​The Rose Roots Community Garden succeeds through the commitment of gardeners’ time, abilities, and participation in garden activities.

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As a member, I agree to:

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 Rose Roots Community Garden Use Agreement 

Rev. 2/17/2026 

The Rose Roots Community Garden succeeds through the commitment of gardeners’ time, abilities, participation in garden activities, and positive interactions with fellow gardeners. 

This Community Garden Use Agreement (“Agreement”) outlines the policies, procedures, rights, and responsibilities of members (“Gardeners”) in the Rose Roots Community Garden, a Denver Urban Garden (DUG) 501(c)(3). This agreement may be updated by garden leadership as needed to support the well-being of the garden. More information about the garden, including how to contact Garden Leadership, is available at roserootsgarden.org. 

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Member Agreements, Dues & Access 

1. To secure a garden plot, members must attend the annual garden registration event, complete an application form, which includes an agreement and waivers, and pay the membership dues. The garden member dues include $25 per plot to Denver Urban Gardens (DUG), with the balance going to Rose Roots. The total garden member dues are as follows: a. $90 for a 15’ x 15’ full plot 

b. $65 for a half plot (1/2 of a full plot to be shared with another member) 

c. $65 for a 4’ x 8’ high raised bed 

All payments are final and nonrefundable. Please ensure your payments are accurate. The application form, agreement and waivers are available on the Denver Urban Gardens website and are presented for online agreement when you pay your dues. 

2. Dues allow gardeners access to the garden daily from dawn to dusk during the garden season (March through October). 

3. As part of the DUG Registration, all gardeners must sign a release waiver for yourself and any other individual (guests) who may assist you in the garden (family, friends, neighbors). a. Garden members are responsible for their guests that work in the garden and have not signed a waiver. Garden members must be present in the garden with these guests, at all times 

b. Guests who sign the waiver and complete member orientation do not need to be accompanied by a gardener.

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Service Hours 

1. All gardeners are required to contribute and log service hours for garden maintenance and upkeep in common areas. These hours may also include projects or activities planned and approved by Garden Leadership. In the event that a gardener is unable to complete all service hours, the gardener will be charged $8 for each outstanding service hour not completed. a. Twelve (12) service hours required for full plots (15’ x 15’) 

b. Six (6) service hours required for half plots (half a full-size plot shared with another member) 

c. Six (6) service hours required for high raised bed (ADA) plots (4’ x 8’) ​

2. Pre-approved service hours activities include a. Weeding community plots and common areas, which include the garden perimeter and fencing, South Pollinator Garden, West Side Community Project, community plots, Children’s Garden and play areas 

b. Working on composting 

c. Weeding garden pathways 

d. Watering plots with a “water me” sign 

e. Harvesting produce for Veggie Van from plots with a ‘Harvest Me” sign 

f. Attending organized volunteer events ​

3. Two (2) of the total required number of service hours shall be spent on composting. This requirement can be waived for members with physical limitations. Compost training will be offered. 

4. Gardeners are responsible for inputting their hours into the online tracker using the QR code on the east barn door or home page of the Rose Roots website (roserootsgarden.org). 

5. Gardeners who do not complete their required number of service hours by October 31 will be charged $8 per outstanding service hour, up to $96 per plot. Gardeners who do not complete their service hours and who fail to pay the associated fees will not be eligible for renewal of their plot the following year. 

 

Governance, Conduct, and Communications 

1. New gardeners are required to attend an orientation meeting at the garden with a member of Garden Leadership. Returning gardeners are responsible for keeping current on changes to the garden policies and operating procedures. 

2. Rose Roots communicates with gardeners through many methods. It is each Gardener’s responsibility to read and respond to communications as applicable. a. Chalkboards near garden entrance gates announce upcoming events and other important topics 

b. Electronic invitations are sent for special events and work parties 

c. Newsletters are sent by email and posted to the Rose Roots website. Please ensure that you add leadership@roserootsgarden.org to your contacts, so that these emails will not be filtered into spam 

d. The kiosk located between the garden plots and the south pollinator garden is updated with announcements and upcoming events 

e. Social media posts highlight garden events and announcements 

f. Monthly membership meetings 

3. Members of the Rose Roots Garden Leadership are the only individuals authorized to speak or act on behalf of the garden and garden organization. Gardeners may not represent Rose Roots or DUG to other gardeners, neighbors, or city agencies. 

