Chinquapin Organic Gardens Plot Regulations: 2011
1. Season: The official gardening season runs from March 1 through November 30. In typical years, the water for the gardens will be turned on by April 15 and turned off on Nov. 15. These dates may vary in years with unusually mild or extreme weather circumstances.
2. Registration and regulations: Registration fees for the season are available on the garden Web site. Renewals occur through the end of February, exchanges and new registrations take place the first week in March. Only one garden plot may be assigned per household/address. Garden plots may be lost by failure to abide by the current year Chinquapin Gardens Plot Regulations. These plots will be re-assigned without reimbursement.
3. Lack of activity: Plots not showing reasonable gardening activity by May 1 as judged by the monitoring teams, with exceptions for unusual weather delays (as determined by the board), shall be subject to re-assignment. No refunds. Renters who are unable to maintain plots should release the plot, in writing, to the city for the remainder of the growing season or be responsible for maintaining the plot by providing a substitute gardener for that season. Should the above not occur, all abandoned plots will be placed on the list for re-assignment without reimbursement. Evidence of a consistent lack of response to monitoring team notifications of violations will result in loss of plot without reimbursement. Re-assigned plots cannot be given to individuals of your choice.
4. Waiting list procedure: All persons desiring to obtain a garden plot after all plots are filled will go onto a waiting list by date of request. In order to be placed on this list you must contact the city representative listed at the end of these Regulations. Plots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Current gardeners are not eligible for the waiting list.
5. Boundaries: Garden plots are approximately 15x20 feet. Do not allow plants to grow beyond plot boundaries. Do not block paths with any plants or materials, from underfoot to overhead, which might impede travel in any way.
6. Appearance: The Chinquapin Organic Gardens are public parkland. The garden must be kept clean and reasonably free from weeds and other unsightly debris. Each gardener is responsible not only for maintaining the appearance of her/his plot, but also for keeping the paths on all sides of their plot well groomed and free of weeds (growing or pulled), stakes, rocks or other materials that obstruct passage. Weeds taller than 12 inches in plots are a violation of city code. When pulling weeds, shake off all soil, so as not to lose the topsoil of your garden. Storage on paths is not permitted.
7. Trash: Place garden refuse in trash cans or bagged beside trash cans. Any discarded rocks should not be put in trash cans, but should be placed in the designated area located near the city compost demonstration area, which is along side the lower level of garden plots.
8. Animals: Animals (except seeing-eye dogs and service dogs) are prohibited in garden plot areas. All animals (including seeing-eye dogs and service dogs) in the public area are required by law to be leashed.
9. Timely harvest/rodents/mosquitoes: Crops must be harvested as they mature. For example, do not leave tomatoes to rot on the ground. Rodents are attracted to produce. If rodent infestation increases, the city must contract with an exterminator. This could increase future garden plot fees. Eliminate conditions favorable to rodents and mosquitoes by making sure faucets are turned off completely, watering cans are empty and compostible kitchen scraps (no meat or dairy) are buried at least a foot deep. Rats need water, food and shelter to survive; therefore, only rodent-resistant compost enclosures will be permitted. Contact the city representative listed at the end of these regulations for more information.
10. Banned activities:
a. The use of chemical pesticides (including fungicides, herbicides (weed killers), or insecticides) is prohibited. Only natural organic practices and organic fertilizers may be used.
b. The use of tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes and chewing tobacco is prohibited in the garden area. The mosaic virus disease common to tobacco can infect tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, and can spread to plants in neighboring gardens.
c. Illegal drug-producing plants are prohibited. The offending gardener is subject to prosecution under the law, and their plot will be re-assigned without reimbursement.
d. Gardeners may not plant or maintain trees either in plots or on paths, unless expressly allowed by review of the board.
e. The use of carpeting, press board, pressure-treated wood or other similar harmful materials on path or plots is prohibited; these materials provide cover for rodents and present a hazard to other gardeners navigating the paths. Carpeting, press board and pressure-treated wood contain hazardous chemicals that leach into the soil as they deteriorate.
f. Avoid leaving personal property in the garden. Tools, roto-tillers, etc. pose a safety hazard and invite theft.
g. Running water or sprinklers should not be left unattended.
h. The presence/use of bird feeders and bird baths is prohibited.
i. The use of metal cans (such as beer or soda cans) strung on wires in or around the gardens is prohibited.
11. Trellises and fencing: Trellises and fencing should be constructed of light-weight, non-permanent materials. Any fencing built shall be a foot or more inside the boundary of the plot on all sides. Any substantial structure proposed must be presented to the board for approval. (See #15 for removal at end of season.)
12. Vandalism: Report incidents of vandalism, tampering with plots without permission, produce theft, or any other property destruction immediately to the Alexandria police. Be sure to include a description of the person(s) and/or vehicle, and the license plate number, when possible. In addition, report the incident to the city representative listed at the end of these regulations.
13. Liability: Gardeners agree to hold harmless the City of Alexandria, and the Chinquapin Organic Gardens Advisory Board, for any and all liability which may be attributed to the gardener, or an authorized third party, as a result of renting a garden plot.
14. Monitoring: Each gardener may be required to serve on one monitoring team session during the gardening season if called upon, usually held on a Saturday morning. An advisory board member will serve as monitoring team leader. If you have not submitted your volunteer form as part of the application process, please contact the city representative listed at the end of these regulations, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., to schedule your monitoring session.
15. End-of-season clean-up: The official gardening season ends Nov. 30. Dead plants, produce remains and debris must be removed. Stakes, tomato cages, trellises, fencing, etc., must be removed from the ground. Gardeners are encouraged to take these materials home. Returning gardeners may leave stakes and fencing materials provided they are neatly stacked together and placed well into the garden plot away from paths. Trellises needed for support of certain perennial plants and cold frames may be left in place. Rodent-resistant compost enclosures may also remain on the plot of returning gardeners. Hoses must be neatly coiled and removed from the paths.
City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities representative: John Walsh Park Maintenance Headquarters, 2900 Business Center Dr., Alexandria, VA 22314. Phone 703-746-4654.
