Kathryn Padorr gives a short walk-through of the essentials for gardeners at Eagle Heights. Contact the current registrar at ehgardens@rso.wisc.edu with any questions about gardening at Eagle Heights.
Shared Areas by the Garden Shed
Welcome
Welcome to Eagle Heights – One of the oldest and largest gardens in the country.
Dumpster
The dumpster is for trash only – not weeds or other vegetation.
Share Shelf and Announcement Board
Take or leave anything to share (seeds, plants, garden items). Look for garden announcements on the board.
Garden Shed and Tools
The shed is always locked for garden workers but there are carts and tools for sharing. Always wipe down tools and carts when you bring them back.
Washing Station
Running water and soap is available for regular hand washing.
Water Lines
Bring your own hose and always disconnect it and put it back in your plot when you are done.
Shared Areas Up the Hill
Stick Barrels
Take anything that is at the stick barrels for building fences or other structures. Do not take anything from the nearby Nature Preserve. It is protected.
Weed Pile
Old vegetation and weeds can go here. Be sure to push as much into the center as possible.
Bricks
Do not take the bricks. They are for specific garden projects not for gardener use.
Leaf Pile
The leaves come from the Village of Shorewood and are useful for mulch and soil amendments to balance the clay soil at the gardens. Do not put your compost or weeds here.
Mulch Pile
Wood chips which are good for keeping weeds down and other uses in your plot.
Paths
Be sure to keep common paths cleared of hoses and other items for mowing and other maintenance.
At Your Plot
Stay in Your Own Plot
Never go into someone else’s plot or take any produce or anything else from someone else’s plot even if it looks untended.
Corner and Number Markers
Make note of the border markers and do not move these. Everyone should keep a 6″ inset from their plot border and maintain a path wide enough for people to walk between and to bring hoses through for watering. Don’t garden all the way up to the marker posts.
Example of a Good Plot Fence
Fences are not preferred at the gardens but, if installed well, can be fine. The fence needs to be solid, upright, and set back at least 6″ from all of the borders of the plot. Most of all, make sure your neighbors are not impeded in any way by your fence.
