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Frequently Asked Questions:
A community garden is a piece of land shared by friends and neighbors to grow food and flowers. The RHCG will provide a plot to subscribers for a small annual fee. The garden is located within the bounds of the Round Hill Community Garden Park on Falls Place. Near the intersection of Falls Place and Route 7 Business, it is just south of the Potts Barn foundation. This Town-owned land was initially approved for use as a Community Garden on a year-by-year basis in Feb 2009. Each year's renewal requires approval by the Town's regulatory bodies. Plots are either small (10'x15') or large (20'x20'). Please refer to the most recent Garden Layout for the current plan and plot sizing. The fee is $25/season, with an additional $50 deposit, refundable at season's end. This year, we will also collect a $25 water fee in case we run out of irrigation water and need to buy more from the town. These fees will cover the minimal maintenance costs associated with the garden. Each Spring, we accept registration on a first-come first-served basis. To check on plot availability, sign up for a plot, or get on the waiting list, follow the instructions on the Registration page. How will the gardens be managed? Rules for the garden and its management are outlined in the Garden Rules and Rental Agreement. Their purpose is to ensure that all participating gardeners have the opportunity for a positive gardening experience, and that the Garden site is an asset to the community. A number of volunteer on-site managers help to maintain enforcement of these rules. What amenities will be available to gardeners? At minimum, tenants will be provided with a fertile, planting-ready plot. The exterior of the entire garden will be protected from wildlife by a tall fence that extends several inches underground. Irrigation water will be provided by the Town, compost piles for garden refuse, a trash can for other waste, a shed to hold tools & wheelbarrows, and a bench for resting gardeners. There will be on-street parking for those who are not within walking distance. Additional envisioned amenities include memorial garden perimeter plantings, surrounding native plant garden for encouraging pollinators. We are looking to the community to help us source and design these features. Why start a Community Garden in Round Hill? We believe that a Community Garden is a first, easy step in adjusting to a world in which easy, cheap food is no longer guaranteed. Through participation in the garden, citizens can reconnect with their neighbors, and children can establish valuable connections to the natural world which supports us. We expect to register tenants of diverse economic levels, races and ages. Pre-tilled garden plots are especially valuable to older gardeners, homeowners whose yard soil is poor or who have too many trees, those who enjoy sharing their love of gardening with others, and community groups (scouts, schools, churches). Advantages of a community garden include:
In Fall 2008, the Town cooperated with a community-based Steering Committee to approve the use of the Town-owned Falls Place property free of charge. The remaining amenities and start up costs were raised in the community. The Steering committee successfully raised money and in-kind donations from citizens, church and civic groups, landscaping companies and other businesses in the area. Among the groups who participated in our initial launch: Loudoun County Master Gardeners, Luckstone, Blake Landscaping, Giant Food, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Great Country Farms, Keep Loudoun Beautiful, Round Hill Women's Club, Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, Giant Food, Abernathy and Spencer, Great Country Farms, and Stoneybrook Organic Farm. In-kind donations are being arranged daily: what can you offer? I'm convinced, how can I support the Garden?
2011: The garden will open the weekend of April 9th. Click here to learn about all of the garden's important dates! How can I sign up to participate as a gardener? Registration for 2011 season begins in February 2011. Read about the registration proces here. |