Welcome to Pullman Community Gardens at Koppel Farm

Dear Gardener,

The 2006 gardening season is almost here! Garden plots are available at Pullman Community Gardens at Koppel Farm (PCG) to anyone interested in growing food in a healthy and environmentally friendly way. Welcome back returning gardeners!

There have been some changes and updates to the contract so please read it carefully. The fee is $ 35.00 per plot and 2 volunteer hours per month for a 20’x20’ plot; and, $20.00 and 1 volunteer hour per month for a 10’x10’ plot.

Fees cover the cost of water, lease of the land, limited tools and supplies, and the portable toilet. To secure your plot please pay fees by March 15^th. If you have not contacted us by that date, your plot will be released to the waiting list of gardeners. To reserve your plot make your check out to Pullman Community Gardens, PO Box 611, Pullman, WA, 99163. You may mail this or bring it in person to Koppel Farm, to give to me. I will be at Koppel several different hours in the first two weeks of March to accept contracts and fees.
Note: Koppel Farm gardeners depend on each other to maintain the garden area. As part of the contract you are committing to participating in volunteer work at the garden. You will not be eligible for automatic renewal next year if you do not fulfill your community volunteer hours.

It is also important to keep your commitment for maintaining your own garden plot/s. It has been found that if you wait too long to get started, gardening becomes more work and less fun. Weeds take over and can spread to other gardens. Activity of some kind must take place in your plot by May 15. If it has not, you will be contacted and then your plot will be released to the waiting list on June 1, without being eligible for a refund. It sounds a bit harsh, but experienced gardeners in this area have discovered that activity of some kind is almost required by this date for success. If you know that you will have difficulty with this deadline, please include it with your returned contract, and contact the plot coordinator to discuss your situation before making the commitment.

We strive to have "community" in our community gardens; thus, we take into account suggestions for ways your gardens may work better for you.

Orientation Session: Your input is important to us, please let us know what you would like to see happening at your community garden. There will be orientation sessions this year to explain the practices of the garden and offer suggestions to common problems. We encourage all gardeners to attend one of the orientation sessions. The dates of sessions will be announced in March of 2006.

Happy Gardening,

Cynthia Jones

Garden Plot Coordinator

koppelfarm@pullman.com or phone 509-332-7135.

Important Phone Numbers:

Timothy Paulitz President----------------------------------509-332-6184

Cynthia Jones Plot Coordinator--------------------------- 509-332-7135

Katrina Prime Volunteer Coordinator---------------------509-332-0434

SYG (to report water leaks)--------------------------------509-332-3900

Welcome to Pullman Community Gardens at Koppel Farm

Contract

Gardeners at the farm are asked to make a commitment to the following guidelines:

Maintain your plot(s) and adjacent pathways. Paths surrounding your plot should be 3 feet wide and kept in passable condition. This means that they should be level and that any weeds or grasses growing should be removed or at least kept trimmed. There are many ways that bring success (e.g. newspaper/straw, sawdust, black plastic, cardboard, etc.) to keeping the paths looking nice and allowing your neighbors to pass by easily. Contact a board member for more details on maintaining your paths if you need any help or ideas.

Commit 2 hours of work per month at common tasks. It is your responsibility to do community tasks in an effort to keep plot rental affordable. If you are unsure what to do and are unable to join in work parties, contact the volunteer coordinator.

Flower borders. Gardens located along the Selma Koppel walkway have a bigger plot than others. That is because a 3-foot flower border is required along the walkway. If you have any questions about this or have a plot along the walkway and do not wish to plant flowers, contact the Plot Coordinator and you will be assigned a different plot.

No chemicals are to be used in garden plots. Effective alternative approaches to fertility and pest control (dig out quack grass, collect potato beetles, mulch, etc.) should be used. Look for "Organic" labeling on anything you purchase at the store to put in your garden (e.g. compost, plant food, or pest control. You may request that BT San Diego be sprayed in your plot to control potato beetles. Check the bulletin board for updates.

Fall Clean up. In general, plant and other debris should be removed from plots by mid-October. There is NO GARBAGE PICKUP so haul out any materials you bring in (old plastic sheeting, pipe, bricks, lumber, etc).

Community Spirit! Please respect other gardeners and their plots. The neighborly approach is to share work, ideas, and expertise.

Lock the shed when you leave, or ask other gardeners working if they are using the shed, don’t assume that someone else will close it.
If you see a water leak immediately notify SYG 332-3900 or a board member (numbers are on the bulletin board.) There is a shut off tool located in the shed.
Address minor problems as they occur: shoo away ranging dogs, tell anyone trampling a garden to take the path, kindly question unfamiliar persons taking produce from gardens around you.
Arrange with someone to water your plants when you’re away on vacation.

I, the undersigned, agree to this contract with Pullman Community Gardens at Koppel Farm.

PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY

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Phone Number(s)_______________________________________________________________

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E-Mail________________________________________________________________________

Copy and Return this page to Pullman Community Gardens at Koppel Farm.

Welcome to Pullman Community Gardens at Koppel Farm

Community Commitments

There are many things that need to be done to keep your community garden going. In exchange for inexpensive plot rent, you agree to do volunteer work around the gardens. If you have a 20 x 20 ft. plot, you agree to 2 hours a month, which is 16 hours total for the summer. If you have a 10 x 10 ft. plot, you agree to 1 hour a month, which is 8 hours total for the summer. 1 hour a month (totaling at least 8 hours for the summer for 10 x 10 ft plots).

The Volunteer Coordinator will post jobs needing to be done in the shed, or will contact you with details on your particular volunteer project. If you are not able to get your hours in on a particular project, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Katrina Prime 509-332-0434.

Examples of past volunteer work include: develop the Children’s Garden, haul a load of straw or make a run to the dump, (there is NO garbage pickup at the garden), mowing adjacent areas, Weeding, maintaining compost, maintaining pathways, Perennial garden, tool and shed maintenance, mentor a gardener, weeding fallow plots, other tasks.