About
Local Residents, Community Organizers and a small group of members from A Small Green Patch have joined together to organize and set up a community green space at 1187 Fulton street. A Small Green Patch reached out to Sister Maajeida after connecting with her through 596 Acres. Sister Maajeida works and lives near 1187 Fulton and has setup an initial meeting in front of the vacant lot where 15 residents from the area attended and expressed interest in converting the lot into a community space. A Small Green Patch is a garden that needs to be relocated because a new building will be built on the lot they have occupied for the past 2 1/2 years. A Small Green Patch is asking Community Board 3, Green Thumb, NYC Parks and HPD to allow us to move and transfer our Green Thumb License to 1187 Fulton Street. Our members would like to work with the surrounding community to create a community space that would be open to everyone interested.
If A Small Green Patch is granted permission to move to the new location our members would work with Sister Maajeida and the group she has gathered to set up a new process for decision making, set up and build a new garden based upon the ideas and needs of the surrounding community. A Small Green Patch would be able to help jump start the set up process by providing examples of a working members agreement, bylaws, experience, materials, tools and more.
A Small Green Patch would also work with the community towards renaming the garden to a name everyone votes on and the garden contact that is the liason between Green Thumb and the garden would be given to a community member that lives closer to 1187 based on what the group decides.
Transferring the green thumb license to 1187 Fulton would mean swift access to the space, as opposed to applying to Green Thumb as a new garden, and offers the possibility of permanent green space at this location if the relocation contract is fulfilled as was offered at a lot inside the ½ mile parameters. Also, we can offer many tools, soil, garden beds, benches, and small trees and bushes that have been a part of our garden at Bergen street. We have experience in setting up a new garden through HPD and Green Thumb, and would like to offer to assist Majeeda and other interested members in navigating the necessary city agencies.
The garden at its current location is a vibrant community made up of both community organizations and individual members.
- St. Lydia’s is a dinner church that holds a weekly service over a meal prepared from food grown in the garden; they have a weekly practice of welcoming anyone and everyone to their table.
- The Textile Arts Center grows plants that yield natural dye, supports artists-in-residence and interns at the space, and holds natural dye workshops on site.
- Feedback Farms is a working urban farm. They are developing appropriate technology and conducting research on best practices for urban agriculture and sharing this knowledge through community engagement and educational programs.
- Our beekeeper, Kellen, her Queen Bee Beyonce, and her hive have provided the lots not only with pollination, but also with a useful teaching tool for kids and adults alike.
- Our individual members have spearheaded potlucks and acoustic musical performances, members work together to tend to the bushes, flowers, grow organic vegetables in shared garden plots, and we have an active composting program.
Together, these groups and individuals produced over 2000 lbs of vegetables, started a community composting operation, held 20-30 hours of open hours on a weekly basis over the Green Thumb season, worked with a huge number of volunteers, raised funds, planted a beautiful perennial flower garden, hosted the NYRP's one million tree giveaway and numerous other art, music, and environmental education events.
If all these groups had not all worked together at the beginning, the garden as it was able to exist for the past two years and might not ever have been created.
This is a rare opportunity to create a possible permanent green space building off A Small Green Patch’s first two seasons as an energetic, multiuse and open green space, as any new garden is usually set up as a temporary space. We hope that the Board will consider recommending that A Small Green Patch’s relocation agreement be applied to Block 2000 Lot 43 at 1187 Fulton Street, so that with agreement from HPD and Green Thumb we can secure a permanent garden in your neighborhood.
