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  1. Commonwealth Terrace Cooperative, Inc.
  2. Current Residents
  3. Events
  4. Garden Plot Selection 2025
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Garden Plot Selection 2025

Request a community garden plot for the 2025 growing season by completing the online Garden Plot Application by March 23.

CTC offers 45 garden plots across five locations for residents to cultivate throughout the season. Plots are assigned via a random selection process, with a limit of one (1) plot per household during the initial registration period.

How to Apply & Selection Process

  1. Submit Your Application – Complete the online Garden Plot Application by March 23, 2025.
  2. Random Drawing – Applicants are randomly selected and receive a designated registration time based on the drawing order.
  3. Plot Selection (March 26, 2025) – Selected applicants receive a unique access code to choose their plot at their assigned time.
  4. Waitlist (March 28, 2025, and On) – Remaining applicants will be placed on a waitlist and granted access to available plots as openings occur.

New Plot Selection System

This year, we are introducing a self-selection process, similar to university class registration. This update provides greater fairness, flexibility, and satisfaction in choosing plots.

How It Works:

Plot Selection Process:

Garden Usage Requirements & Fees Woman prepping garden bed

Renouncing a Plot

If you choose to renounce your plot early in the season, you must complete the official renouncement form to release your plot and avoid potential fees.

Important Dates & Logistics

March 23 Online applications due
March 24-25 Random drawing to determine selected gardeners. Selected applicants will receive a designated registration time based on the order drawn.
March 26 Selected applicants receive access to the agreement form with a unique code to select a plot at their designated registration time.
March 28 Waitlisted individuals receive access to the agreement form with a unique code to select a plot at their designated registration time.
March 28 and on Appoint Garden Site Coordinators
TBD (est. May 3-4 Compost/Mulch Delivery from UMN Landcare
TBD (est. May 3-7) Selected gardeners must prep plots with provided compost/mulch
May 30 Garden Plot and Site Check-in: Plots that are untended or unweeded by the planting deadline are assumed abandoned and will be forfeited without a refund. This can apply to the entire garden plot site, if applicable. 
November 1 End of season clean-up deadline for selected gardeners (see below)

Plan Ahead!

Visit the five garden locations before applying to select your preferred site. Consider:

View the map of garden plot locations and sizes.*

Join the CTC Gardening Community!

CTC Gardeners, Unite!

Interested in improving the selection process, getting the same plot year after year, or giving you input to prepping plots? Join a garden plot group or contact our Garden Plot Coordinator to see how you can help.

Looking for Garden Site Coordinators

This year, we are requesting a Garden Site Coordinator for each site. After the selection, we will contact those interested, as indicated in your application!

Please let us know if you have any questions, and happy gardening!


More Details on Assignment Process, Plot Prep, and Early or End of Season Renouncements:

Important Update: New Garden Plot Assignment Process

This year, we are introducing a new self-selection system for assigning garden plots, similar to university class registration. This update is designed to improve fairness, efficiency, and satisfaction for gardeners.

Why the Change?

Previously, a staff member would randomly draw applicants and assign plots based on preferences. While this method aimed for fairness, it often led to dissatisfaction, with many gardeners wanting to switch plots after assignments were made.

New Process Overview

Instead of being assigned a plot, selected applicants will have the opportunity to choose their own plot from the available options at their designated registration time. This allows for more personal choice and flexibility.

  1. Application & Selection Order

    • Residents submit a garden plot application by the deadline.
    • Staff will randomly draw names to determine the order of selection.
    • Selected applicants will receive a designated registration time based on the order drawn.
    • Registration will take place in time slots of 5 gardeners per hour on Wednesday, March 26.

  2. Registration & Plot Selection

    • Prior to your designated time, you will receive an email with a unique access code to unlock the form.
    • When your assigned time arrives, use your code to access the live form, where you will see the plots currently available.
    • Select your desired plot and submit the form to finalize your selection.
    • If you no longer want a plot or do not like the available options, you may simply choose not to complete the form.

  3. Waitlist & Late Registration

    • If you are on the waitlist, you will receive access two days after the initial registration period (Friday, March 28).

  4. Important Logistics & Rules

    • One Plot per Gardener – If multiple forms for the same individual are submitted, only the first submission will be honored.
    • Live Form System – Plots are available in real-time, meaning multiple individuals may be selecting plots simultaneously. Refresh the page before making your selection, and submit quickly to secure your choice.
    • Confirmation Email – After submitting the form, you will receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive this email, your selection was not successful.
    • Releasing a Plot – If you change your mind about your selected plot, contact the office immediately. You may be able to select a different plot based on availability.
    • Non-Transferable Codes – Your unique registration code cannot be shared or transferred to another person. Multiple registrations using the same code will not be accepted.

