Although everyone can work in the garden as avolunteer, becoming a member is one of the best ways you can support 6BC Garden.
6BC members have special responsibilities as stewards of this urban greenspace.
How do I join? Once you decide to become a 6BC Member:
Attend an orientation workday (dates also posted on the 6BC Calendar and Facebook).
PLEASE NOTE: Orientations consist of a workday, followed by the orientation. Keys will be distributed at the end of the orientation session, so please choose a date when you can stay for the entire – 2-2½ hour workday/orientation. Please wear comfortable work clothes, and, just this once, leave small children and pets at home. Keys may not be copied for or loaned to non-members. Members who do so will not be allowed to rejoin the garden. If you lose your key, please contact us and we will provide you with another.
Membership in 6BC is a year-around commitment. As each season has its own tasks, you will be asked to help out year round. Responsibilities include:
Signing up fortwo open hours sessions during the season, which runs from April through October. Open hours are weekends, 12 noon to 6:00 p.m. (Each weekend day is split into two, three-hour sessions: 12 noon-3:00 pm, and 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.) This is your most important responsibility. During your open hours, you must keep an active awareness of the garden, make sure people and pets stay out of the plots, children are supervised and pets are leashed, and that the garden is a safe, quiet environment for all guests.
Attending at least one workday/meetings during the season (April - October). Workdays will be monthly and posted on the events calendar. You will also be notified by email.
Participating in additional garden activity throughout the year, such as helping out at events, participating on a committee, sweeping the paths or keeping the sidewalk in front of the garden clean, etc.
Paying annual dues/key fee ($25). (Membership fee may be waived for financial need.)
No prior experience is necessary - we all learn together. Help us keep the garden flourishing by learning and doing. Tasks include soil testing, planting, brickwork, carpentry, weeding, watering, sweeping, painting, pond maintenance, bird feeding, pest control. composting, maintaining the plots and keeping our garden beautiful. guidelines.
Do all members have to garden? Are there other ways I can help as a member? There are lots of ways to contribute that don't involve digging in the dirt. You can help out by planning or assisting with garden events and workshops, social media and community outreach, bird and fish feeding, plant, insect and bird identification, sweeping, signing up for extra open hours, or hosting or creating events.
Member benefits:
Personal access to the garden. Once you have completed your membership workday and orientation, you will receive garden keys so that you can visit and work in the garden on your own schedule.
Learn about gardening
Meet your neighbors
Give back to your community
Have the opportunity to maintain garden plots
Access to members-only events (such as workshops, garden and nursery tours, etc.)
Several of our plots are open for stewardship. For those of you who commit to maintaining garden plots, you must follow the general “best practices”
6BC Garden reserves the right to deny or revoke membership to any person whose behavior is deemed malicious, deceptive, or disruptive, or in violation of 6BC membership rules, or New York City, State, or federal laws.
A garden cannot maintain itself. It is only as beautiful as its members make it. So we hope you will all actively participate year round to give our garden the love it needs and make this the best year ever!