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

February 2025

                                           Eagle Heights Garden Committee Minutes

February 12, 2025  7 PM

Remote Meeting

Zach, Lily, Ann, Ric, Pam, Jolene, Alan, Alex and Karen.

Ann started the meeting.

Minutes  With a motion by Lily and seconded by Pam the January 2025 minutes were approved. 

Registrar Update

Seed Fair April 5, 2025 

Lily said 388 Gardeners have renewed their plots and we now have 44 new gardener applications.  She thinks there is less interest in gardening compared to previous years.

Lily will send an email to the discussion list for volunteers to do new gardener orientations.

The Committee agreed to make Opening Day and the Seed Fair on April 5th.  Lily thinks this might save some of the tools from damage when gardeners try to dig into frozen ground.

Lily proposes to remove the deadline to pay the no workday fee. Previously there was also a financial penalty that we no longer have.  The gardener would still have to pay the no workday fee before being assigned a new plot.  The Committee agreed.

There has been a request for help with the plot fee.  The gardener changed status.  Discussion ensued.  There is a real threshold for asking for help. Jolene said we need to say this is available if we provide it in the future.  

The Committee decided to develop a program for next year for a limited number of spots and the procedure for applying to the Registrar. The number of sponsorship spots available will depend on the amount donated by other gardeners. For this first request we are offering the gardener in need the chance to do three workdays in exchange for the plot.

Lily said we have been offered a sand excavator toy for the garden. Should we accept it?  The Committee thought it was a great idea.

Compost

At a previous meeting there was discussion about providing compost to the gardeners.

Lily found that the price has doubled since we previously bought it. Giving all plots 3.5 cubic feet (½ a cart load) would cost us $5000.  Malachai will propose the windrow composting system to the GOC at the next meeting.  This compost would be cheaper and would work.  

If we could also get fresh horse manure in the fall again, that would also be a solution as it would be ready to use on plants by the spring.  If we could find a source of horse manure, UW Physical Plant would transport it for us if the farm would load it in their truck.

We should pay someone to evaluate the mulberry tree.  The branches are obstructing the path. It would be best to act while the ground is frozen. Lily will put in a work order with PP to ask for an assessment and quote for removal.

Garden Worker Report

Jolene said the process has been started to hire a third garden worker and the target start date is mid March.  Pam said not much is happening in the garden in winter.  Jolene asked that any needed supplies be ordered soon.  Pam is checking the charger of the weed wackers before buying the new batteries already approved for purchase.

Motion by Ric and seconded by Lily to adjourn.

Adjourned about 7:30 pm

Submitted by Karen, subject to correction by the Garden Committee

January 2025

                                            Eagle Heights Garden Committee Minutes

January, 2025  7 PM

Remote Meeting

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

Alex started the meeting.

Minutes  With a motion by Barb A and seconded by Lily, the November 2024 minutes were approved. 

Registrar Update

Seed Fair April 5, 2025 and Seed Sort January 20, 2025.

Garden plot renewals are at the same pace than previous years but new applications are lower. Lily will advertise in the UW Housing Apartment newsletter.  Blue Moon Farms will again do our cool and warm weather plant sales.  We are receiving nice seed donations.  Gardeners asking for less strenuous work days will help with the more extensive seed repackaging. 

Lily asked if the committee thought a postdoc was classified as student or staff.  The committee agreed postdocs are students.

Workday Report so far

195 gardeners participated in garden worker lead workdays, 142 have paid the no workday fee and 73 have not done anything yet. This is following the same trend as previous years. We will have the final report after Feb 15th.

Food Pantry

Andrew with UW Housing connected Lily with Open Seat Pantry, which is a food pantry on campus for UW apartments residents and students. They will provide a collection barrel at Eagle Heights Garden.  The pick up time will be 4pm Wednesday at Eagle Heights Garden.

Request for Blueberries north of E8 at University Houses

A gardener has asked about planting blueberries in this space.  This is a difficult space due to shading and walnut trees. After discussion, the Committee decided to come up with a plan for the north tree line before acting.

Budget

We have reserves for next year and can pursue the new water line up the 300’s.

UW Plumbers have our request for a consultation but we do not have an answer yet.

Compost

There was a discussion about buying compost for both gardens.  The idea would be 1 portion per plot at no cost.  Lily will explore the idea.  

Gardening on a Budget

Lily is working on some information for gardeners on gardening on a budget. She would like people to understand that gardening need not be expensive.

Garden Worker Update

Pam said that the carts and tools were put away by December 1st. Pam will be returning to the garden.  A friend of hers is looking at the weed whackers and trying to fix them. Pam will get the chargers looked at too. 

Recruitment and retention

Jolene said that since HR has put an end date on TE appointments and that Lily, Pam and Nick are returning. A resident gardener is interested in the 3rd position. Discussion ensued. Pam thinks three garden workers are good. Jolene will start the process with the person interested in the Garden Worker position.  

Jolene said January is the month the Committee decided to take action on retention raises for staff.  The employees left the meeting. Discussion ensued.  The committee decided all returning gardens would receive a $.50 raise per hour.  Jolene said she is not sure when the raise will take effect as this is HR’s decision.  The new garden worker would be hired at $17 per hour.

Motion by Ann and seconded by Barb A to adjourn.

Adjourned just after 7:45 pm

Submitted by Karen, subject to correction by the Garden Committee