Handbook

Welcome to the Fairbanks Community Garden 2020

Wendy Anderson , Site Coordinator, 456-5494

Karen Bracken, Membership Coordinator

Wendy Anderson, Webmaster

What You Get

For $ 50 and a $ 50 refundable deposit you get:
A Garden plot approximately 600 Sq. Ft. in size,
First pick of your plot year after year,
Our newsletter,
Use of our dumpster,
Use of our port-a-potty
Use of our basic tools,
Use of our water system, hoses and sprinklers, and
All the free advice you can stand.
The $ 50 deposit is returned to you if you complete 3 hours of volunteer work.

GENERAL INFORMATION

STAKES: Each corner of each plot has a painted stake. Don’t Touch! All tilling should be done within the stakes

WALK WAYS: Each plot is surrounded by paths and walk ways, which the gardeners are responsible for keeping free of weeds and obstructions. Nothing should be stored in the paths between rows. Equipment and garden refuse can be stored temporarily between the gardens.

WATER LINES: Be aware of where the water lines are before you till or dig. If you clip a water line you will get to help dig it up and repair it.

LOCKS: There are  locks in the Garden, one for each gate and the tool shed  Keep them locked at all times! You will receive the combination to the locks when you pick out your plot.

GATES: Close gates behind you when you leave.

CHEMICALS: The only chemicals banned in the Garden are nonorganic herbicides and pesticides. These do not break down well in our cold soils and often have long lasting effects.

VACATIONS: If you have to leave town, please find someone to water your plot.  Perhaps your garden neighbor would be a good resource.

TIME: Gardens take time. Please try to be realistic about the commitment you are about to make. The first 2 weeks and the last week of the season are the most time consuming. You should plan on spending at least 5 hours a week after planting.

WATER: Our water comes from a shallow well right next to the river. It has been tested for e-coli and is safe from that pathogen.

TRASH:  Trash cans will be placed at both gates, please be mindful to make sure all garbage is placed in these cans.

HARVEST & CHARITY
If you can’t harvest your plot, please contact a
Garden Officer and we will contact a local nonprofit group to do it. If you have extra crops and you would like to share with the community:
The Bread Line Soup Kitchen
907-456-8317
Fairbanks Community Food Bank
907-452-7761
Fairbanks Rescue Mission
907-452-5343

MOOSE, VANDALS, AND OTHER GARDEN PESTS
It happens. There is very little we can do about the occasional marauding moose, moron, dog, or bug. Think about this as you plant. The Garden is probably not the best place to plant one-of-a-kind items. Really tempting crops should probably not be planted next to the walk ways. Report any problems to a Garden Officer.

TILLING

Gardeners are responsible for their own digging / tilling. You can borrow a tiller, rent a tiller or hire the work out.

***We do not allow tractors out in the Garden***

MEETINGS

Gardeners are an independent bunch of folks, but there are times they should get together if they want a voice in how the Garden runs. The Community Garden has 3 main meetings:
Summer: This is our annual Garden Fest fund raising event.  Come, bring your family and friends and enjoy.
Fall– This  is our yearly potluck and bonfire. Bring the whole family. Share your garden successes
Winter: This is the one meeting everyone should attend. This is when we discuss changes in our fees, policies and rules.

**Meeting locations and times are to be announced**

 

THE WAITING LIST (Found on the Homepage)

So, you are on the waiting list. What next? This spring someone will call you and arrange a time you can meet them out in the Garden to pick out your plot. Once you find the one that appeals to you, you will read over the Garden Rules, fill out a small contract and pay your fees. Then we turn you loose and you start one of the best summers you have ever had.

GARDEN RULES

The Community Garden is on land, leased to us free from the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Gardeners are responsible for the Garden… including tools and water lines.

Garden plot fees are set by the Fairbanks Community Garden members during their winter meeting. The fee for 2022 is $50 for a plot approximately 600 sq. ft.

Plots are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each new gardener may choose only one plot until all who desire a plot have been assigned a plot. A maximum of two plots are allowed for each household.  Returning gardeners have first choice of their own plot. Plots not paid for by May 1st will be assigned to others. Returning gardeners need to pay fees and have signed contracts on or before May 1st. They may trade for a different plot once at a time assigned by the membership coordinator. New gardeners will pay fees and fill out contracts when they choose their plot. Plot fees are nonrefundable after assignment day.

Rules Governing Un-worked Plots.

It is the goal of the Fairbanks Community Garden to enable as many people to garden each year. Every year, garden plots are left un-worked during the growing season. It is the responsibility of each gardener to work their plots in accordance with the FCG guidelines. An un-worked plot denies others the opportunity to garden, spreads invasive weeds, and makes the plot difficult to recondition for future use. While gardeners may, from time to time, find they are unable to work their plot, it is encouraged that gardeners find ways to maintain their plots. Gardeners needing help working their plot may find another person to work their plot in their absence. They may also discuss their situation with the FCG coordinator to find a surrogate gardener from the waiting list.