4. Maintaining a positive environment is important to the community gardening experience. a. Gardeners may not direct, instruct, or correct other gardeners about their garden plot or process unless requested. 

b. Gardeners may not make decisions about garden operations. 

c. Gardeners should feel comfortable respectfully raising concerns to their neighboring gardener if something in their neighbor’s garden is impacting their own 

d. In keeping with good stewardship of the garden, gardeners should be able to inform one another about routine matters, such as a barn being left open or water being left on. 

e. Team Leads may direct or instruct, as appropriate, within the scope of their leadership area (west side, pollinator garden, community plots, composting, etc.). 

f. Gardeners should notify leadership directly of egregious violations to garden policies so that appropriate education may be provided (leadership@roserootsgarden.org). Leadership decisions regarding resolution are final. 

5. Gardeners should call 911 for emergencies necessitating police, fire, or medical services. 

6. Meetings a. The business of Rose Roots is accomplished at monthly meetings open to all gardeners on the second Tuesday of the month (May through October). 

b. Location of the meetings is noted on the website. In the event of inclement weather, garden leadership may move the meeting to another location. If this happens, the leadership will attempt to notify members. 

c. Gardeners who wish to offer proposed agenda items for the meeting should provide them to the board, by email, at least seven(7) days before a scheduled meeting. Garden Leadership retains discretion regarding agenda placement and meeting facilitation. 

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Individual Garden Plots 

Garden Members are responsible for adhering to and upholding the following policies: 

1. A minimum of seventy five percent (75%) of the plot should show evidence of gardening work in progress, such as installation of raised beds, incorporating amendments, weeding, or sowing of seeds by June 1st. 

a. Accommodation will be made for gardeners who are assigned a plot later in the season. 

b. Plots that have not been gardened by June 1 could be subject to forfeiture. 

2. Maintain garden plots with care 

a. To ensure the health of the entire garden, each gardener is expected to care for their soil, control weeds, and maintain their plot. Continued neglect may lead to loss of gardening privileges. 

b. Keep both your plot and the pathways surrounding your plot free of weeds. 

c. Do not allow your crops to encroach onto pathways. 

d. Control rapidly spreading plants (sunflowers, cosmos, morning glory, lemon balm, mint, calendula) by planting them in pots or deadheading so they don’t spread seed. Mint is only allowed in pots. 

e. Create and maintain healthy soil by practicing organic methods such as incorporating compost, mulching to retain moisture, planting cover crops in fall, and reducing tillage when possible. 

f. Community generated compost is available for gardeners, up to 2 wheelbarrow loads per plot, on a first come basis, per season ​

3. Conserve water 

a. Turn off all hoses at the spigot when you are done watering. Do not rely on your hose attachments or nozzles to stop water flow. The bearings often fail and result in water leaks. 

b. Unattended timers are not permitted for personal garden plots. 

c. Please do not use hoses or water in the playground areas. 

4. Rose Roots is an organic garden 

a. Only organic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides are allowed. 

b. Genetically modified seeds and plants are not permitted . 

c. Choose natural materials when available, and avoid plastics where reasonable. ​

5. Do not shade other plots 

a. Be mindful when growing tall plants or building tall structures, so that you will not shade other plots. 

b. Tall crops, like sunflowers, should be planted as allowed in garden etiquette. 

c. Growing corn is not permitted in the garden. There may be an exception granted for corn that was previously exempted under prior guidelines. 

6. Garden structures a. Garden structures (trellises, bird baths and feeders, etc) and ornamental art are allowed but must be well maintained. 

7. End-of-Season 

a. Garden plots must be put ‘to bed’ by October 31. 

b. Hardy, frost-tolerant crops and overwintered crops (carrots, beets, leeks, kale, etc) may remain. Perennial plants and flowers may remain. All other annual plants should be cleaned out of the plot. 

c. Cover crops are beneficial to soil structure, reduce weeds, and reduce erosion of topsoil during windy winters. Gardeners are encouraged to grow cover crops. 

d. The garden experiences very high winds during winter. Trellises should be removed at the end of the season, and all items must be secured in order to withstand 100+ MPH gusts. 

e. Gardeners who do NOT clean up their plot by October 31 will be charged an additional fee of $40. 

