Food Gatherers

 

The Food Gatherers garden is located in front if Food Gatherers at 1 Carrot Way, off Dhu Varren on Ann Arbor's north side. It has 18 plots. The property is owned by Food Gatherers and water is provided from an on site well.

 

MAP OF GARDEN:  Food Gatherers Map

 

SITE COORDINATOR: Dan Noble (danielmnoble@comcast.net)

SOIL: Heavily amended with compost when it was used by Food Gatherers. We have only looked at the soil in winter but it looks to be good.

 

PARKING: Gardeners are asked to not park in the Food Gatherers lot until after 4pm on weekdays. During those times, gardeners may park across the street at the Ann Arbor Chinese Christian Church. 

 

FOOD DONATION: In keeping with its mission, Food Gatherers has requested that gardeners at the site donate 10% of their harvest to them. As most Project Grow gardeners experience surpluses during the season, easy access to the donation site at Carrot Way is a bonus.

 

INDIVIDUAL PLOT MAINTENANCE:  All gardeners are responsible for keeping weeds down in their plots and along the adjacent pathways. Various mulches may be used in a garden to inhibit weed growth, conserve water, and promote a hospitable micro-climate for plants and worms. Any non-organic mulch (black plastic, etc.) should be covered with some type of organic mulch.

 

GARDEN MAINTENANCE:  The major perimeters of the garden are mowed by the Ann Arbor Parks Department only if we keep the area free from organic refuse and other debris and stones. Please pile rocks in designated areas only....rocks break mower blades! Please take all non-organic materials home with you when you leave the site. Please help make the gardens beautiful this summer by maintaining your own plot and keeping the gardens free from debris, etc.

 

WATER:  Water comes from a a well on the Food Gatherers property. Watering of gardens is never to be unattended; hose timers are prohibited.

 

COMPOSTING:  Any organic waste generated during the growing season may be tilled into the soil or taken home for composting by the city. However, diseased plants should always be removed from the site, to minimize the presence of pathogens in the gardens. 

 

Please do not create renegade compost piles anywhere outside of your garden plot and do not discard of any organic or inorganic material in the woods. This area is protected by NAP.

 

TOOLS:  We plan to put in a shed at this site but until we do, tools for community use will be stored in near the entrance to the garden.

 

FENCING:  The entire site is fenced to 6 feet. Project Grow intends to run lines above this height to deter deer. 

 

COMMUNICATION:  Expect a few email asking you to help out with volunteer tasks. In recent years, we have also used the garden group email list to make important announcements.  If you have not already notified us of your email address, let us know right away! Finally, e-newsletters will also contain important information about upcoming projects and events. 

 

ABANDONED PLOTS:  Plots that have not been seriously worked by June 1st or are overgrown with weeds taller than 18” at any point in the season will be considered abandoned and may be reassigned. Contact your site coordinator or the office if you are having problems getting started or if you have to abandon your plot.

FALL CLEAN-UP:  Your plot must be cleared no later than day's end on Saturday, October 15th, 2016. Organic material may be chopped up and spread evenly across your plot to be plowed in later. Take home all non-organic material, i.e. fences, stakes, plastic, paper, etc. Failure to clean up your plot according to the guidelines set forth in the Member Handbookmay result in discharge from the garden.