From the Registrar: April 24, 2024

Hello Gardeners, 

Disposal: If you are taking things to the weed piles from your plot, please remember that only plant matter can be added to the pile. NO DIRT, STICKS, OR TRASH can be put in the weed piles. Volunteer groups and garden workers have been putting a lot of time and effort into sorting the piles, but things that are not allowed continue to be added. I will be sending a questionnaire to all gardeners to confirm that everyone knows the right places to dispose of things in the gardens with a response required from each gardener. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. I am happy to explain any rule.  

 

Please note that UW Housing has placed a new sign at Eagle Heights by the dumpsters (there is already a sign at University Houses). They would like all wood and metal left on the ground next to the dumpster so that they can move it offsite. The recycling dumpster at EH is being replaced with the second trash dumpster that was there previously due to improper use. 

 

Water: We will be making the request tomorrow to have the water turned on. There is a freeze watch for tonight, but after that it looks like it will be warmer. Once the work order is in, we do not get to choose when the plumbers come to do the work. Every spring new leaks and problems are discovered as soon as the water is turned on, and it can be unpredictable.  
  

Cool weather plant sale this Sunday! The cool weather plant sale will be held by Blue Moon Community Farm this Sunday 4/28 from 10 am to 1 pm at Eagle Heights Gardens. Their seedling list is attached, and details are below. They will be bringing Greens, Brassicas, Celery, Onions, Leeks, Shallots, and Herbs. They may also bring warmer weather plants to this sale like they did last year. Warm weather plants should NOT be planted outside yet. If you buy a tomato plant at the sale this weekend, wait until late May to put it in your plot.  

 

Plants are $4.00 per item (either a 3.5" pot or a 4-pack depending on what vegetable it is--see the seedling list)  
Mix + Match discount: 6 for $22, or a full flat of 18 for $60  

Payment options: cash, check, credit card, Venmo  

 

Row cover sale: I’ll be selling row cover during the sale at Eagle Heights Gardens on Sunday, from 11-12. The pieces are approximately 7 ft x 20 ft and they are $5 each, CASH ONLY. Please bring exact change if possible.  

 

Thanks, and happy gardening,     

Lily  

From the Registrar: April 17, 2024

 Hello Gardeners, 

Workday opportunities:  
There will be two workdays this Saturday to sort the weed piles at both gardens for proper disposal. Volunteers will be working with Garden Committee members to sort the piles. Volunteers should be prepared to encounter rodents in the weed pile while sorting. Please bring good work gloves and long-coverage clothing.  
We would like six volunteers for each site, and the groups will meet at the garden sheds at 9 am. Email me if you’re interested, and I will assign spots in the order of replies. These are the workdays: 
Weed pile workday at Eagle Heights, 4/20, 9am-12pm (six volunteers needed) 
Weed pile workday at University Houses, 4/20, 9am-12pm (six volunteers needed) 
If you are taking things to the weed piles from your plot, please remember that only plant matter can be added to the pile. NO DIRT, STICKS, OR TRASH can be put in the piles. 
 
Recycling dumpster use at EH: A recycling dumpster was placed at Eagle Heights this season and we’ve been told that it will be removed if it is not used correctly. Please put all trash in the trash dumpster only. 
 
Theft: I’m sorry to say that we’ve already had some reports of theft in the gardens. Please never enter plots that aren’t yours, and never remove materials or produce from another plot. Knowing your neighbors can be helpful for being aware of who has cause to be in a plot. If you notice anything unusual, please do let me know.  Also make sure you are gardening in the correct plot. Let me know if you need any clarification about your plot assignment or borders.  
 
A few other reminders: 
The last chance to cancel your plot and still receive a refund will be May 1^st. 
There are a lot of helpful gardening resources on this page: https://eagleheightsgardens.org/gardens/organic-growing/ 
The water is usually turned on in the gardens in late April or Early May. Depending on the weather, we will be requesting that the plumbers do this next week. 
The upcoming plant sales will be on these dates. I have not received plant or price lists yet, but I will share them when I do:  
Cool weather plant sale: Sun 4/28 10 AM-1 pm   
Warm weather plant sale: Sun 5/19 10 AM-1 pm 
 
Thanks, and happy gardening,     
Lily     

From the Registrar: April 11, 2024

 Hello Gardeners, 

Workday opportunity at Eagle Heights: There will be a workday at Eagle Heights Garden this Saturday 4/13 from 9 am to 12 pm to begin sorting the weed pile for proper disposal. Volunteers will be working with a Garden Committee member to sort the pile into: wood for chipping or use in the gardens, trash, organic matter for removal to a composting site, and dirt that will be returned to plots. Volunteers should be prepared to encounter rodents in the weed pile while sorting. Please bring good work gloves and long-coverage clothing. We would like six volunteers and the group will meet at the garden shed at 9 am. Email me if you’re interested, and I will assign spots in the order of replies.  

 

Spring planting: Usually, April 15th is the day that marks when you can begin planting many things outdoors here. Some good options of seeds to plant are: Lettuce, Spinach, Peas, Carrots, Chard, and Kale. This gardening manual is an excellent guide for planting: https://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/tips/garden_manual_v_1.12.pdf 

 

If you’re planting transplants, they might benefit from some row cover. There are a number of plants that are frost-tolerant, but they might not survive prolonged freezing temperatures. (A frost is possible with a temperature under 36° F. A freeze can happen under 32° F, and a hard frost under 28° F). It’s still possible to have more cold weather before Spring is over. Row cover also protects small plants from pests like flea beetles. We are currently working on cutting more row cover for sale: https://eagleheightsgardens.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/row_cover_handout.pdf

 

Thanks, and happy gardening,     

Lily     

From the Registrar: April 4, 2024

 Hello Gardeners, 

Seed Fair this Saturday! The Seed Fair will be held at the Community Center this Saturday April 6th from 9 AM to 11 AM. Each plot will receive free packets of seeds. If you drive, you can park in the Community Center parking lot. If the lot is full, you will need to park in the gardener parking spots on Eagle Heights Drive and walk over to the center. Please join us! If you are not familiar with the location already, there is information and a map on this page: https://www.housing.wisc.edu/apartments/resident/community-center/    

 

No plants in the trash: Please remember to put all plant waste in the weed piles, and never in the dumpsters. A large quantity of plants was found in the dumpster at Eagle Heights Gardens last week.   

 

Row cover sale: We’ll be selling row cover at the Seed Fair. The pieces are approximately 7 ft x 20 ft and they are $5 each, CASH ONLY. Please bring exact change if possible. We will have copies of this handout on row cover with instructions at the Fair: http://eagleheightsgardens.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/row_cover_handout.pdf  

Lakeshore Nature Preserve: Both Eagle Heights and University Houses Gardens are a part of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve. The Gardens consist of the garden plots, common areas, tool areas, weed piles, and mulch piles (and the paths between). Any area outside of that is a protected area. Please never dump weeds in the protected Preserve areas or take anything out of them. The branches and sticks in the Preserve are not available to use in plots. All weeds should go in the weed piles, and only sticks in the blue stick barrels are available for use in gardens.  

  

We observe the Preserve’s hours, which are 4 AM to 10 pm every day. Bikes are permitted on the garden paths, but not on the Nature Preserve paths. Dogs must be on a leash in all parts of the Gardens and Preserve.   

  
Please note that events that are held at the Gardens and within the Lakeshore Nature Preserve must be approved by both the Garden Committee and the Preserve.   

Thanks, and happy gardening,    

Lily