MEMBERSHIP RULES

As a member of 6BC garden, you have special responsibilities as a steward of this community green space. Your most important responsibility is to act as the garden's steward during scheduled open hours by signing up to open the garden 3 times from April through October. Open hours are: weekends, 12 Noon – 6 pm, weekdays, 6 pm – dusk.
(Each weekend day is split into two sessions of three hours each.)

You may sign up for your days on the VolunteerSpot calendar. You will be sent this link after your orientation. If you loose it, just contact us.
All members must attend a workday/orientation annually!

OPEN HOUR RULES - IMPORTANT!

                                                                                               SUPER IMPORTANT!!!! 
The garden must NEVER be left unattended – not even for 2 minutes! It takes only a few seconds for a child or pet to fall into a pond or trip on a path. If you must leave the garden and there is no other member present, you must close the garden!
                                                                                                                  AND

The gate must be open whenever a member is in the garden, even if it is not open hours, unless you are in the garden after dark and feel threatened. This is a GreenThumb rule and must be honored.
  • Keep a watchful eye on children and animals, especially around the fish pond and the small pond near the grotto.  Do not let people lean over the fishpond.  The pond is 3 1/2 feet deep at its deepest point. We don’t want anyone to fall in and get hurt. Children, dogs, sunglasses, cellphones and cameras are all the worse for wear from their exposure to pond water.
  • Before closing the garden, check to make sure everyone has left. Especially check the gazebo, the grotto, the  bench and tables in the back of the garden, and the library.  Please make sure the library windows are closed and the door locked.
  • People and dogs must stay on the paths. Pets must be leashed, and are not allowed to do their business in the garden. Please do not feel shy about asking parents to keep an eye on their children, or pets. It's for their own safety. If you see a pet doing their business, please - courteously - point it out to the owner and let them know the garden policy.  
  • Visitors may not pick flowers, leaves, or herbs, or feed the fish.  
  •  Alcohol, cigarettes, drugs and loud music are not allowed, as the garden is under Parks Department rules, so.  Nor is cooking or fire of any kind.
  • No major changes to plots or plants (such as moving a plant, pruning, or the like) are allowed without prior approval from a board member. When in any doubt at all, please ask!   
  • Be sure to ask the member stewarding a particular plot before you weed or cultivate a plot. The removal of certain weeds is permitted in any plot. Please see the weeds section of the website for pictures. If you are unsure if the plant in queston is a weed or something else, contact a board member of the plot steward for guidance. If you are unsure who the plot steward is, ask a board member. Board members can be contacted at contact@6bcgarden.org.
  • Watering other people's plots is always allowed, and encouraged. We use the rain barrels in the compost area to hand water, and the hydrant across the street to hose water. Here is a video on how to use the hydrant.
Stay cool! Very occasionally, “situations” arise in the garden. Do not be confrontational.  If you feel threatened for any reason, do not hesitate, call 911!  Safety first!  Simply tell guests that you are closing the garden, and get people out if you can. Do not feel uncomfortable about locking anyone in who refuses to leave. Let the police handle them. STAY SAFE! Please contact a board member as soon as possible after you call the police, or if there is any situation that occurred that you felt uncomfortable about, and report it. Thanks for all you do!

While You're IN THE GARDEN

It's tempting to spend your open hours just relaxing, but this doesn't keep the garden beautiful or safe. Please stay aware of what is occurring in the garden on your watch. We don’t ask that you spend your entire open hours working, but the tasks below are essential to the upkeep and enjoyment of the garden. Please help out.

  • Sweep the sidewalk in front of the garden. Clear litter from the tree pits fronting the garden.
  • Pick up trash in the garden. There are small plastic bags by the tool shed lockers for this purpose. Please take the trash out with you when you leave and deposit it in the public garbage at the corner.
  • Sweep the garden paths, including around the tables and in the grotto. Remove any loose bricks and put them by the tool shed.
  • Water any plot that looks dry. If you don't water from the hydrant, hand water from the rain barrels by the compost or from the fishpond. If you do use the hydrant, please replace the hose and hydrant tools where you found them.
  • Clean the benches and tables. Spray cleaner and paper towels are in the tool shed.
  • Weed. All plants more than 3/4 inch tall between the bricks on the path can be removed. Except mosses. Pictures of common weeds are posted here.
  • Keep the ivy on the outside fence neatly trimmed.
  • Kill snails, anywhere, any time.
  • Turn compost. There are shovels and pitchforks in the toolshed.
Whether you are an experienced gardener or a complete beginner, you will have plenty of opportunity to 'get your hands dirty.' All members are encouraged to weed and clean paths  and to take part in planting and maintenance sessions organized by other members. We encourage members to expand their skills by working with our more expert members as well as by completing local courses in pruning, composting, garden design and the like.                            

                                       Thank you for joining 6BC and helping to maintain this lovely space. Welcome!