Bylaws (Adopted 4.4.2026)

All active members of the Maple Street Community Garden must read the following guidelines and bylaws by selecting the box at the bottom of the page and clicking submit.

 ARTICLE I: MISSION

The mission of the Maple Street Community Garden is to foster community and cultivate a peaceful and joyous multi-use garden space to serve everyone - of any age, gender, race, class, ethnicity, religion, and/or immigration status.

ARTICLE II: Member and Visitor Rules

  1. MSCG is an inclusive neighborhood space. We strive to be a safe and welcoming environment for everyone who comes into the garden. Members and visitors will uphold the mission and values of the garden community at all times. We will not tolerate any behavior that threatens the physical, emotional, or social safety of our community. If someone falls short, other members shall constructively confront and help stop any hurtful or harmful language or behavior. 

  2. Garden Plots

    1. All garden beds are communally managed. The Gardening Committee designs and maintains the garden throughout the growing season. Anyone who is interested in volunteering in the garden at MSCG can be a member of the Gardening Committee. 

    2. We adhere to organic growing practices. Chemical pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers must not be used anywhere in the garden. Chemically treated wood must not be used for garden beds.

    3. Anyone may harvest sustainably per Gardening Committee guidance and signage.  Be sure to leave some for others!

  3. MSCG will be open to the public at least 20 hours per week from April 1 through October 31, as required by GreenThumb and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Garden hours and policies will be posted on the website and garden gate.

  4. Visitors are encouraged to harvest responsibly and conservatively; the garden is a communal space, and we want to have enough for everyone to share a taste.

  5. Smoking and consumption of alcohol are prohibited in the garden, per the rules set out by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.

  6. No pets are allowed in the garden.

ARTICLE III: Membership

  1. Volunteer Members are people who come to the garden and participate! 

  2. Voting Members can vote in officer elections and on issues that are brought up at General Meetings. 

    To be a voting member folks must:

  • Each year, read and sign the garden bylaws

  • Participate in garden-related work or on a committee

  • Attend 2 or more documented general or committee meetings per year.  Meetings attended in the prior year count towards renewed memberships.

  • Each year, pay a sliding scale membership fee for individuals from $0-$20. For families, it is a sliding scale* of $0-$30 and is limited to 2 votes (provided each voter satisfies the other requirement). 

*Sliding scale means pay what you can depending on your current financial situation. Offering a sliding scale comes from the Maple Street Garden’s core value of making the space accessible to everyone. If you are interested in using the sliding scale, please reach out to us at maple3garden@gmail.com.

Payments can be made online at the Maple Street Garden website or by mailing or delivering a check made out to Maple Street Community Garden to the following address: 

℅ Nancy Hoch

167 Maple Street

Brooklyn, NY 11225

  • Term

    • Memberships are annual (Jan. 1 - Dec. 31) - they expire at the end of each calendar year and must be fully renewed each succeeding year. 

  • Rights & responsibilities of voting members

    • Help make decisions about the garden by sharing ideas and voting.

    • Attend at least two meetings per year (general or committee meetings).  

  • Meetings

    • General Meetings are a place for active garden members to discuss and make decisions related to plans for the garden, potential events, community collaborations, and other issues.

    • General Meetings are held bimonthly (every other month) and are facilitated by two (2) volunteers on a rotating basis. Facilitator responsibilities include keeping meeting notes, and managing the conversation space during the meeting.

    • Committee and other meetings will be held as necessary.

  • Membership Accountability

    • Violation of the bylaws or membership requirements may result in a one-year loss of membership. After that year, the individual may rejoin if they agree to participate in a resolution process (when relevant), commit to ending the behavior that caused the violation, and recommit to the bylaws.

    • No one can be turned away from the garden during public visiting hours, including those who have had membership revoked. 


ARTICLE IV: Leadership Structure

  1. The Coordinating Committee is composed of at least three officers - two Co-Secretaries and Treasurer (or co-treasurers) - and the Coordinators of the Committees, as well as garden founders and interested residents of the block. Officers are elected to one-year terms. Only people who have been voting members of the garden for more than one complete year are eligible for election.

  • Co-Secretaries

    • The Co-Secretaries are jointly responsible for: 

      • Spearheading general and coordinating committee meeting scheduling and agendas

      • Facilitating garden governance 

      • Maintaining garden communication via MSCG email

      • Maintaining membership records

      • Managing elections

      • Acting as point person for conflict resolution processes (offering resources, scheduling conflict resolution trainings every spring, monitoring ongoing resolution processes)

      • Tracking and reminding all new members to sign the current bylaws

  • Treasurer (or Co-Treasurer)

    • The treasurer is responsible for maintaining accurate records of financial matters, and assembling and presenting updates on committee budgets at the general meeting or as requested.

    • Treasurer is responsible for filling out checks for any reimbursements or spending necessary and presenting those checks for signature to two of the current signatories.

    • Treasurer is responsible for making sure the roster of signatories is current.  When a new signatory is needed, or when one needs to step down, the Treasurer must notify the Coordinating Committee.

