This form allows you to apply for a garden plot. Please read the information on our website and in this application before submitting an application to make sure that community gardening is right for you. As a new gardener, we want you to be happy and successful in our garden community.

The mission of Hāli’imaile Community Garden is to build community around food self-sufficiency. Initiated to serve as a location to engage the community in organic fruit and vegetable production, sustainable agriculture education, and other activities involving agriculture and the environment, Hāli’imaile Community Garden is an independent non-profit organization recognized as a tax exempt public charity under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3).

Our garden programs are volunteer-run and require the participation of everyone for a successful operation. This includes adherence to organic standards, participating in work days, volunteer roles, following established rules, and being respectful of fellow gardeners & management.

Once you submit your application and a garden plot is available, you will be contacted via email with additional information and directions shortly before the orientation.

Mahalo!

Each family is permitted one plot. New gardeners, individuals, and hobby gardeners should begin with a hobby gardener plot. Subsistence grower plots are reserved for subsistence farmers growing for food self-sufficiency.

The mandatory two-part orientation class (4 hours total) is held the first two Thursdays of each growing season. The growing seasons are Summer (July – Dec) and Winter (Jan – June).

This first session is when we get to experience “getting our hands a little dirty”. This is a great time to get to know one another and experience the level of work involved at the garden both maintaining a personal plot and our community areas.

During the second session, we will take a complete tour, gather information about our organization and available programs, gain knowledge of the unique characteristics of the `āina at this site, review the rules & regulations, examine safety protocols, select from available garden space, pay the monetary dues and security deposit, and complete the required agreements, waivers, and paperwork.

The orientation classes are mandatory for all adults 18 and older who will be accessing the property and working on the plot. While prior farm or garden experience will be helpful to you, it is not applicable to the orientation material and will not preclude the orientation requirement.

To honor our existing commitments to our community, please understand that we are not able to offer alternate times or 'make-up' sessions. Attendees hold the responsibility to make arrangements to attend classes as scheduled.

General Information

• Organic management only – no chemical sprays or fertilizers at any time.
• One garden plot is available per family.
• Compost is made on site for gardeners to use. Gardeners contribute garden waste back to the pile.
• If for some reason, you are no longer able to care for your plot please let the garden council know as soon as possible.

Hours & Access

• The garden is open daily from dawn to dusk.
• Gardeners may enter by foot or vehicle and park inside. Please drive very slowly on the access road (below 5 mph).
• The gate codes will be issued to garden members. Do not share the code with anyone. Always lock the gate.

Tools Available to Borrow

There are hand tools available for borrow in the shed. Please clean and return all tools and lock the shed when finished.

Volunteer Service Dues

Gardeners are required to volunteer a minimum of 6 hours per growing season OR pay upfront for their volunteer hours at a rate of $50.00 per plot. More hours are suggested. Service dues must provide a meaningful contribution to the overall operation of the garden.

• Approved contributions for fulfillment of service dues include:
  • Tasks listed on the monthly Helping Hands list.
  • Sitting on a committee created by the garden council (fundraising committee, etc.).
  • Fulfilling a designated leadership role (Compost Czar, Worm Whisperer, Wood Chipper).
  • Working at a garden event, booth, or fundraiser.
  • Working at group projects occasionally announced via email.
• Gardeners hold the responsibility to complete and log/report their service dues on time.
• Satisfactory completion of tasks will be verified.
• An additional $50 monetary dues assessment will apply if this obligation is not met during any membership period.
• Another $50 dues assessment and permanent increase in plot fees to twice the current rate will apply if this obligation is not met during a 2nd membership period.
• Failure to pay additional monetary dues will result in termination of membership.

Working together as a community to maintain the garden keeps costs, thus monetary plot fees, to a minimum.

Commitment to a Community

Being part of this garden means you are part of our community working together in partnership. Gardening in a community setting requires the ability to communicate respectfully and get along with a wide variety of plot neighbors. Our garden includes many people from different cultures, backgrounds, and lifestyles who all have different experience levels and growing methodologies. All are equally important and valuable to our community.

Others may have very different values on water conservation, animal based fertilziers, mulching, weed matting, etc. It is never acceptable to try to convert or force others to follow your personal value system or to try to change the garden's rules to your personal liking. As long as everyone is gardening within the gaden's established rules & regulations, differences must be respected.

On the off chance that you have a disagreement that you are unable to resolve, please contact the plot manager for help.

Garden Management

Active management of the garden is provided by a committee formed by the board of directors known as the “garden council”. The council provides the direction and planning needed to keep the garden operating in a legal, safe, and harmonious fashion. The nonprofit organizational bylaws create the framework for overseeing garden activity such that positive individual and community activity can take place. The bylaws are available for download at www.haliimailegarden.com. The garden council is not remunerated.

