Denver Urban Gardens’ COVID-19 Guidelines for Safe Community
Gardening

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” – Coretta Scott King

We are in a new and trying time right now. This is a time to remember to slow down and take care of ourselves, our families, and our community. This is a time to be grateful for the fresh healthy, food we grow and the good people who nourish our lives. This is a time to remember that we are not in this thing called life alone. Be kind. Be generous. Be resilient. We will get through this by working together.

The DUG office is closed to the public, but we are diligently working remotely to make sure our programs and gardens are impacted as little as possible.

DUG understands that gardening can be a stress-relieving and even immune-system-boosting activity. We want you to be able to go to your gardens, but ask that everyone follow the CDC and CDPHE guidelines around distancing and social precautions for COVID-19 to flatten the curve.

Share this information with all gardeners! You can still garden, but take some precautions first.

If you are planning a workday:

  1. As always, only order the amount of compost you need (see DUG guidelines HERE.
  2. Be sure that 5 or fewer gardeners are in the garden together at any one time. If needed, break the workday into two or more shifts per day.
  3. Wash your hands before you come to the work day and if you have disposable gloves, use them.
  4. Have one designated person per tool, including wheelbarrows. Do not trade. Thoroughly clean the handles before and after use. Label your tool.
  5. Share the compost and deliver some to everyone’s plot.
  6. Ask gardeners to bring their own water and snacks to avoid commingling of water and food.
  7. Provide hand sanitizer if you are able. Make your own with 2/3 cup isopropyl alcohol and 1/3 cup of aloe vera gel.
  8. Practice social distancing; stay 6 feet away from the other volunteers and gardeners you are working with.
  9. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds as soon as you get home.
  10. Thoroughly wash your clothing including jacket as soon as you get home.

Other suggestions for garden leaders:

  • Use DUG’s online plot application!
  • If your gardeners need to pay with cash, arrange a time they can wave hello and drop their payment and plot application off at the office.
  • Call fellow gardeners to say hi and see if anyone needs assistance with food or a trip to the store.
  • Take a look at DUG’s list of COVID-19 resources
  • For school community gardeners, check on the status of your gardener’s background checks.
  • Get your plot weed-free and turn your soil for summer.
  • Join our online community and get connected to our Garden Leaders Circle.

General Notes and Guidelines about COVID-19

The virus can live up to 2 days outside of the body. Current research suggests the COVID-19 virus can live for up to 2 days on various surfaces. Possibly longer, possibly less, depending on the actual surface material. We do not know exactly how long it can live, but this is a good parameter to use when making assumptions about what we can and can’t touch. Soap, alcohol, and bleach are the best agents to kill the virus. Soap is VERY effective.

Be kind. Be generous. Be resilient. We will get through this together.