For the garden and our community to flourish, it is absolutely essential that we all follow these rules and regulations. Thank you for your cooperation.

• Community-Minded Conduct
  1. While involved with the Wise Words Community Garden and other NOLA Green Roots Projects, members must not be associated with any other community garden.
  2. Flowers, herbs and vegetables from individual, the group vegetable and community plots may only be picked if the primary gardener/caretaker(s) gives you permission. You must ask each time you want to pick, unless otherwise agreed. If you cannot contact the gardener/caretaker, you may not pick from their garden. Leave any flowers or vegetables you have to share on the front table.
  3. You must sign-in upon entering the garden.
  4. Always make sure that fruit is ripe before picking. Please do not pick too much fruit and leave plenty for others. Let’s share the fruit of our labors.
  5. Water use is to be strictly regulated.
  6. Tools and supplies are available for all gardeners. Please be sure that you and any children you are supervising clean and return tools to the proper storage area when finished working. Tools and supplies may not be removed from the property.
  7. If other groups are interested in using the garden (school groups, community groups, block associations) they must contact a member of the Committee for approval of date and activity.
  8. Garden members are responsible for the immediate clean up of any garbage and decorations. For gatherings of 6 or more people, please contact a member of the Committee for scheduling purposes.
  9. Anyone who sets up holiday decorations is responsible for removing them no later than 1 week after the holiday.
  10. Please stay on paths.
  11. When leaving the garden, check to see if you are the last person inside. If so, please securely lock all gates and sheds.
  12. Pets are allowed in the front common area only and must be on a leash. Absolutely no dogs are to go beyond the front common area, even when on a leash. You must clean up after your dog.
  13. Only members may have keys, and no copies shall be made by anyone outside the Committee. If you need additional keys or lose your key, a Committee member will make a copy for you. A $2.00 deposit is required per key.
  14. To avoid injury, as well as damage to garden plants and property, no running is permitted in the garden.
  15. Parent/caretakers must ensure that children understand and follow all rules and regulations. Children under the age of eighteen may not be in the garden without having a parent or caretaker in the garden.
  16. Each garden member will be entitled to one vote on all garden matters.
  17. Keyholders have permission to invite up to five guests to the garden. These guests should be supervised by the Keyholder. The Keyholder will be responsible for any damages caused by his/her guests.
• Fulfilling Your Community Responsibilities
  1. Each member is required to pay annual dues. New members can join from January 1 – May 31. Membership dues pay for maintenance and operation expenses.
  2. There are 8 membership meetings per year. Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of every month between 6pm and 8pm at the Wise Words Community Garden, 724 S. Hennessey Street, New Orleans, LA 70119, (504) 251-9818. This is your opportunity to learn about garden activities, participate in key decision-making, and make your voice heard. It is the responsibility of each individual member to keep informed of the issues and concerns facing the garden. Notify a member of the committee if you cannot attend. Meeting notes will be made available online and be posted in the garden.
  3. Our garden’s ability to thrive – and succeed in carrying out our mission – depends on the active, ongoing involvement of our members. With this in mind, every member must either care for an assigned community garden space or fulfill one of the functions from the Community Activity List.
  4. Every member must serve as a Garden Attendant for at least 2 two-hour shifts of Open Hours per garden season. Open hours shifts are from 8am – 1pm on Saturdays, 8am – 12pm on Sundays and 5pm – 8pm on Thursdays. April through October.
  5. You will be assigned specific shifts at the beginning of the garden season. If you are unable to attend your open hours, please make arrangements with another garden member to cover your shift, and notify the Committee of the changes. At the beginning of your open hours session, please sweep and bag all litter from the sidewalk surrounding the garden, outside the fence. During open hours, the Garden Attendant is responsible for putting out the “Welcome to The Garden” sign, welcoming visitors, answering questions, handing out brochures, and enforcing basic garden rules. Please remain at the front of the garden, by the entrance, rather than working on your community or individual plot.
  6. All members are required to help with group garden projects on the second weekend of every month. Specific tasks include seasonal projects, construction projects, and overall maintenance and will be listed on the bulletin board. This is an opportunity to meet your fellow members, learn gardening skills, and maintain the garden for the community. These are major projects and can only be completed with the help of everyone working together. Be sure to sign in at each work weekend to ensure you receive credit for your participation. Please notify a Committee member if you cannot attend.
• Group Vegetable Garden Participation
  1. The Group Vegetable Garden is open to a limited number of gardeners each season, on a first come basis, beginning in January. Additional gardeners will be placed on a waiting list. Contact the Group Vegetable Garden Coordinator if you are interested in participating.
  2. Each member of the garden is expected to participate in helping to plan the garden. In addition, each member is expected to contribute an average of 2 hours per week during the gardening season to help plant, water, weed and harvest. If you are not able to participate fully, you may be asked to step down so that other garden members can participate.
• Enforcement of Rules and Regulations Note: This applies to both adults and children.
  1. All members are responsible for enforcing the rules and regulations. If you see any individual breaking a rule, you should speak to them and/or notify the President or Vice President of the Wise Words Community Garden Committee. Wise Words Community Garden reserves the right to revoke the membership of any member who repeatedly fails to comply with these rules and regulations. Members will receive a verbal warning upon their first offense. A written warning will be issued after the second offense. If there is a third offense, the member will be asked to return his or her key to the garden and give up their membership.

This is a community garden – please respect our neighbors and the neighborhood. Let’s work with each other to assure the continued growth of the garden, the community and ourselves.