Growing Food, Growing Community Program

Growing Food, Growing Community Program

Participant Guidelines

The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) are connecting residents (referred to as “volunteers”) to new food growing opportunities in underused garden sites ( referred to as “garden hosts”). Participants of the Growing Food, Growing Community Program are made up of volunteers and garden hosts. The information provided in this guide is for participants to become familiar with the program. For more information, please watch this archived orientation webinar.

Step 1: Matching volunteers with garden hosts

Step 2: Responsibilities
Step 3: Waiver or volunteer clearance
Step 4: Volunteer/garden host agreement

Step 1: Matching volunteers with garden hosts

●DPR and OSSE will facilitate the matching of volunteers with garden hoststhrough a registration process.

●Volunteers will be matched based on their preferences (proximity, familiarity with the program, etc.)with garden hosts

●District government will offer informational resources and an initial introduction to aid in the success of the program.

a.OSSE and/or the garden hostsmay provide additional guidance and resources for volunteers serving at a school garden.

b.DPR and/or the garden hosts may provide additional guidance and resources for volunteers serving at a community garden.

●OSSE and DPR are under no obligation to provide physical resources to volunteers and garden hosts.

Step 2: Responsibilities

●All participants:

a.Frequent and clear communication between the volunteer and garden host is paramount. Contact information provided in the registration will be shared between the volunteers and garden hostsby OSSE and DPR.

b.Practice 100 percent organic gardening methods.

School Gardens

●School garden hosts:

a.The garden host must provide a host site point of contact (POC) to facilitate the program.

b.The garden host must ensure each participant is vetted through their own volunteer process.

c.The garden host must be able to offer consistent access to the garden, water and tools for all participants.

d.The garden host must provide an orientation covering all access issues, set expectations, and review garden norms.

e.The garden host must complete a District government waiver. (See Step 3)

f.The garden host must complete a volunteer/garden host agreement. (See Step 4)

●School garden volunteers

a.The volunteermust receive volunteer clearance from the garden host.

b.The volunteer must attend an orientation led by thegarden host.

c.The volunteer must complete a District government waiver. (See Step 3)

d.The volunteer must complete the volunteer/garden host agreement. (See Step 4)

Community Gardens

●Community garden hosts:

a.The garden host must meet one of the following requirements[i]:

▪Above 65 years old;

▪Have a mobility disability;

▪Able to prove they need assistance with gardening; or

▪Manage a garden space that does not have a wait list.

b.The garden host must notify thecommunity garden manager of any new gardeners joining their garden plot.

c.The garden host must provide an orientation to cover issues related to access to the space, set expectations, and review garden norms.

●Community garden volunteers

a.The volunteer must attend an orientation led by the garden host.

b.The volunteer must complete the volunteer/garden host agreement.

Step 3: Waiver or volunteer clearance

All garden hosts and volunteers must sign a District government waiver. If the garden host requires additional clearance, this must also be completed by the volunteer. All waivers and volunteer clearance forms must be received before volunteers start serving in host garden sites.

Send District government waivers to:

OR

Attn: Josh Singer
DC Parks and Recreation
1480 Girard Street NW, 4th floor

Washington DC 20009

Step 4:Volunteer/Garden Host Agreement

●Once participants are matched, it is the sole responsibility of the participants to negotiate the terms of their agreement. Volunteers and the garden hosts must meet before any gardening occurs to agree about site situations.

Recommended Volunteer/ Garden Host Agreement

Below are some examples of what to include in a volunteer/garden host agreement.

-Contact information: Include contact information for both the volunteer and garden host (names, phone, email, etc.). What is each person’s preferred form of communication?

-Gardening space: What is the area that is permitted to be gardened? How much can the space be modified (e.g., is building raised beds okay)? Is there additional work that needs to happen before growing can take place?

-Soil quality: Is there any past history that calls the quality of soil into question? Has the soil been tested or does it still need to be done? Who will do the testing if it is necessary? What types of amendments to the soil are allowed (organic vs. inorganic)?

• Soil testing options: UMassAmherst (
• Penn State University (
• Virginia Tech (

-Access to the space: How frequent and during what times? Should visits be arranged beforehand or are drop-ins okay? Who is allowed to access the space? Does the volunteer need to sign in when visiting?

-Access to gardening materials: Is there access to water and tools? Who is responsible for these materials?

-Expectations: What can be grown at the garden (edible vs. non-edible)? What are the responsibilities/rights of the garden host and the volunteer? Who can harvest the food? Who is able to eat or use the food grown in the garden? Is anything shared?

-Ending the agreement: When does the agreement end? In what condition should the space be left when the agreement comes to an end?

Failure to follow agreed upon terms may result in the garden host or volunteer terminating the agreement. Written justificationto terminate the agreement must be provided to the program participant and DC government with at least two weeks’ notice (void of any forms of discrimination).DC Government prohibits discrimination based on discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, source of income, disability, status as a victim of an intra-family offense, and place of residence or business.

If you have any further questions, please contact Josh Singer at (202) 262-2138 or Sam Ullery at or by email at

[i] This program cannot be used as a way for capable gardeners who have neglected their plots to help keep their plots. This program is only for gardeners who are not capable of managing their plot on their own and need assistance.