Sunshine Gardens Site Rules
   

Community gardens transform empty lots into green, living spaces. They are collaborative projects created by members of the community, who share both the maintenance and rewards of the garden. The simple act of planting a garden can create positive environmental, economic and social impacts for a neighborhood. Community gardens foster cultural understanding and an awareness of the environment around us. Site rules are necessary to help us work together as a community and must be adhered to. Gardeners who do not honor these site rules may be required to relinquish their garden(s).


Site Rules in Microsoft Word format
Site Rules in Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Bylaws in Microsoft Word format
Bylaws in PDF format

SITE RULES

SUNSHINE COMMUNITY GARDENS

Adopted June 10, 2006

 

Sunshine Community Gardens, an organic garden, is a project of Greenlights for Non-Profit Success and is located on a site leased from the Texas State School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

 

I. PLOTS (Rentals, Service Hours, Rules, Maintenance and Forfeiture)

 

A.     RENTALS

Each full plot measures 20' x 20' and each half plot measures 20'x10'. The location of each plot is specified in the plot rental contract and on the site map. Features abutting each plot may include neighboring plots, 3' pedestrian paths, roadways, water hardware, and common areas as indicated on the site map.

 

Full plot: $90.00 per year, $50.00 per half year season

Half plot: $45.00 per year, $27.50 per half year season

Full plot deposit: $30.00 (This is a one-time charge)

Half plot deposit: $20.00 (this is a one-time charge)

Tool Co-op: $20.00 (This is a one-time non-refundable charge)

Returned check fee: $30.00

Unworked service hours: $30.00 per hour for first two hours, $10.00 per hour for subsequent hours (See I.B. below)

 

The first name to appear on the Gardener's Contract signed at the time of rental is considered the "Primary Gardener". All gardeners on the contract are collectively and severally bound by the contract. Gardeners on multiple gardener contracts agree that the first name on the contract is the designated contact for all business correspondence from the garden. Any new gardener must be added to the contract before being allowed to garden the plot.

 

New gardeners must complete the following in the first thirty days of rental or forfeit their plots without refund of rental or deposit:

1. Plot cleared of all plant material other than healthy herbs, perennials or vegetables.

2. At least one-half of the plot must be newly planted and the other half mulched or covered.

The spring season runs from February 1st to July 31st and the fall season runs from August 1st to January 31st. A gardener may rent only one plot during the first season they are at the garden. Additional plots may then be rented on the recommendation of the Zone Coordinator. Gardeners may not rent more than a total of three plots.

 

B.     SERVICE HOURS

 

Full Plots: 6 hours per six month season (First 2 hours required)

Half Plots: 3 hours per six month season (First 2 hours required)

 

Clearing plots that were not cleared by the previous tenant may count as service hours only to the extent of one-half of the total service hours required. Maintenance of the common areas does not count as service hours. (See II. COMMON AREAS).

 

New gardeners are required to work their first (1st) service hour within 30 days of rental and their second (2nd) hour within 60 days of rental.

Gardeners with severe disabilities may be exempt from service hours, but are encouraged to participate. Not all service hours require physical labor.

 

It is the responsibility of the gardener to record service hours on the cards provided prior to the last day of the seasons (January 31 and July 31). First two (2) service hours will be billed at $30.00 per hour, subsequent service hours billed at $10.00 per hour at the end of each season.

 

C.       RULES

 

  1. No illegal plants, trees, cacti, castor beans (or other poisonous plants) may be planted.
  2. Diseased and pest-ridden plants must be removed from the site or placed in the dumpster to prevent spreading.
  3. Smoking and chewing tobacco is prohibited. Tobacco carries the mosaic virus which is deadly to some plants.
  4. No permanent structures should be placed on the plot. Temporary structures should not shade a neighbor's plot without the approval of that neighbor.
  5. Only organic nutrients and pest controls are used in the garden. When in doubt about a product or method, check with a Zone Coordinator, Officer or fellow gardener.
  6. Hoses in use on the site belong to the gardeners in the areas of usage and repairs and replacements are the responsibility of the gardeners using them.
  7. The use of chemically treated wood (i.e. wolmanized wood) is not allowed. These products contain arsenic, hexavalent chromium and other toxic substances, which may leach into the soil.
  8. Tools should be used only for the purpose for which they were intended, and should be returned clean to their proper place in the tool shed. Only gardeners over 14 years of age are allowed to use power tools. Please check for gasoline and oil and report any mechanical problems
  9. Unattended watering is not allowed with the exception of soaker hoses, the recommended watering method. Soaker hoses may be left on unattended for no more that 3 hours during the daylight hours only. Gardeners using sprinklers or hoses should take into account wind and temperatures to ensure as little waste as possible.
  10. Pets must be restrained on leashes at all times.
  11. Each gardener is responsible for disposal of trash. Do not place any trash in common areas or roadways. Only organic, compostable material is to be placed in the composting area. No trash from off the property may be placed in the dumpster.
  12. NO ALCOHOL OR ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES MAY BE CONSUMED ON THE ENTIRE SITE. Doing so can jeopardize our lease with the State School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
  13. In order to maintain a non-profit status, no gardener may:
    1. Use a sign or name with reference to Sunshine Community Gardens in conjunction with for-profit sale of produce or flowers in any venue.
    2. Use the office trailer or building at Sunshine Community Gardens in conjunction with for-profit sale of produce or flowers.
    3. Use any materials or property, other than those agreed to in the rental contract, donated to or purchased with funds from Sunshine Community Gardens in conjunction with for-profit sale of produce or flowers.
  14. This is a community garden. Other gardeners are our neighbors. There should be no harassment, threats, verbal abuse or acts of violence by any person against any other person. Such acts should be reported to the Board. If necessary, proper authorities will be called. Any person committing such acts may be asked to forfeit his/her gardening plot(s).

