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The MiddlesexCounty Master Gardener Focus Group

A ModelCommunityGarden

Orientation Manual

Purpose of the Manual

This manual is not designed to be prescriptive, but rather to give guidance to gardeners working in the CommunityGarden. Because we often work independently, we have documented our objectives and procedures we have traditionally followed. Because one of our objectives is experimentation, it is expected that these procedures will change from time to time.

CommunityGarden Objectives and Philosophy

The Community Garden was designed as a teaching aid forgardeners participating in the UConn Master Gardener Program at all levels, starting initially with a vegetable garden planted and maintained by our group,interns, and volunteers who have been certified through the program. The garden harvest is donated to the Middletown soup kitchen and pantry. We are committed to strengthening the Garden year after year, to include activities such ascomposting, seed propagation, crop rotation, and possible community involvement with mentoring provided by Master Gardeners. While we strive to maximize garden production, we are committed to experimentation and organic practices.

The Middlesex County Focus Group (part of the CMGA) manages the project. We meet monthly on the last Friday of the month at 6:30 to approximately 8 pm at the MiddlesexExtensionCenter. Garden activities on a daily basis are managed primarily through an online Garden Log (at This Web site is open by invitation, to all gardeners participating in the Community Garden or otherwise engaged in, or interested in, gardening.

Mission Statements

Middlesex County MG Focus Group will:
-Present opportunities for Master Gardeners at all levels to teach and learn in a collaborative environment;
-Provide forums for researching and experimenting with organic gardening; and
-Enhance sustainable living practices through community outreach and education.
The Model Community Garden will:
-Deliver fresh produce to community food banks/soup kitchens during the growing season; and
-Offer the community an ongoing teaching and learning tool for organic horticultural practices throughout the year.

Master Gardener and Intern Commitment

As noted on the CT MG Web site, Master Gardeners are enthusiastic, and willing to learn and share their knowledge and training with others. Each MG and Intern who works in the CommunityGarden and/or as a member of the Focus Group embodies these ideals.

We also embrace the mission, theme, and vision of the UConn Cooperative Extensive System, which are:

Our mission To create learning partnerships that enhance the lives of adults and youths.

Our theme Learning for a sustainable future.

Our vision Connecticut Cooperative Extension System is recognized as a premierEducationalnetwork. It is a dynamic organization strengthening individuals, families, andcommunities in partnership with the USDA and National Extension System.

The three components of the land grant mission—teaching, research, and outreach—form the core of College of Agriculture and Natural Resource’s activities as well as those of UConn as a whole. We also embrace these mission components.

In addition, to the extent applicable, our activities should be in alignment with UConn’s Environmental Policy Statement, as follows:

Performance: The University will institutionalize best practices, comply with environmental laws, regulations and standards, and continually monitor, report on and improve its environmental performance.

Responsible management and growth: The University will endeavor to design, construct and maintain its buildings, infrastructure and grounds in a manner that ensures environmental sustainability and protects public health and safety.

Outreach: The University will promote environmental stewardship inConnecticut and embrace environmental initiatives in partnership with its surrounding communities.

Academics: The University will advance understanding of the environment through its curriculum, research and other academic programs, and will employ an ethic of environmental stewardship in all intellectual pursuits.

Conservation: The University will conserve natural resources, increase its use of environmentally sustainable products, materials and services, including renewable resources, and prevent pollution and minimize wastes through reduction, reuse and recycling.

Teamwork: The University will encourage teamwork and provide groups and individuals with support, guidance and recognition for achieving shared environmental goals.

Expectations for Interns

Each year, the Focus Group mentors the MG Interns, who are charged with the primary management of the Garden. This includes pest management, watering, weeding, harvesting, and making recommendations for future improvements. Active participation in the monthly Focus Group meetings and sharing ideas with members is encouraged. The Intern Class also develops a new project that improves the Garden, such as the cold frame that was built by the Class of 2009.

