Managing the surplus (and weeds!) in community gardens

I've noticed a pattern in my urban community garden:

 1. Folks get excited about the prospect of gardening.
 2. Folks put their name into the garden plottery and get assigned a plot.  Others sadly have to wait until next year.
 3. A couple people seem to abandon their plots immediately, but usually spring planting season goes fine with oh-so-nicely manicured plots, then comes summer sun, rain, and globe-trotting gardeners.
 4. *BOOM!*  Lush growth!  Veggies go uneaten, and/or dispersive plants go to seed and crowd into neighboring plots.
 5. Some community resentment builds from summer through fall when others walk by abandoned plots, or all sorts of lovely tomatoes, herbs, leafy greens, etc. seemingly going to waste.

I have a couple possible solutions in mind, but I could use some feedback.  But first, I should mention that I'm not in charge of managing the plots.  But I do advocate for Mollison's "Policy of Responsibility (to relinquish power)"

Mollison on page 35 of the PADM wrote:The role of beneficial authority is to return function and responsibility to life and to people; if successful, no further authority is needed.  The role of successful design is to create a self-managed system.

I strive to design systems which are beautiful, simple, and sustainable, so that even if there is high turnover, the system will be intuitive, cheap/free, and fun enough that folks will continue to use it.

My first idea is for a little wooden garden stake, or maybe a hanging card or a clothes pin, or a wooden token or chip.  The stake or chip would be directly at the individual gardener's plot.  The stake or token would have a little burndoodle on it which would basically signify:

"Hey, I'm either on vacation, or I have plenty of extra veggies or seeds to share, so help yourself!  And if I you notice any weeds, please pull them, too!"

My second idea is for clothing pins, tokens, or chips for each plot, only they would be suspended on a board with all the plot numbers.  People would flip the chip or move the clothing pin when going on vacation or if they have plenty of surplus to share.  I'll draw a concept here later, I'm thinking maybe it would be a sunflower shaped placard, spiraling out with plot numbers on the edges, and the color or location of the clothing pins would signify whether that plot is open/abandoned, in use, or in surplus.  Thoughts?

Both community gardens I participated in had a plot or two grown for charity/soup kitchens.  When I went away, I emailed the coordinator of the charity plot and told them to pick anything they wanted from my plot for the two weeks I was gone. The lovely people there harvested a few things, but also watered for me.  Another garden had a box they left on their plot that you could put excess into, for the soup kitchen they served.

I never much noticed the issue with people abandoning plots - sure, there were 1-2 but it wasn't a huge concern of mine.

I personally wouldn't be comfortable publicly letting my plot be a free-for-all while I was away, but donating to specific people was something I was happy to do.

Perhaps the sign should say "Help yourself to what you can use today." That reduces the risk of coming back to a patch that has been trashed. Because, you know, some people ...

I wonder if this even fixes the problems. If the plots are abandoned, even temporarily, they probably wouldn't have the forethought to set up a sign unless they were caring for it well anyhow...

Maybe there could be some sort of forfeiture clause of some sort, and a sign in log.    Anyone that hasn't been to their plot in  ???   8??  weeks loses it and it can go to the next person waiting?    Refund in part at your discretion?  

I leave my own plots allone for weeks at a time!
Mostly this is for fine, but I do have food go to waste.
I would love to have a way to share the goodies with people who will appreciate them.

Heather's idea I like, though the OP isn't in a position to make that happen.
Something that shows the last time anyone has been at a plot could help.
Maybe a square to fill in or a sticker to affix?
That would let the plot management know who NOT to call.

Thanks everybody!

I think we've created a solution here.  I'm calling it: Petal Pins.



This seems mighty flexible, and could be used for:

Discretely encouraging gardeners to clean up their plots

Discovering which plots are abandoned

Voting

Signifying who is on holiday

Notifying others that your plot is available for gleaning / surplus share

Here's a longer description.  Thanks for the feedback!

I wrote:Yellow clothes pins are used to discretely notify another gardener that their plot appears unused, abandoned, or overgrown with dispersive, persistent, and undesirable plants (you know, weeds).  A pin is placed on any plot needing extra love.  If the gardener is still working the plot, they simply return the pin-petal to the main flower along with the other gardeners.  Alternatively, if it is determined that the gardener is on holiday, or unable to garden due to an illness or other situation (new mothers, for instance), then the pin is placed on a leaf signifying to other gardeners that the plot could use some temporary support while the gardener is away from it.

