POLICIES & PRACTICES

Updated July 9, 2026: Conduct Guides addition 

MISSION

The goal of the Village of Piermont Community Garden is to provide Piermont residents with the opportunity to grow food and flowers in a beautiful setting, in a manner that does not harm the environment and that encourages friendship and cooperation. (Ref; Joan Gussow, Foundress, and adopted on Oct. 6, 2002 by the membership.)

SERVICE POSITIONS

1. The Community Garden is overseen by the Garden Leadership Team who see that the work of the Garden goes harmoniously and efficiently. They are the official liaisons with the Village of Piermont and empowered to make emergency decisions, act on behalf of the group, and purchase necessary materials. 
2. Fiscal management, including collecting dues, is the responsibility of the Treasurer. 
3. Management of plot assignments and membership renewals are the responsibility of the Plot Committee. 
4. The Work Party Coordinators assign jobs as members arrive. All who serve in this position assign themselves a job they can do while waiting for the next member to join the work party.
5. Other committees may be formed to manage specific areas of responsibility for the good of the community, such as the Herb Garden or Compost. 
6. Ad hoc committees, such as those formed in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, may be formed in cooperation with the Garden Leadership Team. 
7. Any changes to the policies and procedures outlined in this document will be made by majority vote of the membership. 

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS 

1. All plot holders must currently reside in the Village of Piermont, and be at least 18 years of age.
2. No household may hold more than one half (4½' x 10’) or full (9'x10') plot. 
3. Gardeners who move from Piermont before June 15 of the gardening season cannot remain members.  Their plot will return to the Garden for reassignment. Those who move on or after June 15 are asked, as a courtesy, to notify the Garden Leadership Team at PiermontCommunityGarden@gmail.com. They may continue to garden for the remainder of the season provided they tend and weed their plots and adjacent walkways. 

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

1. All Members must sign an annual agreement form & pay the plot dues by March 1.  
2. Annual dues are $20 for a half plot, and $40 for a full plot. A $10 late fee will be assessed from March 2-15.  Annual dues are non-refundable.
3. Gardeners who fail to return a signed Agreement Form and pay their dues by March 15 will lose their plot. 
4. Dues may be waived upon written request for up to half a plot (4-1/2' x10') for people on a limited income. (i.e. Social Security, disability, welfare, etc.). 
5. A $4 key fee is charged to new members and any existing members who need a replacement key. 
6. Each member must attend at least one meeting per year. 
7. Each member must contribute 6 hours* of communal garden work by attending two of the 3-4 Work Parties a year. A member who is unable to fulfill their work requirements at the scheduled work parties can arrange with the Garden Leadership Team to fulfill their 6 hours.  Each member is responsible to sign in with the Work Party Coordinator or Attendance Recorder in order for their work hours to be officially recognized.
8. Members who fail to fulfill their meeting or work requirements will be placed on probation for the following season. This status will be noted on their membership form at the beginning of the season. Any member who is on probation and does not fulfill their meeting and work requirements will lose their membership rights and will not be asked to return.

PLOT ASSIGNMENTS 

1. Assignment of plots to those on the Waiting List is based on the order in which applicants signed up.
2. Assignment of full plots will not be made while there are still applicants on the Waiting List.
3. Members can qualify for a full plot by contributing additional volunteer hours in an official capacity for three consistent seasons. This includes chairing or serving on a committee, taking ownership of a vital garden task or administrative project, or other activities as agreed upon by the Garden Leadership Team.
4. Requests for a change of plot location need to be made to the Plot Committee. Email your request to PiermontCommunityGarden@gmail.com by January 1 of the gardening year.  Requests will be considered in the order in which they were made and based on availability of vacated plots.  These requests will be fulfilled before those on the Waiting List are assigned plots.
5. Abandoned plots will revert back to the community and be reassigned. The holders of those plots will no longer remain members of the Garden but may reapply for membership by getting on the Waiting List for a future season. A plot is deemed abandoned if the member hasn't responded and acted by the deadline when contacted by the Garden Leadership[ Team. Situations generating such contact are:  a) Failure to meet the April 15 weeding deadline and/or May 31 cleaning, weeding & planting deadline  b) The seeding up of weeds in the plot  c) The rotting of harvest in the plot.
6. June 15 is the deadline for plot assignments.  Anyone signing up after this deadline will go on the Waiting List for next year's season. Any plot vacated after this date will be used that season for the PAR program.

SUBLETS

1. A member may be absent for one growing season without losing their plot.  The plot will be offered as a sublet to those on the Waiting List.
2. Those who wish to sublet their plot must submit notification by March 1 to PiermontCommunityGarden@gmail.com.
3. Those who sublet with us will be offered any available plot the following season before plots are assigned to those on the Waiting List.

