Updated February 2021
The Petaluma Community Garden is a cooperative effort between the City and the Community Garden Board of Directors to provide opportunities to Petaluma residents for an enhanced gardening experience and to add to the fund of garden knowledge locally. The Community Garden is located at the Cavanagh Community Center at the corner of 8th and G Streets. The entrance to the Garden is on G Street .
In any group endeavor, the individual must adjust their behavior to accommodate the function of the group. Community gardening is no exception, so we have rules. The rules are meant to protect gardeners from the possible negative impact of others’ actions and to prevent damage to the facility. Failure to observe the garden rules may result in loss of gardening privileges and forfeiture of any fees paid.
1. Volunteer Hours: Every participant must contribute at least 24 hours of volunteer time annually for a full plot and 12 hours for a half plot (beds 100 sq ft and under) to help run the garden. This is in addition to the responsibilities of maintaining your plot. It can include, but is not limited to, participating in common area work days (e.g. weeding and mulching common areas), clerical support, maintaining the website, art projects, maintaining the compost piles, cleaning out bird bath, pruning roses & fruit trees, maintaining the paths and any border area adjacent to your plot, moving garbage cans to curb for pickup, or training programs.
2. Pathways and border plantings: Each plot holder must maintain all the pathways adjacent to their plot in a mulched and weed-free state. Gardeners whose plots border the center aisle must maintain their half of the aisle. Gardeners whose plots are on the garden periphery must maintain the border planting area adjacent to their plot. No permanent plants nor obstructions to the pathways around your plot
3. Garden Plots: Plots are assigned for the calendar year (January 1 –December 31). Each household may have one whole plot or two half plots or a half plot, with the exception that they may temporarily have two if they are transitioning to another plot which has been abandoned and reassigned to them mid-season.
If you don’t plant your plot by May 1, you will be given a warning and if still unplanted by June 1st, it may be reassigned to the next household on the waiting list and your annual plot rental fee will not be refunded. If you will not be returning to your plot the following year (if you are either leaving the Community Garden or changing plots), you must have your plot cleared by December 31.
4. Garden Hours: The garden is open dawn to dusk.
5. Personal Conduct: The Community Garden is by nature a co-operative venture of the plot holders. Please conduct yourself in a manner that is considerate of others and of maintaining a tranquil atmosphere in the garden. The behavior of family members and friends is the plot holder’s responsibility. The following activities are prohibited:
· Loud, offensive, or boisterous behavior
· Trespassing on other garden plots.
· Smoking, vaping,
· Amplified music
· Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, marijuana or illegal substance.
6. Guests and Pets: The community garden is considered a park owned by the City of Petaluma . Everyone is invited to enter and enjoy the garden from sunrise to sunset. Guests are asked to respect the individual gardens and not pick produce or flowers. Close the gate when entering or leaving. Dogs are to be kept on leash.
7. Plantings: Gardeners must plant and keep all vegetation within the established plot boundaries; they may not protrude into pathways or border plantings. Tall plants such as corn, sunflowers, beans, tomatillos, and tomatoes, and spreading plants such as squash and pumpkins, must be located such that they do not shade adjoining garden plots.
No trees may be planted in the garden plots. Plants that have invasive root systems that spread and cannot be contained, such as raspberries, blackberries, mint family, or wisteria, are not allowed. Certain plants are poisonous, especially for children. Do not plant them in the Community Garden . If you have questions about whether a plant falls into one of these categories, present your questions to the Board for research or a decision.
Plants or produce grown in the garden are considered to be for plot holders' consumption. Sharing with other gardeners is encouraged and donations to the Petaluma Kitchen are appreciated.
8. Water: The maximum amount of watering for any one plot on any day is fifteen (15) minutes. This translates to about 75 gallons, which is more than enough for even the hottest of summer days. Water conservation measures and techniques are encouraged. Water usage must be kept under control at all times so as not to damage adjacent plots.
· All watering must be accomplished by hand-held hose or drip-type irrigation systems when immediately attended by a gardener or on a timer/control system. No trench watering or hose-end sprinklers.
· Set automatic watering timers to avoid watering during the hottest part of the day ( 10 AM – 4 PM ).
· Disconnect hose at faucet – should faucet not be completely off, you will then notice the flow.
· Immediately repair or replace leaking hoses or drip systems. If you notice another plot holder’s system leaking, let them know (there is a garden plot map and plot holders’ contact information posted on the bulletin board inside the shed.)
· Use mulch material.
*all faucets should be fully turned off during frost season
**Should you locate leaks in the irrigation system, shut off water at the main located in the ground in a green box half way along the narrow part of the pool wall.
