Member's Page
This page is primarily for the convenience of Dowling gardeners. It displays schedules for the food shelf donations containing pick-up and delivery dates. There is also a water barrel filling schedule listing days, dates and those responsible for filling the barrels. The bylaws, handbook, and plot map are all in one place for easy access. Important garden updates and messages will be posted here. We have created a newsletter archive containing timely garden tips, tricks, harvest advice and recipes.
Important Notice to all Dowling Community Gardeners
Dowling Community Garden leases the space for its garden plots from the Minneapolis Public Schools. Our current lease runs from 2005 through 2010, but can be canceled after 90 days’ written notice by either party. Several months ago, the school district informed the Garden’s Steering Committee that it intended to cancel our lease and substitute a license to use the space instead. To obtain this license, we are required to join the district’s Community Partners program. The school district’s Web site describes this program at Community Partners Program.
This program was created for organizations that provide services to students. Its intent is logical for organizations running programs in the Minneapolis schools. However, it is a very bad fit for Dowling Community Garden, which does not operate in schools or provide services to students. Most burdensome is the requirement that all plotholders will be required to pass a background check.
The Dowling Community Garden Committee made several attempts to explain to the district why the program was an illogical fit. We have repeatedly pointed out that it would be impossible to background check most of the people who use the open space at Dowling. Several elected officials, notably Jim Davnie and Sandra Colvin Roy, attempted to intervene on our behalf, but to no avail. We are frankly at a loss to understand why the district is expending so many administrative resources in this meaningless exercise.
The following PDF document includes a letter to Dowling Community Gardeners from the Steering Committee explaining this action. In addition, please find enclosed a letter from Steven Liss, Chief of Policy and Operations of the district, and a copy of the form to be used for the background checks. Every plotholder whose name is listed first on the Rental Agreement is required to fill out this form. Any plotholder who fails the background check or refuses to submit the completed and signed form will be disqualified from holding a Dowling Community Garden plot.
After reading the Q&A document, please print out the Criminal Record Authorization and complete the release form. If possible, please print the two-page form on both sides of one sheet. If you do not have this capability, print it on two sheets and staple them together. Please mail the completed and signed form to: Dowling Community Garden P.O. Box 6757 Minneapolis, MN 554062011 Service Assignments
Download the 2011 Service Assignments.
2011 Service Hours Worksheet
Download the 2011 Service Hours Worksheet.
Emergency Water System Shut-Off Instructions
Download the Emergency Water System Shut-Off Instructions.
North Water Barrel Filling Schedule
Download the 2011 North Water Barrel Schedule.
South Water Barrel Filling Schedule
Download the 2011 South Water Barrel Schedule.