The Clifton Place Community Garden: The Seafood Conundrum

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Welcome to the Clifton Place Block Association Community Garden. Since 1991, the garden has been a green oasis for many in this corner of the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. As is the case with so many New York City community gardens, the Clifton Place Block Association Community Garden developed from the community's need to reclaim and transform a garbage-strewn city-owned lot into a place of beauty and an asset to all in Clinton Hill and surrounding areas.

In its years of existence, Clifton Place Garden (short) has served as a place where neighborly bonds are strengthened, the passion for gardening and nature is shared, friendships develop, and neighborhood children learn. Through its open door policy, Clifton Place Garden has endeared itself to the community. It is not uncommon to hear someone passing by compliment its beauty and express pride and appreciation for what the garden does to the surrounding area.

Going forward, Clifton Place Garden will seek to continue strengthen its ties to the surrounding neighborhoods through composting programs, children's workshops, and unique arts events. And we hope to connect, via this Web Log, to other gardening enthusiasts, and to share the excitement of our urban gardening experience here. Hopefully, this site will be a favorite place you will keep returning to, and if in the neighborhood, you will stop by to enjoy the pleasure of our small, flourishing retreat.

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Thursday, May 14, 2009

The Seafood Conundrum

Here is a New York Times article that addresses an issue we all should become more aware of. Like so many other foods, seafood has been, and continues to be, severely damaged by industrialization (chemical run-off, etc.), over-fishing, and detrimental fish-farming practices.

As a result of the sustained pressures place on the world's seafood populations, what is, and should be a reliable and healthy food source, is marred by concerns about heavy metal contamination and the extinction of many species.

Hopefully, this New York Times article and the corresponding Environmental Defense Fund data helps to inform about the current state of seafood.

New York Times
Environmental Defense Fund

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Garden Rules

5/16/05 Revised
RULES OF THE CLIFTON PLACE COMMUNITY GARDENLocated at 289-91 Grand Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11238
The purpose of the garden is to create a green space in our community that satisfy both aesthetic and planting needs of gardeners or would be gardeners in our community. It offers a venue for members of our community to participate in something civic and also to create something beautiful. It empowers them to directly affect their community.Although the rules are somewhat flexible and is based on common sense, they are:

No gardener owns a box.

A lottery system exist to distribute boxes to avoid infighting among gardeners supposedly with best box location. Individual gardener can exchange boxes with each other at their own discretion. Rotation of boxes is encouraged.

Members with seniority can request specific boxes prior to the lottery.

An annual fee of $20.00 per box is assessed for expenditure of maintaining the garden. Individual that really cannot afford to pay such amount could request exception of such fee or pay whatever they can. Everyone must pay something.

The fee does not imply in any way ownership of the assigned box.

The money from the membership will be used to buy necessary tools and construction materials for the garden.

Follow the four NO’s from Greenthumb:
A. No casitas – enclosed structures that obstruct view from outside of the garden
B. No parked vehicles or unused equipment like refrigerator, air conditioner, supermarket or laundry carts, etc.
C. No active play equipment – No slides, swings, merry-go-rounds, see-saws, or any play equipment (liability issues).
D. No animals – Goats, pigs, dogs, cats, pigeons and chicken may not be permanently kept in the garden.

In becoming a member you are given a key, you are responsible for such key and it should not to be distributed without authorization or given out freely.
The key opens the entrance gate lock, tools box, wheelbarrow and lawn mover box.

Such key is only given to active gardener with the condition that it should be returned when the individual terminates their membership.

Responsibility of the gardener is not only to their own box but in the overall maintenance and cleanliness of the garden and participation in special projects.

Box given to a gardener that is not maintained, weeded or planted within a month shall return to the garden’s overall jurisdiction, forfeiting the fee by such individual. Such box can be redistributed to an interested gardener.

Members should not take(vegetables, flowers, herbs, instruments) from others boxes without the permission of the specific gardener. Members are encouraged to be generous and share excess crops if all can not be used.

The community boxes (strawberry box and retaken boxes) are open to all gardeners.

Help fill up the water supply tanks when empty.
Help others in watering.

Help others in weeding the garden and boxes.

Help others with information about good gardening and horticulture practices.

General access to the public is Saturday mornings 8:30am to 12:30pm. The public can access the garden at other times whenever a gardener is present, but the gardener retains the right to use his/her discretion as to who is allowed entry.

Children are allowed in the garden only with supervision of gardener or their parents. Children are encouraged to participate and work a box or in the garden.

Any individual in the neighborhood can become a member, as long as he or she is interested in actively participating and planting.

Any and all plants that are illegal by law are strictly forbiden (e.g. Cannabis (marijuana), etc.). Any gardener found to be planting illegal crops in any area of the garden will be given a single warning to cease such practice and to uproot all plantings. If no action is taken by the gardener, the garden will take step to eradicate the illegal plants and reserves the right to persue additional actions against the gardener, including contacting appropriate law enforcement authorities. All gardeners are encouraged to NOT plant, or must plant in a controlled way (potted), insidious plants such as Morning Glory, Ailantus,etc..

Members are also responsible for maintaining and cleaning the sidewalk in front of the garden, including snow and garbage removal.

Report to Co-chairs or responsible representatives of the garden any issue that affects the garden or gardeners and its surroundings.

The executive committee for the garden shall be elected by general vote from the overall body of garden members. To hold an election a majority quorum (70% of the total members) must be present. At this time we have twenty boxes( ideally 20 votes).

Election of officers for the garden – positions, requirements and responsibilities.

Election of our local representatives for the future Brooklyn-Queens Land Trust.

Create activities for additional revenues for future projects.

Create committees to institute projects.

Encourage members to attend meetings and participate in events from Greenthumb and TPL (Trust for Public Land).

Chairperson will report upcoming events and meetings to the general membership.

Contact Us:
Enrique Alie
thecliftongarden@googlegroups.com
Michael McLeod Co-Chair thecliftongarden@googlegroups.com
Download this page as:
rules-of-the-garden-2005b (.doc) rules-of-the-garden-2008 (.pdf)

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Thursday, May 14, 2009

The Seafood Conundrum

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