Garden Procedures

General Information

Anyone can access the CommunityGarden at any time, including the public. There is a Visitors’ Log and information about the garden at the gate. Here are a few things you should know:

  • Some tools and supplies (used less often) are stored in the barn on the left hand side in the back. You can get the barn key from Steve or the Office.
  • Tools and supplies used more frequently are stored in our (unlocked) Rubbermaid shed on the east side of the ExtensionCenter or in/near the metal box in the garden.
  • Water for small watering tasks can be obtained from any of the rain barrels. Adhere to safe procedures for using rain barrel water, however (e.g., do not water edible parts of the plant). See link to “Instructions for Safe Use of Rain Barrel Water” on our Garden Documents page at
  • For larger watering tasks, hook up the outside hose to the spigot next to the entrance to the Annex (in front of the building).
  • If you get “locked in” the garden, there is a string that you can pull from the inside that will release the lock.

Communications and Documentation

We are striving for efficiency and effectiveness in communications. To that end, we are moving away from recording log and journal activity in paper format (materials stored in the metal box) and toward using the Web site for all communications outside of meetings. There is a User’s Manual for our site on the Garden Documents page at

If, however, a gardener records activity in the paper logs rather than online, the next person at the garden should take down that information and update the Web log.

Because volunteers work independently, ongoing communication is critical. Accurate historical information is also important for us to make decisions and obtain funding. Some of the most critical documentations standards are:

  • Monthly Calendar. Volunteers sign up for whatever day(s) they can stop by the garden (for anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or so, depending on the need) at the monthly Focus Group meeting (or online if not attending the meeting).
  • Recording observations and activities at each visit (Garden Journal). We do this through a weekly Garden Log (using the Discussion Forum function) on the Web site. A new discussion string is started each week by the first person visiting the garden that week (the week starts each Monday). Each weekly log discussion is labeled “Garden Log for Week of XXX.” Everyone visiting the garden during that week should review what the previous person wrote and then add comments (as replies) to the same string. Photos of pests or problems can be added to the reply as well. (To reply, click on the discussion first, then click your curser in the cream-colored area and type your reply. Write about what you did, what the weather was like, what your observations were, and what you think the next person should focus on. Some basic html code is given to you to use through buttons (bold, italics, underscore, strikethrough, add hyperlink, upload a photo) or you can add your own html code if you know how!). When done, click the red “reply” button. The system gives you some time to review and edit your reply if needed. Simply click anywhere in the text and it will let you edit.

If you begin the discussion string, the system automatically defaults to “Follow the Discussion” and will send you an email each time someone adds to that week’s log. If you don’t begin the discussion, it defaults to “Don’t Follow.” You can change this on a discussion-by-discussion basis by scrolling down to the bottom of the discussion string and clicking on “Follow” or “Stop Following.” This is a handy tool to let you know when someone has added to the log.

There is a notebook in the metal box for the gardeners who don’t have computer access to record in the online journal.

  • Production Log.All produce picked and delivered is recorded by day, by type and quantity of item. As we are trying to become more accurate with what varieties do well, we hope that gardeners will record the harvest in as much details as possible (e.g., by variety of tomato rather than color). The log in online (as well as in paper form in the metal box)

At times, when an important pest is spotted for the first time (such as the squash beetle and the squash vine borer), an email to the group for a “Pest Alert” might be appropriate (along with the posting and discussion in the online log), as daily vigilance to remove pests and egg masses is critical.

Garden Management and Decision-Making

The garden is managed by the Middlesex County MG Focus Group, which meets the last Friday of each month (except in November and December) at 6:30-8:00 at the ExtensionCenter. (The Office leaves the key to the door in the box outside; the last one leaving should lock the door and leave the key at the desk). Minutes of the meeting are kept and are sent out as soon as possible after the meeting. At least a week prior to the meeting, an agenda and any other documentation is emailed. Members can RSVP their attendance on the Web site in the Events area where the specific meeting is recorded.

