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Windy Meadow Community Garden Code of Conduct

In order to facilitate an orderly, safe, and successful garden experience, the following guidelines

have been adopted

1. Respectfulness

a. Members, volunteers and visitors to the Garden must be respectful to the garden,

the park and its neighbours. Rudeness, bullying, name calling,

sexism/ageism/racism, shaming, and/or disrespect in any form, will not be

tolerated. Membership can be revoked immediately for inappropriate behaviour.

b. Respect your Neighbours

i. Keep noise levels to a minimum, no yelling or loud music while in the

garden.

ii. Keep the space clean. Dispose of all garbage in the garbage can.

iii. Keep the pathways clear. Pick up all tools and rocks out of the pathways

so it doesn’t become a hazard to others.

2. Membership

Windy Meadow Garden has two types of membership. An Allotment Member, someone

who rents a plot for themselves and a Volunteer member, someone who doesn’t have

their own plot but regularly helps out in the communal part of the garden. Both member

types have equal voting rights as Community Garden Members.

a. Windy Meadow Community Garden is 100% volunteer run. All garden members,

allotment and volunteer, must help out in communal duties outside of their own

individual plots.

b. To be an Allotment Member of the Garden in-good-standing you must:

i. Adhere to the Code of Conduct and sign the membership agreement.

ii. Ensure that any user of your plot follows the Code of Conduct

iii. Register for and pay for their plots in full and on time.

iv. Attend the Annual General Meeting, if at all possible.

c. To be a Volunteer Member of the Garden in-good-standing you must:

i. Adhere to the Code of Conduct and sign the volunteer agreement.

ii. Be accepted as part of the volunteer team, by application.

iii. Help out regularly in the communal garden and help with communal

duties.

iv. Attend the Annual General Meeting, if at all possible.

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Windy Meadow Community Garden Code of Conduct

3. Waiting List

a. Priority Order

i. Returning Allotment members who are in good standing who want the

same plot.

ii. Returning Allotment members who are in good standing who want a

different plot.

iii. Last year’s Volunteer members who do not yet have a plot.

b. Priority will be given to those local to the Markland St. Park Area.

c. Once a bed is offered to someone on the waiting list, that person has seven days

to accept before the plot is offered to someone else. The waiting list is compiled

annually by the board each spring.

4. Allotment Garden Registration

a. Registration should occur in March or April. Details and deadlines will be

determined by the Board and announced via email to members-in-good-standing.

b. Membership fees for allotment plots must be paid on an annual basis before the

gardening season begins, usually before or at the AGM. Deadlines and payment

methods will be determined and announced by the Board each spring. It is the

responsibility of the member to ensure payment is completed and on time. The

member is responsible for paying any fees due to incomplete payments (e.g.

from insufficient funds, bounced cheques, etc). The Association reserves the

right to acquire compensation of incomplete payment fees from the member.

Membership may be refused or revoked if payment is not made or is not made on

time.

c. There are no refunds.

5. Garden Maintenance

a. Do not attach things to the raised beds with screws/nails etc or alter the beds in

any way without prior approval from a Board member.

b. Water gardens in a timely matter

c. Weed gardens in a timely matter

d. Do not put invasive weeds into compost, place them in the designated weed pile.

Weeds such as GoutWeed and ButterCup spread by root pieces and will

contaminate all gardens through the compost. If you are unsure, place weeds in

the weed pile.

e. Beds must be tidied in preparation for winter. All plants should be removed by

Nov 1 (unless they are overwintering crops or perennials). Inform the board

members of any plants that will stay in the ground over winter.

6. Extended Absences

a. If you are unable to tend your garden for extended periods of time, either due to

vacations, illnesses, work commitments or loss of interest, let a member of the

Board know. We can either make your plot part of the communal garden, assign

the plot to someone else or simply have a volunteer tend the garden while you

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Windy Meadow Community Garden Code of Conduct

are away. You will work with a Board member to find a solution that works in each

case. We want all gardens to thrive and we will all work together to make that

happen.

b. Should there be a more permanent change in your ability or desire to garden,

don’t wait and let the weeds take over. Garden plots cannot be passed on to

family members, friends, or housemates. The next person on the waiting list will

be offered the plot. (Any personal items left behind after the plot is reassigned will

be considered donated to the Garden.)

