From the Registrar: September 29, 2026

Hello Gardeners,

 
Please use leaf mulch! We need to use up the remaining leaf mulch at both gardens before the new leaves are delivered in early November. The free leaf mulch is a great resource. Mulch helps the soil retain moisture and regulate temperature. Mulch suppresses weed growth, which means less time spent on weeding, and more efficient gardening. It also helps prevent erosion and improves soil health over time as it degrades and adds organic matter to the soil.

 
Offer from a gardener to harvest and donate unwanted produce: A gardener has offered to harvest unwanted produce and donate it to a local food pantry. Produce for donation would ONLY be harvested from the plots of gardeners who confirm that they want this to be done. If you are unable to or don't want to harvest produce remaining in your plot, and you would like it to be donated, please email me to confirm.

 
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/organic-growing/

From the Registrar: September 25, 2026

Hello Gardeners,

 
Lakeshore Nature Preserve Bioblitz: The Lakeshore Nature Preserve will be holding a Bioblitz tomorrow to catalog plants growing in the Gardens and Preserve. Please see the message below requesting gardener participation:

Hello Gardeners!

Lakeshore Nature Preserve is hosting a bioblitz this weekend (on the 26th)! The Community Gardens are an important part of the diversity of the Preserve and we would love to get data on what you are growing in your garden! If you have the time, we would love for you to either (a) send us a list of what you are growing this year and/or (b) take photos of the plants in your garden (both planted and weeds) and upload them to iNaturalist. If you can send us a list of what you are growing before October 12th, that would be great! We're hoping to compile all of the data during the week of October 12th, so knowing what you are growing would be very helpful. You can find more information about the bioblitz at our website, where you can sign up for an update about the results and also see the schedule of fun, free activities that we have scheduled for Saturday! If you have any questions, please reach out to our team at our email address (lakeshorepreservebioblitz@gmail.com).

Thank you and hope to see you in the gardens on Saturday!

Lakeshore Nature Preserve Bioblitz Organizing Team

lakeshorepreservebioblitz@gmail.com

https://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/bioblitz/

Clippers found at EHG: A gardener found a pair of hedge clippers in the parking area of EH Gardens. If you think these could be yours, please send me an email and I will help get them back to you.

 
Thanks, and happy gardening,
Lily

From the Registrar: September 16, 2026

Hello Gardeners,

 
Workday opportunity: There will be a workday at EH next Monday, September 21st from 10 am -2 pm. Six to eight volunteers are needed. The group will meet at the EH garden shed at 10 am. The workday will be for digging a trench for a new water line in the 900s/1000s row. Volunteers should bring gloves. Please email me if you'd like to sign up for this workday.

Gardening in 2027: Every year, all gardeners must reapply for their garden plots to return the following season. 

• 2027 applications will open on December 15th 2026. Returning and new gardeners may turn in applications beginning that day. For new gardeners, applications are processed in the order received.

• For 2026 gardeners, the deadline to apply for renewal will be February 15th 2027. Returning gardeners in good standing have priority to return to the same plot or request to move plots.

• Renewal applications received on or after 2/16 are not guaranteed. I will try to help if I can, but after Feb 15th any plots that have not been renewed may be reassigned to new gardeners.

• If you already know that you do not plan to renew your plot, please let me know.

Only assigned gardeners from 2026 are eligible to renew a plot for 2027. If there is someone gardening in your plot with you this year and they’d like to keep the plot next year, you must make sure they are listed as the secondary gardener BEFORE December 15th 2026. Renewal applications in the name of someone not previously listed must be processed as new applications.

 
Please let me know if you have any questions about applying for next season.

Winter squash: Winter squash is ready when it turns the right color for the variety, the vines die back, and the stem is hard. Some gardeners harvest earlier to prevent pests from eating the squash, or theft, which can both be problems in our gardens. If you can wait a bit longer it will help the squash store well. Here is some information on harvesting and storing winter squash:
https://www.johnnyseeds.com/growers-library/vegetables/winter-squash/winter-squash-eating-guide.html

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/organic-growing/

From the Registrar: September 9, 2026

Hello Gardeners,

 
July Garden Committee meeting: This month’s committee meeting will be today, Wednesday, September 9th at 7 pm. The Gardens are run by a volunteer committee, and all gardeners are welcome to participate. The committee meets via Zoom on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 pm. Join via this link: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/92582024098?pwd=Uy9iQXZMK1dzNmZJRFY2c09xakdTdz09

Garden jury: There will be a garden jury at each garden this Saturday, 9/12 at 8 am. There will be two groups at EH and one at UH. Each group should have four volunteers. The groups will meet at the sheds. There will be two more weekend juries this season, including this Saturday. Please consider volunteering! Reply to this email if you would like to sign up for a garden jury.