CONDUCT GUIDES

To keep our garden a positive and welcoming space, all members are expected to communicate with patience and respect.  Negative gossiping, belittling, slanderous or disrespectful remarks toward other members are not acceptable whether spoken or written communications. Specifics:

1. Gardeners are encouraged to be helpful to one another. 
2. Gardeners are asked to be respectful to one another at all times.
3. Gardeners are welcome to bring guests and are held responsible for their conduct.
4. If a member engages in disrespectful communication, the Leadership Team will work as a team to address the concern with the members involved and ask if gardeners have talked with each other before any further action is taken.
5. No illegal substances or weapons are allowed in the garden.
6. No smoking is permitted in the garden at any time. (80% of tobacco carries mosaic virus which also affects tomatoes.)
7. No pets are permitted in the garden.
8. Garden gates are to kept closed at all times.
9. Private parties are not allowed in the garden.
10. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult member and supervised as necessary during the garden visits. 

GARDENING PRACTICES

1. Harvesting and Managing Produce: Gardeners are not permitted to take produce from another gardener’s plot without permission from the plot holder. Gardeners should not work in or harvest from other members’ plots unless the plot holder gives permission. That said, members may pull weeds from a neighbor’s plot if they are encroaching on their plot or the weeds are going to seed. Gardeners are asked to harvest when produce is ready.  Any excess harvest may be given to the Plan A Row (PAR) food pantry. 
2. Plot Planting Design: Tall crops such as Corn, Sunflowers or Rudbeckias and invasive plants such as Loosestrife, Morning Glories and Passion Flowers are not permitted and should be removed from plots. Plants such as peas, beans or tomatoes should be placed so as not to shade your neighbor’s plot.
3. All planting must be spaced so as not to create a wall to shade a neighbor’s garden.
4. Invasive plants such as mint and horseradish must be planted in containers. The  Leadership Team has the responsibility to make final decisions on plants considered invasive.
5. Plantings should not intrude onto the aisles between gardens so all gardeners can walk.  Plants that start to spill or fall over need to be restrained or staked.
6. All plots must be cleaned up and weeded by April 15 and planted or tarped by May 31, even if the member is not yet ready to plant.  If a member doesn’t notify the Leadership Committee that they are having difficulty meeting these deadlines, they risk losing their plot.  
7. Neglected plots will result in a gardener receiving an email from the Leadership Committee requesting correction. The gardener risks forfeiting their plot, unless communication to the Leadership Committee is sent and alternative agreements are made.
8. No genetically altered seeds or non-organic pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers may be used. The lists of accepted materials from Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) and the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) shall be used in final decisions for any disputes about substances used in the garden.
1. OMRI
2. NOFA-NY
3. Vegetable Growing Guide
4. Piermont Community Garden Blogspot
9. Gardeners need to weed their own plots throughout the growing season and maintain the paths that border their beds. December 1 is the deadline for putting the plots down for the Winter if the gardener is not planting for a Winter Garden. Remove all weeds and diseased plants and dispose in the trash.
10. Walkways need to remain clear; chairs and gardening tools must be put away when the gardener is ready to leave the garden for the day. If plants start to spillover or fall, they need to be retained or staked. 
11. Only vegetative matter is placed in the compost bins. Break up or remove the root balls with dirt before putting plants from your plot in the compost. Dirt dulls the blades of any machine used to shred the vegetation for composting.  Remove all string, metal, plastic and nylon materials.  Place these items in the trash and any diseased vegetative matter in the pile out front of the Garden.
12. Any structural additions are subject to the approval of the Leadership Team.
13. All notices, information, and ornamentation not pertaining directly to the garden are subject to the approval of the Leadership Committee. 

GARDEN MAINTENANCE

1. Each gardener is required to participate in work parties throughout the season.
2. All litter must be removed when the gardener leaves for the day.
3. All plants deemed diseased must be put outside in the pile for DPW pickup. They should not be placed in the compost bins or trash.
4. Members unable to tend their plot for 2 weeks are responsible for finding another garden member or family member to take care of it in their absence.
5. Water faucets must be turned off after use to prevent dripping. Hoses must be emptied of water and then rolled up loosely and hung on the hose station.  Hoses should not be left in a heap on the holder or on the ground. 
6. PCG tools are kept in the shed.  After each use, always clean and dry tools using water, sand and brush and return them to the container.
7. The garden sheds are for communal use only, not for storage of personal belongings or supplies. In the spirit of keeping the sheds organized and uncluttered, any contributions to the shed/garden needs to be approved by the Leadership Team prior to placing them in the shed. Items not approved may be subject to removal.
8. Keep the garden gates closed at all times.
9. The last person out of the garden needs to shut the shed, turn off the hose spigots and any water still running in the garden and lock all the gates.