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The Garden Consent

We live in a complex, touch-deprived culture and some of the cultural fringes we together explore here are outside of societal norms around touch.

It is safe to assume that we cannot know the ‘stories’ of the bodies we encounter, no matter how well we think we know those stories.

Proceed consciously and with deep listening. Do not assume that your partner is skilled at setting boundaries and establishing consent and don't assume that touch is always desired.

👂 You are entrusted with the responsibility to communicate your own boundaries, as well as to be sensitive to the verbal and non-verbal boundaries and cues of each person.

Boundaries can change, and consent may be reversed or altered at any time: Permission now is not permission in the future.

Take extra care around giving your own consent, or accepting the consent of another if either of you are in an altered state. It’s best to discuss consent and boundaries with your partner *before* entering that state.

If ever you are uncertain, just ask/tell! It is safest to never assume.

Feel free to communicate verbally with your peers at any time, especially if there is ambiguity around consent.

It’s always OK to say "No." or "Stop." You can always leave an interaction.

Using safe words, or using a traffic light system (Green, Yellow, Red) can help facilitate communication around consent and boundaries.

There is no need to apologise for, accommodate, or explain your ‘no’.

If you violate this policy, depending on the context, you will either be given a stern talking-to, asked to leave for a night and given a 'yellow card', or you will be asked to leave immediately.