What makes having and participating in a community garden important? Why do community gardens make areas stronger? There are many reasons to create and maintain community gardens. They provide neighborhood and community development. They improve the quality of life for people, stimulate social interaction and encourages self-reliance. Not only are you able to grow delicious food, but there is also the opportunity for recreation, exercise, therapy, and educational activities. Communities can learn to conserve resources and create green spaces. Long term goals can include the reduction of crime, reducing city heat from streets and parking lots, beautifying neighborhoods, and reducing family food budgets. (Source: American Community Gardening Association)
The McAlester Community Garden is supported by the city of McAlester as well as Pride in McAlester. MCALESTER COMMUNITY GARDEN GUIDELINES
Our goals are to provide a location for community members to produce and obtain fresh, naturally grown vegetables, herbs, and fruits; and to demonstrate how a sustainable natural garden in an urban setting can provide a peaceful place for neighbors to exercise good stewardship of the Earth’s resources. Garden Rules: These guidelines serve as a common basis of understanding for all involved, in order to maintain a positive and productive environment in which to fulfill the goals of this project.
• Garden plots will be assigned on a first come/first serve basis until all plots are assigned. First preference for next year's plots will be given to this year's participants. Garden plots are not transferable.
• Each gardener must agree to the terms of use and pay the annual rental fee. Fees include one year use of plot and water. The rental fee will be $10 per year.
• Garden hours are from sunup to sundown every day during growing seasons. Each gardener will be given the combination to the garden gate and storage shed, and is responsible for leaving the area in good order and securing the garden after each visit.
• Each gardener is responsible for the full maintenance and upkeep of his or her own garden plot, including watering, weeding, harvesting and any other garden related chores.
• Garden plots should be cared for at least weekly. It is the gardener's responsibility to notify the coordinator if he or she is not able to care for a plot in any given week. Any plot remaining unattended for more than three weeks is subject to reassignment.
• Gardeners may plant any legal herb, flower, vegetable, or fruit in their plot; and agree to keep the garden & edges free of weeds, diseased plants, insect-infested plants and over-ripe vegetables. (Consider other gardener’s plots, especially when planting perennials or shade-producing plants.)
• A limited number of tools and equipment will be made available for on-site use, and should be returned in clean and good condition after each use. Regularly scheduled work times will be posted.
• Children are welcome in the garden but must be accompanied by an adult and must be supervised AT ALL TIMES.
• Gardeners may harvest vegetables and flowers from their own gardens only. Excess produce may be made available for sharing.
• At the end of the growing season, gardeners are responsible for clearing their plot of all plant material and leaving the plot as they found it, at which time half of their plot rental fee can be refunded.
• The Garden Committee is responsible for ensuring that the rules are followed at all times. The committee is made up of gardeners elected each year at the spring meeting. It is our desire to maintain as natural a garden as possible. Commercial pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers, and gasoline or diesel powered equipment are not allowed. These gardening methods are encouraged:
• Composting
• The use of beneficial insects (Please do not use pesticides that have not been pre-approved by the Garden Committee.)
• Mulching to help prevent the drying out of the soil
• Sheet mulching to control grass, weeds and promote healthy soil with an abundance of earthworms
• The use of well-rotted cow or horse manure as a fertilizer
• Hand-tilling of the soil
• The use of harvested rainwater for watering the plants
• Companion planting
