Service Options
Dowling Community Garden is made up of people who use their time and energy to maintain this land as a pleasant place to garden. To share responsibilities fairly, each plot's gardeners are collectively required to commit 4 hours minimum to service activities for the garden each season. Review the following service options and choose those that fit your interests and schedule. Indicate your first and second choices on the Agreement form by writing 1 and 2 in the blanks preceding your two choices. If a physical or other constraint would prevent you from participating in a particular service option, you may cross it off. Service assignments are made in the order that Gardening Agreements are received.
Water Barrel Filler
Check and fill water barrels for either the north half or the south half as assigned. Task is expected to take at most 1 hour if barrels are empty; considerable less time may be required, depending on usage. Report actual time spent promptly in the box on the shed door. Flush water barrels if requested. If barrels do not require filling, perform other routine maintenance tasks instead.
Surplus Produce Distributor
Perform a valuable service to your community: collect donated produce from the Garden four times on a fixed schedule and deliver it to area food shelves. Must be able to lift and carry up to 40 pounds, have a vehicle, and be committed to dropping off donations as scheduled. If no donations await delivery, perform other routine maintenance tasks instead. Report hours and pounds donated. Program runs from June through September/early October. Pickups Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings. Additional pickups may be scheduled during the peak production period.
Weed and Plot Surveyor
Need one person per quadrant to fill this role for the entire season. Walk your quadrant regularly and examine all plots to encourage garden tidiness and safety. Ensure that Garden rules and city restrictions regarding weeds are enforced, that planting and cleanup deadlines are met, and that plots are being maintained and used fully. Report all findings and issues promptly to an Enforcement Coordinator for action.
Flower Garden Maintenance
Help plant and tend public flower beds. Edge and weed plantings, turn over beds as requested, haul soil amendments and mulch. Install plant materials in garden areas. Water and mulch plantings, pick up trash, and clean up plantings in fall.
Events Support
Work at special events, including the plant sale, meet-and-greets during some monthly cleanup days, and possibly a summer festival. Tasks include preparation and set-up, working during the events, and take-down and clean-up. If the number of events is insufficient to provide enough service time, some gardeners initially assigned to events support may be reassigned another task.
General Maintenance and Special Projects
Regularly inspect shed and shared tools for damage. Assist in making repairs, if needed. Sharpen mower blades, make sure community tools are in good repair, and organize hoses and tools in the shed as needed(regularly). Clean up and weed around the shed. Special projects include repair or major maintenance of Garden infrastructure, e.g., raised beds, benches, etc.
Manure Helper
Help unload composted horse manure several times during the season as scheduled.
Monthly Cleanup Sessions
Sign up in advance for two cleanup sessions, held once each month on a Saturday morning from May through October. Sign-up sheets will be posted on the shed. Workers for each session will be limited, so sign up early to ensure that you get 2 time slots on dates you are available. Perform tasks assigned by the session’s coordinator. For example, pick up litter and perform seasonal chores and maintenance. Mow common areas and paths. Trim overgrown vegetation in pathways. Apply wood chips to Garden entrances and paths that use them, including around raised beds. Add compost and manure to raised beds in spring. Weed pathways around raised beds and elsewhere as instructed. Clear the 46th Street fence and sidewalk of weeds and debris, to keep our face to the neighborhood clean and presentable. Clean up around and in the shed; straighten hoses and tools left in a mess. Move composting materials in the school’s compost area to allow new materials to be unloaded in the back where they belong.
Updated February 10, 2011