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Garden-wide Policies 

1. Rose Roots is a safe environment dedicated to the success of all gardeners. a. Be courteous and kind to other gardeners and guests. 

b. Discourteous behavior (e.g. yelling, disparaging comments, confrontational conduct, repeated unwanted interactions, and negative speech) will be considered by the board as a reason for eviction and immediate termination of membership. 

c. Should you observe behavior by another gardener that causes discomfort or does not align with garden rules or our mission, please report it to Garden Leadership (leadership@roserootsgarden.org). 

2. Children are welcome at Rose Roots with oversight from parents or caregivers. 

3. Harvest only crops from your own plot and your allotted portion of crops from common area plots. Do not enter another gardener’s plot or touch foliage or structures in another plot without permission of the gardener. 

4. Any change to a common area must first be approved by Rose Roots Leadership. 

5. Garden produce donations a. Gardeners are encouraged to donate 10% of their yield to the Veggie Van in order to help those in our community who experience food insecurity. 

b. Donations should be brought into the west barn and placed in the refrigerator or next to the refrigerator, as appropriate for the produce item. 

c. Gardeners who are out of town are encouraged to place a ‘Harvest for Veggie Van’ sign in their plot. This grants permission for other garden members to harvest produce from your plot and donate to Veggie Van. 

6. Composting a. Composting is only for community garden waste. Do not bring in any materials from outside sources. 

b. Be careful to place only healthy, organic material from the garden in the compost. ‘Organic’ means it can decompose quickly. Be careful that you do not accidentally include plastic pots, seed starting pods, markers, rocks, stones, or ceramic/clay pieces. 

c. It is very difficult to kill plant borne disease in compost. In order to prevent spread, diseased plants should be taken home, and disposed of in your personal trash. Tomato, squash, and cucumber vines are always carriers of disease and should not be added to compost piles. 

d. Gardeners are responsible for following composting guidelines that are posted by the compost piles. 

7. Garden waste and trash a. Please pick up any trash you see. 

b. The garden does not have trash service during the growing season. All trash should be disposed of at home. 

c. Do not place garden trash in the city trashcan by the pavilion. 

d. The lean-to area is not for storage of broken or unusable garden equipment or structures. Please take these home to dispose of them. 

8. Barn, Sheds, and Lean-to a. Keep the garden safe and protect garden property by putting tools away in their designated spaces in the barn or shed. Please ensure tools have been cleaned before re-storage. 

b. The garden sheds and barn are available for storage of shared resources and equipment only. 

c. Personal gardening items should be taken home at the end of a gardening session. 

d. The Rose Roots West Barn, East Shed, and Lean-to Usage & Care Policy dated December 7, 2025 is available on the website. 

9. Smoking is prohibited in the garden. 

10. Pets are not permitted in the garden. Be a responsible pet owner by keeping pets on leashes and out of the garden. 

11. Be respectful of neighbors walking and cycling near the garden. Use caution and observe pedestrian crossings, and avoid parking along Alkire Street. 

 

Escalations and Enforcement 

1. The Rose Roots Leadership Team will serve as the escalation point for all garden issues. If a gardener is experiencing an issue, the next step is to raise the issue in writing with the Leadership team via email to leadership@roserootsgarden.org. The Leadership Team has the responsibility to listen to all sides of issues, decide what is in best interest for the garden, and take implementation actions as appropriate. 

2. Failure to comply with garden policies may result in graduated enforcement actions, including a. Written warnings 

b. Temporary restrictions on activities or access 

c. Removal from specific programs or roles 

d. Non-renewal of plot privileges 

e. Eviction for serious or repeated violations 

3. While the graduated actions will be used for repeated or ongoing issues, a severe situation may result in the Leadership Team selecting any of the levels in order to maintain the right environment for all gardeners. 

