Watertown Community Gardens



Union Market Community Garden (UMCG)

The Union Market Community Garden debuted for the 2020 growing season, with approximately 14 plots for gardeners. The UMCG is located at 53 Irving Street, just off of Arsenal Street. 

URGENT NOTICE: UMCG is opening during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please follow all of the current public safety rules, particularly the following:

  • Do not go to the garden if you or a member of your household is sick, is in quarantine, or has been exposed to COVID-19.
  • Practice safe social distancing; do not touch other gardeners; wear gloves when using shared tools.
  • Do not cough or sneeze near other gardeners. 
  • If you believe you have come into contact with an affected person since your last visit to the garden, notify the Garden Captains immediately so that other gardeners can also be notified.

These rules will be modified as necessary, when directed by State or local government.

Union Market Community Garden Rules

The Union Market Community Garden (“UMCG”) opened in April 2020 under the auspices of Watertown Community Gardens (“WCG”). Fees are collected from all gardeners to support WCG. A steering committee (“SC”) will be organized to oversee the UMCG. Garden Captains liaison between gardeners, SC members and the WCG Board of Directors.


In registering for a garden plot you agree to the following rules, (which are subject to change): 

  1. You have use of your plot for one year.  In order to have a plot the following year, you must re-apply for a plot, pay the garden fee, and follow the garden rules. 
  2. This is an organic garden. Non-organic herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers are prohibited. Organic fertilizers may be used in compliance with manufacturers’ instructions and shall not be left on-site or unattended at any time. Adding bags of organic compost (such as Coast of Maine) is most welcome and improves the soil.
  3. Garden operations must be conducted safely. The operation of power tools is prohibited at the UMCG. Sharable garden tools may be stored in the 2 large containers, after having first been wiped down.
  4. STEALING (that is, picking other people’s vegetables, fruits, herbs, and other plants) is strictly prohibited. Please respect your neighbor’s property. Stealing is unconscionable.
  5. Please bring your children to the garden. It is a wonderful experience for them to see things growing. Encourage them to help, if appropriate. Our gardening future depends on the little ones
  6. Dogs are not welcome at the garden.
  7. You may grow any vegetables or flowers except for plants over 4-5' in height, which are prohibited because they shade other gardeners' plots.
  8. Planting invasive perennials is prohibited. If you are not sure what you are planting, please consult the garden captains or a member of the steering committee.
  9. The garden should be locked at all times when not in use. The combination to the gate lock will be shared with all gardeners at the beginning of the garden season, and may change each year. It is the responsibility of ALL gardeners to ensure the gate is locked when leaving the garden.
  10. Water is a valuable resource which should not be wasted. Our ability to garden on the property is dependent on our ability to NOT WASTE water. Please turn off the water immediately after you finish using it. Gardeners must keep hoses off other peoples’ plots and roll up the hoses after use. We strongly suggest that you not water your plants during the heat of the day; best to water in the early morning. You may only water by hand or hose; sprinklers are NOT allowed. Soaker hoses on your plot are permitted but can only be running when the gardener is present.
  11. Only one community garden plot per household is permitted. You may garden only in the plot assigned to your family. Plots sizes may not be enlarged. Each plot will have clearly defined edges that are not to be moved. You must have your plot care and planting underway by June 15 or you forfeit your plot for the year. (Note: This will not be enforced in 2020 due to the current COVID-19 isolation rules).
  12. You must keep your garden weeded. Weed seeds from your garden become the weeds in your neighbor's garden. If you don’t weed, your plot will be considered abandoned even if it is planted. You are allowed to use landscape fabric (sometimes called “weed block”) which does help prevent some weeds from growing.
  13. Some pests (bugs, fungi, etc.) can spread quickly. If you discover, or are notified, that you have pests or disease in your garden, you may need to remove the infested plants to avoid spread in the garden, or allow them to be removed if you are not able. Remove diseased plants from the garden area and put them in your yard waste away from the garden. Failure to remove and dispose of pests or diseased plants in your plot may lead to loss of your plot, at the discretion of the Steering Committee.
  14. There is a single trash bin for public use outside the garden gate. You may use it for small items, but please be considerate of the neighborhood residents by taking large amounts of trash – and particularly diseased or pest-ridden plants - back to your own yard waste collection at home.
  15. Composting on-site is not set up at this time. We may revisit this decision for next year, but for 2020 please take compostables home.
  16. No recycling collection is offered by the town for the garden. Please remove all of your recycling from the garden.
  17. Supports/Decorations for your Plot: You may use tomato cages, trellis, poles (bamboo, wooden, metal) to support your plants. Just remember to be courteous to your neighbor, i.e., a 20 foot trellis to grow beans may be considered un-neighborly.
  18. A Garden Coordinator may be appointed for the season each year by the Steering Committee, and would get a free plot. A coordinator must be a community gardener in the garden for which s/he is the coordinator. Coordinators would assist the garden captains in such tasks as: orient new gardeners to operating procedure, coordinate mulch, clean-up days, answer questions, etc.
  19. If ripe produce is not harvested, the Garden Coordinator or Garden Captains will remind the gardener to harvest. If it still remains one week later, the Steering Committee reserves the right to harvest such produce and distribute to the food pantry.
  20. If you anticipate being gone from the garden for an extended period (two weeks or longer) you must let the garden coordinator or a member of the Steering Committee know, and arrange for your garden to be tended in your absence.
  21. At the end of the season, all gardens must be prepared for winter. Cover crops, cold frames and other season extending apparatus are allowed
  22. Please garden safely: WCG and the UMCG are not responsible for personal injury or theft of belongings.
UMCG Steering Committee
 Judy Fallows*
 
 Judy Kaplan*    
     
*denotes garden captain



Watertown Community Gardens is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

P.O. Box 1041, Watertown, MA 02471

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