The location of the pin could also signify that the gardener has a surplus of produce that may be gleaned from other gardeners.  Other locations with leaves/petals/stems with moveable pins on them could be used for things like voting, with members placing their pin on the appropriate leaf for purchase decisions.  Pins could also be used to periodically vote to signify "best plot" recognition, or to vote on new management.  Such positive things would reduce the negative stigma of a pin on ones' plot.  Periodic votes (perhaps monthly)  requiring the moving of the petal pins to a different flower could also help the community determine which gardeners aren't visiting the plot, but in a lighthearted fun manner.  For example, at the first of the month, a member could write on a chalkboard:

"Which is better, (A) honeydew or (B) cantaloupe (C) neither?  Vote by end of the month with your petal-pin!"

If by the end of the month, several gardeners left their pins on the main flower rather than voting A, B, or C, then those gardeners must not be paying attention, or visiting their garden plot!  Depending on the material, the center of the "flower" could also be used for general announcements.  A round corkboard with paper and pushpins, a whiteboard an dry erase, a chalkboard with chalk, etc., would enable messaging from management to the gardeners.

Color of the petal pins could also signify a budding gardener who may need extra help, or a veteran gardener who is especially helpful.  Instead of just plot numbers, the pin could also have the name of the gardener (if privacy is not of concern).  Or the back of the pin could also have a date written, signifying when the gardener will no longer be renting or using their allotted plot.  This would help ensure timely turnover to new gardeners by periodically checking dates on the back.  

George, I love your "Petal Pins" idea!

Heather Staas wrote:Maybe there could be some sort of forfeiture clause of some sort, and a sign in log.    Anyone that hasn't been to their plot in  ???   8??  weeks loses it and it can go to the next person waiting?    Refund in part at your discretion?  

I like Heather's ideas also.

I wonder if there could be a clause that says something to the effect that if someone has not been to their plot in so many days that the fruits and veggies will be picked and offer to the public or a food bank or other members of the plot, etc.

Love the "sunflower" approach. Friendly and effective!

Every community garden rental agreement I have seen has an "abandonment and cleanup" clause, including maintenance requirements and time limits. This covers the city crews or volunteers who deal with abandoned lots. You can't really argue with a clear contract that bears your signature.

One privately owned rent-a-garden-plot outfit takes a $100 cleanup deposit at registration, refundable if you tidy everything up at the end of the season.

George Yacus wrote:5. Some community resentment builds from summer through fall when others walk by abandoned plots, or all sorts of lovely tomatoes, herbs, leafy greens, etc. seemingly going to waste.

I have been approached by a frequent passerby about allowing him to take logs that he had noticed left behind after tree work that we recently had done, rather than "let it go to waste" in his words... No question of whether I planned to use the wood first. Could not have paid me to let him take them at that point!

C Mouse wrote:I wonder if this even fixes the problems. If the plots are abandoned, even temporarily, they probably wouldn't have the forethought to set up a sign unless they were caring for it well anyhow...

Chicken and egg problem... If there were something in the rental agreement about "attendance", or how untended plots will be dealt with (escaping boundaries, rot, disease), opting in to sharing or donating in case of excess or abandonment (and to whom).

Catie George wrote:I personally wouldn't be comfortable publicly letting my plot be a free-for-all while I was away, but donating to specific people was something I was happy to do.

Another consideration is NOT ADVERTISING the vacation status of plot holders. It is both an invitation for burglary at their homes, and therefore, a reason for reluctance to take part in this scheme.

Possibly establishing a "buddy" system, and/or a regular, agreed upon donation outlet, where surplus could still be shared (if desired) and help with upkeep could be done (if desired, or necessary) more discretely than announcing on a bulletin board.
A gardening "buddy" could either take, share with another, or donate the excess at their discretion. Another option for sharing would be a station to leave excess for sharing and/or donating... a donation basket and a share basket (unclaimed gets donated).

Maybe a "fostering" program for new gardeners  (or the old/elderly?), that might need an extra hand, or guidance would help?

I have to agree with Kenneth on the risk involved with announcing you're away.
I was also thinking a lot about this post, as I was visiting my mother a few weeks ago. She has a great community garden where she lives, and I was talking to the caretaker/park ranger there about the large number of plots this year that have been seemingly abandoned--- but nobody wants to push the topic when people have been ill, subject to lockdowns, afraid to go out (lots of retirees at this particular garden), taking care of family who don't have school/childcare, etc.
I think your best option is to assign a buddy. You could still implement the cute sunflower idea, but encourage people to let their buddies know they'll be away (and maybe move the clothespin accordingly?). If you can't keep in touch even with the one buddy you have and leave your plot languishing, then next year you go to the bottom of the list for getting a plot.