Middleborough conservation commission approves 2025 community garden fees and updated rules

The Middleborough Conservation Commission on an evening meeting approved the 2025 community garden fees and adopted revised garden rules, after hearing recommendations from the town land manager, Darren Vassa.

Darren said the garden fees should remain "the same as last year" and recommended keeping them at last year’s levels and reassessing next season; commissioners voted to approve the fees on a motion by Bart, seconded by Carrie. The commission then reviewed an edited rulebook that keeps most existing rules but adds several clarifications, including a requirement that gardeners practice insect and disease control to reduce spread between plots, a prohibition on permanent structures ("everything must be easily removable"), a change in water shutoff timing to “mid-October,” and a request that gardeners include a phone number on the liability waiver so staff can contact them. Commissioners voted to accept the rules as written on a motion by Carrie and second by Bart.

Commissioners discussed whether to prohibit smoking and vaping on garden plots. Some members and staff noted smoking was listed in the garden rules in prior years; others said the town has not banned smoking on other outdoor town properties and suggested broader discussion before changing all property rules. The commission chose to leave the smoking language as submitted. The garden rules also add compost-related clarifications and specify that markers and corner stakes should not be moved to preserve plot boundaries.

Darren said he will contact returning gardeners, collect fees and waivers, and begin outreach and sign-ups next week.

The commission’s vote was unanimous on both motions; no formal amendments were offered during the meeting. The updated rules and fee schedule will govern the community garden for 2025 unless the commission revisits them.