June, 2025

 Eagle Heights Garden Committee Minutes

June 11, 2025  7 PM

Remote Meeting

Lily, Jolene, Pam, Jessica, Zach, Barb A, Nick, Alex and Karen.

Jessica started the meeting.

Minutes  With a motion by Lily and seconded by Barb A the May 2025 minutes were approved. 

Registrar Update

A gardener suggested we have a guided tour of the gardens.  Discussion ensued. What about having an open house? Does the gardener who suggested this want to be involved?  Lily will find out. Maybe we could do this later in the season.

Another gardener suggested we have accessible raised beds.  After discussion, we thought if it was possible the plots would have to be at University Houses because it is close to the parking.  The real problem is the lack of a paved p[ath to the plot area.  The rough paths could be dangerous.  Jolene suggested we talk to the McBurney Center for advice.  Lily said she would ask.

The committee approved a graduate students request to dig for Japanese beetle grubs in the common areas of the garden after they get the proper permit from the Preserve.

Budget review for 2025-2026

After reviewing the proposed budget for next year which is the same as last year, the committee agreed to accept it.  We are slowly spending down our surplus. We also have the UW Foundation account for capital expenditures.

The porta potty expense has gone up a lot.  There was discussion about putting it behind the shed a little so it might see less use. There were some concerns about proximity to garden plots and the smell. A decision was not made. There was a discussion about the hoses at University Houses .  Some of the reels are lacking springs, which keep the hose from kinking. It would be good to make sure all have springs and are in good order.  We should take an inventory and get the supplies we need for this soon. 

A University Houses gardener has covered the plot in sod.  The gardener stated that this was not against the rules. After discussion, the committee decided this is not within the intended purpose of the gardens.  As it is not exactly against the rules, it will be allowed for the season.  The rules will be modified for next year to not allow sod.  It will have to be removed next year.  Lily will send the proposed rule change about what is allowed by email.

Mulberry Tree

Physical Plant says the tree is healthy and has provided us with two choices:  Thin the tree over three years or remove the tree entirely during the winter.  

Lily asked the people near the tree and was surprised that the people near it wanted to keep it. 

Cost-

Thin the tree over three years- $450 per year

Remove in winter $3400.  (There is a problem with removal that there might be damage to the water line that heavy equipment has to cross.

The Committee agreed to have the tree trimmed over a period of three years.

Garden Worker Report

Pam said the self propelled function of the mowers do not work and one mower is very heavy.  The mowers are going to be fixed.  Zack and Nick are using the dining riding mower for the main paths.  The riding mower is set up for us to pay for gas.  We need to have the mowers checked at the end of the season so we are ready for spring.  The mowers are 5 years old and have had hard use because the gardens are so large.  We should think about a replacement schedule.  We need to check the brand and cost of a new mower now. Pam would like to replace the lighter mower first.  

Leaf Mulch

Shorewood did not deliver all the leaf mulch they said they would.  Lily will try to have a meeting with Shorewood to figure out the problem.

What is the status of the benches that the Eagle Scout was building for the gardens?  Lily will check with the person.

Nick and Zach will be cleaning up the 1300”s line to get ready to replace the line.

Motion by Barb A and seconded by Pam to adjourn which passed.

Adjourned about 7:53 pm

Submitted by Karen, subject to correction by the Garden Committee

May, 2025

 Eagle Heights Garden Committee Minutes

May 14, 2025  7 PM

Remote Meeting

Lily, Ann, Jolene, Pam, Ron, Zach, Barb A, Nick, Alex and Karen.

Alex started the meeting.

Minutes:  With a motion by Lily and seconded by Ann the April 2025 minutes were approved. 

Registrar Update

Lily says there is now a waiting list for EH gardens.  There are 3 open plots at UH, but they are shady.

A former Eagle Heights gardener is teaching a class about growing watermelons in northern climates at an off site location.  They ask if the committee would be okay informing tour gardeners about this opportunity.  The committee agreed. 

Another gardener would like to try repairing a cart bed with a mesh screen and fiberglass.  The gardener has the supplies to do one cart and see if the repair will work.  If the repair works, they would like the supplies to do more carts for their workday.  The committee agreed this was a good idea.

The garden juries will start soon and there will be a second walkthrough 2 weeks later.

Windrow Composting

The windrow composting project will need Malachai’s support.  The Committee agreed we will need a written agreement with the Dining Farm before we proceed. Some questions remaining are; Who will buy the tarps? What will the schedule be? ( The committee is concerned that adding more tasks to the Garden Working is unsustainable.) The proposal by Malachai that the gardens keep the ride on mower filled with fuel may not work because we get the fuel from Housing.  Jolene will check about the gas.

The composting will work by building the row, putting on the permeable canvas top and not turning the pile.

University Houses also has a huge weedpile.  Maybe we can do it there too.

Garden Worker Report

Pam said the mowing has begun.  She is planning one workday during the week and one on the weekend for the season. Nick also thought that schedule would be good. Some support posts by water risers are missing.  Nick will check on the missing posts.  

Zack and Chris (a gardener) will be repairing the share shelves.  More wood than expected will have to be replaced.

