The rental terms of allotment gardens 2023

Renting a plot

A plot is rented for a one (1) year or for five (5) years in a row, an expection being Utra’s allotment gardens, in which a ten-year (10) rental contract is made. The old renters have the privilege of reserving their last year’s plot again for the next year, as long they renew the reservation before February of the year 2024 ends. The plots can be reserved starting from 15.1.2024. Reserving the plot happens through a form in our website: https://joensuu.4h.fi/viljelypalstat. Bill from the reservation will be sent to the email mentioned in the form in around 2-3 weeks after the reservation has been done. From the start of April the non-reserved plots will be free for anyone to rent without any specific note. The updated list of reserved plots can be found from the organization’s website in March.

The rental contract is personal, and giving the plot for any third parties is not allowed. The rental contracts can’t be inherited and can only be rented through the organization. The plot has to be used only for the gardening. If the gardening hobby ends during the contract’s time, the renter has to inform it to the organization by ending the contract.

Waste management

The renter of the plot is responsible for taking care of the plot and its sides (borders, trenches, lawn). The allotment gardens don’t offer a free-to-use compost spot (expect Utra), so every farmer has the responsibility to take care of the waste management of their own plots. It is allowed to build one compost spot for the farmer’s own plot, with the bottom size being 5 m² and height 1 meter at most. The compost should not cause any disturbances to other farmers. Composts made from chest freezers aren’t allowed.

At Utra’s allotment gardens there is a specifically built compost which the farmers are allowed to use. The compost is meant only for the gardening waste. The farmers are responsible to make sure the compost only has decomposing gardening waste meant for it.

Mixed waste, plastict, wooden structures and metal trash have to be taken away by the farmers to the corresponsing recycling areas away from their plots. The allotment gardens don’t include any trash bins.

Invasive specieses

The invasive specieses (plants) that don’t belong in the nature have to be pulled out with their roots to trash bags and have to be informed to the organization. You can find up-to-date information about the invasive specieses and how to remove them from www.vieraslajit.fi. The most common invasive specieses are lupine (lupinus polyphyllus), himalayan balsam (impatiens glandulifera), japanese rose (rosa rugosa f. alba) and copse snail (arianta arbustorum). The renter has to watch ut for the non-invasive, but fast-spreading plants and made sure that those don’t spread outside of the renter’s own plot.

Water points

The water points are meant only to be used for the farming happening at the plots. The farmers are asked to inform the ornanization or the city about the broken or leaking water points etc.

Washing a car at the water points is not allowed.

Structures

If wanted to, the plot can be fenced with a fence under one meters tall to prevent harm done by rabbits/hares. Putting up the fence should be considered well though and think of other ways to prevent the issue first. A rabbit can jump over the allowed fence height if it wants to. The built fence has to be lightweight and it has to be taken care of yearly. It has to be clean and straigth. The fence can’t cause harm to other farmers and the routes to the plots have to be taken into account. The grass underneath has to be kept clean and it’s not allowed to be covered in grass.

To store tools at the plots, a toolbox that’s under 1 meters in height is allowed to be set on the plot. The toolbox has to be placed so it causes no harm to the other farmers.

A greenhouse that can be taken apart in autumn can be put on the plot for the year. It is not allowed to leave any plastic structures on the plots for the winter and those have to be taken away from the plots.

Please remember to note the other farmers of the area and respect their work and property. Do not go to another farmer’s plot without their approval.

Ending the rental contract

Once the rental contract ends, the renter has to take out all the gardening boxes, compost and other structures they’ve placed in there. If there are any structures or objects left at the plot that don’t belong in there, a cleaning fee of 350 euros will be sent to the renter.

If we find out that the renter has left the plot unused or otherwise is breaking the terms of the contract, we have the right to end the rental contract. Even the longer, fixed-term contracts can be ended for a reason.

In case you have questions or anything to inform concerning the allotment gardens, contact us.

Joensuun 4H-yhdistys               joensuu@4h.fi                   phone. 040 731  9701