Ideas and Bylaws
| ideas | ground rules / bylaws |
| teach kids how to grow food | bring trash in bring it out |
| art invite | Golden Rule - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you |
| public school classes | no graffitti |
| worm farm | respect difference |
| composting | keys for members |
| seating | shared workload |
| Flowers and shrubs | leadership |
| bistro tables with mosaics | Have a donation box towards water, snacks and fruit at least |
| horticulture classes for kids | all groups pu in at least $3 or $5 per week |
| play space for kids i.e. sand box (which requires some repsonsibility from user, such as covering w/ tarp when not in use | mandatory participation for planting privelages |
| deal with rodent concerns. the block has a rat problem, so we need to keep an eye out for burrows, minimize food sources, etc.. | respect peoples work |
| bushes / small garden that attracts butterflies | consensus decision making |
| mosaic w/ found tile | take a commonsense approach to running things - i.e. be respectful |
| patio w/ large checker / chess board | respect people and there ideas |
| community dinners | share skills and teach |
| neighborhood history exhibition | patience |
| herbs and veggie gardens | a good layout plan |
| seating area with benches, charis | agree to disagree |
| one area with gravel or dirt like bryant park | keep all informed |
| a bush or two | special events |
| ornamental pond | respect others space |
| performance space / meeting space / meditation space | participate constructively no destructively |
| floral/herb/veggies on hanging baskets on fence | open to all patrons |
| nutrition classes | open to all patrons |
| composting | |
| climbing plants | |
| picnic space | |
| wall in back wilidflowers, sunflowers, vines on back fence | |
| shady areas for sitting outside on hot days |
Example Member Agreements
Individual Member Agreement Example:
A Small Green Patch - Agreement and Responsibility - please read, print and sign this document and deliver to garden contact.
I, _____________________, and acknowledge that the approved space within the Green Thumb Garden - A Small Green Patch is our responsibility and that we are growing whatever vegetables, herbs and/or flowers that are not deemed as invasive or illegal by the City of New York.
As a member I also agree to host at least 3-5 hours per month of public open hours from May 2012 - October 2012 which will allow me to own a set of keys to the space. I also agree to follow all bylaws set up by A Small Green Patch and Green Thumb.
I agree to not making copies of the keys to the space to also follow the bylaws and procedure set up by the steering committee. I also understand that the steering committee recommends that when I utilize the space that I have at least one other person with me for my own personal safety.
Members will utilize, help tend to the garden and cultivate at their own risk. Members agree no claim can be made against the City of New York, Green Thumb, HPD, A Small Green Patch member organizations or any other group associated with A Small Green Patch and we expressly waive all of our rights to assert any claim whatsoever against any of the parties involved of such entities. Members must put in a request to the steering committee one week in advance if they wish to host an event in the space.
I agree to pay $20 (sliding scale) to receive keys to the community space/garden and I also agree to donate $3 - $5 (if you are able to) as a member organization any time I utilize the lots and for the above mentioned rights and responsibilities. This fee will be deposited by A Small Green Patch and used for overall common garden expenses such as tickets incurred and common improvements and parties.
As a signatory of this agreement each member has the right to participate with the setup, building and utilizing A Small Green Patch.
This agreement may be renewed annually at the discretion of the a Small Green Patch steering committee.
Member Name: ___________________________________ (signature)
Member Name: ___________________________________ (print)
Date: ___________________________________
Group Member Agreement Example:
A Small Green Patch - Agreement and Responsibility - please read, print and sign this document and deliver to garden contact.
We, as the group _____________________, recognize and acknowledge that the approved space within the Green Thumb Garden - A Small Green Patch is our responsibility and that we are growing whatever vegetables, herbs and/or flowers that are not deemed as invasive or illegal by the City of New York. We as a group agree to follow all garden bylaws as well as the rules outlined in the Green Thumb Garden license - We realize that neither Green Thumb or any other groups make any warranties about the fertility, suitability or fitness of my garden plot.
We as a member organization also agree to host at least 1 day workshop/event per season and 5 hours posted per week for the entire season from April - October.
Organizations will plant and cultivate at their own risk. Organizations agree no claim can be made against the City of New York, Green Thumb, HPD, A Small Green Patch member organizations or any other group associated with A Small Green Patch and we expressly waive all of our rights to assert any claim whatsoever against any of the parties involved of such entities.
We agree to pay a $200 fee annually as a member organization for the above mentioned rights and responsibilities. This fee will be deposited by A Small Green Patch and used for overall common garden expenses such as tickets incurred and common improvements
As a signatory of this agreement, the organization is entitled to one seat on the steering committee of A Small Green Patch. The A Small Green Patch steering committee is a consensus based decision making body that is empowered to make decisions about garden projects and policy and allocation of A Small Green Patch funds.
As a member of the A Small Green Patch steering committee, signatory organizations assume liability for fines, tickets and assessments against the garden.
This agreement may be renewed annually at the discretion of the a Small Green Patch steering committee.
Group Name: ___________________________________
Group Officer: ___________________________________ (print)
Group Officer:___________________________________ (signature)
Date: ___________________________________
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