We ask everyone who is interested in using a garden bed for personal use to read and sign a user agreement. This is what it looks like…

Personal Raised Bed Agreement

In order to serve the best interests of our community, we ask that all individuals and families assigned a personal raised bed sign an agreement stating that they understand the purpose of the Fishers Island community garden, (FICG), and are willing to adhere their practices to the community's standards.

1. The term of use for a personal raised bed is approx. 2 years, (dependent upon when during the gardens June-June calendar year that the lease is initiated.). During that time, we ask that you try to garden as organically as possible. Using organic or heirloom varieties, choosing natural and organic fertilizers if necessary, and avoiding the use of all synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. If you need help choosing suitable alternatives, please speak with a FICG committee member or check out the “Our Practices” section of our website to learn more about why we believe in gardening the way we do and view a list of safe products you can use.

Upon signing this agreement, you will be assigned a specific raised bed measuring 4 feet wide, 12 feet long, and 2 feet high. It will be your responsibility to maintain all plants in your assigned space. This means making sure to water, weed, and manage any blight or infestation promptly. It is important that you make sure to harvest your ripe produce. Rotting produce that could have fed hungry mouths is a sad sight for all to see. If you have produce in your box that's beautifully ripe and you don't seem to be picking it, we will first send you a ‘ripe produce, don't miss it!’ text if you fail to respond and the produce is not picked within 24 hours it will be picked by the garden staff and put out on the available produce stand.

If you are going away or foresee not being able to take care of your assigned bed for a specific period of time, please notify a committee member and/or make arrangements for someone else to fill in for you until you return. We know that life can take unexpected turns, and we're happy to help care for your bed for a time while you care for those unexpected moments of life. If you need help, please let us know.

Please be a considerate neighbor to your fellow gardeners. Be sure to tidy up all tools, watering cans, hoses, etc. you may use. If using any of the tools provided by the FICG, please be sure they are clean and returned to their proper place when you are finished with them.  All weeds should be disposed of in the proper compost bin.

Unfortunately, due to its vivacious nature and intense ability to spread rapidly and deeply, we ask that all gardeners refrain from planting mint. One little mint plant starter can take over a 12-foot garden box in 2 years’ time. If you are looking for mint to use, the garden has plenty along the back fence line to be harvested as needed.

For safety purposes; please keep walkways clear.

In Consideration of your fellow gardeners, plants, and pollinators, please refrain from smoking in all its forms within the garden and its immediate surroundings. If you must smoke, please do so at a distance; downwind.

Please make sure to clean out your raised bed at the end of your lease term. If the bed is not cleared by June 1st of the second year of your lease term, it will be cleared by the committee and any perennials remaining in the bed will be forfeited by the previous user. *

Failure to comply with the terms of this agreement will result in the termination of your term.

The community garden board reserves the right to extend, or discontinue a lease. If you are doing a great job caring for your bed and adhearing to the policies outlined in this agreement we may offer an extension on your lease barring that we are not currently working through a wait list. If you are not adhearing to the policies outlined in this agreement and it is apparent that you are not caring for your provided space, we enact a three strike policy. We will send you two friendly reminders, offering help, and encouraging you to care for your bed. If you fail to reply and the problem persists, we will send a final notice informing you that if we don't hear back from you or see a noticeable difference in the maintenance of your raised bed within a week from the notice being sent, that we will count your lack of response as forfeiture of your leased space.

As such it is important that you provide us with the most reliable form of contact information for you!

Name:_____________________________________                      Personal Raised Bed #:________________

Phone #:___________________________________

Start Date:_________________________________                    End Date: June 1st   ___________________

I acknowledge that I have read this agreement and am aware of the proper protocol and behavior expected of me in here by agreeing to the terms of use of a Personal Raised Bed offered by the Fishers Island Community Garden. I will do my best to uphold this agreement and if for any reason I am unable to I will immediately contact a member of the Fishers Island Community Garden Committee.

Print Name:___________________________________________   Date:____________________________________

Signature:______________________________________________

(Must be at least 18 years old to sign, if under 18, agreement must be signed by parent or legal guardian.)

Signature of Issuing Committee Member:____________________________________ Date:_____________

          HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT

Upon entering the community garden, you are acknowledging that you have read this agreement and understand it’s terms. This contract protects the community garden, its committee members, and the owners of the land upon which the garden has been developed from any liability lawsuits resulting from personal injury, theft, and/or damage to personal property. Should an incident occur; no action shall be taken against the aforementioned parties as this agreement will act as a deed of indemnity.

By entering the garden, you are agreeing to these terms.

Please enter at your own risk.

I acknowledge that I have read this agreement and understand it’s terms.

Signature: _____________________________________                           Date: _________________________

(Must be at least 18 years old to sign, if under 18, agreement must be signed by parent or legal guardian.)