Community garden management software that replaces the spreadsheet
PlotBase puts your plot map, waitlist, applications, waivers, and gardener messaging in one place, so running the garden stops being a second job.
The problem
The spreadsheet worked, until it didn’t
Most community gardens run on the same stack: a plot spreadsheet, a waitlist in someone else’s spreadsheet, paper waivers in a folder, and a BCC list for announcements. It works at 15 plots. At 50 plots and a two-year waitlist, the coordinator is spending evenings reconciling tabs, chasing signatures, and answering “where am I on the list?” emails. And when that volunteer moves on, the garden’s entire institutional memory leaves with them.
PlotBase is management software built specifically for this job. It is not a directory or a listing service; it’s the system your garden actually runs on, and it keeps working when volunteers change.
What you get
Everything a garden coordinator manages, in one system
A real map of your garden
Lay your garden out as a grid, or draw its true shape (curved beds, circular herb gardens, odd corners) with the built-in plot map maker. Every plot shows its status at a glance: assigned, open, or expiring. Share a public, read-only map so gardeners and applicants always see the current layout.
Applications, waivers, and signatures
Build your application form once (questions, rules acknowledgment, liability waiver) and collect digital signatures with each submission. No more chasing paper or filing PDFs. Every gardener’s paperwork lives with their plot record.
A waitlist that keeps itself in order
Applicants join through your form and enter the queue automatically. When a plot opens, you offer it to the next person in line in a couple of clicks. See how the waitlist works in detail.
Messaging that reaches every gardener
Send announcements, workday reminders, and plot-specific notices from inside PlotBase. Messages go to the right gardeners without exporting addresses or maintaining a separate mailing list.
Built for handoffs
Coordinators change; the garden shouldn’t reset when they do. Because plots, people, paperwork, and history live in one system, the next volunteer picks up exactly where the last one left off.
Who it’s for
From single volunteer-run gardens to city programs
PlotBase works for a 20-plot neighborhood garden run by volunteers and for parks departments managing applications across multiple gardens. If your current process involves a spreadsheet, a shared inbox, and a lot of patience, it will feel like a straight upgrade.
Frequently asked questions
Is PlotBase a garden directory or listing service?
No. PlotBase is management software that organizers run their garden on: plot maps, waitlists, applications, and messaging. Gardens do get a shareable public page, but the product is the management system behind it.
How long does setup take?
Most gardens map their plots and open an application form in an afternoon. You can start with a simple grid layout and refine the map to your garden's real shape later.
Do gardeners need to install anything?
No. Gardeners apply and manage their plot through the web; any phone or computer browser works.
Can it handle more than one garden?
Yes. Organizers can run multiple gardens from a single account, each with its own map, waitlist, and gardeners.
Retire the spreadsheet this season
Map your plots, open applications, and let the waitlist run itself.
Start managing your garden