1. Welcome & Mission

Buffalo Park Community Garden (BPCG) was created as a joint venture between the Evergreen Sustainability Alliance (ESA), and Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) in 2015. BPCG has grown local, healthy produce in an open, shared space in Evergreen since 2016. BPCG is an all-volunteer community garden dedicated to organic and sustainable gardening practices and to building community through education, health, and shared stewardship of the land.

BPCG operates independently under the fiscal sponsorship of the Evergreen Sustainability Alliance (ESA), which holds the FEIN used for grants and donations on the garden's behalf. Day-to-day operations, such as membership, plot assignment, programming, and site maintenance, are managed by the BPCG Garden Steering Committee.

BPCG currently supports 50 active Gardeners across 30 plots, with a multi-year waitlist for new membership. Because demand for plots substantially exceeds supply, this handbook exists to keep the garden fair, safe, and productive for everyone, including current members, those waiting for a plot, and the school community with whom we share space.

Mission

Buffalo Park Community Garden is a local Community Garden that brings together people of all ages from the Evergreen area to celebrate and cultivate healthy green spaces for our mountain community to enjoy and benefit from; practice organic and sustainable gardening; and create an environment centered around community, education, and health. 

2. Our Site: A Community Garden on School Property

BPCG is located on property owned by Jefferson County Public Schools (JeffCo), adjacent to Wilmot Elementary School. This location is central to our mission as the garden supports educational programming that reaches over 1,200 students annually, but it also comes with an important distinction:

Buffalo Park Community Garden is an independent community garden. It is NOT a school garden, and it is not operated or staffed by JeffCo or Wilmot Elementary. BPCG is solely responsible for its own membership, plots, tools, and conduct standards.

Students and teachers visit the garden regularly. Additionally, because we share a fence line, sight-lines, and in many cases a parking lot with an operating elementary school, every Gardener must:

• Complete a Colorado Bureau of Investigation background check at https://www.cbirecordscheck.com/ and send it to the BPCG Administrator. 

• Follow all posted JeffCo Public Schools property rules in addition to BPCG guidelines, including rules on parking, dogs, controlled substances, and school-day access.

• Use only non-toxic, child-safe materials and methods in and around the garden at all times (see Section 8). This is a firm requirement, not a preference, given our proximity to an active elementary school.

• Keep gates, tools, chemicals, and equipment secured so they are never accessible to unsupervised children.

• Be mindful of noise, language, and conduct within sight or earshot of the school, particularly during school hours.

Members who have questions about the JeffCo property relationship, including current school garden policy, should contact the BPCG Administrator rather than JeffCo directly, so that BPCG can maintain a single, consistent point of contact with the district and schools.

3. Membership & Plot Assignment

3.1 Joining the Garden

1. Prospective members contact BPCG at bpgardeners@gmail.com to be added to the waitlist. Given current demand, new members should expect a wait of 1-2 years before a plot becomes available.

2. When a plot opens, BPCG will contact the next eligible household on the waitlist. Membership is not transferable and may not be sold, sublet, or passed to another household without Steering Committee approval. 

3. If plots are going to be shared with another household, that “shared gardener” must register as such with BPCG, be knowledgeable of this Handbook, sign the waiver and agreement, and complete a CBI Background Check.

4. All new members must attend an orientation session with a member of the Steering Committee before taking possession of a plot. Orientation covers this handbook, watering procedures, tool use, and any current water-restriction status.

5. Returning members are responsible for staying current on any changes to this handbook and to seasonal notices (e.g., water restriction updates), whether or not they attend orientation again.

3.2 Dues

Dues are $100 per plot and $50 per half plot per season. Plot fees cover water, compost, insurance, maintenance, and improvements as described in the annual budget. Fees can be paid online or by check to Evergreen Sustainability Alliance, according to your selection in the online payment process. If you pay by check, please put “Buffalo Park Community Garden” in the subject line. Signup is due by December 31. Members experiencing financial hardship should contact the Membership Lead directly; requests for fee assistance are handled confidentially.

3.3 Plot Assignment & Waitlist Fairness

• Plots are assigned by the Steering Committee based on waitlist order, plot availability, and any accessibility needs identified by the applicant. The Buffalo Park Community Garden Steering Committee reserves the right to reassign plots if necessary for the accommodation of gardeners with disabilities.

• If for any reason you decide you must relinquish your plot, the fee can be refunded if requested before March 31. After March 31, there are no refunds. A member who vacates or forfeits a plot mid-season should notify the Steering Committee promptly so the plot can be reassigned rather than left idle for the remainder of the season.

• Given the multi-year waitlist, plots that are abandoned or chronically neglected (see Section 4) will be addressed promptly, out of fairness to the many households waiting for the opportunity to garden.

