Exeter Garden Match FAQ

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Exeter Garden Match - Frequently Asked Questions

1.    Q - What does it cost?
A - It costs absolutely nothing to join the scheme, but growers will need to join the South West Counties Allotments Association for £2 per year, in order to have insurance (see question 8). As a grower you will be expected to provide your own seeds, compost and tools.

2.    Q - Will you do background checks on participants?
A - We will take up references for all participants - this is standard practice for all Exeter Community Initiatives volunteers. If as a garden owner you would prefer a CRB-checked grower this can be taken into account, but please be aware that this may delay a match. If as a grower you have a recent CRB, please tell us this on the registration form.

3.    Q - As a grower, what rights do I have to the growing space?
A - When a match is found and participants have met, an agreement (click here to see an example) will be signed by both parties. This is NOT a legal document; however, we would expect both growers and garden owners to honour the arrangements about access and use of the space. We will work with the garden owners to make an agreement which is clear and acceptable to both.

4.    Q - How much of the produce will I get to keep?
A - This will be decided by the sharers and written into the agreement, but a typical split would be 20-25% to the garden owner and the rest to the grower.

5.    Q - Can I bring my friends/family along to help me garden?
A - Again, this is something to be discussed with the garden owner and put into the agreement.

6.    Q - I'm really keen but not an experienced grower. Can I still be involved and is there anyone who can help me?
A - While the Harvest team can give some support, we're not able to come and do the garden with you. If you don't feel confident going it alone, we may be able to pair you up with a knowledgeable garden owner who wants to work with you - or you might want to get involved with one of our community growing projects instead (please contact Harvest for more details). We are building a Grow-Your-Own Network of enthusiastic growers across Exeter, who can swap tips and support each other - look out for details of upcoming events on our website.

7.    Q - What if it's not working out and I want to stop?
A - The Harvest team is here to help you iron out any issues before they become major problems. If, however, you decide you can't continue gardening, you are under no legal obligation but we would appreciate as much notice as possible. If you are the garden owner and want to end the agreement we ask you to give at least 3 months notice if possible - unless the space has not been cared for.

8.    Q - Do I need insurance?
A - we ask all our growers to join the South West Counties Allotments Association. This costs £2 per year and means you are covered by their Public Liability Insurance. This covers you if a claim is made against you for injury to another person, or damage to property.

9.    Q - I need help looking after my garden generally - can I join the scheme?
A - Exeter Garden Match is NOT a free gardening service. Some growers may informally offer to help with other tasks besides food growing, but it won't be part of the written agreement and garden owners shouldn't come in with that expectation.

10.    Q - Sounds good! What happens now?
A - The first step is to fill in a registration form - there is one each for growers and garden owners. Please see the flowchart for the next steps.

Did this answer your questions? If not then please contact us to talk through any other queries you might have.