Growing a respectful, welcoming and inclusive community
Joy of the Earth Community Garden (JOTE) is a shared community space where everyone should feel safe, respected and welcome.
Our Code of Conduct sets out the behaviours we expect from members and helps us maintain the friendly, inclusive and supportive community that makes JOTE such a special place.
💚 RESPECT & INCLUSION
Everyone has a place at JOTE.
💚 Treat everyone with respect — Be courteous, considerate and respectful towards fellow members, visitors, volunteers and community partners.
🌈 Welcome everyone — Help create an environment where people of different ages, backgrounds, cultures and abilities feel safe and included.
🤗 Be tolerant and understanding — We are a diverse community. Different perspectives, experiences and ways of doing things should be approached with patience and respect.
🌻 Support one another — Share knowledge, lend a hand when you can and help new members feel welcome.
🤝 Respect individual rights — Be mindful of the rights, dignity and cultural backgrounds of others.
🗣️ HOW WE COMMUNICATE
Good communication helps our garden community grow.
💬 Speak respectfully — Communicate with others in a courteous, calm and respectful way.
👂 Listen to one another — Give others the opportunity to express their views and be willing to listen to different perspectives.
🌱 Be constructive — If you have a concern, focus on the issue and work towards a positive solution.
🚫 No aggressive communication — Raised voices, aggressive, intimidating, threatening or abusive behaviour are not acceptable at JOTE.
🌿 Avoid gossip and criticism — Concerns about another member should be addressed appropriately rather than through gossip or criticism.
🤝 Seek help when needed — If an issue cannot be resolved respectfully, contact the JOTE Committee for assistance.
🤝 WORKING TOGETHER
JOTE thrives when everyone contributes.
🌱 Be part of the community — Participate in JOTE activities and help care for our shared garden where you can.
🧤 Join Garden & Gather — Garden & Gather sessions bring members together to maintain shared areas, complete seasonal jobs and enjoy time together.
💡 Share your skills — Everyone brings different knowledge and experience. Members are encouraged to learn from and support one another.
🙌 Lend a hand — Small contributions from many people make a big difference to our garden.
🌻 Work cooperatively — Remember that JOTE is a shared community space and decisions should support the garden and wider membership.
🌱 RESPECTING OUR SHARED SPACE
Please treat JOTE as you would your own garden — with care.
🪴 Respect garden beds — Don’t enter, harvest from or interfere with another member’s individual garden bed without permission.
🛠️ Look after shared equipment — Use tools responsibly, clean them after use and return them to their proper place.
💧 Use resources responsibly — Be mindful of water use and follow JOTE’s sustainable gardening practices.
🧹 Leave things tidy — Help keep shared spaces, paths and facilities clean and safe.
🌿 Care for our environment — Support JOTE’s organic and environmentally responsible gardening principles.
🛡️ SAFE & APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR
Everyone has a role in keeping JOTE safe.
🚭 Smoke and drug free — Smoking and illicit drug use are not permitted at JOTE.
🍺 Attend responsibly — Members must not attend the garden while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.
⚠️ Act safely — Use tools, equipment and garden facilities responsibly and report hazards or damaged equipment.
👧 Supervise children — Children visiting JOTE must be appropriately supervised.
🐕 Supervise animals — Animals brought into the garden must also be appropriately supervised.
🚫 Threatening or abusive behaviour is not acceptable — Everyone has the right to feel safe while at JOTE.
💬 MANAGING CONCERNS
Sometimes differences of opinion happen — what matters is how we handle them.
💬 Start with respectful communication — Where appropriate, calmly discuss the issue with the person involved.
🤝 Focus on solutions — Approach disagreements constructively and with the aim of resolving the issue.
🌱 Keep matters respectful — Avoid gossip, personal criticism, intimidation or escalating disagreements.
👥 Contact the Committee — If a concern cannot be resolved, ask the JOTE Committee for assistance.
📩 Need to raise a concern? Contact the JOTE Committee through our Contact Us page.
📋 MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES
By being part of JOTE, members share responsibility for looking after our garden and our community.
🌻 Follow JOTE’s rules — Members are expected to comply with the Code of Conduct, Garden Rules and other JOTE policies and procedures.
🤝 Respect others — Treat members, volunteers, visitors and community partners appropriately.
🌱 Care for the garden — Look after your own garden bed, where applicable, and help care for shared spaces.
🧤 Participate — Contribute to Garden & Gather sessions and other shared garden activities where required.
🔐 Protect JOTE — Respect garden security, facilities, equipment and member access arrangements.
💚 Be part of the community — Help us maintain the welcoming, inclusive and cooperative culture that JOTE is built upon.
🌻 Grow • Connect • Belong
A great community garden grows more than plants.
By treating one another — and our shared garden — with kindness, respect and care, we can make JOTE a place where everyone feels welcome. 💚
🌱 Garden Rules | 💬 Frequently Asked Questions | 🌻 Membership | 📍 Contact Us
