Membership Rules

St. Francis Garden Patch Membership Rules & Responsibilities 

The St. Francis Garden Patch Rules & Responsibilities are important for all Garden Patch members to understand. They are intended to help all gardeners grow fresh, healthy plants in a thriving garden, and to help create a sense of community among gardeners. 

As an entirely volunteer-run organization, our well-being depends on our ability to maintain a welcoming and supportive atmosphere in the Garden Patch. Please plan to attend to get to know your fellow gardeners and help with garden upkeep and special projects. We ask that members treat each other well, avoid potentially divisive conversation topics, and leave your differences outside our gates. 

For safety, fairness and the enjoyment of the Garden Patch, the following rules will be strictly enforced.

Annual Membership

  • Annual membership and plot use period begins with registration each year and ends at the end of the gardening season as determined by the Garden Patch Advisory Committee.
  • All Gardeners are required to complete the Plot Application, review and sign the Gardener Covenant, which acknowledges the understanding and acceptance of these St. Francis Garden Patch Membership Rules & Responsibilities, and submit a plot fee.

Annual Plot Fees

$60 for a full plot (20×20) approx. 400 square feet
$30 for a half-plot (10×20) approx. 200 square feet

  • Plots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A waiting list will be maintained for applicants for whom no plot was available. If plot requests cannot be filled, the fee will be refunded. 
  • Plot Map is under construction.

Plot Renewal

  • We will send you membership renewal instructions every February, with a deadline in early March. If you want to keep your plot next year, it’s your responsibility to get the form back to us on time.
  • We will do our best to honor all plot requests, with priority given to returning gardeners in good-standing.

Plot Maintenance

  • Keep it clean and green! You are responsible for preparing the soil and keeping it healthy. The Garden Patch provides soil amendments. You are welcome to bring your own mulch. Click here for more information about organic mulch.
  • You are expected to keep your plot neat and free of weeds and debris for the entire season. Arrange for a friend to care for your plot if you go on vacation. 
  • Plots that are left unattended, or are overgrown with weeds, may be given to another gardener. 
  • Crops must be harvested once they are mature. If you do not feel you can use all of them, there are many food banks and senior citizens who could use extra vegetables. Please let us know if you have more than you can use!

Planting & Fencing

  • Plots will be marked with cedar stakes. Fencing or other garden edging/dividers can be used, but must be no taller than 18 inches. Stakes and trellises must be at least 6 inches from the perimeter of the plot.
  • Plots may be used for ordinary flower and vegetable gardening. Perennial crops such as asparagus, raspberries, and strawberries are permitted, but no trees or tall shrubs may be planted. 
  • Tall crops, vines, tomato cages or stakes must be planted in places where they will not interfere with your neighbor’s plot and access to sunshine. 
  • Illegal Plants and invasive species are not allowed.
  • Check out the Articles and Resources for gardening inspiration and guidance on how to get started.

Other Plots

  • Please be considerate of your gardening neighbors. Do not take plants or produce from their plots without authorization, and don’t allow your weeds or plants to invade their space. 

Path Maintenance

  • All paths and plots must be kept free of trash, grass, weeds, etc., by the Gardeners. Please don’t let your plants or weeds creep into the aisles or into your neighbor’s plot.

Work Contribution

  • Garden Patch Members must work at least 8 hours per season per assigned plot for the upkeep of the Garden Patch or pay $15 per hour not worked. Gardeners with special circumstances can apply for a work waiver. 
  • We request that you attend at least one of the following: Community work day, garden meeting, social gathering or educational event per season. So please be sure to check the bulletin board and calendar on the website.
  • A great way to meet your fellow gardeners and get some work hours is to take part in the All Hands Work Days. The first All Hands Work Day will be scheduled in spring to help prepare the plot soil, and the second will be scheduled in late fall to prepare the garden for winter.
  • In addition, we ask that all gardeners assist with general maintenance (especially adjacent paths) to keep the garden site looking good. Please check the bulletin board regularly for chores that need to be done.

Tools/Wheelbarrows

  • Tools belonging to the Garden Patch  are marked “Garden Patch or GP.” Do not remove them from the garden site—they are all we have! Tool donations are always welcome!
  • When finished gardening for the day, please clean and return tools and wheelbarrows to the Tool Shed. 

Visitors 

  • Friends and family members are welcome to join you in the Garden Patch, but please monitor your children’s behavior and whereabouts at all times. 
  • Please keep pets leashed at all times and keep them from disturbing other people or their plots. Please dispose of pet waste off the gardens property (see trash note next).

Trash

  • Pick up litter when you see it. We have no trash service on-site.
  • No debris of any kind should be left at the site. Please carry out what you carry in!

 Organic Garden 

  • St. Francis Gardens is an all organic Garden. No industrial/artificial pesticides, fungicides, or weed repellents are allowed.
  • Why? Our goal is to create and nurture healthy soil and a healthy plant environment in the garden. Because plant and soil health deteriorates with the use of chemicals, they are not allowed in any of our community gardens. 
  • If you are not sure if something is allowed, please ask if you can use a particular item on your plot. 

Water

  • Please use water wisely as it is one of our biggest expenses and rates increase each year. 
  • Containers and watering cans are provided for hand-watering and stored in the Tool Shed. 
  • You may bring your own hose, but please ensure that the hose does not intrude upon or damage any other plots. 
  • Unattended watering is not permitted. All hoses must be promptly disconnected after use.
  • Please click here for more information on Water Conservation.

Compost

  • Please dispose of weeds and plant materials in designated compost areas. Please be sure to review the Do’s and Don’ts before composting in the Garden Patch.
  • The Garden Patch is an organic garden so suitable organic plant material may be composted in the appropriate compost bins in accordance with the below rules. 
  • Our goal is to create quality compost that gardeners can use without worry of introducing weeds or plant disease into their plot. 
  • All other waste materials must be carried out of the Garden Patch by the gardener.

Plastic and Mulch

  • Plastic mulch is not allowed, as it adds plastic fragments to the soil. 
  • You may use floating row covers if you remove them at the end of the growing season. 
  • Please click here for tips on using mulch.

Communication: Email & Bulletin Boards

  • Keep informed about garden news and events by reading messages on email, events calendar, newsletters and the bulletin board in the sheds. 
  • All new gardeners are automatically signed up to the email list. Paper mailings are expensive and kept to a minimum!

Keep the Peace

  • No verbal or physical harassment is allowed. Violation of this rule will result in expulsion from the garden and will lose your membership fee. 

Illegal Activities 

  • Drugs, alcohol, and fires are not allowed anywhere on the St. Francis Gardens property. Failure to comply with this and other Gardens policies will result in the loss of your plot.
  • Smoking, vaping and chewing tobacco is not allowed anywhere on the St. Francis Gardens property. Tobacco can transmit a lethal virus to tomatoes and cigarette butts are loaded with toxins.
  • Drugs, alcohol, radios, bluetooth speakers and fires are not allowed.

Liability

  • Please report any potentially dangerous conditions to one of the Garden Patch Leaders. You agree to not hold the St. Francis Gardens of Upper Township or the City of Seaville liable for injuries to you or your guests while on the St. Francis Gardens of Upper Township property.

Violation of the Garden Patch Membership Rules & Responsibilities

  • If any of the guidelines are violated you will be contacted by phone or email to address the violation. If the violation has not been remedied, you may lose your gardening privileges.

St. Francis Community Gardens
3074 N Route 9
Ocean View, NJ 08230
[email protected]