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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Click one of the questions below to read the answer.

What is the big idea?
There are Gardeners without yards, and people who don't want to garden, but have land. People have shared crops and growing responsibilities since the dawn of agriculture. Today, we live in crowded cities where we don't know our neighbors. Our goal is bringing people together to create gardens by focusing on creating the relationships that will support robust gardens.
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How does it work?
Our system is designed to help create successful garden-sharing relationships. Successful gardening relationships are based on familiarity, communication, and clearly described boundaries and expectations.
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What are the specific steps?
Step 1 - Create A Profile: After you sign up for a free GrowFriend account, you create a profile by filling out a short survey designed to describe your garden sharing preferences to other GrowFriend members.

Step 2- Search The Map: Use a familiar Google Maps interface to find Gardeners or Land Holders near you. When you click on a Gardener or Land Holder icon on the map, you will see that person's Short Profile (a subset of the survey questions filled out in Step 1). To protect the privacy of our members, we don't allow non-GrowFriend members to view the real-time map. But you can check out the example map and see how it works!

Step 3 - Find A Partner: You can contact Gardeners or Land Holders directly from their Short Profile on the map. Your initial message to another GrowFriend member will consist of your Long Profile (the complete set of survey questions you filled out in Step1). The recipient can reply with their own Long Profile. Once you have exchanged Long Profiles with another member, the two of you are free to send messages to each other via our Message System.

Step 4 - Set Up A Garden: You set up meetings with the Gardeners or Land Holders you've chosen, screen potential partners, and decide whether or not you've found the right person. Then, using our what to talk about and agreement guidelines you and your partner write out and sign a garden share agreement.

