GARDEN BYLAWS

A. Name and Location

The name of the garden is Bravery Farm and garden.

The garden is located at 435 Richmond Hill Rd, Staten Island NY 10314, between Venus Lane

and Richmond Hill Road. For the purposes of this document, the garden will be referred to as

"the Garden."

HOURS APRIL-OCTOBER

M-F: 5PM-7PM

SAT & SUN: 10AM-5PM

B. Mission

The purpose of the Garden is to:

Promote community engagement, environmental sustainability, and education through

gardening practices while providing a safe and green space for all members.

C. Membership- membership is free, but registration is required for anyone entering the garden

based on garden rental agreement.

C.1. Eligibility

The Garden does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender, age, sexual orientation,

physical ability, nationality, or religion.

All adults must meet the age requirement of 18 years old, and must join as individuals.

C.2. Process for Joining

A person interested in becoming a member of the Garden shall follow this procedure:

Register via online registration form

Attend a new member orientation

Fill out a membership application

Sign a copy of the bylaws

Sign a membership agreement

C.3. Meetings

The garden does have one annual meeting in mid September to late September to discuss any

changes that we would like to see. We go over what worked and what didn’t. Scheduling this

has taken place via text and email.

C.4. Process for Revoking Membership

The Garden reserves the right to deny or revoke membership to any person or people whose

behavior is deemed:

In violation of the Garden rules, bylaws, and/or GreenThumb License Agreement

In violation of city, state, and/or federal law

Disruptive to the causes of the garden

Destructive to or theft of the garden property, plants, tools, furniture, plots, and amenities

Disruptive or abusive of the peace and wellbeing of the garden, its members, and/or the public:

verbal altercations, hate speech, sexual harassment, etc.

Unauthorized duplication/distribution of the garden key or code

Unauthorized changing of the Garden lock

Revocation of membership for any of these violations occurs through this process:

One violation of the garden rules and/or bylaws is grounds for expulsion

The member is notified through these method(s): Email and mailed letter.

The member has this much time to respond: 10 days

The decision is made by Garden Coordinator

D. Garden Governance

D.1. Garden Leadership

The Garden is governed by:

● One Garden Coordinator (Lease Holder)

-with support of Garden Leadership.

The Garden Leadership above is selected through (check all that apply):

● Any member in good standing can nominate themself or another member in good

standing

● A minimum of 3 members must participate in the vote

● Members may vote via email or proxy (a signed statement authorizing someone at the

meeting to vote on behalf of a member who can’t make the meeting)

● Nominees must have completed all required registration, and been present for a

minimum of 40 documented hours in the garden during open season.

For the purposes of this document, the garden’s governing body or person is referred to as

“Garden Leadership.”

D.2. Meetings of the Garden Leadership

Garden Leadership, as described in section D.1, can meet outside of

regular/membership/general meetings.

The Garden’s Leadership meetings are organized as follows:

● Meetings occur as needed.

● Any member in good standing can attend and observe a Garden Leadership meeting

● A minimum number of members of the Garden Leadership are required if there is going

to be a vote of any kind: 3

● Announcements about upcoming meetings are shared:

○ At the previous meeting

○ On the garden’s email list

○ Over the phone/ text announcements

● Notes from the meetings are shared:

○ On the garden’s email list

○ On the garden’s website

F. Conflicts and Disputes

Disagreements are inevitable. The Garden handles conflicts and disputes as follows:

● Consult the garden rules and bylaws for an answer, and ensure that the subject of the

dispute does not break any city, state, or federal laws.

● Conflicting parties must resolve the conflict amongst themselves

● If a garden member or volunteer accuses another member of misconduct, they should

have proof in the form of another witness, photos, video, etc. Should they not have

proof, the Garden Leadership will maintain a record of the incident(s).

● If conflicting parties cannot resolve the conflict, the disagreement must be brought to the

attention of the Garden Leadership. The Garden Leadership will work to resolve the

conflict and will maintain a record of the incident(s).

● If the conflicting parties cannot resolve the conflict, the disagreement must be brought to

a free mediation service.

● If the conflicting parties cannot resolve the conflict, the disagreement must be brought to

a special committee within the garden or the garden’s network that is specifically

designated to handle conflict.

H. Amending the Bylaws

Garden members may propose changes to the bylaws as follows (check all that apply):

● Once per year at an annual meeting

● At any membership meeting

● To the Garden Leadership

● To a special bylaws or arbitration committee

● Over email to the garden membership

Changes to the bylaws will be announced to the garden membership:

● Over email

● In the meeting notes

● On the garden fence/bulletin board

● At the next general/membership meeting

● A new copy of the bylaws will be distributed to all members

I. Garden Rules

1. Upon arrival, sign in is required to track member hours and member presence. Sign-in

book is found in mailbox attached to garden gate.

