Guidelines

Welcome to our community of gardeners! The Cape Community Garden at Maxwell's Farm is an organic garden located on land owned by the Maxwell family on Spurwink Avenue. The Community Garden consists solely of its member gardeners and is coordinated by the Garden Committee. The garden relies on the financial support and cooperative efforts of all its members. 

The garden is on the property of Dan and Imelda Maxwell, who grow vegetables in the greenhouse and surrounding fields for their own use and as part of their business. Dan and Imelda often have seedlings and vegetables for purchase – watch for signs near the greenhouse. Please be respectful of Dan and Imelda’s property and business. 

Gardeners tend their own individual plots and surrounding paths and collectively maintain the garden. In addition to individual gardener’s plots, one plot is reserved for the day care children, two for day care parents, and two are reserved to grow produce for Judy’s Pantry here in Cape Elizabeth. Maine Harvest for Hunger is coordinated by Wendy Garland, Donna Savage and Marybeth Richardson; other gardeners pitch in to plant and tend the plots, or can donate extra vegetables from their own plots.

Communication

Garden communications are sent via email and are often time-sensitive concerning upcoming events or pest alerts. You will receive emails from MaxwellCommunityGarden@gmail.com or possibly from committee members (listed below). Please use our garden email to report any issues (e.g., leaking hose) or concerns.

Garden Committee

Bill Brewington 767-4794 bbrew256@gmail.com 

Deb Cavanagh 400-7670 debbie.cavanaugh@gmail.com 

David Dufour 751-3436 dadufour@gwi.net 

Wendy Garland 415-4017 garlanddore@gmail.com 

Leslie Herrick 858-354-7665 leslieherrick@gmail.com 

Kate Kerkam 329-6399 katherinekerkam@gmail.com 

Tom Meyers 799-6876 tommeyers72@gmail.com 

Jay Weiss 767-1729 jweiss31@hotmail.com

Maine Harvest for Hunger

Marybeth Richardson 831-9903 loganrich012@gmail.com 

Donna Savage 756-2742 dhuntersavage@gmail.com 

Wendy Garland 415-4017 garlanddore@gmail.com 

Website:

Our website (https://sites.google.com/view/cape-community-gardens) contains helpful information on the garden, planting hints, treatments of diseases and pests, educational opportunities, local gardening supply locations, along with wonderful photos from both the Maxwell’s Farm and the Gull Crest community gardens – do take a look.

FaceBook:

“Cape Elizabeth Community Gardeners” is a private group that posts helpful tips, suggestions, photos, items to share, and other garden information of interest.

Membership and Benefits 

1. Fees and Assignment of Plots: 

 $40 annual fee for each 15’ X 15’ plot 

 $25 one-time initial membership fee per plot 

Deadline: Gardeners must pay the applicable fee by March 29, 2024. Plots not paid for by  this date may be considered vacant and assigned to a new gardener on the waiting list. 

Assignment of plots: The garden is open to Cape Elizabeth residents first. Gardeners keep the same plot from year to year. Assignment of vacated plots will be based on the order of the waiting list. If a gardener wishes to leave the garden for only a season, they will be placed at the bottom of the waiting list for a plot in the following season. They will be offered the next available plot that comes open when they get to the top of the waiting list. They will not be required to pay the initial membership fee when they return. On May 1, if there are unassigned plots and no Cape Elizabeth residents are on the waiting list, non-Cape Elizabeth residents on the waiting list will be assigned a permanent plot. 

Plots may be shared but submit one application per plot. If plots are shared, submit both names and email addresses so that both gardeners will receive messages. It will be the responsibility of the gardener who pays the annual fee to manage the sharing arrangement, including the compliance with the garden guidelines.

2. Garden Plots: Plots are 15’ X 15'. Paths are laid out between each plot to provide access with wheelbarrows and hoses. You may plant both vegetables and flowers as you wish. Your garden plants must remain within the boundaries and not encroach on the pathways.

3. Benefits: Garden fees will cover the following within the limits of our budget:

• Water, waterline and hose system;

• Bulk purchase of organic compost and fertilizer, as well as other organic products;

• Fence around the garden;

• Wheelbarrows and hand tools.

Responsibilities 

Remember that gardeners are ‘guests’ of both the Maxwell family and the Child  Development Center – please treat the area with proper respect at all times. 

1. Because the garden shares the property with the Child Development Center, extra  care is needed when driving/parking at the garden:

• Monday through Friday before 6:00 pm park only to the left as you turn off Spurwink Avenue.