  5. Payment Information

    • The garden plot usage fee will not be collected through the form. Instead, it will be billed to your resident account and added to your next rental payment.

Garden Plot and Site Prep

Compost/Mulch Delivery: Date to be Determined

Compost and mulch will be delivered and all gardeners will prep their own plots with provided materials within a 1-2 week deadline (announced with compost/mulch delivery date). A Compost/Mulch Delivery Map will be provided to gardeners of where to get compost and mulch locations. Wheelbarrows and shovels will be available in each garden area for gardener use during that time. 

Take part in the spring preparation of your individual garden plot, as well as the organized event for your garden site. You must tend (prep) your plot by May 30th. If the kind of plants you are growing must be planted later, weed your plot, and site, as needed before then. You are responsible for your plots and sits for the entire season. Keep it free of weeds and harvested through end of season.  

Tend to plot and garden site by May 30: Plots that are untended or unweeded by the planting deadline are assumed abandoned and will be forfeited without a refund. This can apply to the entire garden plot site, if applicable.  

Early Plot Renouncement (Mid-Season) and Clean-up:

Plot recipients may renounce – or voluntarily cease to keep or claim – their plot at any time by making written notice to CTC’s office (and completing the Garden Plot Termination Form) and by clearing the site of all debris and plant material. Yet, the responsibility for payment of fees, cleanup and other duties at the site will be the responsibility of the individual whose name is initially assigned to the plot. Once a gardener renounces their assigned plot mid-season, this cannot be undone, and the plot will be offered to a gardener on the waitlist.

To complete the Garden Plot Termination Form, you will need:

CTC Garden Plot Clearing Requirements:

All gardens must be cleared and cleaned at the "End-of-Use" (renounced early/mid-season) and/or "End-of-Season" (at the end of the growing season) per the provided cleaning practices and deadline. If a garden is abandoned during the year, or the gardener fails to clean up their garden in the fall, they will be assessed with a cleaning fee.

  1. Clear Plot + Site Common Areas: Each gardener is responsible for the proper removal of weeds and crop remnants from the individual plot and the paths around the individual plot.
    • All the yields should be harvested, and all the plant remnants should be removed from the plots since they might provide beneficial conditions for overwintering of plant pathogens.
    • Clear weeds and debris from individual plot, mulched paths around your plot, and garden site common areas.
  2. Compost Bins: Weed and plant remnants should be placed in the compost bins located at the garden sites. U of M Landcare will be the clearing the bins out.
    1. If the compost bin is full/overflowing, please place next to bin.
    2. Note: Compost bins are only reopened for weeds, NOT household organics or food scraps.
  1. Organize CTC Garden Tools: Place all CTC-owned garden tools near the compost bin at your garden site.
  2. Remove all your personal belongings (tools, pots, toys, etc.) and any temporary garden items/tools from the plot/site.

End-of-Season Clean-up + Renouncement

1) Clear Plots by First Frost

All purchased garden plots need to be cleared at the end of the season before first frost by the respective garden plot holder. Frost is predicted when air temperatures reach 32°F (0°C) - typically in October - yet can occur sooner or unexpectedly. As fall/frost approaches, CTC will provide gardeners with more details and a specific deadline to clear out garden plots, corresponding to the predicted first frost date. Predicted frost dates are only an estimate based on the local weather forecast and historical probability, however, and are subject to change. Thus, gardeners may need to clear their plots before CTC's deadline/notice if frost occurs sooner than anticipated; please keep an eye on the local weather forecast and plan accordingly. 

Plot Clearing Deadline:

All garden plots must be cleared by first frost. Full directions and details will be emailed to all garden plot holders once closer to the season-end. 
ESTIMATING FIRST FROST

View Final Spring/First Fall Freeze & Frost Date Probabilities (UMN St. Paul Campus)

2) Help Clean Common Mulch Areas

Additionally, we need all gardeners to assist in cleaning the common mulch areas, helping to avoid raising prices and using spray/pesticide in the garden plot areas. Please remove all weeds and personal items (plant pots, privately-owned garden tools, etc.) from the mulched paths around each individual plot and other common areas for each garden plot site (A, B, C, E, and F).