Best Practices for Community Gardening During COVID-19 - Scheduling Work
If possible, wait to open the garden to gardeners as late as is reasonable as we work to “flatten the curve” of the virus.
Stay tuned to the CDC website and your local Health District for up-to-date information.
If possible, close the garden to outside visitors (non-gardeners).
Consider creating designated work hours only for vulnerable populations and those at higher risk.
If the garden space is small and it will be hard for gardeners to operate with proper spacing, schedule community gardeners for specific garden hours to limit numbers present in the garden at any given time.
In some situations it may make sense to schedule gardeners based on the location of their plot in the garden--spreading out gardeners across the garden space.
Schedule a half-hour break between groups of gardeners to wipe down shared surfaces with the above-mentioned bleach solution.
Avoid group work while the concern for the virus is highest. Once group work can resume, continue to use the above precautions, including: stay apart by 6 feet, bring and wear your own gloves, wash hands thoroughly, and wipe down shared surfaces.
Assign specific tasks to gardeners at a variety of times throughout the week. A simple way of managing schedules for shared tasks is GOOGLE SPREADSHEETS or SIGN-UP GENIUS.
Young children must remain in the family plot while visiting the garden or stay home.
STAY HOME if showing any symptoms or if you’ve been in contact with someone who is sick. Encourage gardeners to STAY HOME if they are considered more vulnerable to exposure to the virus (older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions). Support these gardeners by offering to plant or cultivate for them while risks remain high.