4. Plot Maintenance Standards

Plot neglect and abandonment are the most common source of complaints at BPCG. This section is the one most Gardeners are asked to review most carefully.

4.1 Minimum Standard of Care

1. Plots must show clear evidence of active gardening (weeded, worked soil, signs of planting, and maintenance of perennials) by June 1. Plots not showing active use by this date are subject to a written warning and, if uncorrected, reassigned to the next person on the waitlist.

2. Weeds must be controlled within the plot and in the adjoining pathways. The garden plot must be well tended throughout the growing season from June through October 31. A plot is considered neglected when weeds exceed the height of planted crops, or when more than a quarter of the plot is visibly untended, for more than two consecutive weeks during the growing season.

3. Crops may not encroach onto shared pathways or neighboring plots.

4. Rapidly spreading plants (e.g., mint, horseradish) must be grown in contained pots, not directly in garden soil.

5. Tall plants and structures (trellises, sunflowers) must be placed so they do not shade a neighboring plot.

6. No permanent structures can be built around or on top of any plot. 

4.2 Neglect & Abandonment Process

Plot neglect violates the mission of the Garden, causing weeds to spread and rodents to proliferate. Neglect degrades garden aesthetics, others ability to appreciate the space, and limits opportunities for those on the BPCG waitlist. The Steering Committee will apply the following graduated process:

1. First notice: a written or emailed reminder will be sent to the member, describing the specific concern, requesting a response, and giving a one-week correction window.

2. Second and final notice: if uncorrected after one week, a final written or emailed reminder will be sent, with a one-week correction window.

3. Reassignment: if the plot remains neglected after the second notice (two weeks after the first notice), or if a member does not respond for more than two weeks during the growing season, the plot will be reassigned to the next household on the waitlist. Dues already paid will not be refunded.

4. Members who know in advance that they will be unable to tend to their plot (illness, family emergency, travel, etc.) are strongly encouraged to contact the BPCG Administrator before problems arise. The BPCG community can help, or a possible plot-share arrangement can be made.

5. Volunteer Service Hours

• Gardeners are required to complete 12 volunteer hours per plot per year. 

• Gardeners are required to attend at least 1 volunteer workday per growing season.

• Qualifying activities include serving on the Steering Committee, weeding common areas, caring for community beds and pathways, composting upkeep, maintaining the tools and shed, tending to fences and furniture, maintaining tree health, irrigation upkeep, and assisting with education programming approved by the Steering Committee. 

• Nonqualifying activities include weeding/watering your own or a friend’s plot while they are away or weeding the pathways next to your plot. 

• Log your hours in the online volunteer logbook on the BPCG website. Include the plot number, gardener name, date, time volunteered to the nearest 15 minutes, and task(s) performed. 

• Members who do not complete required hours by the end of the season (November 15) will not be awarded a plot for the following year.

6. Water Use & Restrictions

Colorado regularly experiences drought conditions that directly affect BPCG. Members should check the garden website Water Restrictions page regularly, as status can change during the season. When Water Restrictions change, all gardeners will receive an email outlining those changes. 

6.1 Standing Water Rules (All Conditions)

• Water is available for garden use only, from dawn to dusk during the growing season (April through October).

• Turn hoses off fully at the spigot after each use. Do not rely on nozzle shut-offs, which can fail and cause leaks.

• Unattended timers are not permitted on individual plots because of the potential for leaks and waste. A member must remain on-site while their plot is being watered.

• Do not allow runoff to drain into pathways, common areas, or neighboring plots.

6.2 Escalating Restrictions

BPCG coordinates directly with the Evergreen Metropolitan District (EMD) on restriction levels:

• Level 0: Normal conditions, no restrictions

• Level 1 (Voluntary): Reduce watering, focus water to plant roots, avoid watering pathways, fix leaks promptly, water in the mornings and/or evenings only. 

• Level 2 (Mandatory): Water 3 days per week, before 10 am and/or after 6 pm, hand-watering only, no sprinklers or unattended irrigation on individual plots.

• Level 3 (Crisis Management): Garden spigots may be shut off entirely. Members would need to hand-carry water from home to maintain plots. BPCG will notify members promptly by email, social media, and on the website if this occurs.

• Level 4 (Emergency): No outside watering of any kind. 

Gardeners are expected to adopt water-conserving techniques as routine practice always, not only during restrictions. This includes deep infrequent watering, mulching, and watering at soil level rather than overhead.

7. Organic & Child-Safe Growing Practices

BPCG is located on Jeffco school property and local teachers and students visit regularly. Therefore, non-toxic practices are mandatory at BPCG, not merely encouraged.

• Only organic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides are permitted anywhere on site. No synthetic chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers may be brought onto or used at BPCG under any circumstance.

