Eagle Heights Garden Committee Minutes
March 8, 2023 7 PM
Remote Meeting
7:00 Present: Lily, Ric, Ann, Ninja, Megan, Jolene, Barb L, Ron, Nou and Karen.
Minutes Motion by Lily and seconded by Barb L to approve the February 2023 minutes. The minutes were approved.
Presentation from the Gardens Network and Rooted
Nou Thao explained how the Gardens Network and Rooted helps promote gardening, preservation and expanding land for community gardening and food growing in the greater Madison area. They have workshops and promote gardening and sustainability for everyone in the community. Nou said she used to work at UW Housing and helped create the Children’s Garden and the Community Center.
They have gardening activities at a farm in McFarland, gardens by Marlborough Park and Troy Gardens, among others. Their website is https://www.rootedwi.org/ for more information. Nou is interested in how we can work together. Are we interested in having a workshop at Eagle Heights or participating in their Garden Summit?
After an interesting discussion we decided to see if we could have a workshop or other activity in the middle of summer. The committee thanked Nou for her presentation.
Registrar Update
Opening day will be March 25th. At this time we have 9 full and 3.5 half plots still empty at Eagle Heights. At University House there are 2 empty full plots and one empty half plot. There is a concern about EH plot 632A and B being too shady. Lily and Megan will check it out. They will also check UH plot 14B which maybe should be a rain garden. EH plot 741 was eliminated and needs to be mowed. Perhaps there could be a sandbox there.
There is still a big problem with plot markers and corner posts missing and removed at University Houses. The corner markers are being thrown in the paths and the plot markers are being used for fence posts. Perhaps we should make the posts J shaped at the bottom and dig them in so they are hard to remove.
Jolene reports that we have about $11,000 in the UW Foundation account and a plumbing upgrade will probably be approved to spend the Foundation money on.
We need to check and comment on the Long Range Plan Draft.
Garden Worker Report
Megan said she will be showing around the second garden worker at the end of the month. A cart workshop is needed and the tool handles need to be painted.
Jolene reports that two garden workers have been hired, Nicole Kirk and Ian Hoff. Nicole is a teacher who runs a greenhouse at the high school where she teaches. She will start when her school year ends. Ian will start March 26 and has experience managing a garden at an inn. The third person hired is stuck in a bureaucratic problem that is not her fault and it will hopefully be solved soon so she can start working. She requests that the Committee helps impart information so they can be trained.
The Irrigation Subcommittee will be Megan, Lily, Ron, Niels and Ric.
The existing waterline also goes to the Biocore Prairie and FH King. In the past FH King helped pay for the upkeep of the water system. Lily will be checking on this.
The preliminary plans include a second main line up the hill. Replacement of the 1300 side line is most pressing. Every faucet needs a riser post. The main line at Eagle Heights needs a backflow valve. The water is not potable.
Calendar for March
The Seed Fair will be April 8th in person at the Community Center.
Orientations will be held by Lily, Ric and Megan.
A non-potable water sign will be posted at the share shelf.
New shed locks with key pads are needed.
There should be a focus on irrigation.
There needs to be a committee formed for a September party at the gardens.
The volunteer trees need to be removed from the gardens.
The mowers need to be taken to UW Housing for servicing.
Eagle Heights gate key needs to be installed.
Adjourned about 8pm.
Submitted by Karen, subject to correction by the Garden Committee