*** Call Recreation Department at 778-4380.
9. Weeds: Garden plots must be kept clean and free from weeds, rotting vegetation, and refuse; this includes all adjoining walkways. It is your responsibility to maintain all the walkways adjacent to your plot. Weeds must be kept under control at all times so as not to damage adjacent plots. Only non-toxic herbicides that conform to state law are permitted.
10. Fertilizers and Soil Amendments: Use of fertilizer material or tillage methods harmful to humans, the soil structure, fertility, or soil micro-organisms is not acceptable. No grass clippings are to be brought into the gardens due to the possibility of accidental introduction of weeds, Bermuda grass, etc.
ACCEPTABLE: Cottonseed, blood, bone, horn or hoof meals, kelp, manure,
compost, liquid fish or seaweed, bacillus, thruigiensis, soap
spray, pepper and onion spray, sulphur, wood ashes, sour milk
solution, traps, tanglefoot, marigolds, netting, lady bugs, lace
wings, and similar non-toxic fertilizers and soil amendments.
NOT ACCEPTABLE: Toxic substances such as ammonium sulfate, muriate of potash,
super-phosphate highly soluble chemical fertilizers, rotonone,
Pyrethium, Sevin, Malathion, diazinon, and nicotine sulfate.
These ACCEPTABLE and NOT ACCEPTABLE lists will be reviewed and updated annually by the Community Garden Board, and will be posted inside the shed. All fertilizers and soil amendments used must conform to State law.
11. Rodent and Insect Control: No toxic substances may be used for rodent and insect control. Safer-soap and gopher traps are available in the shed. Gardeners should make a concerted effort to control ‘all pests’ in and around their plots
12. Composting: A central composting site will be established for use by all gardeners. However, if you contribute to it or use the finished compost, you must share in the task of turning the material. Materials to be composted should be chopped to several inches in length when they are added to the compost. Diseased plant material, flowering weeds nettles, convolvulus and invasive plants (e.g. Bermuda Grass) shall not be added. Nor should you add food matter from your home.
13. Improvements: Permanent structures (with the exception of raised bed framing) are not allowed in individual plots. Improvements within individual garden plots such as trellises and shade devices must be removed when you give up your plot or leave the garden, unless you get approval from your successor or the garden Board. However, soil improvements become part of the garden and must stay in the garden. If you wish to establish raised beds, the construction of the bed boundaries must be no higher than 18 inches and must not be created with chemical induced pressure-treated lumber. The raised beds must allow at least 2.5 feel of pathway between plots for access where possible. If members wish to alter the footprint of their plot they must have board approval first. Members shall not make modifications, improvements, or changes that expand the plot size beyond the dimensions set forth in the plot map. Prior to installation of raised bed framing (wood, plastic, concrete rounds/chunks or other material), a member shall obtain the Board’s approval by submitting a written request to the Board describing the design and dimensions of the proposed raised bed framing. The Board shall in a reasonable period of time act on a member’s request. Grandfathering provision effective January 14, 2017: a plot with existing raised bed framing that has dimensions greater than that set forth in the plot map may continue at the discretion of the Board until such time as is necessary to replace the raised bed framing. The Board may, at its discretion, request a member to make modifications to a plot to conform the plot with the dimensions as set forth in the plot map. Such modifications may include but are not limited to reducing the dimension of the plot and reconstructing raised bed framing. A modification request by the Board shall provide the member with a reasonable period of time to make any modification. Raised bed framing and soil additions/improvements become part of the garden and may not be removed by a member upon termination of membership
14. Refuse: Organic garden refuse not used as compost should be taken home with you or put in the Garden cans. Non-organic refuse must be hauled away by gardeners or placed in Garden cans. This includes all bottles, cans, plastic bags, etc. Cans need to be put on the road Thursday nights and brought back in Friday afternoons once emptied
15. Personal Property: Plants, produce, supplies, and tools supplied by a gardener for their garden plot are to be considered the personal property of that gardener. At no time should plants, cuttings, produce, supplies, or tools be removed or borrowed from another gardener’s plot without their specific permission. Violation of this policy will result in revocation of the violator’s use of their garden plot. items stored in shed are for everyone's use and Garden tools/equipment are not to be take out of the Garden at any time
16. Vehicles: No automobiles, trucks, or motorcycles are allowed in the garden beyond the end of the paved (gravel) driveway, and then only for moving materials that cannot readily be moved to and from the street. Wheelbarrows and carts may be left in the garden at owner’s risk.
17. Security: Each plot holder will be given the combination to the storage shed lock. The last gardener in the garden must close the gate and storage shed when leaving. Never give the lock combination to anyone who is not a registered plot holder.
18. Public Display: No advertising shall be exhibited and no solicitation or sales may be made on the grounds or through the website & email without the permission of the Community Garden Board and the City.
19. Grievances: Grievances, unless they can be resolved immediately with your fellow Community Garden member, should be brought to the attention of the garden Board.