Re: advice please re paying a stipend to a gardener

Hello,

I am currently dealing with a similar issue with one of the community gardens in Cleveland (similar though very different).  Another large garden here does pay someone.  He helps maintain some of the school property also on which the garden lies.  Actually, it's also a security issue because the garden is so large (over 100 plots and about 2 - 4 acres) and one time somebody fainted in the garden and no one knew - they needed medical help but it took a while to get it there.  So, it just works better for them to pay a person.

The other site has a few dedicated volunteers ( a site committee) who do a lot but also, every plot MUST contribute 10 hours of community time.  If they don't do it in the next few weeks they are called and expected to come to garden clean up day, the last day of October.  It takes time for the Garden Leader to make phone calls but it works.  If they don't do their community time they don't get a plot next year.

- Best of Luck, Lynn

At 03:45 PM 10/06/2004 -0300, you wrote:
Our garden has 100 plots and most of the people who garden go about their own business and do not help with communal jobs. This is despite people agreeing to help, signing up, etc. We have one gardener who has done most of the important routine tasks, like setting up and maintaining our water system, mowing common paths and areas, and dealing with any labour-intensive issue that arises. We would be lost without him but feel he is being taken for granted. Here's where the advice is needed: we would like to pay him a stipend, honorarium, whatever you want to call it, of maybe a couple of hundred dollars per season that he does this work. He knows nothing about this idea. The money's not a lot but at least it would recognise his importance to the continuance of the garden. We also have a significant amount in our budget so would not be adversely affecting the garden's financial situation. Appreciate any feedback; the committee has a meeting tomorrow(Thuirsday) night.
 
Jude Carson
Saint John, Canada

Lynn Gregor
Program Coordinator
Community Gardening
Ohio State University Extension, Cuyahoga Co.
216-397-6046
gregor@ag.osu.edu

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