Guidelines for Cornell Oasis Garden
2024 season
Custodians:
Mark Baugher (water custodian)
Johanna Best (money custodian)
Shirley Birts (paths & common areas custodian)
Bella Salamone (compost custodian)
Dorothy Strang (healthy soil & plant custodian)
These are guidelines for the purpose of everyone enjoying a nurturing, peaceful and satisfying experience. We don’t like rules. We come to the Oasis to be free of such things. However we need to make sure we all know some general practices and what is expected of each of us so that this garden continues to be a delightful haven for everyone.
It is your responsibility to keep your plot tidy, in use and looked-after. If you need help or are unable to look after it for a period let one of the custodians know and we can help out, or give your plot to someone else to look after (this would usually be after a few weeks in the growing season-it doesn’t take long for things to get out of hand). We always have a small waiting list and there are people who would love to have a plot. If it looks like your plot is being ignored for a long period, we reserve the right to assign it to someone else.
Your plot for the season is yours for the year and you will be the de facto custodian of it for the following year. Let James know by the end of the year if you intend to keep it for the following year here.
The garden is organic by design. Please do not use nasty sprays and pesticides. Always try to find a natural alternative. Natural fertilizers and pesticides can be used but must not be manufactured (synthetic) fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. For the health of plants, humans, and wildlife, Cornell Oasis gardeners use only organic fertilizers and pest control. Particularly for soil, shop carefully. We share information about non-chemical pest and disease control. Talk to your fellow gardeners.
Water will be available in the water barrels around the garden. Mark is in charge of this and will ask people to help out with re-filling them. The water comes from the park across the road and is already on! Please note, by carefully managing your crops, irrigation techniques and other clever ideas you can use less water than you might imagine. It takes a few hours to fill up all the water barrels and environmentally we should be mindful of our water use! Especially in the summer months, you often need a lot less water than you think when plants are established.
Helping out in the garden. This year we have decided to have regular work days on every other Saturday between 10am and 2pm (dates will be posted on the website). One or more of the custodians will be there during that time and we expect you to come and help out when you can. Tasks involve weeding, planting common areas, water refilling (see above) and trash pick up. We will send out reminder emails throughout the season. If you aren’t able to make that time slot then feel free to carry out general garden maintenance in your own time and always please ask to be assigned tasks to do on your own.
Plot emails! As a way of keeping in contact and a way for each garden to contact others, your email is attached to your plot number thusly: 11C@cornelloasis.com. This will forward to the person’s email address.
Fees. We have decided to make the payment system as simple as possible. A plot for a year/season is $25, each extra plot is charged at $15. This is a ‘recommended’ contribution. If you feel you are able to pay a little more, please do. It helps to cover our small expenses, tools, compost, other bits and bobs, as well as helping out those who aren’t able to pay the full amount. You can pay the fees in any of the following ways: online here, Venmo to @JamesSparling, check payable to Cornell Oasis Garden, or cash (both can be mailed to James Sparling, 5000 S Cornell Ave, 6a, Chicago 606015, IL or handed over to any of the custodians). Please remember to identify which plot you are paying for!
Tools. We have a collection of tools in the shed at the north of the garden (we keep the nicer ones in there away from the elements) and in the middle of the garden. Please return the tools to where you got them from and placed upside down to prevent rusting.
Compost. We are doing our best to maintain a healthy compost. We are attempt hot composting, which requires quite a lot of dry materials, including uncoated paper and cardboard. We will be adding signage to the area this season and sending more specific emails about it to everyone. PLEASE don’t put plastic plant tags or pots in there. You are most welcome to add your kitchen compostable waste there as well.
Trash. Please keep your garden tidy! It is a great help if you can pick up any trash around your plot and the paths. It needs to be taken down to the wheeled trash cans across the road by the entrance to the park (behind the baseball diamond).
Pathways Between Plots. You and the gardener on each side of your plot are responsible for clearing and maintaining the walkways between your plots.
Garden Integrity. Do not remove, destroy, or weed anything from garden plots not assigned to you. The garden custodians reserve the right to make any changes deemed necessary to the safety and well being and to the benefit of the Oasis gardeners.
Plants in general. Trees are not permitted in garden plots. Woody shrubs may be planted with the prior approval of our plant custodian Dorothy. Tall plants are only allowed where they are least likely to cast shade upon your neighbors plots. If you are in doubt as to whether you should plant something ask Dorothy. In general if you are stuck with what to plant, please ask us or other fellow gardeners. There is an enormous collective wealth of knowledge amongst us.
Dogs must be on a leash at all times and tethered in the owners’ garden.
Photos, ideas, thoughts, suggestions. We are trying to keep the Oasis as a community resource for all. We have ideas for getting local schools, kids, other parties involved so that the whole community can share our space. We’ll let you know what these are and please let us know of any ideas you have. We encourage people to share their seeds, seedlings, plants, produce and photos (which we can put up on the website and on social media). We will send out regular email news bulletins throughout the season.
We are part of the Park District, in fact part of the Burnham Wildlife Corridor, and a legal requirement is that you sign what’s called a Hold Harmless agreement every season. It absolves the Park District of any responsibility whatever if anything happens to you. You can download that here. It needs to be signed and returned to one of the custodians or to the folder in the shed. There are also copies in the shed for you to sign.
Thanks all.
Your custodians 3/26/2023