 

D.    MAINTENANCE AND FORFEITURE

Plot maintenance is defined as:

*        Regular attention to encroaching Bermuda grass and other weeds and grasses.

*        Regular harvesting.

 

1. When a garden is out of compliance, a committee of three Zone Coordinators will notify the Board, who will flag the garden and send written notice to the address on file to bring into compliance within 14 days. Non-compliance will result in forfeiture.

 

2. A garden will be considered as abandoned based on the following:

 

*         No evidence of plot maintenance in the preceding 30 days; and

 

*         Telephone is disconnected or calls are not returned within 7 days; and

 

*         E-mail is not answered within a 7 day period, or

 

*         U.S. Mail directed to the address on file is not answered within 14 days of mailing.

 

The plot may then be re-rented.

 

3. If a gardener voluntarily withdraws from the garden and wishes a return of deposit, the following requirements are made:

 

*        Complete a Withdrawal Form and forward it to the Treasurer or another member of the Board.

 

*        Plot cleared in good condition for next gardener to begin work.

 

*        These conditions must be met within the term of the gardener's contract.

 

II. COMMON AREAS

Most of the plots are set up with blocks of seven plots with one common area of 20' x 40'. These common areas are for the use of the seven plot renters in that area (now mostly used for parking, with some remaining compost bins). All of the gardeners in the seven plots have responsibility for maintaining the common area, and this does not constitute service hours.

 

Compost bins in the common area should be labeled with the owner's name and plot number. No other person should take from or add to these compost bins.

 

If there is no agreement among the gardeners regarding maintenance of the common areas, the Zone Coordinator will set up a plan for maintenance.

 

III. ROADS

Do not drive around barriers blocking the roads. Do not drive on the roads when they are wet. Do not drive into another person's garden. Do not put plants or other items in the road. Do not park in the road. (See IV PARKING below). THE SPEED LIMIT IS 3 MPH, PRIMARILY FOR SAFETY, BUT ALSO TO KEEP THE DUST DOWN.

 

IV. PARKING

Park only in the front parking area or your common area. On weekends there are parking spaces on Sunshine and 49th Streets. This space is used by the State employees during the work week. If you need to unload a heavy load from your vehicle parked in the road, do so quickly and move the vehicle to a designated parking area.

 

V. SAFETY AND SECURITY

  1. Observe the speed limit set out above.
  2. If you garden after dark or predawn, the gate should be locked, and you could be questioned by the police at these times.
  3. The tool shed and gate are to remain locked from sundown to sunrise.
  4. Do not leave the combination locks hanging open or with the combination exposed.
  5. All children under 12 must be under adult supervision at all times and are not allowed in the tool shed.
  6. NEITHER THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF GREENLIGHTS FOR NON-PROFIT SUCCESS, NOR THE OFFICERS OR COORDINATORS OF SUNSHINE COMMUNITY GARDENS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE INCURRED BY A PERSON OR FOR THE THEFT, LOSS, DAMAGE OR DESTRUCTION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.

 

VI. SUNSHINE GARDEN LEADERSHIP

As provided in the Bylaws, Sunshine Gardens is managed by a Board of Directors consisting of five elected officers and up to four additional directors appointed by the elected board members. Officers are elected in May to serve one-year terms from June 1st through May 31st.

 

Seven (7) Zone Coordinators are appointed by the President to serve a one year term from February to January ot to complete terms of open coordinator slots. Appointments can be continuted indefinitely. Gardeners who wish to volunteer to be a Zone Coordinator should contact the Vice-President.

 

VII. AMENDMENTS

As provided in Sunshine Gardens Bylaws, amendments to these Site Rules are made by the Board subject to ratification by membership.