April 2022

 Eagle Heights Garden Committee Minutes

April 13, 2022  7 PM

Remote Meeting

7:00 Present: Lily, Barb A, Ann, Barb L, Ninja, Jessica, Arya, Ric, Megan and Karen.

Minutes  Motion by Lily and seconded by Barb A to approve the 

March 2022 minutes. The minutes were approved. 

Jolene has agreed to be the supervisor of Barb A for the Master Gardener program requirements..

Registrar Update

Lily reports that the gardens were full on March18th.  There are 12 on the waiting list and 4 plots have been returned for a new gardener to be assigned.  Lily asked the committee if it was okay to require no payment for people on the waiting list until a plot is available.  Payment will be required when a plot is assigned.  The committee agreed that this was a good change

Gardeners from 166 plots came to the Seed Fair to get their seed packets.  Twenty gardeners got their seeds later.  Row cover sold well thanks to Barb L. The competitive aspect of previous seed fairs was absent because the packets were made in advance. There were many good conversations at the tables and the weather was good.  A good suggestion was made to translate the seed fair notice in the future.  

There is a request of a 7th grade boy not associated with the garden to volunteer.  Discussion ensued about children volunteering and background checks.  The committee decided to suggest the person volunteer with Troy Gardens, Rooted, Badger Rock gardens or a school garden run by Master Gardeners.  Activities with children without their parents will not be allowed by gardeners will not be allowed because of UW background check policy.

Lily suggested that we have a tool jury. Workday volunteers would return tools to the shed.  Megan said she thought it was a good idea because many tools are left in plots.  Megan said the tools will be painted bright red. 

There has been a request for a Little Free Library at the pear tree in the 1200’s row.  The committee thought that was too far out and suggested the Share Shelf instead.

There was discussion about the compost sale.  In the past the compost was sold by the half cartful.  A full cart of compost is too heavy for our carts.  University Houses needs compost too. Lily will check about compost availability.  Two rolls of row cover have been sold and a third has been ordered.  

Ric volunteered to lead workdays.  

Lily does not have an update about the Long Range Plan.

Garden Worker Report

Megan asked when the water would go on.  Probably it will be late April of early May.  Megan will put the hoses out at University Houses when the water goes on.  She reports that the tools numbers are pretty good, but there are a lot of broken tools.  Megan needed poles for plot markers and paint for tool handles.  

Co-Chair Report

Jessica said we still need a Garden Worker.  She asked if anyone knew a potential candidate.  Jessica and Ninja will ask previous candidates.  

Plant Sales

Gardens to Be is available to have the plant sales this year.  The proposed dates are April 23rd or 24th for the cool weather plants and May 21st or 22nd for the warm weather plants.  

Other Items

Lily explained the Garden Jury process to explain how we deal with abandoned plots.  

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This year is the 60th anniversary of Eagle Heights Gardens. Discussion ensued.  An Ice Cream Social at Eagle Heights was suggested.  Jolene has written a short history of the Garden.  Maybe we could have a history page on the website.  

Discussion went back to the ice cream social.  It is probably better to engage a commercial ice cream company with Food Safe certified servers for such a large gathering.  Babcock would be the first choice.  The Chocolate Shoppe will also be good.

There were introductions at the end of the meeting.

Motion by Barb A and seconded by All

Adjourned around 8

Submitted by Karen, subject to correction by the Garden Committee