Gardener Guidelines

Rules and Responsibilities

Community Garden Rules and Gardener’s Responsibilities:

Rules and regulations serve a purpose—to maintain a safe, clean, beautiful and friendly environment for community gardeners and the community at large. The following guidelines have been established by the members of this garden. Please read the guidelines and direct any questions or comments to the garden leaders. Each gardener must understand and agree to the following rules and responsibilities before gardening with Oak Hill Community Garden.

1. All gardeners are required to complete an application form. The selected membership application fee is due with the application annually.

2. New gardeners must attend a Garden Orientation. Orientations are offered every other month, or as needed. Returning gardeners are strongly encouraged to attend one Orientation annually as well.

3. Garden meetings and work parties are scheduled throughout the season. Please plan to attend to get to know your fellow gardeners and assist with garden upkeep and special projects. 

4. Gardeners are responsible for assisting with maintenance of common areas in the garden.

5. Gardeners should plan to contribute 12 hours annually in the maintenance of common garden space.

6. Keep your plot tended. If you plan to discontinue use of your space, please let the garden committee know as soon as possible so that your plot can be assigned to another gardener. No plants are permitted to encroach on walkways for safety reasons.

7. Gardeners are responsible for planting, cultivating and maintaining their own garden plots, unless otherwise arranged. 

8. Gardeners are responsible for clearing all plant and trellis materials out of their own garden by the end of each gardening season. Dead material should be placed in compost piles.

9. Tall plants and vines should be planted in areas where they will not interfere with your neighbor’s plot. Planting illegal plants or invasive species is prohibited and will result in the forfeiture of your garden plot.

10. The use of chemical control methods within the Oak Hill Community Garden are prohibited. Proper pest control should be biological, physical, or the least toxic control method appropriate.

11. Pick up litter when you see it.

12. Please put weeds and dead plants into the compost bin provided. Do not leave them in the pathway. Any diseased plants, seedy, or invasive weeds are to be bagged and put in the trash so as not to contaminate the gardens. 

13.  Do not apply anything to or pick anything from another person's plot without their permission.

14. Please do not leave the water on when unattended. When finished gardening for the day, please roll up the hose at the faucet area, return tools to the shed and lock the shed before leaving the garden.

15. Please close the garden gate behind you if you are the only one in the garden. The gate should remain closed at all times, especially if no one is present in the garden. 

16. Smoking, vaping and chewing tobacco is not allowed. 

17. No pets, drugs, radios, firearms or fires are allowed in the garden. 

18. Please supervise children in the garden at all times.

19. For your safety, only garden during daylight hours. Report theft, vandalism and unusual activities to the garden leaders.

20. Disrespectful or abusive language or destructive behavior can result in the immediate loss of all gardening privileges, and forfeiture of any crops remaining in the garden.

21. Use common courtesy, be considerate of your gardening neighbors and ENJOY.

22. Violation of gardener guidelines: If any of the guidelines are violated you will be contacted by phone or email and have one week to address the violation. After one week, if the violation has not been remedied, you will lose your gardening privileges.

Oak Hill Community Garden Committee Responsibilities

1. Oak Hill Community Garden Committee is responsible for administering the overall guidelines and programs of the
   Community Garden.

2. Oak Hill Community Garden Committee is responsible for registering gardeners and assigning available plots to each gardener.

3. Oak Hill Community Garden Committee will provide a code to the tool shed so gardeners can access communal tools. 

4. Oak Hill Community Garden Committee will provide tools, technical assistance, educational opportunities and skills training when possible.

5. Oak Hill Community Garden Committee is responsible for maintenance of water and drip irrigation systems and will provide maintenance and annual soil additions to raised beds and common planting spaces.

Oak Hill Community Garden Committee reserves the right to make changes or exceptions to
policies where and when appropriate. 

Gardening Activities

The Oak Hill Community Garden has opportunities available for different types of gardens. The garden sections include: Edible Garden, Flower Garden, Historical Garden, Fruit Trees, Children's Garden, and Pollinator Garden. In addition to these spaces there are common pathways, entryways and water features. Each gardener can join in maintaining and growing in any of these spaces. Gardeners will have the opportunity to join in on volunteer work days that are of most interest to them. 

Garden Plots

There will be a limited number of 4x8 garden plots available for individual use. The use of each plot is annual, and can be renewed as long as the plot is in good order.  

Land

To remain in compliance with the signed land lease agreement with the City of Oak Hill, no invasive plants or trees may be planted, and all items brought to be displayed in the garden are up to review by the garden committee. 

Organic Best Management Practices must be used by all gardeners. 

Our goal is to protect human health and the environment by using the least toxic methods to control pests and stimulate plant growth. This means all gardeners must have knowledge of and practice organic methods. These methods include, but are not limited to: identification of plant pests; using only non-synthetic fertilizers when necessary; using pest resistant varieties of plants; using plants that are right for your site; follow recommended planting dates for specific plants in this area in for gardening; Using only organic insect controls, physical barriers or planting methods as your form of insect control; 

The goal of organic gardening is to create and nurture healthy soil and a healthy plant environment in the garden.

Weeds and Trash

We require that all weeds must be kept under control in all garden plots. It is the gardeners’ responsibility to remove the weeds and trash in their own plots and adjacent pathways, and to clear their plot of trellis materials and debris at the end of the season. Gardeners are also required to assist with weeding common areas. Garden weeds are defined as invasive or problematic plants (such as pigweed, dollarweed, etc.) about to go to seed. 

Water Use, Irrigation and Mulch

Our goal is to have an automatic drip irrigation system operating at each garden site.

All first time gardeners will receive a demonstration on where and how water can be accessed. Do not alter the system in any way. The water is being provided as a part of our lease with the City of Oak Hill, so please report any leaks or other problems immediately to a garden leader. The drip system is a water-efficient method of garden irrigation. Each gardener will learn how the drip irrigation system works at the gardener orientation meetings. If an automatic drip system is not installed then water hoses and hose attached sprinklers should be used. You can also help make sure that water is not wasted, and greatly reduce your garden’s water needs by using mulch (this also helps keep out weeds).

Cooperation and Community

This project will be more successful if all of our gardeners work together. We ask that in addition to your annual fee, you also make a contribution of your time by participating in clean-up projects in the summer and winter and general maintenance throughout the season. Each gardener is expected to contribute 12 hours of labor to the garden during the year.

Annual Fee Structure: 

Student Member: Free 

Senior Member (65 years and older): $10 

 Member: $25

Angel Member: $100

Click Here for the 2025 Membership Application Form

Please remember Oak Hill Community Gardens is a small project of a local organization the Oak Hill Community Trust a non-profit organization, and is supported by donated funds that must be raised annually. All work is done by volunteers at the
Oak Hill Community Garden, so your patience and consideration are appreciated. The care and maintenance of the garden is the collective responsibility of the community gardeners.