• Parking behind the building is only permitted on weekends.

• During special events at the Center, they will need all the parking places and ask gardeners to avoid those hours altogether. You will receive advance notification of those events.

2. All plots in the Cape Community Gardens must be ORGANIC. Non-organic fertilizers, pesticides, orherbicides are not permitted, although non-organic seeds and seedlings are allowed. Look for labels stating product is 100% organic. Gardeners may wish to have a soil test done to determine what additives are recommended for their own particular soil.

3. Gardeners are responsible for weeding their plots throughout the entire season. Weed seeds from unkempt garden spread to neighboring plots, causing frustration and more work for other gardeners. If there are concerns or complaints with weeds on your plot, you may receive an email from the Garden Committee to resolve the issue.

4. Gardeners are required to help with garden tasks beyond the care of their own plot and surrounding paths (e.g., one week weeding/watering MHH plots, mowing, restocking supplies, etc.).Gardeners will be contacted by the committee members to coordinate their specific assignment for the year. Except during periods of COVID-19 restrictions, participation in spring and fall workdays is also required unless the committee is given advance notice of a conflict and you accomplish another assigned task

5.We are fortunate to have an easy way to water individual plots. We pay for all the water that’s used, whether used on your plot or wasted through abuse or leaks. There are instructions posted on the spigot at the garage to help everyone learn how to use the watering system wisely – please use the system as instructed.

6.Gardeners are responsible for working their plots by June 1 and tending them throughout the season. Any gardener who will not be using his or her plot for any reason shall let a member of the garden committee know as soon as possible so that the plot can be used for that season. If you have an injury or other situation and are unable to maintain your plot, please contact any member of the Garden Committee listed above, who will organize a team of volunteers to assist you. Please ask for assistance!

7.Gardeners are responsible for keeping the garden free of debris. There are designated areas for weeds andother compostable material. Gardeners must dispose of trash at the transfer station/recycling center. “Carry in–Carry out” is expected of all.

8.Gardeners are responsible, together with adjacent gardeners, for keeping paths around all sides of plotsweeded throughout the season. Gardeners with plots along the fence line are also responsible for weedingthe fence adjacent to their plot. Corner plot owners may apply time spent weeding the fence line towardvolunteer hours.

9. Plots should be planned so that trailing plants do not spread into paths or into other gardeners’ plots. Tall crops (pole beans, corn, large sunflowers) and structures should be situated on the south side or the middle of your plot so as not to shade other gardeners' plots.

10. Gardens must be “put to bed” by the end of October or two weeks after a killing frost – i.e. remove non-biodegradable mulch, weeds and dead plant material to prevent spread of plant diseases. Gardeners who will be using the plot the following year may leave perennial plants in place. Plants that are still producing may also be left in place.

11. A gardener who will be away or unable to tend his or her plot for an extended time must arrange help from a friend or another gardener and contact the Garden Committee. If you will be away when crops are ready to pick, we ask that you notify the Maine Harvest for Hunger coordinators so that your plot can be picked and the produce donated to the pantry. Your plants will do better if the ripe produce is picked on a regular basis.

12. There is no smoking allowed in the garden or surrounding area. Tobacco mosaic virus, which can be carried on smokers’ hands is a serious threat to tomatoes and other plants.

13. When there is a serious pest, viral or fungal problem in the garden, gardeners will be asked to more carefully and regularly monitor their plants so as to contain the problem as soon as possible. When a gardener can’t be reached or isn’t able to come and deal with the problem, members of the Garden Committee may remove diseased or infested plants.

14. Children are truly welcome at the garden. Monitor your children carefully so that they do not damageneighbors’ plots. Your children must stay out of the play-yards and off the playground equipment that belong to the day care center.

15. Pets are not permitted in the garden at all nor in the surrounding fields.

16. Garden plots cannot be used to grow produce for sale, rented, or used for business purposes.

17. Be a good neighbor! If you keep your plot and paths well tended, the entire garden will be healthier, your neighbors will be happier, and you’ll make an invaluable contribution to the “community,” which is at the heart of our garden. Welcome!

If a gardener is not following these Guidelines, the gardener will be notified and asked to correct the problem. Failure to follow the Guideline do so may mean forfeiture of the garden plot at the committee’s discretion. Keep these garden guidelines for reference during the season – they are also posted on the garden website.