Official KBC Comm. Garden Guidelines

This is an official (sort of legal) document, based on the guidelines from Covenant Methodist Church in High Point. Please review and post any changes/comments here. We will need to elect 3 members from our class to be the Leadership Group Members at some point. If you would like to be one of these members, please volunteer by posting here.


KNOLLWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH
330 KNOLLWOOD ST.
WINSTON-SALEM NC 27104

KNOLLWOOD COMMUNITY GARDEN GUIDELINES


I. GARDEN NAME: The name of the program will be KNOLLWOOD COMMUNITY GARDEN.

II. GARDEN ADDRESS: The Program address will 330 Knollwood St., Winston-Salem NC 27104.

III. PURPOSE: The purpose of the Garden is to start a new ministry to our community. The opportunity for this ministry is generated by the rising cost of food and unemployment, and the resulting falling amount of money people have to spend. Many people in our community are not able to maintain adequate and/or healthy diets. Our priority in this initial phase will be to help Hispanic immigrants, who have the highest rates of hunger in our county (and rates above the national average) and who are reluctant to obtain help from established agencies.

This new ministry will be facilitated by starting a community garden through which we will plant, grow, harvest and distribute food to the El Buen Pastor Church congregants in Old Town.

IV. PROGRAM FUNDING:

The Garden will be funded as follows:

A. Contributions or time commitments by each Participant;
B. Possible fundraising projects by Church groups;
C. Donations (of money, surplus home garden produce & garden supplies) from interested Church members; and
D. Donations from the community.

V. ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION: Participation in the Program is open to:

A. All members of Knollwood Baptist Church and their family members;
B. Designated representatives of sponsoring organizations; and
C. Community residents who want to participate.

All Garden Participants (if able and willing) should:
A. Complete an Application for Participation (“Application”)[1];
B. Make a contribution of time or money.
C. Abide by the Guidelines.




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VI. PROGRAM PARTICPANT: A Garden Participant (“Participant”) is defined as anyone who has completed and submitted an Application for Participation. Guests may come without completing an application, but will be asked to complete an application via email or snail mail if they plan on continuing to help (for contact purposes).

VII. PARTICPATION CATEGORIES: For purposes of this Garden, all Participants will fall into one of the following categories:

A. Church Member (“Member”) (including their families)
B. Garden Organization/Sponsor (“Sponsor”)
C. Community Resident (“Resident”)
D. Garden Beneficiary (“Beneficiary”)

VIII. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION: The Garden will be administered by a Leadership Group (“Leadership”). Leadership will consist of three (3) to five (5) Church members appointed by Church leadership. The Leadership Group will oversee and administer all aspects of the Program; and will report to the Associate Pastor. Duties and responsibilities of the Leadership Group will include:

A. Interpreting and administering the Guidelines;
B. Developing, recommending, and administering any Approved[2] changes or additions to the Guidelines;
C. Developing and administering an Approved Program Budget, dues and/or recommended contributions;
D. Approving and reporting all Program expenditures;
E. Determining the number, location, and size of Garden Plots (“Plot(s)”);
F. Appointing/approving, developing the duties and responsibilities of, and overseeing all Program Participants (i.e. Plot Manager(s) (“Managers”);
G. Developing and/or approving the formula(s), schedules, and means by which Produce[3] will be distributed;
H. Reporting Program progress and results to the Church and other interested parties; and
I. Recommending Program changes for current and/or successive years.

Decisions: On-going input regarding all aspects of the Gardening Program will be solicited and encouraged from all interested parties. The Leadership Group will consider input from all sources, discuss options, and make appropriate decisions regarding the Program. Leadership decisions require approval by a majority of the Leadership. All decisions that require input and/or Approval of Church leadership will be submitted to the Facilities Committee and to Dr. Kenneth J. Meyers.

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Leadership will report Program progress, issues, and results to stakeholders in a manner and according to a schedule developed by the Leadership and approved by the Facilities Committee and by Dr. Kenneth J. Meyers. Anyone who needs assistance regarding the Program can contact a member of the Leadership Group. Their contact information is as follows:


Leadership Group Members, Focus Area, and Contact Information:
1. Name –– Communications: phone number & email
2. Name – Scheduling: phone number & email
3. Name – Financial & Any Area: Phone number & email

IX. PLOTS:

A. The available gardening space will be divided into sections called “Plots.” Only one plot will exist on the church grounds. The other three plots will be in church members' yards.
B. Plot size will be four (4) feet wide by twelve (12) feet long.
C. Each Plot will be assigned to and managed by a Plot Manager, and the Leadership Team (with help of an experienced gardener) will tell the Plot Manager what goes in each plot.

Anyone who wants to sponsor one or more additional gardening areas can do so by notifying a member of the Leadership Group.

X. PLOT MANAGEMENT:

The management of each Plot will be assigned to and managed by a Plot Manager (“Manager”), who may or may not be a Master Gardner appointed by the Leadership Group. The duties and responsibilities of each Manager will include:

A. Management of his/her assigned Plot(s);
B. Reviewing, implementing, observing, and supporting all Program guidelines as outlined in the Guidelines;
C. Keeping the Leadership Group updated and informed; routing all requests for assistance, materials, supplies and funds back through the Leadership Group; obtaining necessary approvals; and communicating relevant information from the Group to team members;
D. Recruitment (if extra recruits are needed), appointment, and management of all volunteers needed to work on the assigned Plot(s);
E. Development of assigned Plot(s);
F. Identification of the number & spacing of crops to be planted and maintained in the assigned Plot(s);
G. Determining the planting schedule(s) and overseeing all planting activities;
H. Managing assigned budget(s) and materials; and obtaining Leadership Group approval for all expenditures that fall outside the approved budget for each Plot;
I. Determining harvest schedules; and observing and assisting with Produce distribution as determined by the Delivery Committee;

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J. Preparing and submitting reports requested by the Leadership Group, if any are needed.

Plot Managers will serve for a period of one planting & harvest season.

At the end of the caldendar year, the Leadership Committee will decide whether to disassemble the garden or to replant the following year. They will make their proposal to the Facilities Committee at this time.

One hundred percent (100%) of Produce harvested will be donated to the El Buen Pastor Church and to the El Buen Pastor Community Service Mission according to methods and schedules established by the Leadership Group (with input from Program Participants).

XIII. KBC COMMUNITY GARDEN CHANGES:

All changes in the Garden will be approved by the Leadership Group, with input from Church Leadership and other interested parties.

XIV. WATER:

The water needed to water the Garden crops will come from the garden faucet on the church office building.


[1] Applications do not have to be approved; their purpose is to develop a list of Program participants with their contact information.
[2] All Program changes, additions and/or deletions will be approved by Church leadership; i.e. the Pastor(s) or Church Board
[3] Any and all fruit, crops, flowers, etc. produced by the KBC Community Garden.