From the Registrar: March 17, 2025

 Hello Gardeners,  

 

Welcome to the Gardens for the 2025 growing season! This year we will have both Opening day and the Seed Fair on the same day:  

Opening day in the Gardens: Saturday April 5th  

Seed Fair: Saturday April 5th from 9 am to 11 am at the Community Center  

Opening day: The portable toilets will be delivered to both gardens before opening day. The parking signs on Eagle Heights drive will be changed to allow 4-hour parking for Eagle Heights Gardens on the south side of the street. Garden parking will also be available in the small lot by University Houses Gardens.   

*Orientations for new gardeners will begin on opening day. I will send out a schedule soon with dates and times.  

Seed Fair: Please join us for the annual seed fair at the Community Center on Saturday April 5th from 9 AM to 11 AM. Each plot will be entitled to some free packets of seeds. We receive the seeds as generous donations from seed companies each year. This year we have also purchased some bulk seeds that have been repackaged for the Fair. This is a fun community event and a great way to get your garden started. I hope to see you all there!  

If you are interested in volunteering to help at the Seed Fair, please let me know. The volunteering time will be from 8:15 AM to Noon and it counts as a workday. I will assign available volunteer spots in the order I receive replies.   

Some branches of the Madison Public Library are also handing out free seeds if you’re interested. Details can be found here: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/collections/dane-county-seed-library  

Where to put waste in the Gardens: Many gardeners will find that they need to clean up their plot before they begin planting this spring. Please make a note of where different waste should go in the Gardens so we can keep things running well:  

WEEDS/PLANT MATTER: Go in the weed piles. Only plant matter can be dumped in these piles. Dirt must be removed from roots. If there is dirt, trash, or sticks in the weed piles they cannot be moved to a composting site. Sorting the piles is time consuming, and paying for removal can be costly.  

TRASH: Goes in the trash dumpsters. If weeds and plants are put in the dumpsters, we may receive a fine.  

STICKS: Go in the stick barrels/piles. These piles are for gardeners to take sticks as plant supports. Please do not take sticks out of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve surrounding the Gardens.  

  

Planting Season: Most years, on opening day it is still too early to do much in the gardens. This year may be an exception, but keep in mind that it could still snow again before spring is here. Even if it is warm in general, there will still be a danger of frost into May that could kill many plants. If you are new to gardening, or if you want a reminder about different planting dates, this is good resource. Mid-April is typically when a lot of cool-weather plants go in:  

http://eagleheightsgardens.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/vegetable_planting_guide.pdf  

You can find many other useful documents on this page also if you’re interested:  

http://eagleheightsgardens.org/gardens/organic-growing/  

If you do decide to start cleaning up and preparing your garden before the planting season begins, try not to walk on or disturb the soil too much while it’s still wet from the snow thawing. This will compact the soil, which is not good for plants. Marking your paths early in the season to avoid walking in the planting areas can help keep your soil healthy.   

If you are interested in more information about preparing your garden, please start on page 38 of the garden manual: https://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/tips/garden_manual_v_1.12.pdf  

  

Thanks, and happy gardening,    

Lily    

 

From the Registrar: December 2, 2024

 Hello Gardeners, 

Although the gardening season has come to an end, it’s almost time to begin planning for next year. Garden applications for 2025 will be available beginning December 15, 2024. All returning gardeners must apply no later than February 15, 2025 to renew a plot or move to a new location. I will send another notice when applications open. The 2024 application document that is currently on the website can't be used for 2025 and no renewal applications can be accepted before December 15, 2024.

To be eligible to renew a plot for 2025, gardeners must be assigned to the plot as either primary or secondary gardener for 2024. The 2024 workday requirement for the plot must also be complete to renew.  

If you have any questions at all about your current status, who is listed on your plot, or the application process, please email me.  

Best, 

Lily 

From the Registrar: November 6, 2024

 Hello Gardeners, 

 

Renewal application reminders: Every year, applications for the next season in the garden open on December 15th. Everyone must turn in an application each year, whether they are returning or new. Returning gardeners will have from 12/15/24 to 2/15/25 to turn in their applications to renew. Applications from returning gardeners received after 2/15/25 will not be valid as renewals and must be treated the same as new applications.  

