Gardening Guidelines

Project Grow is committed to encouraging people to garden in socially and environmentally responsible ways. Currently, all plots in all gardens are organic. Fertilizers and pest control measures which may be used in the organic plots are those which are accepted by major organic certification agencies such as the Organic Crop Improvement Association. In general, soil fertility is maintained by creating optimal conditions for soil biological activity through crop rotations and the maintenance of soil organic content. Judicious use of organic and natural mineral soil amendments is also practiced, and in some cases processed mineral fertilizers may be acceptable for short-term use. Guidelines for permissible gardening practices are given below; if you have specific questions, please call the Project Grow office at 996-3169.

Weed Control

Herbicides of any kind are prohibited in ALL Project Grow plots, as they are hazardous to human health, may kill or damage desirable crops, drift into neighboring gardens, or persist in the soil. Hoeing, mulching, and hand weeding are recommended.

Insect Control

Synthetic insecticides are prohibited in ALL Project Grow plots. Preferred control methods are crop rotation, hand picking of insect pests, introduction of predator species, such as ladybugs, companion planting, soil solarization, and biological controls, e.g. Bacillus thuringiensis, a bacterium that controls cabbage worms. As a last resort, natural botanicals, i.e. rotenone and pyrethrum (that break down quickly and do not leave harmful residues in the soil) may be used.

Disease Control
Most problems can be controlled if you maintain a healthy soil, choose disease-resistant varieties, water judiciously, and remove diseased plants from the garden.

Fertilizers and Soil Amendments
Commercial inorganic fertilizers (i.e., 5-1-5, Miracle Grow, etc.) are prohibited. Products of plant or animal origin, i.e. compost, leaf mold, livestock manure, blood and bone meal, cover crops, fish emulsion, kelp meal, liquid seaweed, and commercial organic fertilizers are acceptable. Natural mineral fertilizers, i.e. greensand, granite dust, and ground limestone, are also acceptable. Gardeners are strongly urged to add as much organic material (i.e. compost, leaf mold, and manure) as possible to their plots to maintain soil fertility.

Non-Acceptable Plants
Project Grow cannot allow plants with the following characteristics to be grown in any of the gardens:

Invasive species, i.e. mint, comfrey, etc.
Trees, bushes, or other woody perennials
Illegal or dangerous plants

End of Season Community Garden Closing Information

ANNUAL PLOTS

Remove all fencing, cages, stakes, string, plastics and all other non-organic material from your garden and take them home with you. Do not place any material in sheds or anywhere around the garden without permission from your site coordinator. Please leave the Numbered Marker Stakes, put in by Project Grow in the spring to identify your plot, in place. Remove rock borders and large rocks and put them in designated rock piles.
Pull out all plants that have tough stalks or long vines, such as sunflowers, corn, pumpkin, etc, and cut them into 12-inch pieces.
These can be spread around your site, to be plowed under later in the fall. Similarly, chop all non-infected plant materials into 12-inch pieces and spread around your plot. Please do not leave them in piles or throw them outside the garden perimeter.
Remove all tomatoes and diseased or once infected materials from your plot and discard at home. If you have un-used bales of hay, spead them around, too, as the plow cannot handle such a large, compacted pile.

PERENNIAL PLOTS

Pull out dead annuals and weeds or cut them to the ground.
Cut non-infected plant materials into 12 inch pieces, compost in your plot or spread on garden.
Remove all tomatoes and diseased or once infected materials from your plot and discard at home.
Remove stakes, trellises, tomato cages, etc. that are not in use and take them with you.
Clean up and weed pathways within and around your plot.

Membership Fee
Project Grow requires a one time $20 membership fee per Community Garden plot, payable with Registration. Discovery Garden plots do not currently require a membership fee.

Plot Fees

Community Gardens

Airport

Buhr

Catholic Social Services

County Farm

Clague

Greenview

Lakewood

Mitchell

Matthaei

Wines

Hunt Park

Full Plot

$105—

135

$105-135

$89—113

$105—

135

$95—125

$105—135

$89-113

$95-125

$95-125

$105-135

Half Plot

$72—87

$72-87

$62—74

$72—87

$62-74

$72—87

$62-74

$62-74

$72-87

	Hillside Terrace	Northside
Full Plot	$105-135	$89-113
Half Plot	$72-87	$62-74

Discovery Gardens

Easy Access

(accessible)

1 plot

Easy Access

(accessible)

2 plots

Wise Roots

(seniors)

1 plot

Wise Roots

(seniors)

2 plots

Wonder Sprouts

(children)

1 plot, 1-2 youth

Wonder Sprouts

(children)

2 plots, 2-4 youth

Leslie Science Center

$40--75

$65--105

$40--75

$65--105

$55--75

$75--115

County Farm Park

$40--75

$65--105

$40--75

$65--105

$55--75

$75--115

Returning Gardeners

The plot you gardened last year will be reserved for you until March 15th. After that time, plots will be assigned to new gardeners, based on the responses of returning gardeners. Be sure of your space by returning your application form to Project Grow before the deadline!

Low income Gardeners

Project Grow wants to make gardening available to everyone, regardless of income. Please call (734) 996-3169, if you have questions about our sliding scale fees.

Refund/Cancellation Policy

Plot registration fees minus a $5 processing fee will be refunded for cancellations prior to May 15th. No refunds will be given after May 15th.

Garden Site Features for Community Garden Plots

Plot Sizes:

FULL SIZE (approx. 25' x 30')

HALF SIZE (approx. 25' x 15' or 12.5' x 30').

Both sizes are available at all garden locations.

Plot Types:

ANNUAL – Annuals are the most common type of garden plots in the community gardens. These are plowed by Project Grow in the fall and/or spring, based on conditions at the sites. It means that gardens must be cleared each fall, which restricts the annual gardener's ability to grow to just part of the year. An advantage is that gardeners start off the season with a clean plot.

PERENNIAL – Some sites have a limited number of plots designated as perennial. These are not plowed at all by Project Grow. As a result, gardeners are able to grow things year round, including fall-planted garlic or perennial plants such as asparagus and strawberries.

Tools

Most sites supply a few gardening tools. Please take care of them.

Water

The cost of water is included in the plot fee. Water and hoses are supplied at each site. Please conserve water and take care of the hoses.

Garden Site Features for Discovery Garden Plots

Plot Sizes:

All of the Discovery Garden plots are raised container-type beds and most have approx. 24 sq. ft. of gardening surface space. The Leslie Science location plots are relatively uniform in circumference, measuring approximately 4’ x 6’. Plots at the County Farm Park vary considerably but the majority measure 3’ x 8’.

Plot Types:

EASY ACCESS– These raised beds are built to accommodate wheelchair-bound gardeners. The County Farm Park location has a variety of Easy Access bed styles to choose from.

WISE ROOTS – The height of these beds vary from two to three feet high and are intended for use by seniors and by those who require minimal bending. Many of the beds at the County Farm Park also have a ledge allowing one to sit while tending the plot.

WONDER SPROUTS – The height of the beds at the Leslie Science Center are approximately one foot high and are intended for children and their families. Beds at the County Farm Park vary from two foot to three feet high.

Tools

Both Discovery Garden sites supply many of the standard gardening tools. Please take care of them.

Water

The cost of water is included in the plot fee. Water and hoses are supplied at each site. Please conserve water and take care of the hoses.
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