SERVICE COMMITMENT
Dowling Garden is a community of people who donate time and energy to maintain this land as a pleasant place to garden. To share responsibilities fairly, each gardener is required to commit a minimum of 4 hours of time to Garden activities each season. Review the following service options and choose those that fit your interests and schedule. Indicate your first and second choices on the Gardening Agreement form. Service assignments are made in the order that Gardening Agreements are received. agreements are returned.
Surplus Produce Distributor
Collect donated produce from the Garden on a regular basis and deliver to area food shelves. The program will run from June-September/early October. Pickups occur Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings. You must be committed to picking up produce and making deliveries on your assigned days.
Water Maintenance Engineer
Work with the Water Coordinator to maintain water barrels, lids, hoses and hardware in good condition. Make minor repairs.
Water barrel filler
Check and fill and/or flush water barrels at least once per month, as assigned and report hours to Water Coordinator.
Spring and Fall clean-up/ongoing clean-up
Pick up litter, perform seasonal chores (weeding, raking, hauling debris, moving water barrels) and maintenance as needed. Must be available May 3 and October 18
Pathway Maintenance
Mow common areas and common paths (power lawn mower provided), trim overgrown vegetation in pathways (power weed trimmer provided), replace wood chips at entrances and remove weeds growing in asphalt paths. Must be available two hours each session, twice per gardening season.
Flower Garden Maintenance
Help plant and tend public flower beds. Trim sod, dig up garden beds, and haul soil amendments and mulch. Edge and weed borders and beds. Pick up donations from Minnesota Green. Install plant materials in existing and new garden areas. Water and mulch plantings, deadhead spent flowers and remove dead annuals in fall.
Raised Bed Maintenance
Add compost and manure to beds in spring. Weed pathways around the beds on a weekly basis. Apply wood chips as needed to the paths around the beds.
Food Donation/Demonstration Garden Maintenance
Prepare beds for planting: hand dig, haul compost and add soil amendments. Water and weed on a regular basis throughout the season. Pick produce weekly and place in donation boxes on pick-up days. Clean up plot at end of season.
Stevens Garden Maintenance
Dowling gardeners maintain the garden at the historic Stevens House in Minnehaha Park. Prepare beds for planting: hand dig, add soil amendments. Water and weed vegetable and perennial flower gardens throughout the season. Knowledge of Minnesota wild plants and heirlooms would be helpful.
General Maintenance
Regularly inspect shed, tools and wildlife houses for damage. Assist in making repairs, if needed. Sharpen mower blades, make sure community tools are in good repair, and organize tools in the shed as needed (regularly). Empty trash bin and weed around shed.
Compost Helper
Help unload composted horse manure several times during the season.
Dowling Plant Sale
Must be available May 10. Help set up tent and tables and arrange plants. Put up signs publicizing event. Answer questions about varieties and plant culture. Assist cashier by totaling and recording purchases.
Dowling Festival
Must be available August 16. Shop for food service items week of event. Help prepare food and display items the night before event. Put up signs, help set up tent, tables and displays, and help clean up after the event. Provide assistance during event by giving tours, answering questions and keeping food items replenished.
Special Projects
Paint trim on shed
Newsletter Mailings
Help prepare newsletters and other materials for mailing.
Updated 2/2/08