Plots assigned to gardeners must be worked each year by or will be considered vacant. Plots considered vacant will be reassigned to a gardener who has been on the waiting list. A plot will be considered worked when the following conditions are met:

Soil is worked by June 13th
To be considered worked, soil must be tilled, shoveled over or otherwise disturbed from the previous year.
At least 25 percent of the plot area soil must be worked.
New plantings are made and maintained during the season by June 13th
New plantings include annuals, new perennials and cover crops.
Cover crops must be approved by the Garden Coordinator in advance of planting.
Weeds and grass are removed, mowed, or trimmed, and then maintained by June 13th and periodically throughout the growing season.

Plot Evaluation, Notification, and Variance Review:

Plots will be evaluated for compliance by a FCG member designated by the garden coordinator on June 6. Gardeners who have plots deemed un-worked will be notified by certified mail. Gardeners may appeal variance to this rule in writing on or before June 13th. Requests will be considered by a review group consisting of the garden coordinator, evaluator designee, and one other garden member (i.e. treasurer, etc) for consideration. Decisions of this group will be determined by a consensus vote. Decisions of the review group are final and effective at the time of decision. Variance requests will only be granted for one year. Any plot deemed un-worked for more than 1 year reverts to vacant status automatically.

Turn-over Process:

The vacating gardener of an abandoned, unworked plot will be given until June 13th to remove plants, produce, or other items from the plot, if applicable. Any hazardous chemicals or materials must be removed by the vacating gardener. After June 13 the previous gardener has no rights to plants, produce, equipment or ancillary items contained within the vacated plot. Everything in the vacated plot belongs to the person assuming responsibility of the plot.

Fees:

All maintenance and plot fees collected by the FCG for a plot that ends up being not worked on will not be returned in the event of plot revocation regardless of whither the vacating person participated in clean-up day.

Responsibility of New Gardeners:

Un-worked plots will be assigned to people on the waiting list. The new gardener will not be assessed a deposit fee for that year but will be charged rent. The new gardener will have the choice to renew their contract the following year just as any other FCG member. The new gardener has one month from the date of assumption to begin working the plot or the plot reverts to vacant status and will be reassigned. No variance will be considered.

A $50 cleanup deposit will be charged for each Garden Contract. This deposit will be returned upon the completion of an approved Community Garden task. We  refund deposits in the fall after it can be determined that the plots are ready to be rented to a new gardener should it become available. Deposits can also be donated to the garden or applied to the following year.

Pets are subject to all Borough leash laws. Please keep children under control in the Garden. Clean up after all children and pets.

When you leave, you are responsible for locking up gates and buildings and returning all tools to the tool shed. Unattended sprinklers that are causing problems in other people’s plots will be turned off.

Be aware of water lines when you till/dig.

Herbicides do not break down well in our cold soils and should not be used in the garden.
At the end of the season, clean your plot. The ground should be free of weeds, stalks, and stakes. Dead material can be turned back into the soil, composted, or put into the organic garbage dump.

It is important that you respect the rights of other gardeners and the possible future users of your plot.

Plantings of tall trees or shrubs are not allowed. All spruce, aspen, cottonwoods, alder, willows should be removed from the garden.

Anything left and abandoned in the main pathways or in common areas may be confiscated.

Children are not allowed in the tool shed alone. Parents must be with them to get tools.

We employ a 3-step policy to handle grievances and neglected plots 1) verbal warning 2) written warning 3) plot forfeiture

SOIL SAMPLE

In 1993, two of our gardeners got back the results of soil samples they had sent into the Cooperative Extension Service. They both showed the same basic results. “The pH is high. I suspect someone added a lot of lime or wood ash. Do not add any more or either. The N, P and K are low so you will need to fertilize. In the spring, before planting, broadcast 3 lbs. Per 100 sq. ft. of 10-20-10 (non-soluble) fertilizer before tilling. Adding compost or organic matter to the soil will help too.”Sample Results
( N ) Nitrogen (ppm) 4-low
( P ) Phosphorus (ppm) 13-low
( K ) Potassium (ppm) 48-low
pH …………………………………7.52-high
Following these recommendations gave these 2 gardeners great results, but please keep in mind that each plot is different and has a different history of use.

RESOURCES

Ignorance is no excuse!
Alaska Cooperative Extension has all kinds of free handouts on gardening in Alaska. This is a great place to ‘browse’ around.
Cooperative Extension Service
724 27th Ave., Suite 2 & 3
PO Box 758155
Fairbanks, AK 99775-8155
Office: 907-474-2427

Have a Great Summer!