Pam and Lily fixed the leak in the water line last week. They need more risers and faucets to complete repairs.

Motion by Ann and seconded by Karen to spend $200 on the needed plumbing supplies.  Motion carried.

It was noted that there is a second probably buried water shut off on the 1300 that goes to the east nursery area. 

Road Erosion

The Committee would like an update from the GOC about the road erosion.  Eagle Heights Drive drains down the road through the pedestrian ramp past the shed.  In a big storm,  a lot of water comes down the road causing large ruts.  We know that gravel has been added, but the road continues to wash out. 

The drainage from University Houses parking lots also terminates near the weedpile. 

Zack said the ditch has been extended to the west along the road at the back of the 100’s.

Motion by Ron and seconded by Barb A to agree to the windrow composting if a written agreement is signed by the Dining Farms.  $1000. Is approved for tarps, fencing and other supplies. 

Motion passed.

Motion by Barb A and seconded by Ann to adjourn which passed.

Adjourned about 7:40 pm

Submitted by Karen, subject to correction by the Garden Committee

April, 2025

                                         Eagle Heights Garden Committee Minutes

April 9, 2025 7 PM

Remote Meeting

Lily, Ann, Jolene, Pam, Ron, Zach, Yohan, Nick, Alex and Karen.

Alex started the meeting.

Minutes  With a motion by Lily and seconded by Ann the March 2025 minutes were approved. 

Registrar Update

Lily says that the gardeners of 234 plots came to the Seed Fair.  The bulk order of seeds was a good idea.  We did not run out of spinach.  Lily proposes we buy kale and broccoli seed in bulk for next year.

There is a proposal for an Eagle Scout to build Leopold benches for the gardens. The committee decided 3 or 4 would be good.  We need to decide where they would go in the common areas of both Eagle Heights and University Houses.

Lily would like to purchase some 33 gallon galvanized garbage cans to store row cover in the shed. Discussion ensued.  

The person conducting a study about apple pollinators is now applying for a UW Permit.

There is a meeting with the UW Plumbers at 10:30 on Friday.  Lily and Nick will be there. 

Garden Worker Report

Pam said not much has happened yet except she has been picking up trash.

Nick and Zach stabilized the Share Shelf at Eagle Heights.  They think the current shelves are unsalvageable.  The white shelves outside the large door of the shed should be used instead.  Jolene suggested we ask a gardener to switch them out for a work day.  Zack said he would help too.  

Questions about the proposed financial assistance program were asked.  Discussion ensued.  Lily said she will bring a written proposal draft for review before next year's application time. We will use the Gardens Network Guidelines and ask the applicants to self report their status and take their word for it.

Windrow Composting

Malachai was unable to attend.  Lily shared the draft proposal.  We will need an agreement with the Dining Farms about coordination and also use of their large mower for the main paths. What will happen if we overload the cement pad?  Shorewood has agreed to move the excess to the Dining Farm area.  Lily will send the draft documents to everyone so we can make a decision. 

Motion by Ann and seconded by Ron to adjourn which passed.

Adjourned about 7:37 pm

Submitted by Karen, subject to correction by the Garden Committee

March, 2025

 Eagle Heights Garden Committee Minutes

March 12, 2025 7 PM

Remote Meeting

Nick, Lily, Ann, Ric, Jolene, Alan, Jessica, Barb A, Alex and Karen.

Jessica started the meeting.

Minutes:  With a motion by Ann and seconded by Lily the February 2025 minutes were approved with the correction to windrow composting instead of window composting. 

Registrar Update

Seed Fair April 5, 2025 

Lily said 452 Gardeners have renewed their plots and we now have 75 new gardener applications.  We have 19 full and 17 half plots empty.  Most of these plots are not the best.

The no workday fee of $45 has been paid by 179 gardeners. The average is 150.  60 gardeners abandoned their plots last year compared to 45 the year before. The average is 50.

The mulberry tree evaluation purchase order to Physical Plant has been approved and we are awaiting their response.

There is no update on the windrow composting project on the weed pad because the GOC meeting was cancelled.

Garden Worker Report

Nick reports that the new Garden Worker Zach will start March 15th.  Nick and Pam will start explaining the duties on March 19th. Pam has been looking at our Weed Wackers and has made good progress. She also cannot get horse manure at the time.

Policy on Financial Assistance

Ric asked if the policy was in final form.  Lily suggested we work from the draft presented to us.  The committee agreed this was a good start. Discussion ensued.  One question was, can a gardener use the plan 2 years in a row?  The policy would be first come first served. The policy needs to be in place by December 15 of the year. 

At other area gardens run by the Gardens Network, they use a sliding income scale for lower fees.  The committee agreed that we will give some guidelines but we need to trust people.  Jolene suggested that a gardener applying for a second year will have lower priority over a new applicant.  The Committee liked this idea. Lily will keep track of the donation money in the general fund.  The new policy will not offer three workdays in exchange for plot fees. 

The soil is now 40 degrees.  Some gardeners are now planting spinach.

There was discussion about gardeners helping each other when one was on vacation. Gardeners need to help each other and keep watch on neighbors plots when they are gone.

Adjourned about 7:27 pm

Submitted by Karen, subject to correction by the Garden Committee