Orientation for Cape Elizabeth Community Garden at Maxwell Farms
The orientation at the garden is intended to welcome new gardeners and show them how things work. The visit should complement and reinforce the garden’s guidelines and answer any questions the new gardeners may have.
Parking
During Ocean House daycare hours (weekdays 7:00 a.m – 6:00 p.m.) park in the upper lot on the left when you turn off of Spurwink Road. On weekends you may park behind the building closer to the garden or up top. Use the paved walkway next to the building or the grassy area between the playground and blue house to walk to the garden.
You will receive advance notice by email if the daycare has a special event that will constrain parking. Try to avoid going to the garden at those times.
Water system
It’s very important to ensure the water supply is completely turned off if no gardeners are watering. If you are the last person to leave the garden, make sure it is turned off – even if you didn’t use it. If someone else is in the garden when you leave, check with them to see if they will be using the water or not. Determine which of you will turn the water off.
Water to the entire garden is turned on in two places:
On the building at the top of the paved walkway. Turn the faucet to the left (counter-clockwise) to turn it on. Turn to the right (clockwise) to shut it off. Righty-Tighty; Lefty-Loosey.
At the corner of the garage at the foot of the hill. Turn the red handle to be in line with the pipe for the water to flow. Turn the handle to be perpendicular to the pipe to shut it off.
In the garden, there are eight posts with water faucets and holders for hoses/nozzles that are shared among nearby plots. The water faucet is ON when the handle is in line with the hose. It’s OFF when perpendicular to the hose. When you have finished watering:
carry the nozzle end back to the faucet post; dragging it through the woodchips and dirt clogs or damages the nozzle.
turn the faucet OFF
squeeze the handle or move the thumb control on the nozzle and release the pressure; leave the control in that position to drain water out of the hose as it is coiled.
Coil the entire hose neatly on the holder.
**It is important to leave the nozzle “open” and hose drained because the sun heats the water in an undrained hose, expanding it and increasing pressure on the hose until something bursts. **
If you see a leak anywhere in the entire garden system – please limit use of the water and notify a member of the garden committee by text or phone call as soon as possible.
Re-read the first paragraph under “Water System” because it’s really important. HA!
Tools
Tools including iron rakes, shovels, spades, pitchforks, cultivators, hoes, and a few small hand-tools are stored on pegs under the covered awning on the daycare’s storage shed adjacent to the garden. Keep it neat.
There are several wheelbarrows and garden carts leaning against the side of the same storage shed. Leave them with handles pointing to the sky such that they don’t fill with rainwater. Do not overload the plastic-tub wheelbarrows or toss heavy items into the tubs as they crack. Use the metal wheelbarrow for moving rocks.
Trash Can
There isn’t one! Take home anything you brought to the garden. Do not leave plant trays, pots, or anything else because “somebody else might want them.” Carry In – Carry Out.
Wood chips for the paths
The paths are covered with wood chips to keep down the weeds. Be zealous from the beginning of the season – and continue to do so - in keeping weeds out of the paths immediately adjacent to your plot. Helpful hint: Wood chips are easier to load into the wheelbarrow if you use a pitchfork rather than a shovel.
Soil amendments and products
Pro-Gro fertilizer is in the trash can near the tools. Spread about two yogurt cartons on planting areas in the spring and rake into the soil. Additional smaller amounts can be used during the season – read the label for the amount and timing.
If you choose to bring in your own amendment, it must be organic. If you have a question about particular products and whether or not they can be used, look for an OMRI symbol on the label – Organic Materials Resource Inventory.
Compost
The garden purchases compost through the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program at Jordan’s Farm. The compost is located by the large pine tree and is covered with a tarp that is weighted down. Cover the pile when not in use.
The “fair-share” limit for each plot is one full wheelbarrow load for the season. The compost is delivered in 4 cu. yd. loads at a time. The garden committee monitors the pile and if it’s gone when you want yours, be assured some is on order and will be there soon. Once you have taken your fair share, do not take any more from later deliveries unless you hear from the garden committee. Compost is a popular item and if the budget allows, we will purchase more than the allotted amount and let you know.
Compost is typically spread about ½ inches deep on top of your planting areas and raked gently into the soil. It does not go on paths or areas you are not planting in.
