Community Vegetable Garden

Started by StewartH1 • 5 replies • 1375 views

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StewartH1 (New Mexico)
Posts: 2

Posted:

Hi Folks,
I am Stewart Hood in Alto New Mexico. Our community consists of 350 homes of which 98% are manufactured homes. People buy the lots and place their home on it. Yes, we have a board of directors, by laws, covenants and architectural guidelines. We are a rural community 15 miles out of Ruidoso NM. The idea came up about a community garden. There is about 1 acre of land that is adjacent to the waste water treatment plant. It is owned by the company that owns the wwtp. The idea is to lease (or they just let is use the land) the land and use the grey water to water the garden.

Have any of you encountered the situation described above? If so please tell me your experience.

Stewart Hood

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Bad idea of the grey water. We had a situation here that farmers had decided to use fertilizers made from human wastes. A practice some states do use. However, the smell is found offensive to many and there are dangers to the produce.

Grey water from a waste treatment plant most likely hold the same issues. People often dump their prescription drugs down toilets. The grey water may contain these. Thus getting into the produce growing. The plants do not neccessairily filter it out but absorbs it.

We also in rural communities in farms are careful about planting crops in and around livestock run off as well. They actually closed a popular natural water spring because of the farm above had cattle run off above it. Making it contaminated for people to drink.

A vegetable garden is a great idea but not in grey areas. Maybe in raised beds instead.

Former HOA President

PitA1
Posts: 222

Posted:

GREY WATER IRRIGATION IS A VERY BAD CONCEPT

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN BOTH THE SHORT AND LONG TERM

YES, I AM SHOUTING THIS MESSAGE

now that you have read the replies, YOU are now liable for any resulting damage(s) from said use of grey water, if you permit same

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

I did want to add that this land is not a wasteland. There is oportunity. Other places have had success using this property for good things. It just is NOT for eating vegetables. A wildflower garden would be nice. An area for wildlife. I heard one school turned their area into a learning area for wildlife and vegetation.

There are things this land is good for and I would work with the treatment plant on finding that compromise. They would know how best to use this land considering its purpose.

Former HOA President

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,062

Posted:

I don't think the Association should be the one's renting the property or have anything to do with a community garden on that property.

However, if a group of homeowners wanted to do this on their own (and carry whatever insurance may be needed), then that would be an agreement between the group of homeowners and the county/wwtp owners.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By TimB4 on 06/27/2014 2:28 PM
I don't think the Association should be the one's renting the property or have anything to do with a community garden on that property.

However, if a group of homeowners wanted to do this on their own (and carry whatever insurance may be needed), then that would be an agreement between the group of homeowners and the county/wwtp owners.

Sound advice. Keep the HOA out of it.

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