How do I rent a plot?
All plots have been rented for 2024.
If you want to be added to the waitlist for 2025, use the Contact link above, not the steps below.
Plot rental in four steps:
Please complete all steps at once for the sake of efficiency, and wait for confirmation (usually the same day). Your reward is the gate lock combination.
Your email address will be added to the forum when your plot is set for the season. This is mandatory. If you do not want to receive every post individually, you can change settings to receive the digest version, or ask an administrator to change settings for you.
If you are returning from last year:
If you are new this year:
What is the plot fee?
Each 10' x 20' plot is $20 per season. This fee covers liability insurance for the site (which is rented from the School District of Lancaster), water, tools, and miscellaneous supplies.
Why is the plot request form necessary?
This is where everyone "signs" the Plotholder Agreement, a statement of respect toward other gardeners and the school district. Also it eases administration; the forms all go to a central location, and can be exported in spreadsheet format.
Why is the introductory meeting necessary?
The purpose of the introductory meeting is an overview of garden protocol and rules, and an opportunity to meet other gardeners. Everyone should be aware of how to help with garden maintenance. Also, in the past gardeners have expressed a wish for more community, and new arrivals have felt somewhat lost without an orientation. Scheduling group gatherings has proven extremely difficult; everyone has other commitments. So the hope is that an initial face-to-face meeting will provide a bit of social glue, and allow for informal conversation about past problems and possible improvements.
Why is community service necessary?
Community service is essentially maintenance of common areas. Everyone who tends a plot deserves to have tidy surroundings. If each plotholder contributes a few hours of work per season, grass and weeds and debris can be kept reasonably under control. Otherwise, the tasks still have to be done but fall to a few people who can't keep up; nature is relentless. The time slots are designed for flexibility; you can complete your obligation in a single week or spread it out over multiple weeks. The time frame for a 30-minute slot is the entire weekend and following week, so you can work around weather and other schedule constraints. You will receive an email notification shortly before your time slot begins.
What is the forum and why is it necessary?
The purpose of the forum is communication among gardeners; it is not visible to the general public. Any gardener can post an announcement or question to the entire group, or contact any individual gardener directly via email if an issue needs attention. The forum is mandatory; a community garden relies on community engagement, so every gardener must be accessible. If you do not want to receive every post individually, you can change settings to receive the digest version, or ask an administrator to change settings for you.
All plots have been rented for 2024.
If you want to be added to the waitlist for 2025, use the Contact link above, not the steps below.
Plot rental in four steps:
- Plot Request Form for contact info and electronic “signature” on the Plotholder Agreement (please read it to be sure you’re aware of crucial rules). The Plot Map reflects current status and is updated as decisions are made and bureaucracy is completed.
- Introductory Meeting Signup (click the link to see time slots, and sign up with your first name and last initial only ). Attendance for new arrivals is mandatory. Attendance for established gardeners is optional. If you cannot get to any scheduled meeting, add a comment to your plot request and arrange an alternative.
- Community Service Signup (click the link to see time slots, and sign up with your first name and last initial only). You must contribute 2 hours per plot during the peak season May - August. If you are not certain when you will be available, guess as best you can. Slots are flexible (you can do the work any time during the designated week) and can be adjusted informally! The goal is continuous maintenance, so try to fill in gaps.
- Plot Payment for PayPal payment. You can also arrange to pay cash.
Please complete all steps at once for the sake of efficiency, and wait for confirmation (usually the same day). Your reward is the gate lock combination.
Your email address will be added to the forum when your plot is set for the season. This is mandatory. If you do not want to receive every post individually, you can change settings to receive the digest version, or ask an administrator to change settings for you.
If you are returning from last year:
- Your plot from the previous year is reserved in your name unless you explicitly request otherwise or the deadline passes. If you want to expand or move, there may be some juggling involved and delays until other people make decisions.
- The deadline is March 31 because the peak of new arrivals is early April, so it’s necessary to know what’s available. If circumstances are preventing a decision or payment, then communication is the key to keeping your plot reserved awhile longer.
If you are new this year:
- You may request a specific plot or a general location e.g. on the periphery or adjacent to a friend. Your request will be accommodated if feasible, and the location won’t be settled until you’ve agreed. Keep in mind that a double plot is typically a long rectangle, not a square; this is because the aisles (horizontal lines on the plot map) must be kept clear for passage and maintenance, so a long rectangle can be fenced as a single unit, but a square can be fenced only as two separate parts.
- The deadline is two weeks after initial request to reduce effort expended on inquiries that fizzle into nothing. If the situation is complicated, then communication is the key to keeping a plot reserved in your name.
What is the plot fee?
Each 10' x 20' plot is $20 per season. This fee covers liability insurance for the site (which is rented from the School District of Lancaster), water, tools, and miscellaneous supplies.
Why is the plot request form necessary?
This is where everyone "signs" the Plotholder Agreement, a statement of respect toward other gardeners and the school district. Also it eases administration; the forms all go to a central location, and can be exported in spreadsheet format.
Why is the introductory meeting necessary?
The purpose of the introductory meeting is an overview of garden protocol and rules, and an opportunity to meet other gardeners. Everyone should be aware of how to help with garden maintenance. Also, in the past gardeners have expressed a wish for more community, and new arrivals have felt somewhat lost without an orientation. Scheduling group gatherings has proven extremely difficult; everyone has other commitments. So the hope is that an initial face-to-face meeting will provide a bit of social glue, and allow for informal conversation about past problems and possible improvements.
Why is community service necessary?
Community service is essentially maintenance of common areas. Everyone who tends a plot deserves to have tidy surroundings. If each plotholder contributes a few hours of work per season, grass and weeds and debris can be kept reasonably under control. Otherwise, the tasks still have to be done but fall to a few people who can't keep up; nature is relentless. The time slots are designed for flexibility; you can complete your obligation in a single week or spread it out over multiple weeks. The time frame for a 30-minute slot is the entire weekend and following week, so you can work around weather and other schedule constraints. You will receive an email notification shortly before your time slot begins.
What is the forum and why is it necessary?
The purpose of the forum is communication among gardeners; it is not visible to the general public. Any gardener can post an announcement or question to the entire group, or contact any individual gardener directly via email if an issue needs attention. The forum is mandatory; a community garden relies on community engagement, so every gardener must be accessible. If you do not want to receive every post individually, you can change settings to receive the digest version, or ask an administrator to change settings for you.