Application & Rules
Garden Location: West Main Street and Griffing Avenue near Grangebel Park in downtown Riverhead, NY
riverandrootscg@gmail.com
(Would you rather fill out a paper application? Click here to download as a pdf. Print it out and drop off completed form at the Riverhead Free Library Circulation Desk)
River & Roots Community Garden
Guidelines & Rules
● Garden beds are 4 feet by 10 feet. Plots are dispersed to downtown residents (defined as
living within these boundaries: east of Kroemer Avenue, west of Cross River Drive [Route
105], south of Old Country Road [Route 58] and north of the river) first, Riverhead town
residents second, and out of town residents third.
● Downtown Riverhead residents applications will have priority until March 1st; Town of
Riverhead residents from March 1st until March 15th; Out-of-town residents after March
15th; then first-come-first-served.
● I will have something planted in the garden by June 1st and keep it planted until at least
October 1st.
● I will not plant any perennial plants, illegal plants, or invasive plants in my bed. No
cannabis/marijuana plants.
● I will only garden during daylight hours.
● If I must abandon my plot for any reason, I will notify the garden leadership and make a
good-faith effort to return my key.
● I will keep weeds at a minimum, maintain and water the areas immediately surrounding
my plot and my plants will not impede the path of the lawn mower.
● If my plot becomes unkempt, I understand I will be given 1 week’s notice to clean it up. At
that time, it will be reassigned or tilled in.
● I will keep trash and litter out of the plot, as well as from adjacent pathways and fences.
● I will participate in the spring and fall cleanup of the garden.
● I will not plant tall crops where they will shade neighboring plots.
● I will pick only my own crops unless given permission by another plot user.
● In addition to spring and fall cleanup, I agree to volunteer at least 8 hours toward
community/committee gardening efforts during the garden season. Volunteer hours are
mandatory.
● I will use only organic fertilizers, insecticides or weed repellents and apply them in such a
way that they will not affect other plots. These items cannot be stored on the premises.
● I will carry out whatever items and/or trash I carry into the garden. Compostable items can
be placed in the compost bins or in the brown yard waste bags and deposited in the
designated spot for pick up.
● I will not bring dogs/pets to the garden. I will not bring weapons into the garden● I will not consume alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, or illegal narcotics on the premises.
● I will not smoke or chew tobacco in the garden. Tobacco can transmit a lethal virus to
tomatoes and cigarette butts are loaded with toxins.
● I will keep the shed tidy. Communal items will be labeled with “RRCG”. All other items in
the shed should only be used with express permission of the item’s owner.
● I will report theft, vandalism and unusual activities to the garden leaders and police.
● I will report sightings of pests such as cucumber beetle, ladybug beetle, spotted lantern fly,
or rats to the garden leadership.
● Guests and visitors, including children, may enter the garden only if I accompany them.
They must follow all rules, terms and conditions stated here. Participation by children is
encouraged, but I must supervise my children at all times when they are in the garden. I am
solely responsible for the behavior of my guests.
● I will submit the application, signed rules and payment by November 1st to overwinter
vegetables and keep the plot for the following season, otherwise, I will clean my garden bed
by November 1st.
● I will not make duplicate keys of any locks at the garden or give my key or lock combination
to another person. I will return my key by November 31st, unless I have committed to
gardening over the winter and to keep the plot for the following season.
● I will work to keep the garden a happy, secure and enjoyable place where all participants
can garden and socialize peacefully in a neighborly manner.