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Acknowledgement 

I have received, read, acknowledge, and agree to all terms under this Agreement and will be responsible for myself and all of my guests and invitees abiding by the same. I understand that use of the garden plot and surrounding community space is a privilege, and that Rose Roots Community Garden has the right to terminate my membership and use of the garden if I, or my guests, violate any policy, procedure, rule, or regulation relating to use of the garden. I acknowledge that, in the event of eviction, I forfeit all rights to continued or future use of the Community Garden and will not be reimbursed for any gardening expenses, including, but not limited to, any plot fees. 

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1. Planting, Maintaining, & Cleaning of Plots:

   1. Begin substantial gardening in my plot by June 1st, or the garden will be forfeited back to the garden. Accommodations will be made for gardeners who got their plot later in the season.

   2. Throughout the season, maintain my garden with care and keep the pathway surrounding my plot weeded—see below for related policies.

   3. Put my garden plot ‘to bed’ by October 31st. Crops that are still growing may remain (i.e., carrots, kale, etc. to overwinter), and gardeners are permitted to grow cover crops. Other vegetable plants should be cleaned out of the plot. Gardeners who do NOT clean up their plot by the end of November and desire to return the following year will be charged an additional payment of $40.

2. Service Hours:

   1. All gardeners shall either contribute service hours or pay $8 for each required service hour not completed.

      • 12 service hours required for full plots (15’ x 15’)

      • 6 service hours required for half plots (half a full-size plot shared with another member)

      • 6 service hours required for raised bed (4’ x 8’)

   • Two (2) of the total required number of service hours shall be spent on composting. Composting training will be offered.

   1. Gardeners who do not complete their required number of service hours by October 31st will be charged $8 per remaining service hour not worked, up to $96. Gardeners who do not complete their service hours or pay the associated $8/service hour, will result in non-renewal of their plot the following year.

   2. Gardeners are responsible for inputting their hours into the online tracker.

 

Rose Roots Community Garden Policies:

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West Barn, East Shed, and Lean-to Usage & Care Policy 

Effective Date: December 17, 2025 Approved By: Rose Roots Leadership Team Contact: Leadership@roserootsgarden.org 

1. Purpose 

This policy establishes guidelines for the use and care of the West Barn, East Shed, and Lean-to. These guidelines are intended to promote safety, organization, and shared stewardship while supporting the mission of Rose Roots. 

2. Oversight 

The Rose Roots Leadership Team oversees and enforces the use and care of the West Barn, East Shed, and Lean-to. 

3. Storage Assignments 

Use of the West Barn’s North, South, and West storage closets shall be assigned by the Leadership Team based on current needs and operational priorities. No one is allowed to use the barn for personal storage use, including the Leadership team. 

4. Safety Requirements 

For safety reasons, flammable materials, including flammable liquids, shall not be stored in the West Barn. The barn is locked at all times and only current gardeners have access to the barn during the season using the “key code” in the lock box. 

5. West Barn “Great Room” Use 

The main “Great Room” of the West Barn may be used to support the collection of garden produce for distribution to local food programs and for educational purposes consistent with the mission of Rose Roots. Permitted uses include refrigeration units and designated work areas for the collection, measuring, and handling of produce, as well as educational activities, demonstrations, and workshops approved by the Rose Roots Leadership Team. 

If you wish to use the barn for a garden related event, please email leadership@roserootsgarden.org. 

 

6. First Aid 

A First Aid station shall be maintained in a clearly designated area within the West Barn’s Great Room. The first aid station is fully stocked on opening day of the garden and maintained by the Leadership team. 

7. Signage 

Interior and exterior signage is permitted only with prior approval from the Rose Roots Leadership Team. 

8. Tool Donations 

Donations of hand and garden tools for shared use within the Rose Roots Garden shall be staged and stored in the Lean-to. 

9. Exceptions 

Any exceptions to this policy to meet unforeseen circumstances is at the sole discretion of the Rose Roots Leadership Team. 

10. Acknowledgment 

By using the West Barn, East Shed, or Lean-to, all gardeners, volunteers, and participants acknowledge and agree to comply with this policy and to help maintain these shared spaces in a safe, clean, and respectful manner. 

Failure to comply with this policy may result in restricted access to these facilities and/or loss of garden privileges. 

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If you have any questions about these policies, please contact us at leadership@roserootsgarden.org.

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