By renting a plot at the UF Organic Gardens Cooperative, gardeners become members of the Cooperative and are responsible not just for their individual plot(s) but also for the labor, governance, and continuing function of the Gardens as a whole. Please make sure you READ and UNDERSTAND the policies and rules below.
In addition to paying the plot rental fee each term, gardeners are required to contribute work hours towards maintaining the Gardens as a whole. The requirement is participation in a minimum of 3 work parties (for a total of 6 work hours) PER PLOT each term, and gardeners who have a second plot owe at least an additional 3 work hours. The work parties are usually held the first Saturday of each month from 8:30-10:30 AM but during the summer (June through September) they are held twice per month from 8-10 AM. If participation on Saturdays is not possible, then gardeners must make other arrangements to work on community chores at least 6 hours per term.
Changes in work party dates or times are posted on the website (Calendar) and sent to the garden email list.
New members are required to attend an Orientation with the Plot Coordinator(s) before choosing a plot. All adult family members, roommates or friends who will be gardening in the plot should attend. If that is not possible, or if new gardeners are added at a later time, the primary gardener(s) are responsible for making sure others in their plot understand and follow Garden rules.
The plot rental fee and deposit are due at the end of orientation, along with a completed and signed paper copy of the OGC Enrollment and release form.Download the form here: OGC Enrollment Form.pdf
(NOTE: All gardeners of that plot should sign the Release part of the form. Contact the Plot Coordinators if there are any changes or additions).Plot leases expire twice per year. Gardeners who have maintained their plots and have contributed at least the required minimum of work hours may renew by paying the rental fee for their plot(s) on the designated Plot Renewal deadline (generally this is during the first work party in September and the work party in February). Gardeners who want to renew but cannot attend should notify the Plot Coordinators (plotcoordinator@gmail.com) in advance and make alternative arrangements.
If you are unable to continue gardening, please notify the Plot Coordinators in a timely manner so that your plot can be rented to someone on our long waiting list. It is against co-op policy to pass your plot directly to a friend.
A $40 per plot refundable deposit is required from each new gardener. Participation in the co-op is viewed as a 12-month responsibility; to that end, the deposit serves as a reminder of the need to keep individual plots from falling into a state of neglect. As gardeners, we have a particular interest in cleanliness and good management -- this land should be as beautiful and productive as we can make it -- a source of pleasure and learning for the entire community. Your deposit will be refunded when you leave your plot, provided it is clean, recently weeded, and ready for the next gardener.
The Cooperative purchases seasonally-appropriate seeds and some transplants for gardeners to plant in their plots. Because of cost, some of these are in limited quantities. Please take only the allowed amount per plot so that all gardeners get a fair share.
Gardeners may plant other cultivars, seeds or transplants within their individual plots, with the following restrictions:
NO hardwood shrubs or trees
NO illegal, prohibited, or invasive plants
NO legal crop plants with aggressively spreading root systems (such as bananas and sugarcane). Ask the Plot Coordinators first if you are not sure whether a specific plant is allowed or prohibited.
For planting guides and gardening tips see Planting Guide & Tips
Only fertilizers from natural sources are allowed in the co-op. These are primarily animal manure and compost. The Organic Gardens has a free source of cow manure, but we pay to have the manure delivered. All members are asked to limit their manure use to one (1) wheelbarrow load per plot per semester. This is to ensure that all members have access to the manure and to protect water quality.
The compost produced here is for all to use but it is limited in quantity, so limit your take to ½ wheelbarrow load per term. Please contribute your garden weeds and trimmings and other plant waste such as grasses, leaves, and kitchen scraps.
See Composting Guidelines for more details.
Adding organic matter to your soil will improve its health and can increase crop productivity. For example, mulch with grass clippings and leaves and turn under post-harvest crops such as bean plants. These materials feed decomposers in the soil, which in turn release nutrients for plant growth. If you bring bags of leaves and lawn clippings from your yard or your neighbor’s, make sure that herbicides and pesticides were not used.
Chemical pesticides are not allowed. All too often, these products kill indiscriminately, and by eliminating beneficial insects, birds, etc., upset a delicate balance. Various methods of natural pest control can be used. For example, rotate crops so the same ones are not grown in the same place each year; hand-pick and remove large insect pests such as stink bugs and cabbage worms; and use companion planting such as marigolds and tomatoes to help control soil nematodes. See the section on fire ants (Fire Ant Control) for suggestions on controlling them.
Our water source is a deep well located in the northeast corner of the site. Water is a valuable resource and should be conserved. Sprinklers should not be kept running for more than thirty (30) minutes at a time and should never be run all night. If possible, water your plot before 10 AM or after 4 PM and apply only about an inch of water.
Hoses are within reach of each plot but are shared between multiple plots; hang them up neatly in long loops when not in use. Sprinklers, timers, and hose-end spray attachments are not provided by the Organic Gardens. NO automatic irrigation systems are allowed.
