Dear Garden Members, 2 April 2020
COVID-19 is causing a lot of disruption in our lives. RCG’s Steering Committee plans to turn on the water at the garden on April 10th (weather dependent) and allow you access to your growing beds, but we want to make sure the garden operates as safely as possible. We understand that gardening for many can be stress relieving and growing one’s own food especially beneficial during these challenging economic times. Further, plant and food cultivation is allowed under Colorado’s most recent public health order 20-24. We want you to be able to garden, but we ask that everyone follow the guidelines below around distancing and social precautions for COVID-19. Social connection is important to our individual and collective well-being. Distancing our bodies doesn’t mean we have to be distanced at heart.
COVID-19 Guidelines for Safe Community Gardening
(TO BE UPDATED AS CONDITIONS CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY)
1. Stay home and rest if you are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19. If you have been sick, please wait at least 3 days (72 hours) after your symptoms have resolved, AND at least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, before coming to the garden.
2. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds as you ENTER and EXIT the garden. Two hand-washing stations are available for your use - one by the garden gate and the other by the tool shed.
3. If you have sanitizing wipes with at least 70% alcohol, bring them with you to disinfect any common surfaces you touch. Alternatively, carry a ziplock bag with very soapy water and a washcloth. If you forget to bring your own wipes/soapy washcloth, please use the spray bottle located inside the garden gate to help disinfect surfaces. The spray bottle contains soapy water. After use, please wipe down or spray the gate handles, hose spigots, hose nozzles, wheelbarrow handles, shovel handles, etc.
4. We recommend wearing gloves when opening the gate and while in the garden. We will remove the gate lock during the growing season to make it easier to enter with gloves on. Again, wash your hands and/or gloves and the gate handle when you enter and exit.
5. Bring tools from home and only share them with people you live with.
6. Since you may not own your own tools, we will provide a limited number of shovels and rakes this year. If you must use them, thoroughly clean the handles with your sanitizing wipes/washcloth or use the wash station.
7. Stay at least 6 feet away from others in the garden. Don’t hesitate to smile, wave, talk from a distance and share the joys of gardening! For those members sharing garden beds, please discuss the best way to share the chores. Suggestions include working alternating days or working at opposite ends of the bed while maintaining 6 feet separation.
8. Be sure that 10 or fewer gardeners are in the garden together at any one time.
9. Avoid touching your face and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds as soon as you get home.
10. Due to health concerns, we are unable to provide a portable toilet this year, so please plan accordingly.
11. We will provide all gardening classes online and will have them available on our website.
12. A list of tasks needed to maintain the garden will be posted on the bulletin board or tool shed. Even though we cannot meet for community workdays, please complete your 2 hour/month obligation. We cannot maintain our beautiful community garden without your help!
Additional Notes
Studies suggest that the virus remains viable for up to 4 days on plastic and 3 days on stainless steel. These are good parameters to use when deciding what to touch and clean. Soap, 70% alcohol and bleach are good agents to kill the virus.
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- GREEN STREET PARK CONCEPTUAL DRAWING -
