Sunset Drive Garden Site Rules

Site Rules

Membership and Renewal

• Your signed application must be submitted and accepted before orientation (mail or online). Registration forms will be available starting May 14, 2018.
• Submit our signed liability waiver and membership fee at the time of orientation. No refunds will be given after June 10, 2018. The membership fee covers use of water, compost and available tools.
• Garden plots are assigned to one person only (the plot holder, who signs the application) and are not transferable. Payment of fees, cleanup and other duties at the site are the responsibility of the plot holder.

Planting and Cleanup Deadlines

• Plots must be clean, fully prepared and at least partially planted by June 10, 2018. Plots not meeting this requirement will be considered abandoned and can be reassigned immediately with no refund.
• Remove dead plants and any temporary structures by the cleanup deadline of October 15, 2018.
• Put plant material removed from your garden in the designated compost bins or haul it away. Do not dump it on nearby ground surrounding the garden area.
• Not meeting the cleanup deadline or waste disposal directions is a rules violation.

Plot Maintenance Rules

• Keep weeds under control. Plots will be inspected for weeds once every two weeks starting June 15, 2018. If a plot is found to be excessively weedy (contains weeds that are 12″ high) or has overripe produce, the plot holder will receive a rules violation.
• Biodegradable mulch or ground coverings can be applied, such as chemical-free grass clippings. Covering the ground with black plastic is allowed if the plastic is secured and removed at the end of the growing season. Failure to comply is a rules violation.
• Organic waste from the plot must be removed and put in the designated compost bin or hauled away. Waste cannot be piled or composted within the garden plot or dumped on the grounds surrounding the garden. Rocks cannot be piled on the paths between plots or ground surrounding the plots. Rocks removed from the garden should be put in the designated bin. Failure to comply is a rules violation.
• Garden plants and structures must stay within the boundaries of the garden plot and cannot extend onto the paths between plots or ground surrounding the garden area.
• Structures erected within the plot cannot shade nearby plots. No tall plants (6′ or taller) are to be raised. This includes sweet corn, trees and shrubs.
• The Sunset Drive Garden is an organic garden. Only organic-approved methods for controlling pests and weeds can be used. Contact the garden site coordinator if you have questions about whether a product or method can be used. Using unapproved pesticides or herbicides will result in forfeiture of your plot.
• Individual gardens may be fenced (3′ height limit), but the fence must be within the border of the garden and not extend to the paths separating the garden plots. This is so the paths can be mowed.
• We encourage you to pick ripe produce promptly so as to discourage theft and vandalism.

Tools and Water

• Tools and water are available for your use. These tools must be returned to the storage site in clean condition after you are finished using them and not left at your plot. Please handle the tools with care and use them properly. If a tool breaks, report this to the garden site coordinator.
• Water hook-ups will be available, but you must supply your own hoses. We ask that you limit your use of a water hook-up to no more than two hours.

Visitors, Children and Pets

• We encourage you to bring any visitors and children to the garden site. Children must be adequately supervised so they do not enter other garden plots.
• Pets must be tethered or leashed, carefully supervised and any waste from pets removed.

Other Regulations

• The garden plots are open for work between dawn and dusk. No gardeners can work in their plots after dark.
• Motorized vehicles cannot be brought into the garden area.
• Alcohol or smoking is not allowed on monastery property.
• Raising poisonous or illegal plants is prohibited.

Rules Violations

• There is an automatic forfeiture of your plot if you receive a third rules violation within one growing season.
• If a rules violation occurs, the plot holder will receive written notice and the problem must be corrected within 10 days of the postmark on the written notice. Failure to comply will result in a second rules violation.
• If a second rules violation occurs, the plot holder will receive written notice and the problem must be corrected within 10 days of the postmark on the written notice. Failure to comply will result in forfeiture of the plot.