Grow & Learn Community Garden

Community Garden Workdays are scheduled throughout the year to care for the common areas of the Grow & Learn Garden at First Presbyterian Church, managed by Grow Oak Ridge. Volunteers who work 10 hours you will be considered a Seedling Level "Friend of Grow Oak Ridge." This entitles you to several perks throughout the year. Gardeners who rent a summer space in the garden MUST volunteer at least 7 of 10 organized workdays. These are for general maintenance of the common spaces of the garden, and not just your own space. Service hours for school, work or the Anderson County Master Gardener program are offered during these work days. Tell the manager on duty if you need proof of volunteering.

The mission of the Grow & Learn Community Garden is to provide a teaching space for gardening in Anderson County and access to garden space for its residents. It is managed by Grow Oak Ridge, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, EIN 81-1747608, PO Box 4913, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 under a cooperative agreement with First Presbyterian Church. 

All questions and concerns should be directed to the garden manager, Amelia Hoeflich: Gardens@GrowOakRidge.org. 

FEES 

Gardeners must pay annual dues of $30 per plot, covering January 1 through December 31. Dues cover water, hand tools, hoses, and general garden maintenance.

Payments will be charged automatically to the card on file upon plot approval. If no card is on file, an invoice will be issued and payment is required by March 1st. Payments can also be made via check payable to Grow Oak Ridge (given to the Garden Manager or mailed to PO Box 4913, Oak Ridge, TN 37831).
REQUIRED WORKDAYS - SAVE THESE DATES 

ALL GARDENERS must attend at least 7 of the 10 scheduled workdays per year to perform general garden maintenance outside individual plots (e.g., cleanup, fence repair, special projects).

Missing more than three workdays without prior approved make-up arrangements will result in a loss of good standing, forfeiture of your plot, and disqualification from gardening the following year.

Gardeners are responsible for tracking attendance and arranging make-up tasks directly with the Garden Manager.

Our workday schedule is as follows:

Workday 1 - Saturday, March 20, 2027, 2 - 5 PM 
Workday 2 - Thursday, April 8, 2027,   6-8 PM
Workday 3 - Thursday, May 13, 2027, 6 - 8 PM
Workday 4 - Saturday, June 12, 2027, 8 - 11 AM 
Workday 5 - Saturday, July 10, 2027, 8 - 11 AM  
Workday 6 - Saturday, July 31, 2027, 8 - 11 AM 
Workday 7 - Saturday, August 21, 2027, 8 - 11 AM 
Workday 8 - Saturday, September 18, 2027, 8 - 11 AM 
Workday 9 - Tuesday, October 5, 2027, 6-8 PM 
Workday 10 - Saturday, November 6, 2027, 9 - 11 AM 

ASSIGNMENT OF PLOTS: 

Only the Garden Manager or designated representative can assign or reassign plots. Standard allocation is one plot per family. If plots remain unassigned by April 1, a gardener may request a second plot. Second plots may be retained in subsequent years unless demand exceeds supply and/or policy violations occurred in the prior year. To relinquish a plot, notify the Garden Manager via email by Dec. 31.

Wood frames and added soil must remain in vacated plots. Trellises and other removable support structures must be removed by Dec. 31.

All materials left in an abandoned plot after Dec. 31 will be reclaimed by the Garden Manager.

GENERAL RULES: 

Keep surrounding pathways clear, accessible, and free of weeds.
Grow only intentionally planted herbs, flowers, and vegetables. Remove all unplanted weeds regularly. Consult fellow gardeners or coordinators if you need help identifying weed species.
Examples of weeds include but are not limited to:

Pigweed (Amaranthus spp.)

Crabgrass
Lambs Quarter

Bermuda Grass

Violets (wild)

Volunteer Tomatoes

Wild Cucumber

Morning Glory (bindweed)

This is an organic garden. Only US National Organic Standards-compliant products are permitted. Conventional pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers are strictly prohibited.
Maintain and tend your plot regularly from March through October. Weekly visits are required during peak season (June–September). Neglected plots will be reclaimed.
If a plot appears abandoned, written notice (email) will be issued with a one-week remediation window. If unaddressed, the plot will be cleared, cover-cropped, or reassigned.
Arrange temporary coverage during travel or illness. Contact the Garden Manager if you need assistance finding coverage.
From November to March, remove non-producing plant matter to prevent disease (flowers and herbs may remain for wildlife). 
Unless growing winter crops, plots must be covered with cover crops or heavy straw mulch to minimize spring weeds. 
Store hardware (stakes/supports) in your plot or take it home; do not store equipment in aisles or under trees.
ON-SITE COMPOST PILE - Unseeded weeds and disease-free plant matter may be added to community compost. Review the Compost Binder in the shed before adding materials.
ALWAYS chop fibrous materials (corn stalks, okra stems) to 3 inches or smaller. NEVER compost diseased plants or fruits. For questions regarding disease disposal, contact Compost Manager Valli at valli@growoakridge.org.
WATER - Use water conservatively. Turn the water OFF when finished. Never leave a hose running unattended or under pressure.
TOOLS - Clean shared tools after use and lock them in the tool shed. Contact the Garden Manager for the lock combination. Do not store personal valuables in the shed.
Rinse off all soil and plant debris before returning tools to the shed.
Pets must be kept under control, cleaned up after, and kept out of garden plots.
Children must be supervised at all times. Play structure use is at your own risk.
Do not enter or walk through other gardeners' plots. Grow Oak Ridge assumes no liability for injury on play equipment or within garden grounds.