Plot Management

Active site management is provided by the plot manager. The plot manager is your first point of contact for any questions you may have as you settle into your new plot. The plot manager ensures that gardeners follow the rules and regulations, garden in a safe manner, and grow within the bounds of the assigned plot. The rules are enforced to keep the garden a safe place where positive individual and community action can take place. Thus, it is common that you will have contact with the plot manager more often than other members of the garden council.

Plot Management Protocol

Garden plots must be weeded and tended weekly. Plot monitoring is performed regularly by the Plot Manager. The Plot Manager will assess if plots are planted, weeded regularly, kept free of garbage, growing only approved plants, and if paths next to plots are being maintained and free of debris. The plot manager will contact gardeners who do not meet these basic standards. Gardeners will have 14 days to correct the situation once contacted. The plot management protocol that the plot manager follows is a three step process in which s/he will

1. Call or email the inactive gardener.
2. If there is no response or change after two weeks, a two-week notice will be sent.
3. If there is no response or change, a final letter will be sent stating the plot in question will be forfeited and any property left on the plot will become property of the garden.

Community Garden Rules

• Organic management is required. We do not use any chemicals, synthetic fertilizers, or pesticides.
• Crops grown in the garden are for personal consumption only.
• Watering must be within the following guidelines:
  • Individual style vegetable plot:
    • No more than 5 minutes a day by hand or on overhead, or 15 minutes a day on drip during the dry months.
    • No more than 3 minutes a day by hand on overhead, or 10 minutes a day on drip during the wet months.
  • Polynesian style tree plot:
    
    • No more than 10 minutes a day by hand or on overhead, or 30 minutes a day on drip during the dry months.
    • No more than 5 minutes a day by hand or on overhead, or 15 minutes a day on drip during the wet months.
• New members are required to start working on their plot within 2 weeks of joining.
• The Garden Council should be notified if a member is no longer able to care for their plot. Members who are inactive will be given a two week notice to begin weeding and maintaining their plot again.
• All gardeners working on plots must sign a uniform liability realease form and attend a mandatory two part orientation prior to access.
• All visitors & guests of gardeners over 18 years of age must sign a uniform liability release form prior to access.
• All visitors & guests of gardeners under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over 18 years of age who has signed a uniform liability release form listing the minor's name prior to access.
• Gardeners must respect different growing styles and beleifs of other gardeners that are within the garden's rules and regulations.
• Gardeners operating power tools do so at your own risk. Power tools may only be operated by registered gardeners 18 or older wearing closed toe shoes after notification has been given to other gardeners in the area.
• Power tools must be cleaned, refilled with oil and gasoline, and locked back onto their chains after use.
• Children must be accompanied by their parents and must respect garden property. Do not let your children play with the water or tools. Keep children out of other other plots. Children who accompany a gardener without participating in the gardening activity with their parent must be in an area marked as a community area and directly supervised by a parent at all times.
• Do not share access codes with anyone. Refer anyone who asks to the Garden Council.
• Close and lock the main gate by the road behind you every time you pass through.
• Stay on the fire-road, drive slowly, and follow the 5 mph speed limit. No trespassing in the residential yards or other private property.
• Do not pick crops or enter plots belonging to others without their prior permission.
• Garden only within the boundaries of your designated plot in a way that does not shade or harm your neighbor's plot. Foliage, fencing, and other structures should not exceed 4' in height. Never plant so close to the boundary line that your crops will grow into pathways or neighboring plots.
• Respect major access pathways and maintain pathways between neighboring plots. Gardeners are responsible for keeping paths around their plots passable and free from debris, weeds, sticks, rocks, and personal material. Never place weeds or plant debris in the pathways between plots or outside the perimiter of your plot. Do not dig or plant outside of your plot boundaries.
• Tools should be cleaned and returned to the shed after use. Please keep shed door closed.
• Plots must be left cleared and covered upon vacating.
• No open flames will be allowed. Examples would include propane blow torches to suppress weeds and barbecue grills.
• No stealing, littering, dumping of trash, bringing green waste from home, dogs or other pets, alcohol, or drugs.
• The Garden Council reserves the unrestricted right to deny entrance/revoke garden use for any reason at any time.
• The Organizational Bylaws govern the way in which the Board of Directors makes decisions. A reference copy may be downloaded from the website at www.haliimailegarden.com.
• Please report activities that are detrimental to the atmosphere of the garden and follow any updates made to rules.

By submitting this application, you agree to do the following:

• Keep your plot and pathways weeded and tended weekly.
• Abide by decisions made by the plot manager and garden council.
• Follow the established garden rules.
• Assist with general garden maintenance/improvements by completing volunteer hours or opting to pay for hours.
• Adhere to organic standards.

Further, you understand that failure to comply with any of the rules now or as amended by the garden council in the future will result in the loss of your gardening privileges.