New World Survival · Multifamily Garden Field Manual
Apartment & HOA Community Garden Planning & Operations Workbook
Map authority, resident eligibility, common-property approval, water cost, accessibility, grounds coordination, plot turnover, enforcement and management transition.
Common-property stop rule: Do not build garden infrastructure or change shared-land use until the authorized property owner/manager or association has approved the project under the controlling lease, governing documents and applicable local requirements.
1. Housing / ownership model
☐ Rental apartment property
☐ Condominium
☐ HOA / planned community
☐ Cooperative housing
☐ Public housing / PHA
☐ HUD-assisted multifamily
☐ Other
Property / association name and legal owner 2. Authority map
| Decision | Who controls it? | Document / policy / statute | Approval evidence |
|---|
| Use of common land | | | |
| Garden construction / improvements | | | |
| Rules / fees | | | |
| Water / irrigation | | | |
| Landscape / pesticide work | | | |
| Keys / after-hours access | | | |
| Disability accommodation/modification | | | |
| Enforcement / appeals | | | |
3. Governing document register
| Document | Current version / date | Garden-relevant provision | Authoritative location |
|---|
| Lease / property handbook | | | |
| Declaration / CC&Rs | | | |
| Bylaws | | | |
| Plat / site plan | | | |
| Rules / resolutions | | | |
| State/local association law | | | |
| Public/HUD housing program rule | | | |
4. Garden operating model
☐ Property-managed resident allotments
☐ Resident committee under management
☐ HOA/condominium common-area amenity
☐ Partner-operated housing garden
What the resident group may decide without higher approval 5. Resident eligibility / plot assignment
Eligible residents / occupants Waitlist / priority method Staff / neighbors / guests Fee / waiver if authorized 6. Site / common-property review
☐ Site-history / soil safety
☐ Utilities / easements
☐ Drainage / flood / runoff
☐ Fire / emergency access
☐ Snow / leaf / waste operations
☐ Maintenance / vehicle routes
☐ Planned construction / capital project
☐ Dog / play / recreation conflicts
☐ Accessible route / resident usability
Authoritative site map location 7. Water / utility cost
| Item | Source / account | Responsible party | Cost / record | Failure / shutoff |
|---|
| Water meter/account | | | | |
| Season startup/shutdown | | | | |
| Irrigation controller | | | | |
| Leak/repair authority | | | | |
| Drought/restriction source | | | | |
8. Grounds / contractor coordination
| Operation | Garden boundary / instruction | Contractor / staff contact | Notification required? |
|---|
| Mowing / trimming | | | |
| Pesticide / herbicide / fertilizer | | | |
| Irrigation / plumbing | | | |
| Snow / storm / leaf work | | | |
| Tree / landscape work | | | |
| Capital construction | | | |
9. Accessibility / fair-housing routing
☐ Property's applicable accessibility framework identified
☐ Arrival-to-garden route inspected
☐ Gate / path / bed / water / tools / rest usability reviewed
☐ Housing provider / association accommodation contact identified
☐ Modification request process identified
☐ Garden committee does not collect unnecessary medical details
Controlling fair-housing / Section 504 / ADA / state-local contact or policy 10. Resident garden rules
☐ Plot boundaries / active use
☐ Common-area work
☐ Water / tools
☐ Structures / trellises / storage
☐ Compost / waste
☐ Pest / pesticide-IPM rule
☐ Guests / hours
☐ End-of-season cleanup
☐ Complaints / enforcement / appeal
☐ Move-out / sale / reassignment
11. Plot turnover / move-out process
| Event | Notice date | Final plot date | Crop / belongings | Next gardener | Closed? |
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12. Neglected-plot inspection / enforcement
| Plot | Observable condition | Notice | Cure / response date | Hearing/appeal if applicable | Disposition |
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13. Complaint / nuisance log
| Date | Concern | Safety / property / aesthetic? | Rule / evidence | Response / appeal | Closed? |
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14. Common-area maintenance responsibility
| Asset / task | Resident gardeners | Owner / association | Contractor / professional | Budget / reserve |
|---|
| Paths / weeds | | | | |
| Irrigation / plumbing | | | | |
| Fence / gate | | | | |
| Shed / storage | | | | |
| Drainage / grading | | | | |
| Accessibility features | | | | |
| Trees / large landscape | | | | |
15. Garden operating budget
| Cost | Annual / one-time | Funding source | Owner / approval | Replacement / reserve need |
|---|
| Water | | | | |
| Soil / mulch / compost | | | | |
| Irrigation repair | | | | |
| Tools / storage | | | | |
| Fence / gate | | | | |
| Accessibility / paths | | | | |
| Insurance / management | | | | |
16. Resident committee / management handoff
| Function | Primary | Backup | Official record location | Practiced? |
|---|
| Plot roster / waitlist | | | | ☐ |
| Water / shutoff | | | | ☐ |
| Rules / enforcement | | | | ☐ |
| Landscape contractor | | | | ☐ |
| Accessibility request route | | | | ☐ |
| Budget / purchasing | | | | ☐ |
| Maintenance / repairs | | | | ☐ |
17. Annual housing-garden calendar
| Obligation | Timing | Owner | Completion evidence |
|---|
| Plot renewal / resident roster check | | | |
| Waitlist / assignment | | | |
| Landscape-contractor garden briefing | | | |
| Water startup / shutdown | | | |
| Accessibility / route inspection | | | |
| Budget / water-cost review | | | |
| Rules / governing-document review | | | |
| Season cleanup | | | |
| Annual health / management handoff | | | |
18. Management / board transition packet
☐ Garden approval / board resolution / owner authorization
☐ Lease / CC&R / bylaw / rule references
☐ Site / utility / irrigation map
☐ Resident roster / waitlist
☐ Plot rules / enforcement history
☐ Landscape contractor instructions
☐ Accessibility accommodation/modification route
☐ Budget / water / reserve history
☐ Repair backlog
☐ Annual operating calendar
19. Annual health review
| Domain | Healthy / Watch / Correct / Stop | Evidence / corrective action |
|---|
| Property / governing authority | | |
| Resident participation / turnover | | |
| Water / recurring cost | | |
| Landscape / maintenance coordination | | |
| Accessibility / fair housing routing | | |
| Rules / enforcement / complaints | | |
| Infrastructure / repair backlog | | |
| Management / board continuity | | |
20. Proof and next-year decision
☐ Authority to use common land is documented
☐ Resident eligibility and turnover are explicit
☐ Water cost / shutoff / repair are visible
☐ Grounds contractor has current garden instructions
☐ Accessibility requests route through proper housing process
☐ Neglected-plot and complaint standards are objective
☐ Property obligations are not hidden as unpaid resident labor
☐ New management/board can locate authoritative records
☐ Annual budget and operating calendar are current
☐ Expansion is withheld until current capacity is healthy
Three corrections before adding plots or infrastructure