Thanks for the suggestions Catherine - we've tried several gentle
reminder formats (ie monthly newsletters via email, facebook posts,
etc.) but they haven't seemed to work. We have a pretty high turn-over
rate to begin with so many are willing to ignore or walk away from the
garden at the end of the season. This year we tried hosting an open
house to invite the public but also to help build a better sense of
community between the gardeners themselves. I like your suggestion on
finding the board member with the best diplomatic skills to act as point
person on communications. We have a gardener, not a board member
currently, that I'm hoping to bring on board with that particular skill
set. The other thing I hope to incorporate this upcoming year was
something I read in Carolyn Zezima's article about having gardeners
themselves involved with developing rules as well as the management
(Step #7 Rules residents can create). Especially, when it comes to
volunteer requirements. (thanks Carolyn for sharing the article).
We're learning and hopefully we can get the gardeners to invest in the
garden community as well as the plot they've rented.
Appreciate the suggestion Betsy, on the fine - although, I'm not sure
what that would do to our already tarnished 'totalitarian' reputation ;)
Tim
On 10/15/2013 12:18 PM, Catherine Dente wrote:
What seems to work for us is constant email announcements sent to our members. All the
members hear every week about the community aspects of the garden, the work that is
needed in the common areas this week and next, deliveries of mulch coming soon that
everyone needs to help spread, things like that. Sometimes we list the names of those
who shoed up on a particular workday, and that helped, too. We have 65 plots, and it is
true that we have members who try to ignore their community work requirement. We are
lenient at the beginning of each season, but gently ease members out of our organization
if they continue to "let other people carry the entire load." We explain that
it is a Community Garden, and that the county requires all members to contribute.
Members either shape up, or object to our constant reminders and drop out. Community
Gardens are just not for everyone, as you know.
Pick the board member with the best diplomacy skills to do the communication,
then get the county community garden coordinator (or whoever owns the property)
to evict the recalcitrant plot owner. The plot owner may badmouth you, stay
calm, but you have the responsibility for the upkeep and integrity of the
entire garden, and ALL members have to do their part to maintain the Community
Garden.
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