Chapel Hill

The Chapel Hill garden is an annual site with 20 half plots. It's located in the center of the Chapel Hill Condominium Association, 3350 Green Road and was created at the request of residents there, specifically for their use. Chapel Hill residents have until March 15th to apply for plots. After that date non-residents may be assigned to any remaining plots.

With the great interest in the community garden that has been expressed at Chapel Hill, many gardeners have chosen to share their half plot with a neighbor, in order to give as many residents an opportunity to garden as possible. When this is the case, we ask that one gardener apply for and pay for the plot and be Project Grow's point of contact. “Sharecroppers” can reimburse their neighbors directly for half of the half plot. This helps Project Grow keep overhead costs lower, avoiding the need to manage quarter plots and twice as many gardeners.

MAP OF GARDEN: Chapel Hill map

SITE-COORDINATOR: Bob Zorn (robert.c.zorn@gmail.com)

SOIL: Soil testing done in 2010 showed the soil to be alkaline, with a pH of 7.7. Most vegetable crops prefer neutral to slightly acidic soil. Sawdust, composted leaves, wood chips, cottonseed meal, leaf mold and especially peat moss, will lower the soil pH. 15# sulfur is the recommended application for a full plot to lower pH to 6.5 The soil is considered loam, has average nutrient holding capacity and will benefit from the addition of organic matter. 2.5# nitrogen, 3.75# phosphorous and 2.5# potassium are prescribed for a full plot at the beginning of the season with regular applications of nitrogen and a little phosphorous throughout.

INDIVIDUAL PLOT MAINTENANCE: Please be considerate of neighbors. All gardeners are responsible for keeping weeds down in their plots and along the adjacent pathways. Various mulches may be used in your garden to inhibit weed growth, conserve water, and promote a hospitable micro-climate for plants and worms. Marsh hay is usually available in the spring, delivered to the garden from a local grower for a reasonable fee. If interested in learning more about marsh hay deliveries contact your site coordinator.

GARDEN MAINTENANCE: The major perimeters of the garden are mowed by Chapel Hill maintenance only if we keep the area free from organic refuse and other debris and stones. Compost your own organic material within your plot. 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. And please help make the gardens beautiful this summer by maintaining your own plot and keeping the garden free from debris, etc.

WATER:  City water is provided and is distributed from spigots located at the east end of each aisle. Water use should be limited to a reasonable amount and water conservation should be practiced to every extent possible. When finished watering please coil hoses neatly at the spigot. Do not leave them in the aisles where they can trip people. We try to keep hose mending kits in the tool box. If you notice leaks in the hose lines please repair them or notify your site coordinator(s) immediately.

Watering should never be unattended-hose timers are prohibited.

TOOLS: There will be a modest supply of gardening tools available for gardeners to use. They are marked by a red-tipped handle and the name of Project Grow painted on them and are stored in the large toolbox located on the north side of the maintenance building. Please return all tools to the toolbox when you have finished using them.

COMMUNICATION:  We use a garden group email list to make important announcements.  If you have not already notified us of your email address, let us know right away! 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 will be reassigned or solarized. Contact your site coordinator or the Project Grow 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 the end of the third Saturday in October. Organic material may be chopped up and spread evenly across your plot, to be plowed under later in the fall.  Take home all non-organic material, i.e., fences, stakes, plastic, paper, etc. The goal is to have little evidence of the presence of Project Grow once the garden is tilled for the year.  Failure to clean up your plot according to the guidelines set forth in the Member Handbook may result in expulsion from the garden.