P-PATCH COMMUNITY GARDENING PROGRAM

P-Patch Community Gardening Program Plot Assignment Guidelines

(For a PDF of Plot Assignment Guidelines)

Potential gardeners can get plots in new and existing P-Patch community gardens. These guidelines explain the number of strategies the program uses to assign plots in P-Patches. 

Plot assignments in existing P-Patch Community Gardens happen in the following ways:

1. Individuals and groups who follow all requirements and program rules, as monitored by staff and garden volunteer leadership, have first option to renew their space annually.  In cases of personal hardship, staff may grant exceptions.
2. Individuals and groups who currently have a plot have the option to move within and between P-Patches
• Within P-Patches:  the gardener may request to be moved.  Staff, along with site leadership, honors requests chronologically.
• Between P-Patches:  the gardener may request to be transferred to another P-Patch.  Staff honor requests based on the gardener’s original waitlist date.
3. Individuals and groups who help meet the following program strategic goals have priority over those who do not.
• P-Patches reflect the diversity of their surrounding neighborhood.
• Food is grown for donation (i.e. food banks and hot meal programs).
• P-Patches have adequate number of gardeners living directly from the surrounding neighborhood.
• P-Patches assist populations underserved by the program. In 2010, these groups include African-Americans, Latinos, recent African immigrants, and youth.
• P-Patch also recognizes the need for giving priority to the elderly, low-income, and folks who are in need of accessible beds.
4. Individuals and groups who are on P-Patch wait lists (established gardens) and interest lists (gardens under development), including their garden preferences, are considered.  Refer to document, “How Waitlists Work”  at (click here to find out how waitlists work)

New P-Patch Community Gardens:  Plot assignments happen in the following ways:

1.  Individuals who help develop the new garden accrue volunteer hours. The total number of garden development volunteer hours is the principle basis for assigning plots.
• Volunteer hours can be earned through a variety of means such as physical labor, organizing, fundraising and administrative tasks for the garden development.
• Other forms of payment may not be made in lieu of volunteer hours.
• Volunteer hours towards garden development can be accrued by a potential gardener, family members and/or friends. 
2. In the case of limited garden space, newly opened garden waitlists begin with individuals who contributed volunteer hours for the garden’s development, but were not assigned a plot.  Subsequently, regular waitlist procedures apply. (click here for how waitlists work)

Expanding P-Patch Community Gardens: Plot assignments happen in the following ways:

1. Individuals who help expand an existing garden accrue volunteer hours. The total number of garden development volunteer hours is the principle basis for assigning plots. Time spent on the waitlist is accrued at one volunteer hour per year and is included in the total.
• Volunteer hours can be earned through a variety of means such as physical labor, organizing, fundraising and administrative tasks.
• Other forms of payment may not be made in lieu of volunteer hours.
• Volunteer Hours contributed to garden expansion can be accrued by a potential gardener, family members and/or friends. 
2. Once a garden has expanded, the existing wait list is merged with the list of individuals who contributed volunteer hours for the expansion, but were not assigned a plot due to limited space.  Time spent on the waitlist is accrued at one volunteer hour per year and is included in the total.  Subsequently, regular waitlist procedures apply (click here for how waitlists work).

P-Patch Plot Size Management

   Available gardening plot sizes are unique to each P-Patch.

• Each garden has a base plot size (ranging from 40-2,500 sq ft). Plot sizes are based on the overall garden size, the wait list length, the population density of neighborhoods, and other programmatic goals.
• As plots turn over, plot sizes may be adjusted by staff, in consultation with volunteer leadership, based on the following factors: overall garden size, interest list and waitlist length, population density of neighborhoods, and other programmatic goals.
• In P-Patch community gardens with different plot sizes, larger plots are assigned to gardeners based on their needs, experience, and demonstrated ability to steward the plot well.
• These guidelines apply to all gardeners beginning on 1/1/2010.  Gardeners not currently meeting the guidelines are grand-fathered.