• Genetically modified (GMO) seeds and starts are not permitted.

• Any pest or weed issue that a member believes requires a chemical response must be brought to the Steering Committee for an approved, child-safe solution; never applied independently.

• Members are encouraged to use natural materials over plastics where practical, and to avoid materials that could pose a choking or injury hazard if a child encountered them near the garden fence.

• Compost, soil amendments, and mulch are stored on-site, and children should not be playing in these. 

8. Composting

• Composting is for garden-generated plant waste only. Do not bring in outside food scraps, yard waste, or household compost materials.

• Exclude diseased plant material (especially tomato, squash, and cucumber vines) from compost piles; dispose of it in household trash instead, to prevent disease spread.

• Never place plastic pots, seed-starting materials, garden markers, rocks, or ceramic pieces in compost.

• Follow any additional guidelines posted at the compost area, and ask the Compost Leads if a material's composability is unclear.

9. Code of Conduct & Communication

The Garden Steering Committee does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, marital status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, disability, or military status in its garden membership and the administration of its programs.

9.1 Conduct

• Treat fellow Gardeners, visitors, students, and school staff with courtesy and respect at all times. Any action or behavior at any time during the holding of a plot that is seen to endanger students or other members of the community will result in an immediate forfeiture of all rights as a plot holder and a forfeiture of plot fees.

• Do not direct, correct, or instruct another Gardener about their plot unless asked; raise concerns respectfully with a neighbor or, for unresolved issues, with the Steering Committee.

• Only Steering Committee members are authorized to speak on behalf of BPCG to the media, JeffCo, ESA, or the public.

• Discourteous or disruptive conduct, including yelling, harassment, or repeated unwanted contact, may result in escalating consequences up to termination of membership, following the process in Section 11.

• Pack out all trash. 

• Harvest only from your own plot.

9.2 How BPCG Communicates

The Garden Steering Committee makes decisions throughout the season to facilitate smooth operation of the garden. Important communications are sent throughout the garden season through Facebook, email, and newsletters. It is important that all plot owners have a Facebook and/or email account to receive these communications. The steering committee encourages helpful input, discussion, and solutions from gardeners to resolve controversial issues such as pest control.

• Email is the primary channel for official notices (dues, water restrictions, workdays); add bpgardeners@gmail.com to your contacts so notices are not filtered as spam.

• Ongoing updates and event information are also posted at buffaloparkcommunitygarden.com and on BPCG's Instagram and Facebook pages.

• A posted kiosk at the garden entrance and the whiteboard on the shed carry time-sensitive, on-site notices.

10. Guests, Children & Visitors

BPCG welcomes the public. Visitors may view the garden, use the Little Free Library and sand pit play area. 

• Members are responsible for any guest they bring and must remain with guests who have not completed orientation.

• Children of members and visitors must be supervised at all times, especially near tools, water sources, and the school property line.

• Visitors and guests must follow both BPCG guidelines and posted Jeffco Public Schools property rules.

• Do not let visitors harvest from another member’s plot. 

11. Enforcement & Escalation

BPCG relies on graduated enforcement so that most issues are resolved through a conversation, not a penalty. However, the Steering Committee may move directly to a higher step for serious or repeated violations, particularly those affecting child safety or water compliance.

1. Verbal or written reminder

2. Formal written warning, with a defined correction window

3. Non-renewal of plot the following season

4. Immediate termination of membership for severe or repeated violations, or any violation that endangers children or other Gardeners

5. Concerns should be raised in writing to bpgardeners@gmail.com. The Steering Committee will consider all sides of an issue before deciding on action; the committee’s decisions on enforcement are final.

12. End-of-Season Checklist

• Clear annual plants, spent crops, stakes, and row cover from your plot by November 15 of each year. 

• Trim back hardy perennials and frost-tolerant crops that are wintering over.

• Winter mulching with straw and/or cardboard is encouraged. 

• Remove and store trellises and structures that cannot withstand high winter winds; secure or store anything left on-site.

• Clean and return shared tools to their designated storage location before leaving for the season.

2027 Steering Committee Members

Administrator: Cheryl Manning, clbmanning@gmail.com 

Treasurer: Chrissy Palestine, christinapalestine@gmail.com

Volunteer Coordination: Chris Alumbaugh, cgAlumbaugh@gmail.com and Mimi Padden, mimipadden@gmail.com 

Communications: Kim Young, everkimyoung@gmail.com 

ESA Liaison: Wendy Neuman, info@sustainevergreen.org 

Composting, Mulch, and Soils: Bonnie Miller-McLemore, bmillermc@gmail.com and Mark Miller-McLemore, millermclemore@gmail.com 

Maintenance: OPEN – Let us know if you are interested in leading this effort!