2. Elections

  • Term limits

  • A Co-Secretary or Treasurer can serve for two consecutive one-year terms. After serving two one-year terms and taking a break of at least one term, that person would be eligible to run for an officer position again.

  • An announcement calling for nominations should be sent out to the voting members two or more weeks in advance of the vote.

  • Nominations should be submitted to the Co-Secretaries via email or in a general meeting in advance of the vote.  Anyone can nominate someone for an officer role, and people can nominate themselves.

  • Elections shall be held at the October meeting with new officers taking office in the December meeting. In the case of resignation, or if there is a membership vote to remove an officer, interim elections can be held.

  • A vote to remove an officer may be taken in a general meeting, a special meeting, or via email.  A successful vote requires participation by two-thirds of voting members and a two-thirds majority in favor.

3. Committees
Current committees include (but aren’t limited to): Gardening, Compost, Communications, External Affairs, Fundraising, and Garden Minders. Standing committees may be formed or dissolved by discussion and approval at a General Meeting. Temporary committees can be formed and/or dissolved as needed and as approved by the Coordinating Committee.

  • Our committees each operate differently, according to what their members and coordinators collectively decide works best for them.  Without creating mandates, we encourage committee leaders to make space for new people to learn, to step up, and to lead, and to be careful not to accidentally create rigid hierarchies. Share the responsibilities.

  • Committees will meet as necessary. They will provide updates to the Coordinating Committee as requested, but at a minimum will provide updates at general meetings.

Article V: Decision-Making Process

  1. In addition to annual officer elections, the membership votes as needed on  essential garden decisions, such as project plans and policy changes.

  2. The voting process begins at General Meetings. An alternate path (such as email or online forms) for registering votes will be made available to voting members who cannot attend the meeting.  

  3. A quorum of 10 percent of voting members and 50 percent of the Coordinating Committee members must participate in order for the results to be valid.   

  4. A simple majority will decide the vote.  

  5. In the event that decisions need to be made in between general meetings, the Coordinating Committee will make time-sensitive decisions by agreement or vote if agreement can’t be reached.

  6. Results from votes will be communicated electronically to the general garden members and supporters listservs.

Article VI: Bylaws Amendments

  1. Upon request of a garden member and a majority vote, a proposed change to bylaws will be considered. The proposed change will be circulated in writing or electronic text to members and a discussion will be held at the following General Meeting.  A vote to adopt the change will be held subsequently (but always in a General Meeting).

  2. In the case of votes to change the bylaws, a quorum of 10 percent of members in good standing and 2/3 of the voting coordinating committee members must participate in order for the results to be valid.  A simple majority decides the vote.

Article VII: Conflict Management

  1. MSCG shall commit to making conflict resolution training and materials accessible to garden members. The Co-Secretaries are the point people for gardeners seeking support for interpersonal conflicts. They will be responsible for:

    1. Identifying brief and accessible resources related to direct communication and conflict resolution and sharing these resources with members annually and whenever there is a need.

    2. When the Co-Secretaries observe or learn of an interpersonal conflict, and find that the parties in conflict are not taking appropriate steps to resolve the matter, and see that the conflict has the potential of harming the garden’s operations or community, the Co-Secretaries will bring this to the attention of the parties involved, and ask them to follow the Conflict Resolution Process detailed below.

  2. How to Address Conflict in the Garden

We know that sometimes people will disagree about different decisions and paths taken in the garden. The following steps should be taken in situations where a gardener is irritated, offended, or generally experiencing an interpersonal conflict with another gardener. 

  1. Before taking any action, H.A.L.T! Ask yourself: “Am I Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired?” If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then take a break and revisit the issue at another time. 

  2. Ouch/Oops: If someone says something that hurts your feelings, and you want to address it in a less formal, lighter way, you can say ”Ouch”. That should get the person’s attention and the person can then acknowledge their mistake by saying “Oops!”  If both people feel that they have achieved an understanding with that, everyone can move on.  If more of a conversation is needed, move to the next step.

  3. Reflect and decide whether the issue is interpersonal.  If so, engage in direct communication about the conflict as soon as possible, so that small issues don’t grow into large ones. 

    1. Prepare yourself. Conflicts often become elevated when they touch on some deeper issue. Take a few minutes to consider what might be coming up for you.  Getting grounded in what matters to you can help you better understand why the conflict/incident is important to you.

    2. Find a good time for both of you to talk. Let the person know that you want to talk with them about the issue, and ask if they’re ready to talk about it then, or if not, arrange a time to discuss it in the near future.

      1. Note: if both people can’t resolve the issue together, or if one person isn’t willing to talk, reach out to the Co-Secretaries for resources.

    3. Share what matters to you. Many conflicts are rooted in misunderstandings.  Use “I” statements to explain how you perceived the situation and how it made you feel.  If appropriate, share any deeper issues the conflict may have raised for you.

