Sanford Community Garden Sign-up Form & SPECIAL COVID-19 RULES

Special COVID-19 Safety Rules

Sanford Community Garden will open this season on April 1. Our new gravel access road and parking lot extension should provide adequate access and parking for early season gardening. COVID-19 information is widely available to help us all avoid contracting this terrible disease. The Community Garden Advisory Committee instructs everyone using the garden, tool shed, and outdoor restroom to follow established CDC precautions. Social distancing and properly fitting face masks are required when others are in the garden. Hand washing and/or sanitizing prior to entering the garden and using the outdoor restroom is required. Hand sanitizer is available in the restroom; we will have some personal sizes available for gardeners, as well as spray bottles for disinfecting your tools and food-cleaning surfaces. These are unprecedented conditions and as vaccinating programs progress, community immunity levels will permit a gradual easing of required COVID-19 precautionary activities. Until then, stay safe, keep well, and remain vigilant while enjoying the outdoors! 

1. The tool shed, watering hoses and wands, restroom, and wash station will be available for use. Please take appropriate precautions regarding COVID-19 safety.
2. Tools, fertilizers, knee pads, buckets, and, most importantly, soil test kits, are in the tool shed and available for use. Personal tool use during pandemic times is more safe and encouraged.    

COVID-19 Rules For Sanford Community Gardeners During the 2021 Season

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/outdoor-garden.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/food-pantries.html 

Sanford Community Garden will be implementing the following COVID-19 safety precautions for the 2021 season, based upon the above CDC web page guidelines, which everyone should read. Please understand this is for EVERYONE’S safety. University of Maine Extension’s Master Gardener Volunteers ( MGV’s ) will provide advice and help, if needed. They will also oversee the garden beds and the food pantry plot. An ADA-accessible outdoor restroom is on site. The Sanford Community Garden Advisory Committee asks everyone to abide by these rules, and to report any reasons for discomfort with other’s behavior to the Advisory Committee via the MGV’s. All non-conformance issues will be addressed by the Committee, and not by MGV’s.    

Personal hand sanitizer and disinfectant will be given to all gardeners. Hand sanitization is required prior to garden entry. Hand washing is available at the wash station. Use of disposable or washable work gloves is encouraged.  

Gardeners will be expected to maintain social distancing. Masks are not required when social distancing but strongly encouraged. Mask wearing is required at all times in or out of the garden for those that are interacting with MGV’s. MGV’s must wear masks at all times in or out the garden when others are present, and must also social distance.  

Gardeners are strongly encouraged to interact with MGV’s help via non-face-to-face communication whenever possible: texts, emails, social media chats, cell phone.

The table and chairs will be required to be appropriately spaced to comply with CDC/Governor’s mandates; placards will be posted as to spacing requirements. 

Tool shed use: 1 person at a time; masks required for entry; tools must be disinfected before and after use with supplied disinfectant solution that is mixed in accordance with CDC guidelines for that purpose. 

Rest room use is in accordance with CDC and Governor’s guidelines. Installed hand sanitizer use is required before and after using the restroom. 

Various placards will be posted with COVID-19 safety information. Please do not succumb to “sign fatigue”! Read them for refreshment occasionally. It’s not just your health and safety involved—it’s EVERYONE’S. 

Garden Philosophy

The tool shed will serve as a communications center. Notices will be posted, along with the garden guidelines, and lists of approved organic soil amendments, pesticides, and herbicides. Again, MGV’s help is available for any gardening issues and questions you may have; their assistance will be in accordance with the above COVID-19 precautions. 

You’ll be encouraged to use the square foot gardening procedure developed by Mel Bartholomew as a means of getting the most out of a limited space, but you can use whatever layout you want. By the same token, certain species and varieties will be recommended based on experience. Again, you may choose your own. In any case, the point you should keep in mind is that the size of the bed places a limit on how many types of plants you can grow.

The Garden

Each selected applicant will have a four-foot by twelve-foot, 10 inch high raised bed filled with blended topsoil amended with compost. Plots will be reserved for home school students and their families. Other plots are for local food pantry donations and Community Gardeners are asked to help with tending these. 

Selected applicants will be assigned plots on a first-come, first-served basis, and will be expected to volunteer at least six hours of caring for the food pantry plot during the growing season; this is a requirement for having a plot in the garden another year.

General Policies

1. The following are not allowed: Smoking, alcohol, pets, subletting plots, non-organic control materials, unattended children, fresh manure, cannabis, illegal or invasive plants.
2. Place disease-free plants, parts, and weeds in the compost pile provided.
3. When leaving the garden, return any tools you used to the tool shed and close the tool shed door. Return the water hose to its holder and close the garden gates. 
4. Consider neighboring plots when planting vine or tall-growing plants such as cucumbers, squash, corn or sunflowers; use dwarf-type varieties and plant tall or trellised crops down the center of the bed.
5. Plots should be fully planted by June 8, and be properly cared for during the whole season; ask for help if you need it!

Using a plot at the Sanford Community Garden is a privilege; the Advisory Committee reserves the right to revoke the privilege of any gardener at any time for any reason it deems appropriate. To be considered for a raised bed, complete and submit the “Application For Community Garden Plot”. Also, copy and print the Waiver and Contract; copies can be made available for you prior to gardening. After reading, understanding, and signing it, send it via email. You can alternatively hand it to, or send it via Post Office mail to: Kev & Patty McKeon, 246 Blanchard Rd., Springvale, Me. 04083.

General Contact and Master Gardener Volunteer help/advice:

Kev: 207-206-5934; Patty: 207-206-5933; sanfordcomgdn@gmail.com

Facebook Community Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1192392210830993/

Application For Community Garden Plot

                                 SANFORD SPRINGVALE MOUSAM WAY LAND TRUST                                     Waiver and Contract

Sanford Community Garden:

I agree to waive, release and hold harmless the Sanford Springvale Mousam Way Land Trust, York County Cooperative Extension, and Master Gardeners from any and all damages, claims, suits or injuries.  By using the Sanford Community Garden located at Blanchard Road in Springvale, I assume responsibility for all risks, damages to self or personal property and hazards, including any third parties or children I may bring onto said property, for the purpose of gardening or otherwise.  Insurance coverage is my own responsibility.  I agree to act in a safe, sensible and responsible manner and will use respect with property and other people while at the garden.  I also understand and agree to follow the general policies of the garden.

Photographic Release:

I agree on my behalf and my minor children to be photographed while in the garden area and grant permission to use the photograph/s for publication, promotion or news purposes and waive any rights I/we or they may have to compensation for or ownership of the photograph/s.        

Signing below signifies that I have read, understand and agree to these waivers and policies.

Signature_______________________________________  Date_________________________________