Community Garden Bed Rental Information

The application period was open from December 1, 2025 through January 15, 2026. Please read through the Garden Rental Agreement to understand the responsibilities of being chosen for a garden bed.

Notices will be sent to those selected (via lottery if needed) no later than January 30 with information about how to register and pay for the garden bed. All selected gardeners will need to complete the registration and payment prior to February 13, 2026.

The community garden will be open to paid participants on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

Sugg Farm Community Garden General Information 

The Sugg Farm Community Garden provides residents of all abilities with a dedicated space to grow their own produce, enjoy outdoor activity, and participate in sustainable living. By participating you are supporting local food production, preserving and protecting the environment and creating a healthy community. The garden is designed to engage participants in organic-like gardening practices that provide mental, physical, and social health opportunities. 

2025-2026 Calendar

Garden Bed Details

• Raised garden beds are 4 ft wide by 12 ft long. Fifteen (15) of the raised beds are ADA accessible and are for those with limited mobility. Beds come filled with soil and compost, ready to plant. 
• Garden bed renters must be at least 18 years of age. Priority is given to Holly Springs residents. Limit of one bed per household. 
• Garden bed rental is for 10 months, March through December. There is no guarantee of a multi-year rental. 
• The fee is $40 per bed for the rental period. No refunds will be provided for withdrawals. 
• Garden beds are awarded by random selection through a lottery process if more applications are received than beds available. 
• Payment of the rental fee and a signed Garden Rental Agreement/Waiver are due

  prior two weeks after notification of selection. If the fee is not paid and/or agreement not signed within that window, another gardener will be selected from the waiting list.

Using the Garden

• Each garden bed renter will receive the gate code that will allow them to enter the garden during park hours that are posted at the entrance to the park.
• Each gardener is required to attend an orientation session prior to beginning their garden. Dates and time will be shared at the time of notification of being selected for a garden bed.
• The Community Garden is for designated gardeners and their families only. Children must be supervised at all times. Each gardener is fully responsible for the actions of family members and must inform them of all garden rules and regulations.
• Gardeners are responsible for providing their own seeds or plants and labor.
• Plants from the rented beds are for private and personal use. Do not tamper or remove plants or produce from someone else’s garden bed.
• No pets other than service animals are allowed in the fenced area.
• The Town reserves the right to evict any garden renter from their garden plot at any time if they do not adhere to the Community Garden Guidelines and Expectations listed within.

Sugg Farm Community Garden Guidelines, Expectations and Rules

• Gardeners are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of their garden beds (weeding, harvesting, planting, etc.) and keeping the surrounding pathway as weedfree as possible.
• All gardeners must harvest all crops and remove all plant material at the end of the growing season and no later than December 31st
• Place all waste in the appropriate container (trash, recycling, compost)
• Gardeners shall keep plant material from growing outside of the garden bed and interfering with the walking path, or other gardens. No object or plant material should exceed or extend beyond 12 inches past the participant’s individual garden bed dimensions. No altering of the outside dimensions of the bed is allowed.
• Gardeners are encouraged to plant vegetables, herbs, and/or flowers. Do not plant illegal or poisonous plants. Do not plant trees or shrubs.
• Children must be always accompanied and supervised by an adult.
• Pets are not permitted in the garden.
• Yard hydrants and hoses are available for watering. Participants are responsible for emptying the hoses and turning off hydrants when they are finished. The use of irrigation lines or sprinklers is prohibited.
• Inorganic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides are prohibited
• Glass containers are prohibited from the garden. In addition, containers, bags, etc. of any kind should be secured so as not to blow around and/or detract from the orderliness of the gardens.
• Should you wish to listen to the radio/music, etc., please use headphones so as not to disturb the tranquility of the gardens.
• Gardeners are solely responsible for the planning and management of their own plots, including providing their own seeds, plants and any tools not provided by the Town.
• Gardeners may bring their own tools into the garden to use in their plots, but they cannot store any tools in the garden or garden bed. Gardeners are responsible for any damage caused by tools they bring into the garden and so should use them with care. Gardeners may not use any power tools, such as those that require gasoline, batteries, or electricity.
• Gardeners may not keep any personal property on their plots or in the Garden when they are not in the Garden
• In case of extended absence or illness, ask another gardener, family member, or friend to care for your plot.
• Defacing any item or structure in the garden area or in the surrounding park is grounds for immediate dismissal from the program with no refund of rental fees. Applying paint or attaching anything permanently (using screws or nails, for example) is prohibited.
• Do not block the entry gate with equipment, debris, or vehicles.
• Gardeners agree to keep the garden & garden edges free of weeds, diseased plants, insect-infested plants and over-ripe vegetables.
• Participants shall not cause damage to the garden premises and shall not do or bring onto the premises anything which in any way conflicts with the law, ordinances, rules, or regulations; or use the premises in any manner which will damage or annoy others.
• If unnecessary damage is done to the premises by the Participant, or if any part or condition of this agreement or the rules and regulations are breached, the Town may terminate this agreement and repossess the garden bed. A written warning will be issued to the renter/s with a deadline to complete the clean-up of the bed. In the event the Participant does not meet the deadline, they will receive a Notice of Default and Termination. The Participant may enter and harvest crops he/she has planted within five days after receiving the Notice of Default and Termination. The Town of Holly Springs will then clean out the garden bed and rent the space to another gardener with no refunds.
• The Town of Holly Springs is not liable for any damage to participants’ garden and/or crops due to but not limited to the following causes: natural causes (flooding, drought, lightning, animals), vandalism, and crop theft.
• Participants should be civil and cooperative in relation to other gardeners, neighbors, volunteers and Town staff.
• Repairs that are required should be alerted to the Town by emailing Steve.McElhaney@hollyspringsnc.gov as soon as possible.