Welcome to the Blair Road Community Garden 2024 Season! As you know, we hold several inspections during the growing season to ensure that we are all following the rules set out by the National Park Service, and our membership. All first-year gardeners are required to join the inspection teams, and all seasoned gardeners are welcome.
WHY do we do inspections?
- Gardener safety is a big concern. If pathways are difficult or dangerous to use due to excessive growth, overhanging branches and fences, or holes/ditches that can make someone fall, you will need to fix that. It is also important that people be able to see through your plot in case there is a threat.
- To retain the right to farm. The National Park Service requires that we be responsible stewards of the land they let us use. If we break their rules -especially around organic farming and diversity of crops- they could choose to evict us.
- To be good neighbors. We all appreciate a clean and safe garden. We all have the responsibility to ensure that what happens in our plot doesn’t harm our neighbors’ plots. No one wants to be stuck next to a plot that has standing water where mosquitos can breed, out of control weeds, or tall plants that block the sun.
WHAT are we inspecting for?
- Plant Diversity – No more than 50% of a plot can be planted with the same crop
- Visibility/Placement – No tall crops within 18″ of fences, and inspectors must be able to see through a plot
- Pathways – Minimum 30″ pathways on each side of plot, and each plot’s South- and East-side paths must be well-maintained
- Weeds – No “significant” amount of weeds
- Trenches – Any trenches must be inside the plot (not draining water out); no more than 4″ deep (unless covered by wood chips); and perpendicular to the slope of the plot (they should not enable water to flow downhill, they should slow water flow, not speed it)
- Fences – If a gardener has a fence around their plot, it must be in good repair (not falling into pathways), weed-free, and safe for others to walk next to
- Trash – No loose trash in a plot
- Planted – All gardeners agree to have at least 50% of their plot planted by June 1 of each year
HOW are Inspections Conducted?
- All first-year gardeners and as many other volunteers as we can get (inspections count toward your minimum of 3 community hours) meet at the bulletin board at the appointed hour.
- Groups are assigned so that no one is inspecting their own section, and each group is trained with the reporting tools (electronic or paper).
- Board members participate to help resolve questions.
- Inspections are a great way to explore the garden and see what other gardeners are growing, and how they have designed their plots!
- To volunteer for an inspection team, please email blairroadcga@gmail.com.
What if My Plot FAILS Inspection?
- You cannot “fail” an inspection. If a problem has been identified in your plot you will receive an email or letter, and hear from your Section Captain.
- Within 10 days of the inspection, the Board will post the results on the bulletin board at the garden.
- Generally, each gardener is given 2 weeks to fix the problems identified in the inspection report. The fix depends on the problem, but can include removing weeds, fixing fences, and removing some crops.
- There is also an appeal process if you disagree with the results of an inspection.
- If you cannot remedy the identified problem within the two weeks, you must contact your section captain to create a plan for moving forward.
- Repeated failures to remedy a problem can be cause for termination of your permit to garden, so please be responsive.
Blair Road Community Garden 