Garden Leader Checklist

Checklist of Duties and Procedures for Garden Leaders

  • Get the task list from previous garden leader – this will be emailed to you and/or uploaded to the Garden Google drive. Print copies and bring them to the garden.  (If you have trouble with this, text Anne 919-616-6659 and she can bring it or send it to you.) Put one copy of the task list on the clipboard and place it near the garden gate with a pen to mark what’s done. We generally ask gardeners to circle a task once they’ve agreed to work on it and then check it off when it’s complete.
  • Open the shed (see Anne for code) and the garden gate.  Set out the plastic recycling box and the trash can.  Write your name on the chalkboard on the inside of the left door of the shed so gardeners will know who the leader is.
  • Welcome people when they arrive at the garden.  Introduce yourself. Try to introduce new gardeners to others. Name tags are normally in the cabinet if you’d like to use them.
  • Direct people to tasks that need doing for that day.  (It’s usually best if you have an idea of the priorities of things that need doing.  Usually we harvest first so that we have that ready for the food pantry folks who pick up. This is especially important on Saturdays when the harvest pickup is at 9:30am.)
  • Activate and test the drip systems on the A/B and C/D sides as follows: On the timer, push and hold the “OK/manual” button until it flashes. Press the zone button until you see both zones in the lower left surrounded by brackets (i.e. [1] [2]). Press + or – to set the timer to 30 mins, then press OK/manual again. If the water doesn’t turn on, try again. The timer only gives you 5 seconds to set up the manual run before it reverts to auto. Once water is on, wait about 5 minutes for the pipes to fill, then starting at the bottom, walk through the rows and inspect both ends of the tape on each row looking for leaks or disconnected valves or end caps. The system will default back to the timer once the manual cycle is complete, or you can press and hold OK/Manual to cancel.  Please do NOT turn any of the valves at the timer. It is best to test the system when the garden hose is not being used.
  • Continue to reassign folks to tasks as needed.  Try to rotate folks to tasks they prefer if possible or at least tasks that aren’t too strenuous for too long unless they request such.
  • Remember to send volunteers to help with unpackaging the compost when it arrives on Saturdays.
  • We garden organically – please do not use any product that is not OMRI approved.  If there is a problem with disease or pests that you are unsure of ask another garden leader for help.
  • Prior to the harvest being picked up, ring the bell on the top garden gate and invite gardeners to come take the harvest they want to take home.
    • Plastic grocery bags for gardeners to use are generally in the navy mesh bag to the right of the loft ladder at the back of the shed. 
    • Clamshell containers for small items like raspberries and cherry tomatoes are on the shelf on the right side of the shed.
    • The reusable bags for packing the harvest to go to the food bank are on the left side of the loft ladder on a large black hook.
  • Harvest pickups:
    • Tuesdays – a rotation of garden volunteers – see calendar or list on the front of the cabinet in the shed for daily assignment – produce will be weighed at the food bank.
    • Thursdays – TBD
    • Saturdays – a rotation of volunteers from Apex UMC – see calendar or list on the front of the cabinet in the shed for daily assignment – weigh produce and text Anne the total. Produce will be picked up around 9:30am.
  • Just before closing time:
    • Remind folks to gather all tools and equipment and bring to the top of the garden to be put away. Clean if very dirty.
    • On the A/B and C/D sides, make sure the water to the drip system is left on and water to all hoses are turned off. Release water pressure from hoses.
    • Check that all gates are closed and lock the shed.
  • If compost has been added to the #1 bins please try to see that leaves are added on top.
  • When you get home, delete completed tasks, add new tasks and note any relevant observations on the electronic task list, save it with the next garden workday date (or send it to Anne if you can’t) and send it to next garden leader and Anne (check calendar for assignments; tab 2 on the task list has contact information for all garden leaders) – Call Anne if you have any problems with this.
  • If needed:
  • Direct any injured gardeners to the first aid kit on the bottom shelf on the right side of the shed.  There are several items that can be used for fire ant bites – the witch hazel can be rubbed over bites vigorously to reduce inflammation.  There are also a few vials of anti-itch/sting meds that can used and some spray Benadryl.  Please note that there is also oral Benadryl in case of allergic reactions and baby aspirin in case of a potential heart attack.  The address of the garden is 3109 Tingen Road in Apex in case you need to call 911.
  • Provide new members with a membership form to fill out (all of these forms are in the membership tub on the bottom shelf of the shed near the door).  Please make sure they fill out all of the membership form and sign all appropriate waivers – one for each adult on the front and one adult signature for all children under 18 on the back.  (If there are more than two adults in a family, attach a second waiver for the additional adults. There are single waivers in the membership tub as well.) The rules page that is paperclipped to the forms should go home with gardeners.  Use the paperclip to attach the payment to the forms and place in the “Completed forms” folder.  Give each new member:
    1. Compost bucket if they wish to compost with us.  (Lids will need to be attached.) – Extras are in the shed on the other side of the pond.
    2. Orientation/Tour of the garden covering the following items:
      1. Do not go near the pond!
      2. Explanation of layout of rows and use of task list
      3. shed tour – tools, first aid kit, hand tools, etc.
      4. Compost bins, order of use, what to put in and what NOT to
      5. Location of weed pile
      6. Workdays – Tuesdays 5-7pm, Saturdays 8am-noon, Thursdays 9:30 – 11:30am (June-Aug.) – note that weekday workdays will likely move to 6-8pm when it’s very hot and Saturdays begin at 9am in March and November. Direct them to the website to see current hours at any time.
      7. Harvest only on workdays!  Dump compost, pick flowers/herbs, weed/water/explore/enjoy/picnic during any daylight hours.
      8. Report fire ants to garden leaders.
      9. No pets at the garden.
      10. Please supervise your children.
      11. Rules for taking harvest:
        1. Only take what you can use and make sure you use everything you take.
        2. Consider what your fair share is based on number of gardeners present and amount of harvest available. 
        3. Remember that everyone’s needs are different and that no one knows what another’s true needs may be.
        4. Remember we share with the local food bank at every harvest day possible.
  • If you are planting:
    • Weed the bed and remove any debris or leaves
    • Add compost to the bed and turn it in with garden forks, rake smooth trying to make the bed wide, not tall. Add organic fertilizer and incorporate about 4 inches into the bed with potato forks. Rake smooth again if needed.
    • Consult the Planting Guide for instructions on how to plant seeds or transplants in notebook beside the cabinet on the top shelf.
    • Seeds are in the small refrigerator in the front right corner of the shed.  There is one box for spring/fall seeds and one box for summer seeds.
    • Make sure you water these rows in well – “low and slow” is the plan. 
    • Make sure both row irrigation tape valves are “on” 
    • Add plant type disc label to the row marker stake
    • Leader to list plantings in Plant Log book in the membership tub