Responsibilities and Expectations

All gardeners are responsible for doing their part to keep community gardens functional, welcoming, and peaceful. All gardeners agree that they will uphold the below responsibilities:

Report broken or leaking faucets and equipment to community garden staff.
Be kind to other gardeners. Assume good intentions. In the event of a conflict, work to resolve it peacefully and contact Community Garden Staff for help.
Keep disturbances to other gardeners to a minimum. This includes loud noises, obnoxious behavior, dog waste, clutter, and rambunctious children.
Don’t shade out neighboring plots with tall plants. Be courteous with plantings of corn, sunflowers, sorghum, and other shading crops.
Keep your plot as neat and tidy as possible. Take things you don’t immediately need home regularly to avoid clutter accumulation. Neatly stack or store items you are not taking home INSIDE your plot boundaries during the growing season. Keep things out of the treeline.
Do not use orange construction fencing.
Avoid the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Effective alternatives exist and we can share them with you. Contact Extension for pest management and soil fertility advice and resources.
Do not come to the Garden Rental office outside of the open hours posted on the website. If you need to speak to us outside of the registration period, please schedule an appointment in advance.
Take trash home every time you visit your plot. Please do not leave it in your plot or at the garden. Dispose of it in a designated trash receptacle once it’s out of the garden (do not litter or dump).

Water

Garden Care

Personal Conduct

Refund Policy

We have reworked these for the 2026 garden rental season. The rules and responsibilities are meant to ensure that all who use the garden have a safe and enjoyable experience. Many of these arise from feedback gardeners have shared with UW Extension. Please take time to carefully review these, as there are some updates which will be enforced in the
2026 growing season.

Rules

Rules are enforceable by garden rental staff. Multiple offenses may lead to fines or forfeiture of plots. You agree to these rules when signing a garden waiver.

Water

Garden water faucets are for plot irrigation ONLY. Washing cars and bathing are prohibited.
Do not leave hoses or sprinklers unattended. They will be removed by Community Garden Staff.

Personal Conduct

Entering or planting in any plot that you have not rented is prohibited and considered trespassing. This includes vacant and unrented plots. Contact Community Garden Staff to inquire about a plot.
Do not take plants, crops, or tools from a plot you have not rented. Theft will not be tolerated in the Community Gardens.
Double-check that you are in the right plot. If you believe someone else is planting in your plot, get in touch with Community Garden Staff before touching anything. Do not destroy a garden someone else has planted, even if it is in a plot you have rented.
Keep dogs leashed and under control at all times. Do not let them urinate or defecate anywhere near plots, occupied or otherwise.
Do not relieve yourself in the bushes or wooded areas of the garden. Find a restroom or portable toilet nearby.
The speed limit in the garden is 15 miles per hour. Report issues with the path and roads to Community Garden Staff.
Children and dogs are the responsibility of their guardians, not the Community Garden Program or its other participants.
Report illegal or unusual activity to community garden staff. In the event of an emergency, call 911.

Garden Care

Do not leave trash at the garden or along the tree lines around the garden. All trash must be properly disposed of before leaving your plot for the day. Burning trash is prohibited. Like the National Parks, we promote a “pack it in, pack it out” approach to trash.
Unattended and uncontained fires are strictly prohibited and will be put out by Community Garden Staff.
Do not hire outside contractors to perform work or deliver materials at the gardens. If you have service or material needs, contact Community Garden Staff for help or resources.
Keep your plot weeded. Abandoned and overrun plots will be given 3 weeks and 3 respective notices to be weeded. After the 3 weeks and 3 notices, the plot will be forfeit with no refund.
Do not sublease the plots you have rented. If you know someone who would like a plot, put them in touch with Community Garden Staff and we can find them a plot nearby to you, or we can transfer one of your plots to their name.
Do not plant or build fences in the walkways, even if the path goes between two plots that you have rented. Other gardeners need to get to their plots and garden staff need to be able to reach every plot.
Do not plant trees without explicit permission from the Community Garden Rental staff.
Do not construct sheds, shelters, high tunnels, or greenhouses without necessary certification AND explicit permission from Community Garden Staff.
Do not dump trash anywhere in or around the gardens. Compost and brush piles are for plant material ONLY. Bringing trash to the gardens to abandon is incredibly disrespectful and creates unsafe conditions for growing food to eat.
Do not leave anything in or around annual garden plots after the clear-out date in late October. This includes, but is not limited to landscape fabric, non-biodegradable ground cover/mulch, rugs, tomato cages, fencing, string, and repurposed materials like burlap bags and rugs. DO NOT leave anything along the edges of your plot. Plan in advance how you plan to take everything home at the end of the season.
Failure to remove ALL property from annual plots after the clear-out date will result in a fee upon renewal the next season. Repeat offenses will result in plot forfeiture with no refund.

Following these rules keeps the Garden Rental Program affordable and accessible to the community, including YOU. If you have any questions or concerns about the rules, contact the Community Garden Staff. We will more than likely be able to offer a solution, alternative, or assistance.

Refund Policy

In the case of plot assignment or other error by UW Extension , we offer a credit for the amount of your plot for the next season, or the option to move to an equivalent plot. Requests for credit or refunds are not guaranteed. As a last resort, cash refunds require 1 to 2 months for approval, and the submission of your W-9 tax form.

NO REFUNDS OR CREDIT for…

Forfeiture of plot(s) due to rule violations
Dissatisfaction of plot assignment or crop turnout
Wildlife or weather damage to crops or plot(s)
Injury or illness at a community garden
Theft of or damage to personal property
Cancellation of plot rental at any point

Theft and/or damage by another gardener:

In the event of another gardener’s actions causing irreparable property damage or theft, contact the Garden Rental Staff immediately. Report illegal or dangerous activity to the police in addition to Garden Rental Staff.

Tips for preventing theft and/or damage:

Take valuable items home when you leave.
Use locking devices (e.g. a bike lock or padlock) for items you’re leaving at your plot.
Record the date, time, and result of each incident. Photos are helpful.
Ask neighboring gardeners to keep an eye on your plot.
Construct a non-permanent fence. Talk to your neighbors or Community Garden Staff about resources and methods for fence construction. Please take garden rules into account when constructing fencing.
Visit your plot often.