The Support Team was created in August of 2018 to communicate with gardeners who need a gentle reminder about maintaining paths and controlling weeds in their plots.
During the first year, it was run by Dano Morris and Pat Dodge. In 2019 Rosalia Pembroke, Shana Frank, and Lisa Chase took the baton. Shana and Lisa have held the position ever since.
In February of 2020, Lisa and Shana drafted a document of "Responsibilities and Protocols" to guide the Support Team.
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PCG Support Team – Responsibilities and Protocols
The Putney Community Garden (PCG) Support Team was established in 2019 and formalized in 2020 to carry out the following responsibilities in a timely, objective, and transparent way.
Assess whether PGC gardeners are meeting the following terms of the Annual Agreement:
To keep weeds under control in their plot(s) and keep them from going to seed.
To keep paths surrounding their plot(s) clear and properly maintained with wood chips.
Not to grow woody perennials taller than three feet.
To keep all non-woody plants (such as peas and sunflowers) that are taller than three feet from growing within two feet of any path.
To notify each PGC gardener of the Support Team's assessment - To what extent have they met the terms of the Annual Agreement listed above? (See ratings in part 3.)
To determine and implement consequences for PCG gardeners who have not met the terms of the Annual Agreement listed above. The consequences will depend on their rating:
"green" – looks good
"yellow" – needs some work
"red" – needs extensive work
To carry out their responsibilities, the PCG Support Team will do the following:
Conduct a thorough tour of the Garden in the last week of June or first week of July.
Send PCG Gardeners a written letter regarding their plot(s) in the first week of July.
Conduct a tour of the Garden the last week of August or first week of September.
Send PCG Gardeners a written letter regarding their plot(s) in the first week of Sept.
Notify PCG Gardeners by e-mail 10 days before each of the tours.
Communicate via e-mail and/or meet with PCG Stewards on the status of the plots, responses to the letters, and any other relevant communication with PCG gardeners.
As an example, the Support Team drafted a timeline for the 2020 Garden Season:
May 7 - At the PCG meeting, discuss and establish consequences for gardeners who have not met the specified terms of the Annual Agreement, according to the Support Team. present drafts of the letters to be sent to PCG gardeners in July and September for review and approval.
June 19 - The Stewards will send an email announcement/reminder to PCG gardeners about the upcoming Support Team tour.
June 29 - The Support Team will tour PCG garden. (Rain date: June 30.)
July 3 - All PCG gardeners will receive a written letter regarding the status of their plot(s).
Aug. 21 - The Stewards will send an email announcement/reminder to PCG gardeners about the upcoming Support Team tour.
Aug. 31 - The Support Team will tour PCG garden. (Rain date: September 1.)
Sept. 4 - All PCG gardeners will receive a written letter regarding the status of their plot(s).
The Support Team check-in with gardeners whose plots had ratings of "yellow" or "red" and initiate consequences described in the letters sent to gardeners in early July and early September.