Employee Garden Program
10' x 18' garden plots
The Allison Inn and Spa, together with A-dec, is excited to announce the opportunity for staff to have their own garden plot for growing organic, annual vegetables and flowers. The 10 x 18 feet garden plots are located near the “Old Schoolhouse” across the road from the Allison on North Springbrook Road. Enter the garden area through the North Springbrook turnout. A-dec will supply the water and the area can be accessed from dawn until dark. You will be responsible for taking care of your own garden, farming it organically, using your own tools and seeds, and removing your own garden waste. Rocks will be removed by the property management team if placed on the edge of the plot.
If you are interested in securing one of the plots, please sign-up here.
Garden Policies:
- Preparing the soil for planting.
- Planting and growing crops.
- Harvesting ripe produce.
- Removing weeds, especially those in flower or setting seed.
- Collecting seed you want to save before it drops on the soil.
Access the garden during designated hours and designated access point.
- The garden will be open from 6 AM until dark during the above growing season (offseason hours will vary).
- Only enter and exit the garden from Springbrook Road (see map above).
When you are not actively gardening, continue to care for your garden plot by:
- Removing weeds, especially those in flower or setting seed.
- Removing dead and dying plants, especially if they are diseased or covered with pests.
- Neatly storing seasonal structures within your garden plot (like tomato cages, stakes, trellis materials, and wood when not in use).
- If a garden plot looks abandoned during the main garden season (April – October), garden staff will check in with the plot holder. The plot holder has 2 weeks to respond and start gardening. If there is no action after 2 weeks, the plot will be reassigned.
- You may compost plant material in your plot, add to our shared compost area, or dispose of it in home yard waste bins.
- Removing dead and dying plants, especially if they are diseased or covered with pests.
Prevent rodents and stinging insects from building homes in your garden.
- Remove piles of debris and regularly turn your compost pile.
- Remove food sources by harvesting produce when ripe and leaving food scraps from your kitchen at home.
- Dump water that has been standing for more than 3 days to keep mosquitos from laying eggs.
Organic gardening is required.
- Use only organic fertilizers, weed killers, or bug killers.
- If you are unsure whether a product you want to use is allowed, search for it on the Organic Materials Review Institute website at:
www.omri.org, or call the Master Gardener Hotline at 503-655-8631.
Plant only annual / semi-annual harvestable plants.
- To help avoid the need for extensive pruning / removal of deep-rooting plants / shrubs / trees,
we ask that you only plant fruits, vegetables, herbs and/or flowers that are harvested seasonally.
Contribute your own tools and equipment, and refrain from using sprinklers.
- Please use your own tools.
- A-dec will provide water supply and hoses to reach all of the garden plots. Please refrain from using sprinklers.
- If you would like to check-out a nozzle for a season, please go to Property. It is your responsibility to safe guard the nozzle and return it when you are no longer using a plot.
- Water your plot only when you are present.
- Save time watering by using a drip or soaker hose. Hook-up the hose when you arrive and water while you weed and harvest. Unhook the hose when you leave.
Rock removal and disposal
- Remove as many rocks as you like from your garden plot. Place them to the outside edge of your plat. Property will come pick them up.
Please do not put them in the center walk and waterway.
- Enter the garden area through the North Springbrook turnout. The cable will be down from dawn to dusk.
- Park only at the west end of the garden area. Do not park beyond the cones.