7401 County Road 101, Maple Grove, MN 55311 lordoflife.org 763.420.5015 [email protected] 2021 Welcome! Thank you for your interest in LifeGARDEN, the community garden formed in 2010 and is located on the grounds of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Maple Grove. LifeGARDEN is founded on the principle that a community garden is a space where plants are grown and maintained by a community to meet the needs of the community. LifeGARDEN’s mission is to provide a place for gardeners to grow spiritually as well as to provide nutrition for the body, and to share the fruits of our efforts with the community. LifeGARDEN was the first community garden in Maple Grove and is among approximately 30 faith-based community gardens in the Twin Cities area. Plots and Fields LifeGARDEN occupies 1½ acres on the northeast side of Lord of Life, between County Road 101 and the church’s outbuildings. One-half of the area is devoted to a communal mission garden, with all produce being donated to CROSS Services, the local food shelf. To date we donated over 134,000 pounds of food. This is the main focus of the garden. If you are unsure of your time and/or experience regarding the requirements for participation with a plot or plots, you are encouraged to participate in the support of the Mission Garden. There is no fee for participation in the mission garden only. The remaining area contains 160 individual plots, each 10’x10’, which are available for a fee of $30 per growing season. Eligibility for use of individual plots is contingent upon commitment to working in the communal mission garden. Sections of individual plots are designated for organic gardening, non-organic gardening, and a mixed area. The remaining ¾ acre consists of fields devoted to a communal mission garden, with all produce being donated to CROSS, the local food shelf. Requirements (Important: If you are unsure about your ability to meet these requirements, you may want to reconsider participating with the responsibility of a plot.) Each individual plot must be kept weed-free and in good condition throughout the garden season. See Weed Control and Garden Neglect for more details. In addition to care of your individual plot, each gardener is required to participate in the planting, maintaining and harvesting of the crops in the communal mission garden. You will be expected to contribute approximately one hour per week throughout the gardening season (25 hours per season) to the upkeep of the communal garden. This can be done in two ways: 1. On the registration form, you will be asked to indicate a crop you would like to help with in the communal garden and this will be your primary crop responsibility in the communal portion of the garden. If you do not indicate a preference, you will be assigned to a crop team. Each crop team leader will notify the team members about what needs to be done each week, and may request gardeners to be present for group work times. 2. If your assigned crop is not in need of attention during any particular week, you should fulfill your weekly hours by helping with other crops. A list of volunteer tasks will be posted near the garden shelter, on the website (lordoflife.org/lifegarden) and sent out via email to provide guidance on what tasks need to be completed in the communal garden. Group work days will be arranged for general help in the garden. 3. Crops grown in the community garden are for CROSS services ONLY, not for individuals. 4. Herbs in the herb garden are for everyone’s use. Opening Date The target opening date of May 15th may vary from year to year due to garden conditions. Gardeners will be notified via email when the garden plots are officially open for the season. Registration To register for a plot, please complete the accompanying registration form and return to the church with a check for $30 payable to Lord of Life. You may also register online using a credit card at lordoflife.org/lifegarden. Registration will begin March 1 for the 2021 gardening season, according to these dates. Please keep in mind that we will try to meet requests for specific plots as much as possible, but can’t make any promises. 1. Through April 15: Requests may be made for 1 or 2 plots for new gardeners and additional plots for returning gardeners. 2. After April 15: Requests for additional plots may be made, if available. 3. Sometime after April 15: Gardeners will be notified of their plot assignment(s) for 2021 Plot Assignment Returning gardeners will be assigned the same plots as they had the previous year. New gardeners may register for one or two plots. Gardeners that would like more than two plots may register for two plots & request additional plots. If after April 15th plots are available requests for additional plots will be made. Plot Cancellations If you decide not to use your garden plot, please contact Lord of Life at [email protected] immediately so the plot may be reassigned and/or offered to someone on the waiting list. If the garden plot you cancelled is claimed by another gardener prior to June 15th, your fee will be refunded. Safety, Courtesy & Gardening Practices Due to the nature of the community garden, each garden member is asked to be respectful of other gardeners’ plots. Please honor these requests: 1. Do not allow vine crops to extend beyond the boundaries of your plot. 2. To avoid shading neighbors’ crops, corn and full-sized sunflowers are NOT ALLOWED in individual plots. Plants less than 4 feet tall will be allowed. The taller plants in your plot should be planted so the shade they create is contained within your own plot. 3. Children must be supervised at all times; pets are not allowed in the garden area. 4. Please remove all trash and recyclables from your plot and take them with you, this includes plastic bags, gloves, pots & seedling containers as we do not have garage service. Any compostable materials should be taken to the trailer provided. 5. All rocks and foreign materials are to be removed from the garden area and taken to the designated area. 6. Individuals are allowed to use chemicals if necessary, however be aware of adverse weather conditions (e.g. wind), so as to not permit chemical drift onto neighboring plots. 7. Any fencing must be kept within the boundaries of your plot. Any fencing encroaching into other plots or into the grass walkways will be removed. This will be done as to aid in the mowing of grass areas. Water, Hoses and Gardening Tools Water is provided by Lord of Life (paid for through gardeners’ fees) and is delivered by nine spigots in the individual plots area and by irrigation heads in the communal garden. Hoses, spray nozzles and a variety of gardening tools for use by gardeners will be available. Given the number of plots, gardeners are encouraged to bring their own tools since only a limited number of tools will be available. All tools should be CLEANED and returned to the shelter when you are finished so that others may also use them. Donations of garden hand tools (no power tools) will be happily accepted! Tillers and other power equipment (Please read carefully, as this reflects a policy change.) There are rototillers available for use in the LifeGARDEN. Because of liability and maintenance concerns, tillers will be used only by a few people who have been trained by Lord of Life staff and who agree to do tilling in the communal mission garden as requested. These volunteers will also be asked to do routine maintenance of the tiller as required. Implications of this for LifeGARDEN members: This means that there will not be a tiller available for use in your individual plots. Depending on the availability of the people who are trained to use the tiller, we may be able to set up a schedule to till plots, otherwise plotholders will need to make other arrangements. Weed Control and Garden Neglect Weeding should be done (at least) weekly so that weeds are not allowed to reseed. To aid in weed control, you may want to use grass clippings from your home lawn, but do not bring wood chips that may have come from ash trees. Weeds may be placed in the trailer provided. Gardeners not performing maintenance will be notified to rectify the situation. Within two (2) weeks non-compliance will result in the garden being turned over and replanted with foodshelf crops or cover crops. Garden Clean-Up and Closing Date The target date for closing is November 1, but due to weather and soil conditions, this may vary from year to year. Garden members will be notified when the garden plots are officially closed and given ample time to clean up their plot(s). Plant material and plant supports may be left in the garden plot(s), but please remove all noxious weeds, trash and other non-compostable items. Garden News and Information Email and postings on the sign board in the central garden area will be the preferred method of mass communication to all garden members regarding dates, deadlines, events, updates, etc. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your garden plot, please email [email protected]. Written notices will be posted near the garden shelter, on the website, and sent to all gardeners via email. 2021 Registration Form 7401 County Road 101, Maple Grove, MN 55311 lordoflife.org 763.420.5015 [email protected] To register for a garden plot in the Lord of Life community garden, please provide the information below, and return the completed form with $30 (payable to Lord of Life) fee per plot.