    4. Assume good intentions. Give your fellow gardener the benefit of the doubt.  Remember that we are all different and come from different experiences.  Work to establish trust with each other.

    5. Enter the conversation with curiosity. Ask how your fellow gardener experienced the interaction or event, and what that person’s intent was.

    6. Be kind and compassionate. Listen actively and with empathy to your fellow gardener when they are speaking.  Acknowledge each other’s feelings.  Maintain your normal conversational volume when talking about the issue. Do not interrupt or make impatient gestures.  Take a few deep breaths or take breaks if either of you needs to.

    7. Be solutions-oriented.  Try to stay open to each other’s ideas.  Recognize that you might not necessarily be right.  Find ways to come to a resolution together.

c. Group Conflict 

Group conflict can come about in many ways. Sometimes it begins with unresolved interpersonal conflict which expands to include more people. Other times, it arises when disagreements about rules or policies surface, reflecting a lack of clarity or of mutual understanding about what is best for the whole. All forms of group-level conflict risk splitting members into factions, potentially leading to harmful gossip, mistrust, and reduced capacity for collaboration. To maintain the health and effectiveness of the garden community, the following processes may be used:

1. Seek Support from the Co-Secretaries.
 At any stage in a conflict, particularly in the early stages, gardeners are encouraged to ask the garden Co-Secretaries for support. If a conflict has escalated to the point where it is interfering with the operations of the garden and the community experience of other gardeners, the Co-Secretaries may proactively reach out to those involved to offer them conflict resolution resources to try to help reach a solution.

2. Restorative Circle
A restorative circle is a facilitated dialogue process designed to strengthen relationships, build shared understanding, and find paths forward. 

When appropriate, the Co-Secretaries or any member involved may convene a restorative circle for those directly or indirectly affected by the conflict.

The circle may be facilitated by someone skilled or trained in conflict resolution or, if needed, an external facilitator with experience in restorative practices.

The circle generally includes:

  • Opening: A statement of purpose, shared values, and ground rules.

  • Story-sharing: Each participant has uninterrupted time to speak about how they have been affected, what matters to them, and what they hope for.

  • Exploring impacts: Participants reflect on how the conflict has affected the wider community.

  • Collaborative problem-solving: The group brainstorms possible actions or commitments to move forward.

  • Closing: Participants identify next steps and affirm their willingness to uphold the agreements.

3. Policy Review and Clarification.
Some group-level conflicts arise from unclear or contested policies. In such cases, the Co-secretaries may recommend a review of the relevant policies. The review may result in clarifications, amendments, or reaffirmations of intention. Policy reviews will be brought to a General Meeting for discussion and decision-making.

4. Communication of Resolutions.
When a group-level conflict results in agreements, clarified policies, or revised practices, the outcome should be communicated to the wider membership. This communication should:

  • Be transparent, respectful, and solution-oriented.

  • Focus on what was learned and what the group has committed to going forward.

  • Avoid unnecessary disclosure of personal details, keeping the emphasis on shared commitments.

Refusal to Engage in Conflict Resolution Processes

  1. If one or more gardeners are in conflict but the conflict does not impact the operations of the garden or the wider garden community, those gardeners are encouraged to follow the above steps with the support of the Co-Secretaries, but they are not required to do so. We recognize that people process disagreement differently and although we hope people will seek support for conflicts that they cannot resolve among themselves, there is enough space in the garden for everyone even if people continue to disagree.

  2. If the conflict cannot be resolved and is impacting the wider community, it is possible the involved parties can have their membership(s) revoked.

ARTICLE VIII: Finances

  • Funds

  • All money raised, earned, won by (such as through a grant process), or allocated to MSCG shall be spent according to the decision making outlined below.

  • Bank

    1. The garden bank account is at Carver Federal Savings Bank located at 1009 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11225.

  • Access

    1. All checks written from the bank account will be signed by two authorized signatories.

    2. Authorized signatories for check signing purposes will be a member selected by the Coordinating Committee to sign checks. 

    3. No two signatories shall be of the same household.

  • Financial and purchasing decision making

    1. At the beginning of every calendar year, the treasurer solicits budget projections from each committee through the coordinating committee.  The treasurer then combines those into one annual budget, and the budget is presented and voted on at a general meeting.

    2. Expenditures not included in the annual budget above $200 must receive approval through voting.

    3. Itemized receipts must be presented to the treasurer in advance of reimbursement.

  • Fundraising decision making

    1. Any person can bring up a grant opportunity or other fundraising idea to the General Meeting and/or Coordinating Committee. Any member can participate in the grant application process but all applications are to be overseen by the Fundraising Committee or a point person from the Coordinating Committee.

    2. All spending will be in keeping with the purpose of the corresponding grant, or, if in the general fund, will be spent according to the decisions made at a General Meeting.

  • Financial record keeping and transparency

    1. The treasurer will provide a summary of the garden's financial status at every General Meeting or as requested. 

  • Compensation See compensation policy proposal.  General Voting Membership to vote on which proposal.  Draft proposal is here.