Camden County Library District Community Garden

Are you wanting to grow your own fruits and vegetables but don’t have the room or permission to put in a garden?

Camden County Library District can help you solve this problem. Located behind the Camdenton Library, we have a community garden with plots available and just waiting for you to start planting this spring!

Community Garden Features:

  • Community Garden Beds - March 2022
    One of the metal beds in the Community Garden.
    Ten plots/beds available

            ○ Metal beds measure 79.5” x 40”

            ○ With at least four more beds coming in Spring 2022

  • Rainwater collection system for watering beds in the garden
  • Deer proof fencing

Benefits of Community Gardens:

  • Increase access to fresh foods
  • Improve mental health, physical health, and promote relaxation
  • Reduce the risk of obesity
  • Connect with others in the community
  • Increase fruit and vegetable intake
  • Education opportunities

Community Garden Rules:

The primary goal of these rules and responsibilities is to ensure an enjoyable gardening experience for the community, children, and other gardeners. Please don’t bring in anything that will compromise the safety of the garden, observe the rules, and be a good neighbor; this includes teaching your children not to waste water and respect others’ plots.

The Library Director has the duty of enforcing the rules, making decisions for the

Fence Around Community Garden
Fence around the Community Garden at the Camdenton Library

garden, and resolve conflicts, including refusing a plot to a gardener or dismissing a current gardener.

  • Those who would like to use the community garden must apply for a plot each year. Returning gardeners will be given first preference and can keep the same plot if they wish. The number of plots per gardener may be limited according to demand.
  • You are responsible for your plot and 2 hours of volunteer work (contributing to the upkeep of the whole garden).
  • If you cannot care for your plot for a time due to illness or vacation, ask a fellow gardener or the coordinator for help with weeding, watering, and harvesting.
  • Strive to visit your plot at least once a week for weeding and upkeep—plan on watering once a day during hot and dry weather.
  • Please place a sign in your raised plot with your name and phone number if you need to be contacted.
  • The garden is divided into organic and non-organic sections. No artificial herbicides or pesticides are allowed in the organic area. In the non-organic section, you may use herbicides and pesticides, but not on windy days when the spray may drift off your own plot. If you spray and see your mist leaving your plot, please stop until the wind dies down.
  • No pets in the garden.
  • Do not drive in the garden area. There is a parking lot available for Community Garden users.
  • Water for irrigation is available in the rainwater tanks in the garden area. Do not fill containers in the library’s bathrooms or outdoor spigots.
  • Library equipment is not available for garden use. Please plan to bring as many tools and containers as you need to tend your garden successfully. You are expected to be self-sufficient.
  • If you decide not to use your plot, please get in touch with the library so it may be reassigned to someone on the waiting list. If there is no evidence of activity at your plot by June 1st, it will be reassigned.
  • If your plot is overgrown with weeds, you may receive a warning. After one month of no action, your plot may be mowed and reassigned.
  • Biodegradable mulch is encouraged, such as compost, leaves, straw, and hay. Carpet mulch is not allowed. Remove any non-organic mulch by closing day. No wood chips as mulch; they do not biodegrade quickly. Black plastic is permitted but must be removed at the end of the growing season.
  • If you plant mint, catnip, Jerusalem artichokes, comfrey, or raspberries, you must control it to stay inside your plot.
  • Keep tall plants at the center of your plot, such as corn and sunflowers, so they do not shade your neighbor’s plants.
  • Keep vines and visitors out of neighboring plots.
  • Do not pick from your neighbor’s garden, even if you think they have neglected their plot.
    Beds in the Community Garden at the Camdenton Library
    Beds in the Community Garden at the Camdenton Library
  • Keep plot boundaries weeded and trash-free. If you are on a pathway, you are responsible for caring for half of the pathway between you and your neighbor. Keep the plot edges and fencing free of weeds that will go to seed. Don’t put rocks and sticks in the paths; please take them to the rock and stick area.
  • Compost made from leaves is available in the garden.
  • Plant refuse piles are set up for weeds and diseased plants. Please use these designated areas. Please do not put any trash in these piles. Please do not add kitchen scraps to the plant refuse piles because they are likely to draw animals.
  • Pack your trash back home to dispose of it properly.

Camden County Library District is not liable for accidents, theft, critters, frost, tornadoes, hail, floods, drought, earthquakes, plagues of insects, or other acts of God. Use of the garden is AT YOUR OWN RISK.

 

Rev. January 2022