Service Options
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 4 to 6 times a year on a fixed schedule and deliver to area food shelves. Vehicle required. The program runs from June through September/early October. Pickups occur Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings. You must be committed to timely pickup and delivery of produce on your assigned days during food shelf hours (typically business hours). If no produce is awaiting delivery at the time, perform other routine maintenance tasks instead.
Water barrel filler
Check and fill and/or flush water barrels at least once per month, on an assigned schedule. Report hours promptly in the box on the shed door. If barrels do not require filling, perform other routine maintenance tasks instead.
Spring and Fall clean-up/ongoing clean-up
Perform seasonal chores (e.g., weeding, raking, sweeping, picking up litter, hauling debris) and maintenance as needed. Must be available on these two dates: May 2, August 8 and October 17. Please indicate on the form which date combinations you are available for.
Pathway Maintenance
Mow common areas and common paths (power lawn mower provided), trim overgrown vegetation in pathways (power weed trimmer provided), and remove weeds growing in asphalt paths. Apply wood chips at Garden entrances and main paths that use them. 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 as scheduled. 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.
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). Clean up and weed around shed.
Compost Helper
Help unload composted horse manure several times during the season as arranged.
46th Street cleanup
Keep the fence area and sidewalk along the 46th Street side of the Garden clean and weed-free. Clear weeds and vines from the fence, rake leaves, sweep the sidewalk, and keep our face to the neighborhood clean and presentable.
Dowling Plant Sale
Must be available Saturday, May 16. 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 22. Shop for food service items week of event. Help prepare food and display items possibly 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.
Orientation Leader
Welcome new gardeners and provide an orientation to the Garden, it's facilities, tools and practices, as arranged. Must be a long time gardener.
Updated 2/28/09