[Community_garden] Background checks on volunteers

[Mike McGrath]

Just noticed this thread (just got back from a big Earth Day event in 
Princeton; at the most amazing Whole foods I've ever seen--Disneyland for an 
organic tree-hugger like me!)
    Anyway, Adam is dead right here. Background checks for day care workers, 
sure--but gardeners? What are they going to do--molest the monarda????
                                            ---McG

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <adam36055 at aol.com>
To: <patsysavon at swbell.net>; <community_garden at list.communitygarden.org>
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 12:53 AM
Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Background checks on volunteers


> Welcome to America - land of background checks for volunteers, even in, it 
> seems, community gardens.
>
> As a parent in NYC, I kept my eyes open for the usual pedophile types when 
> raising my son, and shoo'ed off my share of drag-nasties when they hung 
> out too close to the sandbox (they tended to throw their crack vials and 
> syringes into the sand when the cops came around.)
> However, community gardens are often places where folks who are not 
> permitted to make contributions elsewhere are accepted - many of whom are 
> homeless, ex-convicts, illegal aliens, or are "of color," and don't talk 
> in the carefully middle-class tones of a Condolezza Rice.
>
> Background checks would turn discourage these folks from working in 
> community gardens, a place where many re-enter, or enter society and help 
> us all build community.
>
> Certainly, I'd keep my eyes peeled for aberrant behavior, and yes, the odd 
> sociopath might get involved in the group from time to time, I mean, 
> community gardens are no different in that extent from the US House of 
> Representatives, for example.
>
> But background checks for volunteers in community gardens would have an 
> unecessarily chilling effect on building community in neighborhoods where 
> many folks have been incarcerated ( usually poor, and of color) and using 
> community gardens to rehabilitate folks who have made mistakes in the 
> past.
>
> Best wishes,
> Adam Honigman
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: patsysavon at swbell.net
> To: community_garden at list.communitygarden.org
> Sent: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 11:01 PM
> Subject: [Community_garden] Background checks on volunteers
>
>
> There has been some discussion in our community garden as to "background 
> checks"
> for all its volunteers.  Many members have had backgrounds checks 
> performed on
> them when working with other agencies. We conduct several monthly children 
> tours
> and other community events.  We are wondering how other gardens are 
> handling
> this situation.
>
>  Thank you for your input.
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