Here's how we did it. First year: Opened to the locals first (those residing within the community), with a second application period later opened to everyone.
Plots were assigned on a first come, first served basis in each of these application periods. (We started with over 100 plots on a little over an acre). A person could pay for more than one plot if available, plots started at $25 for the year, $40 for the large plots. Second year: The existing gardeners had the option of applying first, and keeping their existing plot(s). At a certain date, applications were opened to everyone. We never encountered complaints about this process. We opened an area up for "communal gardening" of crops like pole beans and corn. This way eveyone who shared in the labor, shared in the harvest. We always had plenty for everyone and also for the food bank. We requested that everyone donate 3 hours per season to working at the garden in one of a variety of areas. This process has been repeated for a number of years without complaint. ________________________________ From: Me <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 7:53 PM Subject: [Community_garden] applicant selection followup question first of all thank you SO much for taking your time to assist and give input.being a fledgling group means the work had been tedious in trying to be fair yet able to provide a good solid basis to promote the community aspect. I do have one further inquiry: for those gardens that decide on a first come-first served basis how did you manage in your first initial year? We have not yet released applications (these will be out by the end of next week hopefully) but we have had free learning workshops- which we plan to continue monthly all season. We have had several inquiries by attendees of these workshops and emails from outside interested individuals wanting a plot. Would you consider releasing applications early to these individuals as some have already invested time in education offered by our group? I really like the first come-first served with qualifier/ trigger questions.I am planning on bringing this suggestion to the committee Monday for our final decision making session.it seems to balance the best of both interests in fairness and predictors of success. Additionally may I vent a bit at our recent issue: on a side note we presented our committee updates to our board of selectmen Tuesday night, who have not attended a meeting since last September(16 meetings), yet had plenty of knee jerk directives to add.....one issue that is really jeopardizing our project was water.we want to tap into an existing cap on the municipal building. This small town building runs off 2 prolific Wells, the one we want to utilize only supplies 2 bathrooms and *cringe* a sprinkler system for grass. We are not given any budget and basically 1 year to accomplish our project. Donations have saved us thus far. I am gathering supporting evidence of the Wells capacity to present at next Weeks meeting. If they refuse to decide we are nearly ruined....and may have to organize and get radical :op Frustrating to have"overseers of the poor"not blink an eyelash over expensive times sprinkler systems for grass, yet put the brakes on water for an onsite garden that will feed many struggling families and cost the town nothing. Arghhhh! Amy Beth Lucarelli Waterboro Conservation Commission Waterboro Community Garden Committee -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://list.communitygarden.org/pipermail/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org/attachments/20130327/6460fd9b/attachment.html> _______________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [email protected] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://list.communitygarden.org/pipermail/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org/attachments/20130327/304ba6cc/attachment.html> _______________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [email protected] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
