Woodbine is a volunteer-run “experimental hub” that has been operating in Ridgewood for the last ten years. Since 2014 our stated goals have been “developing the practices, skills, and tools needed to build autonomy.” We have published two book-length issues of our print journal The Reservoir, and there are a number of lengthy articles and interviews about Woodbine’s history and strategic thinking in the Writings section of our website.

The space is used most days of the week for a variety of public events programming, working group meetings, food distributions, private and quiet co-working hours, and as an events rental hall. Most events and programs have designated days and hours reserved for their (exclusive) use. 

Woodbine maintains a private internal calendar managed exclusively by its Co-Directors which shows us which groups are using the space when, so as not to have double-bookings. This calendar allows the collective to have some approximation of who is present, using, and responsible for the space at any given time. Members of Coordination will have view-access to this calendar.

If you are facilitating an event or meeting and are given key access to Woodbine to do so, this means you are taking responsibility for what happens at the space during those hours. Each event or working group meeting needs to have a point of contact/responsible party who can account for all participants and activities during those time slots.

Each event and program is expected to have a “leave no trace” policy after its usage, meaning that the space is fully cleaned and returned to its baseline arrangement of tables, chairs, couches, and the kitchen. This allows the next event, working group, or renter coming in to access a clean and functional space each time they arrive. This is a practice of mutual aid, care, and respect for the space and its broader community. 

If you enter Woodbine for an event or meeting and the space has not been left in usable condition, please notify the other Coordinators with photos so there can be some accountability and clarity as to why. Going forward, we all should try to leave the space cleaner and better organized than how we found it.

Outside of publicly listed events and meetings Woodbine serves as a private workshop and paid co-working space. This means that the space is closed to the public, and the doors are locked.

If you would like to access Woodbine outside of your working group’s designated days and hours, please ask for permission from a Co-Director first. This is to prevent anyone from unintentionally disturbing or interrupting the space’s quiet working hours, or any other event, group, or rental taking place.

Please do not share the key code with anyone else without receiving explicit permission from the Co-Directors. This is for our security, safety, and community liability. 

Please do not leave or store anything at Woodbine without receiving explicit permission from a Co-Director. We presently have a non-negotiable NO STORAGE policy.

Our assumption and expectation in sharing access to Woodbine is one of mutual respect, good faith, and personal responsibility and accountability. If we do not feel those expectations are being met and shared, access to the space will be withdrawn.

Updated 7 January 2025