West Hartford Community Gardens

Town of West Hartford 2012 Community Garden Rental Regulations

Download the application form

West Hartford Community Garden plots are available to West Hartford Town Residents ONLY at the following locations:

• Buena Vista Gardens (BV) on Cornerstone Dr. 
• Westmoor Park Gardens (WP) on Flagg Rd. 
• Wolcott Park Gardens (WL) on Wolcott Rd.

Garden plot rentals are available through the Westmoor Park office only; sub-letting of plots is NOT permitted.   EACH AND EVERY GARDENER including those who share a garden plot, must complete and sign a rental agreement form. Primary Gardeners must include the name, address and phone number of each garden partner on all rental agreements.

YEAR 2012 GARDEN PLOT REGISTRATION

Renewal registrations will be accepted early for Primary Gardeners wishing to renew (up to two {2} full-size plots per household) from the previous year. Renewals will be accepted by mail or walk- in with a completed rental agreement & full payment at the Westmoor Park Office, 119 Flagg Road, 06117, West Hartford, Monday through Friday, 9am-4:00pm (Westmoor Park reserves the right to request proof of residency).

Primary Gardeners who wish to surrender or transfer their plots to their Co-Gardeners must first submit a written request to the Westmoor Park office for consideration prior to renewing their lease. Failure to do so may mean a forfeiture of the existing lease to the co-gardener. Co-gardeners are not notified about renewals by Westmoor Park since only the Primary Gardener is considered the lessee. To change garden plots, the Primary Gardener must first renew their 2011 plots by the deadline specified in the next line (see next paragraph for more details on plot changes).

Renewals for Plots must be received no later than FEBRUARY 18, 2012.

We cannot guarantee your plot from last year after February 29 2012!

Please read and complete the registration form in full.  Return it to Westmoor Park with payment of check,  Master Card or Visa. (Westmoor Park reserves the right to request proof of residency). Garden plots cannot be held without a signed rental agreement and payment. Please read the attached gardening procedures.

PLOT CHANGES: Gardeners who are renewing for the 2012 garden season may CHANGE PLOTS by coming in person to the Westmoor Park office beginning March 7, 2012 to choose from available non-renewed plots. For your own benefit, please renew your existing plot by the deadline of 2/15/12; by doing so you will guarantee yourself a garden plot should you not find a suitable plot to switch too.

NEW GARDENERS must register in person at Westmoor Park beginning on March 21, 2012at 9:00am. Gardeners may rent a maximum of two full garden plots per household.  If sharing a plot with another individual, the Primary Gardener is designated as the person who pays the rental fee and accepts responsibility for following the stated rules and regulations. The Co-Gardener is still expected to obey all procedures, but holds no claim to the garden lease. A plot map of each garden is available for viewing/selecting plots at the Westmoor Park office during the following office hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00am–4:00pm (except when the office is closed for holidays). Call the Westmoor Park Office at 860-561-8260 for additional information.

GARDENING PROCEDURES

• START DATE—On or about April 21, 2012; Plots will be available for use after the gardens have been tilled and staked. You may begin using your plot when the numbered stakes marking plot boundaries are in place. BE SURE YOU WORK ONLY THE PLOT YOU RENTED.

• BOUNDARY LINES--DO NOT MOVE THE CORNER STAKES. These are the boundaries of your plot. As the season progresses you may find they will need to be pounded in again or replaced. If it helps, connect your four stakes with string, or you may construct a small, temporary fence. Please keep plants within your plot.
• WALKWAYS must be kept Clear and Weed Free   It is the Primary Gardener's Responsibility to make sure adjacent walkways are Clear and Weed Free.  Common access walkways are not to be planted or fenced.

• GARDEN MAINTENANCE-- If a problem occurs with the garden site, such as fallen trees, or water leaks, please contact Westmoor Park, at 860- 561-8260 to report the problem. Individual garden plots and adjacent pathways through the garden shall be maintained by the garden renters.

• COMPOST & MULCH—Residents may pick up leaf mulch free of charge from the Town Recycling Center on Brixton Street or farm manure can be picked up free of charge from Westmoor Park during business office hours.  For weed suppression, gardeners are encouraged to use biodegradable mulch such as straw, biodegradable mats, woodchips, etc. Materials that do not readily decompose, such as, carpet, black plastic, etc. are discouraged.  Gardeners must remove all non-biodegradable material at the end of the season.

• PESTICIDES – To prevent over-spray contamination and other problems affecting your garden neighbors, chemical pesticides and herbicides are PROHIBITED in West Hartford’s Community Gardens.  Only organic gardening techniques and organic compounds may be used to control pests and weeds.  This statement is not intended to restrict the use of fertilizers. Gardeners found to be using non-organic chemical pesticides or herbicides will lose their gardening privileges. For more information on organic gardening techniques please call Westmoor Park or your local garden center

• REFUSE--An area is designated at each garden site for weeds and compostable garden waste to be stockpiled.  Trash cans are NOT supplied.   All Litter, garbage, and waste must be removed from the garden area by the gardeners to be disposed of at home.

• BE NEIGHBORLY--Be a good neighbor to your fellow gardeners. Do not exceed your own garden boundaries. Be considerate when using water, hoses, mulch, fencing, etc. Please keep a clear path between gardens. Please discard unwanted or unnecessary items properly.  Call Westmoor Park at 860-561-8260 to inform us of problems that occur regarding your garden plot.

• VANDALISM--Security is not provided. Vandalism and theft can be a problem especially during the harvesting season. If you notice unauthorized people in the gardens or suspicious activity, please help your gardening neighbors by calling the Police Department at 860-523-5203.  The police will investigate Theft or Vandalism problems at the gardens.

• WEEDY/UNCARED FOR PLOTS--These plots are a potential source of weed seeds and pests and contribute to a ragged appearance.  Gardeners who habitually neglect or abandon their plot will forfeit their privilege to rent a plot during the next garden season. Neglected plots may be cleared and/or re-rented if the gardener does not take appropriate action within two weeks of notification by Westmoor Park. If you plan to be on vacation for an extended period of time, please ask a neighbor gardener, relative or friend to care for your plot in your absence.  If you wish to discontinue using your plot, please call the Park Office at 561-8260.

• WATER, HOSES AND SPRINKLERS--The water faucets are shared with other gardeners. Call Westmoor Park, 860-561-8260 if the faucets are not working properly or leaking uncontrollably. The Town does not supply equipment or hoses, but many people will share their hoses. Please be considerate of the plot renters near the water faucets when moving hoses. SPRINKLERS ARE NOT TO BE LEFT UNATTENDED. Others wishing to use the water may disconnect unattended sprinklers.

• END OF SEASON—By October 31, 2012: All harvestable crops, foreign material, non-organic mulch, ETC., and personal items including --but not limited to -- fencing, stakes, hoses, plastic, carpet, chairs, wheelbarrows, etc. MUST BE REMOVED from the garden area.  Acceptable materials which may be left behind in your plot include anything that can be safely turned into the soil, such as plant stems, leaves, crops you don’t want, and organic mulches.  If the plot is not cleared by October 31^st the Primary Gardener will incur a maintenance fee of $30 per plot.   Imposing this fee has become necessary because of past abuses and the limited resources the town crews have for clean up efforts.  Your renewal privilege for the next season may also be forfeited.  Personal items may NOT be stored over-winter on Community Garden property.

Thank you for complying with the Rules and Regulations listed above. Your cooperation will ensure a safe and pleasant gardening season for you and your neighbors. Please call the Westmoor Park office at 860-561-8260 with any questions.