Step 5 - Share & Enjoy: It's time to get growing!
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How much does it cost?
GrowFriend.Org is a free public service of Windowbox.com.
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Why is Windowbox.com doing this?
Karma. We started the business in 1997 with a somewhat naïve and optimistic view of the power and value of urban gardens. More gardens will help the planet, help our neighborhoods, and help our friends, including those we haven't met yet. We're figuring that more urban gardens will help us, somehow.
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How is food shared?
Usually the Land Holder gets between 20 and 40% of the food grown, depending on the Land Holder's contribution to the actual gardening, how costs are shared, and the needs of both parties. The sharing formula is included in the Garden Share Agreement, along with Boundaries, Expectations and a garden plan.
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What about liability & liability insurance?
Most homeowner insurance policies cover liability claims made by invited guests. Similarly, most institutions, such as houses of worship and schools, have liability coverage that covers members and volunteers working on their grounds. We advise that you contact your insurance carrier, and that you minimize actual liability by being careful and responsible.
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What is the basic code or behavior, or code of conduct?
Our relationship with you is governed by our Terms of Service. As you relate to each other, we recommend the following General Behavioral Guidelines:
- Please do not sue us or each other! Put in the time and effort required for screening and relationship building.
- Be a grown-up! Use common sense when starting or managing any relationship. Be careful, be optimistic, listen, hope, give more than you get, and see terms of service for limits to our liability.
- We recommend that you use our guidelines to create a specific written agreement that you both will sign
- Please help the guidelines keep improving by submitting suggestions and recommended edits. Send an email to help@GrowFriend.Org.
- To avoid our guidelines and advice being laden with legalistic language, please consider our guidelines to be suggestions only, and rely solely on your own good judgment in forming and managing relationships. Remember that our liability and your use of our service are governed solely by our terms and conditions.
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What happens when things go wrong?
The bottom line is the law. The Land Holder may kick the Gardener out at any time. The Gardener may stop showing up. The same way we suggest humility and respect when you go into these things, we hope you'll deploy them if your share has to end early.
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What about the plants?
We don't recommend that Gardeners dig up plants and take them with them, but we understand how they might want to do this.
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How do we avoid things going wrong?
The key is setting up the relationship well in the first place. That means
- Really getting to know your potential partner
- Not going ahead unless you're confident of the partnership
- Talking about everything that might come up
- Specifying Boundaries and Expectations and a plan for staying in touch in your Garden Share Agreement.
- Staying in touch
- Talking over any concerns or changes
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What if I feel exploited, or feel like it isn't working?
You can always quit. However, it's only a single season, so you might want to stick it out until the crops come in, just as a growth experience. It's worth a few attempts at conversation, even if only to make the "divorce" less stressful on the "children" (that is, to make the impact on the garden and the plants less severe).
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Should we mention "What to do if it doesn't work out" in our Garden Share Agreement?
Sure! Usually, things don't go wrong for those who prepare for things to go wrong. For example, a garden share agreement could say:
- In the event this doesn't work we'll try to work it out through talking
- In the event this doesn't work we'll try to move whatever can be moved
- In the event this doesn't work we agree to try not to destroy good work that's been done
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When can the Land Holder kick the Gardener out?
At any time. To avoid the bad surprise of a Gardener being asked to leave, it's good to mention a few reasons why they might have to go:
- Disruptive behavior
- Unsafe behavior
- Disrespectful behavior - towards people
- Disrespectful behavior - towards property
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What about growing Marijuana?
It is legal to grow marijuana in California, as long as you are a patient with a doctor's recommendation, or a patient's primary caregiver, or a member of a co-op or collective of patients or caregivers. Several other states have similar laws: we encourage you to learn your local laws, and to be sensitive to the special issues that may come up when Marijuana is introduced into a garden share. We insist that you join us in respecting the laws of your state, and that Gardeners only grow plants that are in the garden plan they review with their Land Holder.
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What should I worry about?
Don't worry! Just be prepared by talking through the items on our guidelines before making a commitment.
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Can I control who comes to my garden?
Yes. You should specify it in your Garden Share Agreement.
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May I limit access to my garden?
Yes. You should specify it in your Garden Share Agreement.
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What if the food is stolen before harvest?
That is one of the many risks you are taking. Food can disappear due to the actions of people, big animals, small animals, insects, diseases, weather, random seismic events, negligent vehicle operation, over-watering, etc. Gardening is risky, and the uncertainty adds to the fun.
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What if I am worried about pesticide?
Pests and weeds compete with our gardens - tactics for dealing with them must be discussed as part of your things to talk about file. There is a broad spectrum of garden chemicals and pest/weed control techniques, each with different levels of costs and environmental impact. Both optimal and acceptable chemical usage should be part of any Garden Sharing Agreement.
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Water scarcity is an issue: is all of this gardening responsible use of water?
Gardens drink a lot of water - growing food requires water. We hope you'll water responsibly, and that additional water usage will more than be offset by eliminating the high level of environmental contamination caused by the "traditional" production and transportation of foodstuffs.
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Who pays the water bill?
We recommend keeping old water bills to create a "baseline" for the purpose of determining how much extra water the garden is requiring. Our Garden Share Guidelines offer suggestions for paying for any incremental water costs. Water cost is definitely something we think you should talk about.
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Is there a guarantee - what if it doesn't work?
You are taking a chance. We can guarantee that you'll learn something.
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Who pays for what?
See our What to talk about section. In general, the Gardener pays for the plants, the Land Holder pays for improvements to her property, and they work out who will pay for whatever else is needed.
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What happens if I get ripped off?
If you mean robbed, you should go to the police. It's good to keep the information gathered during the set-up period, just in case something goes wrong and you need it later.
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How will I know what the other person wants?
You will read their profile and ask them in person.
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Can I get references on a person?
Yes. We encourage all participants to get references before going into any sort of agreement like this. If a potential partner is not eager to offer references that are relevant, that might be a sign that they are not the right partner for you.
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Can I get references on a gardening site?
Gardeners are considering a significant investment of time and effort - a full investigation is worthwhile.
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Do I have to fill out the whole survey?
Yes - answering every question helps potential partners evaluate you, and shows your willingness to follow the recommendations of our system.
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What will you do with my information? Will my info be safe?
Your information will be used to help potential partners evaluate your suitability. You will receive notifications of messages from other GrowFriend members and the occasional system message from GrowFriend. For details on such topics, see our privacy policy.
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Who will see my profile?
Only registered GrowFriend members may see Short Profiles (a subset of the survey questions you fill out). Your Long Profile (all the survey questions) will only be seen by other members you choose to show it to.
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What if I get started then don't like the person?
We hope you'll learn from the experience and stick it out - it's only a season! Also, you may end the relationship at anytime.
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Do you have a feedback or rating system?
Not yet - but we hope to add that feature in time. It's our hope that the neighborhood community aspects of the site and our encouragement of reference checking will help. Please feel free to email us with your comments and suggestions: help@GrowFriend.org.
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Can I switch partners?
You can do anything you want. We ask that you be respectful and considerate to all members at all times, and we prefer that you are respectful and considerate of all plants and all beings at all times!
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What if the other person flakes?
You are taking that risk - try to evaluate carefully while you are setting up your share. Remember that people tend to repeat past behaviors, so see what they've done!
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How much time should I expect to spend in the garden?
As a rule of thumb, most community gardens estimate that a parking spot sized plot will take about 3 hours per week during the season. Prepping and planting can take up to a full weekend or longer.
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What if I have questions?
You can ask us! Send us an email at help@GrowFriend.org.
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Are there any safety guidelines?
You are responsible for your own safety. We recommend using common sense, and suggest visiting the craigslist safety guidelines at
http://www.craigslist.org/about/safety (used without permission)

We join Craigslist in recommending that you take the same common sense precautions online as you would offline.
When meeting someone for the first time, please remember to:
- Insist on a public meeting place like a cafe
- Tell a friend or family member where you're going
- Take your cell phone along if you have one
- Consider having a friend accompany you
- Trust your instincts

Other hints for safety are available at http://getsafeonline.org & http://wiredsafety.org
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