For the safety of staff and visitors, site rentals are suspended until further notice.

Garden Bed Rental FAQs:

• Planting: The SHS garden beds are available to all renters on a rough schedule from Memorial Day to Labor Day (+/- 2 weeks). All garden beds must be cleared out by October 31st, 2021 (Halloween). You are free to plant what you like in your garden, so long as the plants do not spread outside of your allotted bed. All plants must be contained in your garden bed (exceptions can be made for vining/bushing plants such as beans/tomatoes which can be caged and grown up/out- use your best judgement). SHS reserves the right to trim back any plants growing outside of the garden beds for the purposes of lawn maintenance/garden access.

• Identification of Plots: SHS has purchased small lawn stakes to identify your plots.You may also purchase something to identify your plot as you deem appropriate. We will simply identify the plots based on the last name you submitted on your rental agreement.

• Soil: SHS is unable to provide soil this year due to financial constraints. We recommend purchasing soil through a community partner, Tilth Soil. Their prices are reasonable for the quality of soil you will get, but you are free to purchase any soil you like.

• Water Access: For those that are returning renters you may know of our outdoor hose on the back of our garage. This will continue to be the water source for this year's gardens as well. We are hoping to get our rain barrel installed soon, but for now continue to use the hose on the garage.

• Tools: We encourage you to bring your own garden tools to maintain your bed.

• Netting and pest control: Rabbits and deer love your veggies! You are free to bring and try any pest control products (except chemicals such as pesticides/herbicides like RoundUp or similar). You may use netting on stakes, so long as the stakes are within the perimeter of your garden bed. No stakes, cages, or netting are permitted outside of your garden bed. Netting is the responsibility of the renter, any fallen/broken stakes/holes in netting are the renters responsibility. SHS reserves the right to move any stakes/netting that fall/break outside of the renter's bed for purposes of lawn maintenance/access to the garden. SHS is not responsible for any netting holes/broken stakes/cages caused by weather or pests.

• SHS scheduling: SHS is working to create safe and fun programming this summer. The majority of this programming will be outside at SHS. While members will get email newsletters about the events, some events might not be public knowledge (ie, private rentals for birthdays or similar events). These might conflict with access to your garden during certain times of day. Although this is very unlikely to happen, it's worth mentioning as a possibility. We will do our best to ensure your access is as unrestricted as possible.

• COVID-19 Precautions: We encourage all garden renters to bring a mask with them when they are tending their garden. You are not required to wear a mask if you are alone/working with people in your household. You are encouraged to wear a mask if working in the garden beds at the same time as another renter. You are required to wear a mask if you are working within 6 feet of another renter or museum guest/staff/volunteer. Please use social distancing when working in the garden.

Please check back summer 2021 for this opportunity!

Don’t have a bike? Need more bikes?

The Shaker Historical Society has 8 adult-size bikes and helmets available to rent this summer! Bikes can be picked up after 11am on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Bikes must be returned by 4:30pm Wednesday-Friday. There is a $10 nonrefundable fee, which covers the first hour. Each additional hour is $10/hour for nonmembers and $7/hour for members. You will be required to sign a liability waiver, registration form, and provide your driver’s license or government issued ID for the museum to keep until you return the bikes. You will be charged $200 per bike if a bike is not returned.

Please note that you may use our bikes for free when participating in a Bike Shaker 2021 guided tour.

Rental Times

Wednesday: 11am-3:30pm Return by: 4:30pm

Thursday: 11am-3:30pm Return by: 4:30pm

Friday: 11am-3:30pm Return by: 4:30pm

Rental Rates

First hour: $10 non-refundable deposit

Each additional hour: $10/hour for non-members, $7/hour for members

★ Questions?

Email: education@shakerhistory.org

Call: 216.921.1201 or toll free 800.860.6078