Meetings are chaired by the co-chairs, who alternate responsibility for preparing the agenda and leading the meeting. One member provides a snack(s) for the meeting. Everyone in the group is encouraged to add agenda items, participate in discussions, and challenge current practices.

Group Work Days for Planting and Clean-up

Three Saturdays (beginning at 10 am) during the year are set aside for planting and overall maintenance (Sunday beginning at 1 pm as a rain date). On the last weekend in March, we open the garden and plant the spring crop. On the last weekend in May, we plant the summer crop. On the last weekend in October, we clean up the garden (break down garden components such as stakes and hose; store tools and supplies; compost; etc.) and plant a winter crop.

General Individual Tasks and Timing

In addition to watering, weeding, pest check, and harvesting, individual gardeners should complete the following as needed:

  • Turn (and perhaps water) the compost. Make sure brown matter is on top (the UConn staff empties their kitchen scraps on the top daily). During periods of dry weather, it might be prudent to water the compost. We’ve found that turning the compost several times per week, especially in the spring, results in fine compost by the end of the summer. There is an aerator and comport fork kept in the bin. See below for more information.
  • Staking. Once the peppers and beans grow large enough, staking (either with individual stakes or with a twine-and-stake system) is usually required. Tomato stakes are installed right before planting; staked tomatoes need to be retied as they grow. Use a Figure 8 method if there are holes drilled in the stakes. If the stake does not have holes, use a tie that's long enough to wrap around the stake a couple of times using an over-and-under configuration. Non-caged (staked) tomatoes should be suckered and leaves with septoria leaf spot removed (see Crop Guide), but not so much as to expose the fruits to too much sun, risking sunscald.
  • Pinching back flowers late in season. In mid/late August, when it starts to get colder, pinching back new buds on eggplant and peppers will encourage the growth for the remaining larger fruit. This needs to be done several times.
  • Plantings and cleanup is done on specific days as a team; see above.

Watering and Weeding

Soil, not the plants, should be watered as needed. Water can be obtained from the rain barrels or using the hose (spigot is to the left of the front entrance of the Annex). The Garden should be kept completely weed free. The stirrup hoe is a handy tool for weeding on the paths and near the fence.

Pest Management

Our primary pest management tool is observation and hand removal of pests, eggs, and larvae. A Pests and Disease Manual has been developed and is available on our Web site in the Garden Documents section under Pest and Disease Tools. Historically, the most troublesome pests have been squash beetles and squash vine borers (charts of these pests are also available online and posted in the Garden), so it is important to be on the lookout for these. Septoria leaf spot on tomatoes has been common (but is not devastating) and in the wet weather, powdery mildew on the cucurbits has been an issue.

Composting (Compost Tea and Managing the 3 Bin System)

A compost tea brewing system is used to infuse nutrients into the soil. As needed, an aerated solution of beneficial microorganisms is created and applied as a soil drench to improve root health.Brewing and Applying Compost Tea procedures are available online in the Garden Documents section. Building and Managing the 3 Bin Compost System procedures are also available there. Compost should be turned regularly and watered if dry.

Harvesting and Donation Delivery

Generally, harvesting is done on Mondays and Saturdays (for Amazing Grace) and Thursdays (for St. Vincent DePaul’s). In the spring and fall, harvesting is done less often and occasionally needs to be done more often in the summer. See the separate document Harvesting Procedures(in the Garden Documents section under Garden Procedures) for specifics about harvesting, recording, and delivering donations.

Winter Activities

No meetings are traditionally scheduled in November and December, but members of the group might meet informally at the Garden in November to help with ExtensionCenter clean-up, composting, etc. The Annual Report is written, the Garden Journal compiled, and a budget for the following year is created. Grants might be applied for. In January-March, planning activity for the garden occurs (crop plans are created; seeds are obtained; new projects are planned, etc.)

Updated: 10/26/2018