Policy Document: Community Gardens

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines and procedures for the operation and administration of the Community Gardens on municipally owned land within the Town of View Royal.

DEFINITIONS:

“Community Gardens” are sites located on municipally owned lands that are used for the growing of produce, flowers and native plants for non-profit use through individual or shared plots.

“Garden Plot” is the working dimensions of a parcel of land for individual use within a Community Garden; size and shape are site-specific.

“Community Gardens – Plot Agreement and Release” are the written terms and conditions that Plot Holders must sign, indicating their concurrence with the Town’s requirements for their use of a Garden Plot within a Community Garden.

“Fee” is a $20 annual fee due by January 31 of each year of the Term.

“Plot Holder” is a user of a Community Garden who has shared or full responsibility for gardening at least one Garden Plot within the Community Garden.

“Program Coordinator” is the Town representative who acts as the first point of contact and as a resource for all community gardening inquiries.

“Term” is the three year term for each plot.

POLICY:

1.0 Support for Community Gardens:

The Town of View Royal will work with community stakeholders to implement the development of Community Gardens where possible. The Town will, where possible, support Community Gardens’ initiatives by:

1.1 promoting and raising awareness of community gardening;

1.2 supplying contact information to the public for existing community garden organizations;

1.3 providing information to the public on how to develop and operate community gardens;

1.4 using the Town of View Royal website and newsletters to promote community gardening; and

1.5 where possible, providing municipal water and/or other amenities such as parking, tools, washrooms and signage.

2.0 Town-Provided Amenities

The Town will provide, where possible, the following amenities in Community Gardens:

2.1 individual plot boundaries;

2.2 maintained pathways;

2.3 litter control;

2.4 administration;

2.5 access to a Community Garden shed and tools; and

2.6 water usage and the operation of the irrigation system.

3.0 Procedures and Conditions of Use

3.1 The opportunity to participate in a Community Garden is open to any resident of the Town of View Royal.

3.2 Allocation of Garden Plots:

3.2.1 A list of interested parties will be compiled by the Program Coordinator.

3.2.2 If demand exceeds supply, a random, lottery-style draw of names will be made from the list of interested parties.

3.2.3 Interested parties not selected will go on a waitlist (determined by random, lottery style draw) and plots assigned by order of application on the waitlist.

3.3 Plot Holders are required to sign a Community Gardens - Plot Agreement and Release indicating their concurrence with the Town’s requirements for their use of a Garden Plot within a Community Garden.

3.4 Garden Plot use is for a three year term.

3.5 Upon renewal first priority is given to the waitlist by sequence order, with the remainder going into a lottery-style draw.

3.6 If a Garden Plot becomes available before the end of the term, priority will be given to the waitlist. If this is the case, the Garden Plot will be assigned for a three year term.

3.7 Plot Holders are required to pay a $20 annual fee per Garden Plot.

3.8 Use of the Garden Plot can be revoked for non-compliance with the Community Gardens Terms and Conditions, or if the Community Garden site is required for other purposes by the Town. All plot holders will be given 60 days written notice.

3.9 Access to the municipally owned land by the general public is permitted.

ATTACHMENTS:

Schedule A – Community Gardens Terms and Conditions

Schedule B – View Royal Park Community Gardens – Plot Agreement and Release

Schedule C – Map of Community Gardens, View Royal Park

Schedule D – Community Garden Plot Legend

DISTRIBUTION: