Saratoga El Quito Park Community Garden's New Rules to Lessen Conflict

In October 2012, a member of Saratoga's Community Garden at El Quito Park voiced concerns at a City Council meeting about a conflict with fellow community gardeners.

As a result, city officials looked into the issue and have now revised a set of rules for the community garden, located near the Westhope Church parking lot.

The garden, owned and managed by the city, has 17 plots that are renewed annually at a cost of $85 each, with a reduced rate for seniors 55 and older of $60, plus $160 for water, each year.

The total revenue for the program is about $3,500.

Staff said community garden rules had weaknesses such as not adequately addressing inappropriate behavior, threatening another gardener or intentionally damaging another gardener’s plots.

The revised rules more clearly outline garden rules and expectations of gardeners, as well as how the city will enforce regulations, according to a staff report.

The rules also establish a priority for how garden plots will be leased.

Plot leases are renewed annually, and leases will be issued with first priority given to existing gardeners who are Saratoga residents, followed by existing gardeners who are non-residents, new gardeners who are Saratoga residents and new gardeners who are non-residents, the report said.

City staff met with members of the El Quito Community Garden on Jan. 31 at Saratoga City Hall to review the rules.

Input and suggestions from the meeting were received and presented to the Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission during its meeting on Feb. 5, with the body approving the updated rules.

All plots must show evidence of active gardening, digging, sowing, planting, weeding, pruning, watering, harvesting, etc. once a week during the growing season.

Some of the revised rules are:

• Only flowers, fruits, vegetables and herbs may be grown in the plots. Any trees planted already should be regularly pruned to assure that they do not shade others’ crops. Animal husbandry is not permitted.
• Produce from the gardens is to be used for personal consumption or sharing and not as a commercial commodity.
• All plots must be kept free of debris, weeds, and produce rotting on the vine.
• Large piles of clippings, garden waste, etc. are to be removed immediately and properly disposed (e.g., not to be left outside the gate).
• Only organic gardening techniques and fertilizers may be used. All pesticides must be non-toxic to humans and animals. Any deviation must be reviewed and approved by the Garden Administrator.
• Trellises and or structures of any kind may not exceed six feet in height and must be cleared of any non producing annuals after the plant stops producing.
• All plants and vines must be contained within the garden plot.
• Gardeners shall respect the need of all plots for sunlight. Tall crops shall not be planted in a way that will cause excessive shading to nearby plots.
• Fencing around individual plots is not permitted.
• Gardeners must supply their own tools and irrigation devices