Below are the garden By-laws from the Southwark-Queen Village Garden in Philadelphia.

1. Membership:

• First priority will be given to residents of Queen Village:
  Delaware River to 6th Street; south side of Lombard to north side of Washington Ave.
• Applications will be processed on a first come first served basis.
• Applicants for garden plots will be accepted according to plot availability. A waiting list will be maintained for applicants for whom no plot was available.
• Each gardener must sign a copy of the Neighborhood Gardening Association/A Philadelphia Land Trust gardening agreement annually. This will normally be done at the March meeting.
• Gardeners from the previous season will have first preference and may choose either the same plot or a vacant plot if one exists.
• There is a $5.00 registration fee, payable in person at the March meeting.
• Plots for which registration fees have not been received by the April meeting will be assigned to applicants on the waiting list.
• Plots held by gardeners who have not signed the NGA gardening agreement by the April meeting will be assigned to applicants on the waiting list.
• Unless approved by the membership, no household may have more than 1 plot

2. Meetings:

• Second Monday of every month but January and February 7pm
• October thru March at a local church; warm months at the garden
• Meeting length: 1 hour
• One vote/plot
• Each gardener must attend at least 5 meetings per season to retain membership in the garden.
• The Secretary or Ass't Secretary will maintain attendance records for each meeting.

3. Election of Officers:

• Elections will be held at the March meeting;
• Officers will be elected to a two-year term;
• No officer may be serve for more than two terms consecutively;
• The officers are: Chair, Vice. Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Ass't. Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms;
• The officers and the row captains will constitute the Garden Council.

4. Row Captains:

• One volunteer per row will be appointed row captain (Ass't row captains may also be appointed.);
• Will make sure that all gardens on his/her row are kept free of weeds and debris;
• Will also make sure that the paths on both sides of the row are kept clear and weed free;
• Will notify gardeners on the row of clean-up days and other special events.

5. By-Laws Committee:

• The Vice-Chair of the garden will chair the committee;
• A quorum of 5 committee members is required to pass any by-law recommendation;
• By-Laws suggestions may be presented by any gardener at any membership meeting for consideration by the committee at its next meeting;
• Meets on the 1st Monday of the month (when required).

6. Inspection Committee:

• Consists of the Chair, the immediate past Chair, the Urban Gardening Advisor, the treasurer and two row captains;
• Checks all garden plots and aisles to make sure that they are, clean, weed and hazard free;
• Conducts the annual August inspection;
• Warns gardeners whose plots do not meet the criteria and follows up with their row captains.

7. Garden Criteria:

• Gardens must be planted no later than May 1, or they will be given to the next person on the waiting list and the plot fee returned to the original applicant;
• Each gardener is responsible for weeding and clearing his/her plot AND the paths around it;
• Each gardener is expected to spend at least 5 hours/week working on his/her plot and the surrounding area;
• Gardening activity and plant growth must be restricted to the gardener's plot;
• Each gardener is responsible for trash removal. Trash must be bagged and left at the LARGE gate for Friday morning trash pick-up. NOTE: Aluminum cans and glass bottles should be bagged separately and put out before 9am on alternate Thursdays for recycling.
• Each gardener will mulch all soil in the plot and in the paths around the plot in compliance with the NGA gardening agreement.
• Non-compliance with these rules will lead to 2 warnings and then to expulsion. You will lose your plot, and your plot fee will be returned.
• Gardens in weedy & uncared for condition by August 5 will be cleared or rototilled. They will be given to existing gardeners for fall planting only. They will be open for new gardeners in the following season.
• Growing or using illegal substances in the garden will lead to immediate expulsion with no return of the plot fee.
• Pesticide use by gardeners is regulated by the NGA gardening agreement. Violators of NGA regulations will lose their plots, and their plot fees will be returned.

8. General Rules:

• ALL gardeners will participate in garden activities and events like:
  • clean up days
  • preparation for garden judging and special events
  • Spring Fest
  • Harvest Show
• Grievances are to be brought to the Garden Council for resolution.
• No digging for worms anywhere in the garden.
• Stay out of other people's plots unless specifically invited.
• Pets brought into the garden must be restrained on a leash, and the person responsible must clean up any droppings, food, etc.
• If, for any reason (health, vacation, work pressure), you will be temporarily unable to maintain your plot, inform your row captain. If you have a substitute gardener, inform your row captain. If you need a substitute, inform your row captain or the chair. Substitute gardeners must follow the NGA garden agreement rules about mulch and pesticide use.

You MUST sign this form and return it to the assistant secretary before you can work your plot!

________________________________________
name

________________________________________
address

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phone, day phone, evening

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