Loveland Historical Society Community Gardens

Milner-Schwarz House

Information and Policies, 2023

Community Garden Coordinators: Sharon Danhauer and Teri Johnson

Email: lovelandhistorical@gmail.com

Website: lovelandhistorical.org

The aim of the LHS Community Garden is to create a superlative gardening space while enhancing the experience of visitors to the Milner Schwartz House programs. Like all of the programs of the LHS, this is one of stewardship for one of our city’s greatest historical resources.

Our Community Garden Program Provides:

Garden plots in the rich bottom land of the Big Thompson River most coveted by homesteaders—and by modern farmers.
Water (regulated by the City of Loveland)
Plots tilled by LHS before planting season
Parking within feet of the plots
Bins for the disposal of organic garden waste (NOT including soil)
A garbage can for non-organic waste

Gardeners Provide:

Yearly plot rental fee of $50.00 paid by May 1^st
At least 2 hours per plot of community service assistance for the garden per year. This needs to be coordinated in advance with the Garden Coordinator (please see our schedule of opportunities)
A clearly worked, weeded, and harvested plot all through the growing season
Clear and weeded pathways around gardeners’ plot
All plant materials
All tools

Refunds/Revocation

If a garden plot is voluntarily relinquished and written notification given to the Loveland Historical Society by May 15^th, the plot will be reassigned and half of the plot fee will be refunded. No refunds will be given after May 15^th. The LHS has the right to revoke plots for failure to comply with the stated Policies. No refunds will be issued for plots that have been revoked.

Community Service

Two hours of Community Service time per plot is required annually to participate in the Community Garden Program. This is in addition to the maintenance of your plot and pathways. All tasks/projects completed as part of your community service hours need to be approved by the Garden Coordinator in advance of the work being performed (an email is sufficient). If not approved in advance, you will not get credit for the effort or the hours.

There is a Volunteer Project List of tasks that are needed throughout the season. You are required to confirm your project with the Garden Coordinator by June 15th. If a project is not selected, a Garden Reminder will be sent via email. All volunteer projects need to be completed by the November 1^st deadline.

Completion of service hours must be communicated to the Garden Coordinator with the following information: gardener name and plot number, task completed, date completed, and number of hours completed. Failure to complete your service hours by November 1^st will result in non-renewal of your plot or being billed $40 per plot.

Plot Neglect/Abandonment

Plots must be regularly worked and weed control begun by May 15^th (weather permitting). Any abandoned or unworked plots as of this date will be reassigned and no refund will be given. If you are unable to keep or maintain your plot, you must contact the Garden Coordinator as soon as possible.

Plot Maintenance

Plots must be reasonably maintained, i.e. weeds under control and plants regularly cared for, watered and harvested. Plants must not exceed plot boundaries. Any structures added to the garden plots must be approved prior to their construction. By November 15^th, all stakes, row covers, piles of lumber, pots, tools, etc. must be removed. Unapproved items left in plots over the winter may be removed and discarded by the LHS following the deadline. This will be enforced.

Path Maintenance

It is each gardener’s responsibility to keep their paths clear and weed-free.

Fertilizers, Pesticides, Etc.

Our Community Garden is not an organic garden. As such, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides (including herbicides) are allowed. We absolutely encourage gardeners to use a minimum of these products and encourage the use of scientifically-based organic methods when possible. Remember that responsible use of garden products means that your use will in no way affect other gardeners or their crops or soil.

Pests in the Garden

Please be diligent in keeping the gates closed. If you notice a pest—rabbits, racoons, weasels, etc.—please inform the Garden Coordinator right away. Reasonable efforts will be made to eradicate the problem to the best of our ability, however, it is not possible to eliminate all pests.

Guests, Children, and Pets in the Garden

If you plan to have regular assistants helping you to maintain your plot when you are not on site, please forward their name(s) to the Garden Coordinator and make sure that they are aware of our policies.
Please keep a close eye on any children in the garden. This is not a place that has been prepared to let children explore, so it is your responsibility to supervise them.
Dogs and other potential service animals are not allowed in the garden unless you have provided the Garden Coordinator with acceptable documentation of the task they have been trained to perform.
Do not share the gate combination with anyone, except a helper in your unavoidable absence, and then not several helpers at once.
Please do not enter the MSH grounds itself unless you have gotten permission from the current garden coordinator for community service.