From the Registrar: April 28, 2025

Hello Gardeners, 

Rhubarb leaves are not edible: If you are not already familiar with rhubarb, it is cultivated for the stalks of the plant. The leaves are toxic because they contain large amounts of oxalic acid, and they should not be eaten. The stalks are often sweetened and cooked in pies and other desserts. The leaves should be cut off at the time the stalks are harvested. The leaves can be used as mulch or can be put in the weed pile. More information and identification photos can be found here: https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/rhubarb-rheum-rhabarbarum/ 

Workday opportunity:

• There will be a workday on Sunday 5/4 from 9 am to 12 pm at Eagle Heights Gardens. Six volunteers are needed. Please email me if you’re interested and I will assign the spots in the order I receive replies.  

     The work will be clearing brush and weeds in some common areas of the garden. Volunteers                   should wear long sleeves and bring gloves. The group will meet at the EH garden shed at 9 am. 

If you are new to the gardens: Each plot is responsible for one workday each season (or you can choose to pay a fee instead). The workdays are scheduled and led by the garden workers throughout the season. I send emails out with the days and times, and you can sign up by replying to me. Sometimes the spots fill up quickly, but we will keep scheduling more. Please let me know if you have any questions about this.  

Hoses and tools in paths: It will not be too long before mowing of the paths begins, so please remember to keep all your belongings in your plot. Hoses left in the path may be mowed. At Eagle Heights your hose needs to be in your plot and disconnected from the spigot, and at University Houses it needs to be returned to the reel. Plants that are growing outside the border of your plot could also be mowed.   

 

Communal tools: Please remember to return all communal tools to the sheds when you are done using them for the day so other gardeners can use them. If they are left in the mulch piles, they can be buried, and this causes the wooden handles to rot. 

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: April 24, 2025

 Hello Gardeners,  

Plant sale this Sunday! The cool weather plant sale with Blue Moon Community Farm will be this Sunday, April 27th. Here is their plant list: https://www.bluemooncommunityfarm.com/media/site/030c761af7-1738416830/2025-blue-moon-seedlings.pdf 

• The plant sale will be at Eagle Heights Gardens by the entrance from 10 am to 12 pm. 
• They accept Cash, Checks, Credit Cards, and Venmo 

We are getting a nice deal on their pricing: Plants are $4.00 per unit (pot or 4-pack) 

Volume discount (mix and match) 6 for $22.00, flat of 18 for $60.00 

• There will be cooler season vegetables, onions, and herbs. They will probably bring a few warmer weather plants, like tomatoes, as well. However, warm weather plants should not be planted outside until late May. There will be a warm weather plant sale on Sunday, May 18th.   
• I will be selling row cover at EH Gardens during the plant sale. The pieces are approximately 7 ft x 20 ft and they are $5 each, CASH ONLY. Please bring exact change if possible.     
  
  

Water: The water at UH gardens is on, and the plumbers will turn on the water at EH gardens today. The water system is old and gets a lot of use. In the spring new leaks and problems are often discovered as soon as the water is turned on, so we will be monitoring it. Please note that the water in the Gardens is safe for watering plants but is not considered potable.

 

Organic reminder: Gardens must be managed organically. Organic gardening means that no chemical insecticides, fertilizers, herbicides, or fungicides can be used. All products must be approved for organic use. This includes bagged soil brought in for raised beds. Here is some information on organic gardening products you can use in your plot:    

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

  

There are many ways to manage an organic garden beyond buying organically certified products. Mulching to suppress weeds and improve soil health, companion planting, and crop rotation are just a few possibilities. This article from the University of Missouri extension is a good resource for more ideas about organic gardening: https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6220 

 

Wood chips: Wood chip at both gardens are running very low. We will get more wood chips at UH Gardens next week. We will be getting more delivered to EH Gardens as soon as possible. We rely on deliveries from tree service companies at their convenience. 

 

Maintenance reporting form: Use this form throughout the season to report maintenance issues. Using this form (rather than emailing me) sends the information directly to all employees. The link to this form is also on our website, and I will include it with future email updates:

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

Use the maintenance reporting form for things like:  

• Water issues: Leaks, dripping faucets, non-functioning water, etc.  
• Reporting trees that need removal  
• Trees fallen on plots  
• Broken things in common areas 

 

Do not use this maintenance reporting form for:   

• Plot border questions   
• Gardening questions  
• Reporting weedy plots  
• University Apartments maintenance requests (Here is their form: https://www.housing.wisc.edu/apartments/maintenance/ ) 

 

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: April 17, 2025

Hello Gardeners,  

Water: We are expecting the UW Plumbers to turn on the water in both gardens next week. We don’t get to choose when the plumbers come to do the work, because they have to prioritize campus buildings. Each spring new leaks and problems are discovered as soon as the water is turned on, so it can be unpredictable. I will share any updates that I have as quickly as I’m able.   

Plant sale details: The cool weather plant sale at Eagle Heights Garden is coming up on Sunday, April 27th. Blue Moon Community Farm will be there from 10 am to 12 pm with cooler season vegetables, onions, and herbs. They will probably bring a few warmer weather plants, like tomatoes, as well. Warm weather plants should not be planted outside until late May. There will also be a warm weather plant sale on Sunday, May 18th.  

Here is their plant list: https://www.bluemooncommunityfarm.com/media/site/030c761af7-1738416830/2025-blue-moon-seedlings.pdf 

We are getting a nice deal on their pricing: Plants are $4.00 per unit (pot or 4-pack) 

Volume discount (mix and match) 6 for $22.00, flat of 18 for $60.00 

• They accept Cash, Checks, Credit Cards, and Venmo 

 

Ticks: We’ve heard some early reports of ticks this year. The primary concern with ticks in Wisconsin is generally deer ticks, which can carry Lyme disease. Please check for ticks and be careful. The UW Department of Entomology has extensive resources about ticks: https://wisconsin-ticks.russell.wisc.edu/ 

 

Although we often associate deer ticks with deer, Ticks often make their way to humans via smaller animals, like mice and voles. This is a great reason to limit rodent habitats in your garden. They like lots of cover to hide from predators, so tall weeds and brush will attract them. Not only can they bring ticks into your plot, but they will also quickly eat your crops. So, there is more than one good reason to discourage rodents from entering your garden! 

Thanks, and happy gardening,   

Lily   

 

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

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