Purpose: The Community Gardens will be established to meet resident need and requests for a place to grow produce/vegetation.

The Community Gardener's Association (CGA) is the volunteer association that has joined together to help facilitate resident gardening on the land provided by Picerne Military Housing. The CGA is responsible to Picerne Military Housing and the residents of Fort Rucker for the establishment and maintenance of garden standards and provides a conduit for communication between resident gardeners and Picerne Military Housing.

(Note: Currently, this volunteer association is not in place. The Picerne Military Housing Communications Department will work with the interested residents to form the association should this be approved.)

Procedure for Requesting a Garden Plot:

• Resident submits a request through the Bowden Terrace Neighborhood Center/Office. NHO must complete the PMH garden plot request form in order for the request to be documented and official.
• The Neighborhood Office must retain a copy of this request in a separate file and deliver a copy of the request to the resident for their personal record keeping.

Garden Assignment:

• The Community Garden plot assignment will be determined at the discretion of Picerne Military Housing. Picerne will receive and attempt to fairly resolve all requests for garden plots. Picerne will be receptive to feedback from the CGA should any special requests arise.
• Residents that have maintained a plot during the previous season are provided the first right of refusal before opening the remaining plots to other residents

Garden Assignment:

• The CGA will:
  • Bring forward special requests from members and other residents as they arise
  • Attempt to adjudicate all grievances before raising them to Picerne
  • Develop association by-laws and amend them annually or as needed to ensure all members understand and exercise their rights and responsibilities
  • Provide consistent membership enforcement of approved CGA by-laws
  • Will maintain and clean up their garden at the end of the planting season, no later than 1 December.
  • Organize membership work days twice a year to keep the garden areas in good condition and neat appearance to include any garden abandoned or not tidied by 1 December.
  • Provide regular communication to the members to keep them informed on all matters relating to the garden areas, their responsibilities and the activities of the CGA
  • Meet at least annually with Picerne Military Housing to review the previous season's lessons learned, discuss plans, and to establish goals for the next gardening season.
• CGA Members with Garden Plots Will:
  • Have something planted in their garden by 1 June or two weeks after receiving their plot (if during the growing season) and keep it planted all summer long.
  • Notify Picerne Military Housing and the CGA leadership if they must abandon their plot for any reason
  • Keep weeds at a minimum and maintain areas immediately surrounding their plot if any
  • Agree that should their plot become unkempt, they will be given two week's notice to clean it up. After that time, it may be re-assigned or tilled
  • Plant tall crops only where they will not shade neighboring plots
  • Pick only their own crops unless given permission by another plot user
  • Not use fertilizers, insecticides or weed repellents that will in any way affect other plots
  • Agree to volunteer at least eight hours annually toward community gardening efforts, to include the twice-yearly clean up days (as scheduled)
  • Not bring pets to the common garden area
  • Understand that neither the Community Gardener's Association nor Picerne Military Housing is responsible for their actions. THEY THEREFORE AGREE TO HOLD HARMLESS THE COMMUNITY GARDENER'S ASSOCIATION AND PICERNE MILITARY HOUSING FOR ANY LIABILITY, DAMAGE, LOSS OR CLAIM THAT OCCURS IN CONNECTION WITH USE OF THE GARDEN BY THE MEMBER OR ANY OF THEIR GUESTS.

Picerne Military Housing Responsibilities

• Picerne Military Housing will:
  • Receive and attempt to fairly resolve all requests for garden plots
  • Provide first right of refusal to gardeners who have maintained a plot during the previous season before opening the remaining plots to other residents.
  • Maintain the established garden fence in good repair
  • Keep the vegetation outside the garden fence mowed and trimmed
  • Remove bagged trash from the road adjacent to the garden area as needed
  • Meet at least annually with the CGA to review the previous season’s lessons learned, discuss plans, and establish goals for the next gardening season.
  • Keep the CGA advised about any proposed changes to land adjacent to the garden area and/or any changes to the terms of land use for gardening

Resident Communication of Plot List Status

The Bowden Terrace Neighborhood Center will receive and respond to resident inquiries regarding their number/status on the wait list. All other inquiries are to be received and responded to directly by the resident’s Neighborhood Office.