY THE TOWN OF MONSON. THE FUTURE OF THE MONSON COMMUNITY GARDEN DEPENDS ON YOU.
Town Responsibility/Liability: The Town of Monson makes the land available for the Community Garden project and this is the sole and only responsibility of the Town. The Town assumes no other liability for use of the area, or for personal injury, loss of tools or produce, or any other mishap. HAPPY GARDENING TO ALL!
Mark Ducomb ducomb@verizon.net
Oscar Leiguero oscarleguero@gmail.com
Lucy Shrenker Community Garden member since 2016 and our Webmaster lucyshrenker@gmail.com
Mail address: 110 Main St, Monson MA 01057