2. Harvesting

Harvesting is allowed if approved by Garden Coordinator/Garden Leadership.

Harvesting without permission can lead to termination. Want to harvest? Please

contact Garden Coordinator at 206-949-2296 or email at

braveryfarmandgarden@gmail.com.

3. Water Usage

○ Watering is strictly the responsibility of Garden Leadership. Any water spigot is

not to be accessed by any member unless instructed otherwise by Garden

Leadership. See something that needs to be addressed with water? Please

contact Garden Coordinator.

4. Pesticides and Herbicides

○ Chemicals are strictly prohibited in the garden space. No dumping or spraying of

any chemical is permitted by any member.

5. Community Area Usage

○ Keep common areas such as paths, fences, and communal spaces clear of

debris, weeds, and personal belongings.

○ If you see something in a shared area that needs attention (e.g., trash, broken

equipment), please address it or notify garden leadership.

6. Tools and Equipment

○ Shared tools must be cleaned and returned after use. If a tool breaks, please

report it to the garden leadership immediately.

○ Personal tools are not to be left on-site. Items must go home with you.

○ If borrowing a communal tool, please ensure it is returned to the proper storage

area after use.

7. Garden Hours

○ The garden is open Mon-Fri, 5pm-7pm/ Sat & Sun 2pm-7pm. These days and

hours apply April 1-October 31.

8. Pets, music, parking, smoking etc...

○ Pets belonging to members are not permitted on farm property.

○ Do not touch, chase or interact with wildlife.

○ Loud music is not permitted on farm property.

○ Parking is to ONLY be in designated parking lot. There is to be NO parking

beyond parking lot unless approved by Garden Coordinator.

○ A strict speed limit of 5mph is to be maintained AT ALL TIMES while on farm

property.

○ Unregistered friends & family are not permitted on property without permission

from Garden Leadership.

○ SMOKING IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED ON FARM PROPERTY. AT NO TIME IS

THE USE OF AN OPEN FLAME ALLOWED ON FARM PROPERTY.

○ Ticks, mosquitoes and other insects are a natural aspect of being on the

farm property. By entering the property you are agreeing to understanding

the risk involved with being around insects. PLEASE WEAR BUG SPRAY

AND CHECK FOR TICKS OFTEN.

○ Please stay in Bravery Farm and Garden area unless instructed by garden

leadership.

○ At no time is it permitted to enter wooded area.

9. CHICKENS:

Chickens are the sole responsibility of Garden Coordinator and assigned leadership. At

no time is it permitted for unassigned garden members to enter the chicken coop without

expressed permission from Garden Coordinator or leadership.

If you see something that requires attention, please contact Garden Coordinator.

Eggs can be purchased from Garden Coordinator at $5 a dozen.

*Egg availability subject to change based on current stock.

10. Waste Disposal

WHEN POSSIBLE, PACK IT IN-PACK IT OUT!

Garden garbage can must be used for anything that is not being packed back out with

members.

11. Respect for the Environment

○ Do not dump non-organic waste (plastic, metal, etc.) on property. Fines can and

will be enforced for illegal dumping of any kind.

○ If you're unsure whether something is appropriate to dispose of in garden trash

receptacle, ask the garden leadership via phone or email.

12. Community Events and Work Parties

○ All members are encouraged to attend scheduled work parties or garden

clean-up events to help maintain the community space.

○ Gardeners should actively participate in meetings and decision-making

processes that affect the garden’s policies and operations.

13. Safety and Security

○ Garden entrances and storage must remain closed and latched once gardeners

have left the garden.

○ In case of garden emergency, contact Grace Selogy, Garden Coordinator.

○ For any health or safety emergency, contact 911.

○ Follow basic safety protocols, especially when handling tools or operating garden

equipment. Basic safety procedures are available in garden handbook in check in

box.

○ Please use caution in severe weather conditions. The farm is exposed to the

elements and can be a harsh environment. Stay away from trees in windy

conditions and/or lightning. Please close up and leave the farm should a storm

roll through.

○ Do not allow the general public into the garden without permission.

○ Produce is not sold. Please do not sell or give any garden items to individuals

who are not permitted.

SHOULD YOU WITNESS AN ACCIDENT ON FARM PROPERTY:

PLEASE CALL GARDEN MANAGER AND USE INCIDENT REPORT

FORM FOUND ON BRAVERY FARM AND GARDEN WEBSITE. ALWAYS

CALL 911 IF MEDICAL ATTENTION IS NEEDED!

GARDEN MANAGER:

GRACE SELOGY

206-949-2296

WEBSITE:

BRAVERYFARMANDGARDEN.COM

INCIDENT REPORT FOUND UNDER “CONTACT US”