 

Leaves: We have started receiving leaf mulch deliveries. This a still a good time to put your garden to bed. It’s not too late to plant garlic either. If you haven’t grown garlic before, it’s quite easy. Check out this resource if you’re interested: http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/tips/garden_manual_v_1.12.pdf (page 80)  

 

Parking will remain available until Nov 15th to access the gardens. After that date you can still go to your plot, but you will have to find alternative parking. Please do not use the Eagle Heights or University Houses apartments visitor parking spots.    

 

Happy gardening, 

Lily   

 

Maintenance request form:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyjHBH_xBH229AVwmqTE-2L3znGrLwn3TNJfw2ri9T01MMfA/viewform 

Previous emails:  https://eagleheightsgardens.blogspot.com/ 

Gardening resources: https://eagleheightsgardens.org/gardens/organic-growing/ 

From the Registrar: October 18, 2024

Hello Gardeners, 

 

Ending the season: As the gardening season comes to a close, I’d like to share a few reminders: 

 

• If you are planning to return to the gardens next season, the renewal deadline will be Feb 15th, 2025. Applications will be available beginning Dec 15th, 2024, and I will send more reminders. 
• The only people eligible to renew a garden plot for 2025 are the ones that are currently assigned to the plot for 2024. If you are not sure of who is listed on your plot, please contact me. If you would like a currently unlisted person to have the plot, you must add them to the records now.  
• To be eligible for renewal one gardener from each plot must either do a workday or pay the no-workday fee for 2024. I will be sending out a reminder email to all gardeners that have not done this yet. If you have not done a workday and would like to, we may be able to find an opportunity still this season. If you are paying the fee, you will have until Dec 1st, 2024. Please contact me with any questions. 

 

Walnuts in the weed pile: It was reported this morning that someone dumped a large pile of whole walnuts in the EH weed pile. Please note that no waste from outside the gardens can be brought to the weed piles. We particularly do not want walnuts there, since the pile is often transferred to the Student Farm, and they do not want walnut trees coming up in their gardens. 

 

Portable Toilets: The portable toilets will be picked up from both gardens next week and they will be brought back in March of next year.    

Parking: The plan is to have parking remain open on Eagle Heights Drive until November 15th. If it snows before that and UW Apartments Grounds has to plow, we may lose the parking signs earlier. Parking at University Houses Gardens will also remain available.  

Happy gardening, 

Lily   

 

Maintenance request form:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyjHBH_xBH229AVwmqTE-2L3znGrLwn3TNJfw2ri9T01MMfA/viewform 

Previous emails:  https://eagleheightsgardens.blogspot.com/ 

Gardening resources: https://eagleheightsgardens.org/gardens/organic-growing/ 

From the Registrar: October 15, 2024

Hello Gardeners, 

Freeze warning: There is a freeze warning for tonight. If you still have plants that are sensitive to cold, today is the day to harvest everything and bring it indoors. Winter squash should be harvested today at the latest. Frost can cause the squash to not store well. In contrast, the flavor of Brussels sprouts will be sweeter if exposed to a frost before harvesting.  

 

These are not complete lists of which plants can or cannot survive a frost, but they are some of the more commonly grown crops in the gardens: 

• Plants that can’t survive a frost include: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash (winter or summer), beans, and cucumbers. 
• Plants that can survive a frost include: Cabbage, kale, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, peas, lettuce, beets, carrots, chard, onions, spinach, and radishes. 

 

Garlic planting: Mid to late October is the best time to plant garlic in Wisconsin. It's possible to plant it in the spring, but it won’t do as well. If you plant it in the fall, it can begin to grow right away in the spring and take advantage of a longer growing season. Garlic should be planted late enough in the fall that it won’t grow shoots. You can get garlic cloves for planting at a garden store or a Farmers' Market. It’s better not to plant garlic from the grocery store unless you can be certain it hasn’t been treated in any way. There is some helpful information on planting garlic in the garden manual on our website:  

http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/tips/garden_manual_v_1.12.pdf (page 80)    

 

Leaf mulch: For those of you that are wondering about deliveries of leaf mulch this fall; we can probably expect them in November. Our leaves are delivered by the Village of Shorewood Hills. Once the leaves have fallen, they will first fill their own mulch piles and then deliver to us. We will be keeping tools and carts available in the gardens so everyone that wants to mulch their plots for the winter has access.  

  

Thanks, and happy gardening,   

Lily  

  

Maintenance request form:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyjHBH_xBH229AVwmqTE-2L3znGrLwn3TNJfw2ri9T01MMfA/viewform  

Previous emails:  https://eagleheightsgardens.blogspot.com/  

Gardening resources: https://eagleheightsgardens.org/gardens/org