7. Water Use

a. Only use the water you need. Do not waste the water.

8. Children and Dogs

a. We encourage children to visit the garden to enjoy the space and to learn about

gardening. However, younger children need to be supervised closely. They will

grab at the dirt and plants and might cause damage.

b. Demonstrate tool safety and give each child adequate space when using a

shovel, rake, hoe or trowel. Make sure they are respecting the space around

them, are responsibly using all materials, and that they do not enter or disturb

other’s plots.

c. All dogs need to be leashed while visiting the garden. All dog waste must be

picked up and disposed of properly in the garbage.

9. Harvest and Planting Guidelines

a. Communal / Collective Garden:

i. Everything grown in the communal garden is intended to share with

community members in need. If you would like to be considered for or

know someone who would benefit from a share of produce for the garden

contact a board member.

ii. Only harvest from the communal garden with permission of a board

member.

b. Allotment Gardens/Plot

i. Do not plant invasive plants in your beds. Plants such as Mint for example

will spread everywhere. If you are unsure of what is considered invasive

contact a board member, or check out the facebook group.

ii. Be careful when planting tall/vining plants that they don’t shade other

gardens.

iii. Use only the soil provided by Windy Meadow Garden. Soil must remain

onsite.

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Windy Meadow Community Garden Code of Conduct

iv. Members are allowed to bring in their own compost to mix into the soil for

their own garden plot. Additions such as fresh manure, kelp, or capelin

are prohibited as they may attract pests to the garden and be offensive to

neighbours. Aged compost is preferred and allowed. Compost purchased

by Windy Meadow must remain on site.

v. Pick your produce before the plant goes to seed (if you are growing it for

the seed; please let us know, and you must harvest before seeds spread

throughout the gardens).

vi. Do not pick anything out of the allotment plots without prior permission of

the plot renter.

10. As organic as possible

a. Windy Meadow Garden strives to be as organic as possible. Members are only

to use products permitted by Windy Meadow Garden and must control and

contain the use of any product to ensure it does not affect other plots and

members.

b. The use of harmful herbicides (weed killers), insecticides, animal poisons and

chemically treated items (such as stained or treated wood) are prohibited. If a

member is unsure if a product is safe, they must refrain from using it and consult

with the Board. Decisions about specific products are at the discretion of the

Board in consultation with the membership.

c. Recommended Organic Fertilizers

Organic fertilizers not only add nutrients to the soil, they may also improve

the soil structure. Some organic fertilizers which provide a source of the following

nutrients are:

i. Nitrogen (N) matured animal manures, fish emulsion, dried blood meal,

cottonseed meal (lowers pH), chopped or shredded leaves, composted

grass clippings, alfalfa meal, compost tea, earthworm castings.

ii. Phosphorus (P) Bone meal (raises pH), phosphate (crushed limestone).

iii. Potassium (K) seaweed, wood ashes/potash (raises pH).

iv. Magnesium (Mg) Dolomite / Dolomite lime (raises pH).

d. Recommended Insect Control

i. Bacillus Thuringiensis (Kurstaki) (Safer’s BtK Biological Insecticide).

ii. Insecticidal Soap: (Safer's Insecticidal soap; Safer's Trounce +

pyrethrins).

iii. Silicon Dioxide (Diatomaceous Earth) (Chem-Free Insectigone; Green

Earth Bug and Slug Killer).

iv. The use of row cover or cages can help reduce insect infestations.

v. Bug traps and picking bugs off at night can help.

11. Compost Bins

a. The compost bins are there for all gardeners to deposit the plant material from

the garden, eg carrot tops and pumpkin leaves

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Windy Meadow Community Garden Code of Conduct

b. If you would like to contribute compost from your home/kitchen please contact a

board member before doing so.

12. Safety

a. There is a first aid kit in the Tool Storage Bench. When any item is used from the

first aid kit, the Board should be notified so that they can replenish the first aid kit.

Members and users use Windy Meadow Garden and tools at their own risk. The

Board of Directors and all members and users of Windy Meadow Garden are

responsible for monitoring safety at the garden. The garden should be regularly

inspected and monitored for safety hazards at work days. Members and users

are required to report any safety concerns to the Board via email.

b. Any vandalism or illicit behaviour that occurs at the Garden must be reported to

the Board and proper authorities (e.g. City of St. John’s, police).