About Membership

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About Membership

About Membership

Yes. The majority of our members come from the broader local community who support the spirit of our garden

Previous gardening experience is not required. There is ongoing support for learning to all members, especially those who are new
We will gladly share our hand tools or you may bring your own

Clarity of vision and mission
Biodynamic principles and methods in order to increase soil fertility and food quality
Associative Economic principles and our Harvest Sharing guidelines
Professional management and organization
Community ownership and engagement
A cultivated social dynamic arising out of our shared garden activity
It is the love and striving towards the above that matters

(Note: Lots more info is available)

The garden needs regular, timely attention, and at times larger group efforts (called “Frolics”)
A contribution of approximately 3 hours per week – on average - is suggested to make your membership worthwhile in way of veggie return. Many members contribute much more time and some less. The garden scope is planned around the collective commitment (not individual plots) of all the members, compiled from the Membership survey information which you will submit with your Membership Application
Membership options are available to members with special circumstances – see our Pricing document

Within the scope, we anticipate holidays, illness and unforeseen circumstances but we need to know of changes in your ability to meet your expressed commitment

Our budgeting and accounting process is transparent and a complete budget and accounts are available to each applicant or member upon request.
Fees pay for expenses and administration of the garden activities, including seeds, compost, and outside contracted services. For example, our paid Garden Focilizer and Stabilizer oversee activities, methods and general administration activities.
The membership price is set according to Associative Economic (AE) principles and methods. Information about AE and this year’s pricing meeting is available. All profits are gifted to the TWS children’s gardening education program.

Members must respect the needs of the garden and our social organism and agree to cooperate and take direction from the Focilizer and the Garden Leads.
Members are welcome to work alone, in families, or in a group. We encourage members to join in the many group “Frolics”
It is important for members to learn about our organization and methods during orientation, other experienced gardeners, and from our current documents and agreements.
Attending our garden meetings during our famous monthly Potluck dinners and scheduled garden “walk-abouts” is a great place to ask question and to learn the basics. It is also a good opportunity for information exchange, to meet each other face to face, and have fun together in the larger group.
Members are responsible for their own safety and insurance as per the signup application and waiver. The CCG, its members and administration assume no liability for the other members and does not carry collective liability insurance or funds.
Members are required to fill out an application form with their personal contact information, proof of home insurance (a requirement of our Land-owners, TWS), and member profile. Email addresses will not be disseminated without your prior permission.

The garden is based upon a collective plot rather than individual plots.
Yields from the garden will be shared proportionally according to your contributions which you chart as the season unfolds. For more information, see our Harvest Sharing guideline document
We aim to share any excess harvest. For example, this may include Hesperus Fellowship Community and the food bank (FoodShare Toronto).

Note: Given the nature of gardening, we cannot predict the yield of the garden. Yield will depend on many factors including

Our Land is leased under contract with the Toronto Waldorf School in exchange for $1 per year for 2010. The Garden is entirely self-funded and managed independently of the school

A team lead by a Focalizer and Stabilizer manage the garden. An overview of garden roles are as follows:

The Focalizer is responsible for instilling gardening expertise and methods, as well as overseeing the overall priorities and overall health of the garden
The Stabilizer is responsible for the administration, overall economics, contracts, the organization, policies and infrastructure
Experienced garden members provide orientation and training to support new garden members
Garden Leads are experienced CCG gardeners who oversee a specific crop or garden aspect.
Leads communicate tasks to be done via the Leads Board posted on the Shed.
The Equalizer is responsible for helping the membership hold and resolve conflicts and helping sort out rights issues, if necessary
Promotions and Sign-up team provides information and awareness to the public of what are the various aspects and benefits of CCG Garden are and recruit new members
The Social Coordinator and Education Coordinator organize potlucks, social events, workshops, field trips, canning and preserving sessions, etc
The “Star Keepers” hold and ensure the vision and mission of the garden from year to year but assume no operations, financial accountability or responsibility for the garden
Other external contracted services may include farm experts as required and web-site management