Gardeners are responsible for maintaining their rented plots in good condition. They may add, remove, or replace existing fencing around their own plot in accordance with the rules on fences ( see below ); it is a good idea to talk to plot neighbors about shared fences and to confirm the actual plot boundaries (ask the Plot Coordinators) before doing so. Tall plants or trellises should not shade neighboring plots, and all plants (including overhanging vines) should remain within plot boundaries.
Weeds and grasses should be controlled to keep them from invading and spreading seeds to neighboring plots. Weed debris may be composted in your plot or taken to the compost area, NOT left in piles in the pathways. If you are traveling for an extended time (especially during the summer wet season) you should notify plot neighbors and/or the Plot Coordinators and consider planting a cover crop or mulching heavily (Summer care for your plot).
Make sure to clean tools and return them to their designated places in the shed after each use. The door to the shed should be kept locked.
All gardeners share responsibility for the security of our plots and tools. Please be sure everyone who gardens in your plot understands and complies with the following:
If the gate is locked, open the padlock, swing open the gate, and RE-LOCK both ends of the chain together with the padlock. Numbers on the padlock dial should be scrambled.
The toolshed door should be closed and locked unless there are many other gardeners nearby or you can see the shed entrance from your plot.
Always check that the shed and the gate are both locked if you are the last gardener to leave (if you aren't sure, go ahead and lock up; all gardeners have the combination).
The Organic Garden does not have trash pick-up. Put plant debris in the open compost bin and take home non-biodegradable materials such as plastic.
Fences must not block paths or shade neighboring plots and they must be sturdy and adequately maintained. If a fence does not comply with the following rules, the owner will be asked to remove it:
Fences and trellises are allowed only within a plot or on the plot border. If a fence is constructed on the plot border, then vegetation must not be planted outside of the fence.
Fences must not be taller than 6 feet.
Chicken wire or plastic mesh must not be used in fence construction.
Fences must be kept free of weeds. Vines such as luffa must be kept trimmed so that they do not encroach on neighboring plots.
Fences that are failing (e.g., bending or breaking) must be repaired or removed.
Broken, non-biodegradable materials must be taken off-site.
The Cooperative holds an annual meeting once per year, generally immediately following the November work party. All gardeners who attend are eligible to discuss and vote on issues such as changes to the Leadership Team, budget/fees, Garden policies/rules, or any other issues of major concern. The Annual Meeting is followed by a Potluck dinner; gardeners are welcome to bring family members and to share dishes from their culture and/or use produce from their plots.
Members of the Leadership Team (Officers and Admin Contacts ) direct activities at the work parties and vote on decisions that cannot wait until the next Annual Meeting. Officers and other leaders are elected or reconfirmed at each Annual Meeting by majority vote of the garden members present.
We are always in need of more gardeners to take on leadership roles in the co-op. Serving as a garden officer is fun, rewarding (not financially, although you get one plot rent-free), and not too time-consuming provided that there are a number of officers to share the work. Below is a brief description of the duties of each officer. If you don’t feel ready to be a manager but you’d like to help in a particular area (this can satisfy your work hour requirement), please contact the current officer.
President(s): organizes the work parties; communicates with the garden members; with the other officers makes decisions about garden projects, operations, and expenditures.
Vice-president(s): assists the president(s) with work parties; participates in decision-making; and coordinates projects.
Secretary(s): keeps a log of member work hours; maintains the coop listserv; prints and posts notices as needed; keeps a record of garden meetings.
Treasurer: deposits plot rental fees in bank account; pays as needed for garden supplies and equipment (large purchases must be approved by the leadership team).
Plot Coordinator(s): enrolls new garden members; leases garden plots; keeps a tally of open plots.
Equipment Managers: maintain the power tools (mowers, tiller, trimmers) and repair them (or take them to a repair shop) as needed.
Tool Manager(s): repairs the non-motorized tools (wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, etc.) and sharpens blades.
Hoses and Faucets Managers: repair leaks in the plumbing system; replace hoses and faucets as needed.
Compost Manager(s): direct labor on the compost piles, maintain a rotational system.
Coffee Grounds Manager: pick up coffee grounds from local cafes for use in the compost system.
Herb Garden Managers: direct labor in the herb gardens; start or purchase herbs and decide what gets planted where; harvest/dry herbs when appropriate.
Butterfly Garden Manager: maintains a garden of butterfly-friendly plants.
Beehive Manager: maintains beehive colonies on site.
Fruit Crops Managers: direct labor in the community fruit tree areas; maintain the health of the trees.
Pest Managers: monitor plant diseases; control fire ants in communal areas; deal with other pests.
Seed Purchaser: Purchase seeds appropriate for each season; organize seeds including donations from gardeners.
Greenhouse Manager: direct the upkeep of the greenhouse; grow seedlings in the winter.
Website Manager: maintain and update the garden website.
The UF-OrganicGardens-L listserv hosted by ufl.edu is the primary means of communicating messages from the Leadership team intended for all gardeners. If your email address changes please notify the Plot Coordinators at plotcoordinator@gmail.com.
There is also a closed-subscription Facebook group for members who want to communicate informally with other gardeners. Visit the page and ask to join.