Garden wastes
All plant waste matter goes in the garden waste pile on the far side of the garden outside the gate. Only compostable items go here – NO ROCKS, STRING, PLANT MARKERS, POTS, etc. The pile is turned with farm equipment and decomposes into useable matter – but not in our plots. Because the pile isn’t turned regularly, it does not get hot enough to kill weeds, diseases, and insect pests. If your plants are diseased or covered with insects, put them in a trash bag and dispose of them at the transfer station and NOT the compost pile.
Rock Pile
Deposit rocks on the pile on the “woods” side of the garden. Just rocks. Not compostable matter. You do not need to clear out all the rocks from your plot – many plants do fine with a few rocks. Planting smaller seeds such as carrots and lettuce are easier in soil that isn’t too rocky. A sifter is stored near the tools if you wish to clear out smaller rocks to grow carrots.
Corner stakes and plot number stakes
Early on, plots were marked each year with green-tipped corner stakes to establish the 15’ x 15’ boundaries of each plot. If they are there, please leave them in place. All plants and structures must remain within the 15’ x 15’ plot area and not extend into the paths. Stakes with plot numbers are located in one corner of each plot; they are helpful in identifying the gardener in the plot if you wish to contact them with a question.
Bathrooms
See “Trashcans” above. There aren’t any. There are no facilities available at the garden nor in the daycare building for our use. Plan accordingly.
Storage shed
There is a small storage shed next to the greenhouse that contains our lawn mowers and maintenance supplies used by garden committee members to fix things. It is used primarily for winter storage.
Website
Here's the link: https://sites.google.com/view/cape-community-gardens. Or you can find it at https://www.capeelizabeth.com/LocalOrganizations. A standard “google search” or other search engine won’t get it. On the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners website, you will find a number of helpful articles about when to plant, basic soil information, organic practices, etc. See https://www.mofga.org/go-organic/. There is a list of acceptable organic products on their website and ours is in progress! You can also sign up for weekly updates from MOFGA.
Facebook page
Cape Elizabeth Community Gardeners is a private Facebook group for members of the Gull Crest and Maxwell Farms Community Gardens to share and learn from one another. One of the administrators will let you join.
Email list and notifications
Garden committee members periodically send out announcements and timely notifications. Add the email to your address book: MaxwellCommunityGarden@gmail.com It’s important to stay connected with the garden community to get updates about work days, social events, good garden practices, pest alerts (and what to do about them), and other notifications.
COVID protocols
The COVID protocols are spelled out in the guidelines provided earlier. It’s expected they will be followed.
Connecting with other community gardeners
Experience over the many years has shown that most of our gardeners are a pretty friendly lot. We are happy to share our experiences and knowledge (to the extent we have any). Don’t be bashful. If you see someone in the garden and have a question, ask them. If you see something in another plot that you want to know about but haven’t seen the gardener, ask a committee member to connect you. (It’s why we ask whether or not it’s OK to share YOUR contact info with other gardeners).
In the past we have scheduled very informal gatherings and happy hours at the garden for whomever wants to come. It’s been a pleasant way to get to know new families as well as share garden war stories and helpful hints. As COVID protocols allow, we hope to host similar events this summer or fall.
The Maxwells:
Without the gift of the land from the Maxwell family, there would be no community garden at Maxwell’s Farm. Please take the opportunity when you can to say thank you to Dan and Imelda, as well as Nate for allowing us to create and maintain the community garden.
Imelda's abundant pick-your-own flower garden is next to her house adjacent and to the right of the community garden property. You can't miss it when it's blooming. You could walk over or park in her driveway to access the garden. She has signs directing where to park. It would be easier to walk
She also has beautiful bouquets for sale. Last year the cost was $5 or $6 for a you pick bouquet and a dollar more for complete bouquets.
Payment is via honor system. She's also modernized with the times and accepts Venmo. The instructions are on a chalk board in her flower stand.
Occasionally, she has seedlings, vegetables, and products such as dried garlic for sale. We will send an email announcement when they become available. Or look for a box near the Maxwell's greenhouse.
Imelda, Dan, and their kids are often working on the surrounding farm. They all appreciate a wave or a hello from the gardeners. Imelda especially enjoys interacting with the community gardeners, and as you might suspect, is a wealth of organic gardening tips.