The garden jury is a jury of peers that assesses plot conditions. Gardeners can sign up for three jury sessions or combine jury time with alternative independent workday time for their three-hour workday requirement.

Workday opportunities: There are two workday opportunities on Saturday. Both workdays will be for weeding and mulching. Volunteers should wear long sleeves and bring gloves:

• There will be a workday at Eagle Heights Gardens (EH) this Saturday, September 12th from 8 to 11 am. The group will meet at the shed at 8 am.

• There will be a workday at Eagle Heights Gardens (EH) this Saturday, September 12th from 9 am to 12 pm. The group will meet at the UH garden shed at 9 am.

Please reply to this email to sign up for either of these workdays.

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/organic-growing

From the Registrar: August 25, 2026

Hello Gardeners,

 
Workday status: I will be sending out two group emails: One to the primary gardeners of plots that have already fulfilled the requirement, and another to those that have not yet fulfilled the requirement. This is just so that everyone is aware of their current status for the season. There is still time left to do workdays. More group workdays will be scheduled, and independent workdays are always an option. Please let me know if you have any questions about this.

Garden jury: There will be a garden jury at each garden this Saturday, 8/29 at 8 am. There will be two groups at EH and one at UH. Each group should have four volunteers. The groups will meet at the sheds. There will be three more weekend juries this season, including this Saturday. Please consider volunteering! Reply to this email to sign up for a garden jury.

 
The garden jury is a jury of peers that assesses plot conditions. Gardeners can sign up for three jury sessions or combine jury time with alternative independent workday time for their three-hour workday requirement.

Workday opportunity: There will be a workday at University Houses Gardens (UH) this Saturday, August 29th from 8-11 am for clearing and mulching vacant plots. The group will meet at the UH garden shed at 8 am. Please respond to this email if you’re interested in this workday, and spots will be assigned in the order of replies. Volunteers should wear long sleeves and bring gloves.

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/organic-growing

From the Registrar: August 14, 2026

Hello Gardeners,

Garden jury: We will move the garden juries to Sunday again this week due to the forecast for rain on Saturday. There will be a garden jury at each garden this Sunday, 8/16 at 8 am. There will be two groups at EH and one at UH, each with four volunteers. The groups will meet at the sheds. Please consider volunteering for a jury and reply to this email if you would like to sign up.

• The garden jury is a jury of peers that assesses plot conditions. The juries report plots that appear excessively weedy or abandoned. There are four gardeners on each jury. The weed juries also remove communal tools and carts left behind plots.

• Juries are scheduled every other weekend. Garden jury is counted as workday time. Gardeners can sign up for three jury sessions or combine jury time with alternative independent workday time for their three-hour workday requirement.

Spots open for Sunday workday at UH: Volunteers are still needed for the workday to clear vacant plots at UH this Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm for clearing vacant plots. The group will meet at the UH garden shed at 10 am. Please reply to this email if you're interested in this workday.


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/organic-growing

From the Registrar: August 12, 2026

Hello Gardeners,

 
Every plot is responsible for one workday each year. A workday is a three-hour contribution to the garden community made by working in common areas or vacant plots. The requirement can also be fulfilled by paying a $45 no-workday fee in lieu of doing a workday. Gardeners at Eagle Heights and University Houses can do their workday at either site for credit.

Group workdays are scheduled throughout the season. Gardeners can sign up for any of these by replying to the email announcement to reserve a spot. For gardeners that aren't able to make any of the scheduled times, we can arrange for an independent workday.

 
All gardeners that apply to renew their plots for the following year must be in good standing, which includes fulfilling the workday requirement for the previous season. Please tell me if you have any questions.

 
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/organic-growing