March 8, 2025 About Rain Gardens

Summary of March 2025 Rain Garden Event

Our group, which is now called “Sustainable Hill Farms”, held it’s second meeting, this time focusing on rain gardens.  We received good, practicable information, and just as importantly, we are beginning to get a real sense of ourselves as a group that is gaining cohesion and momentum.

The presenter was Gail Epping Overholt, Hill Farmer and natural resources educator at UW-Extension in Milwaukee and in Duluth Superior and recently retired from the UW-Madison Arboretum.  She described the benefits of rain gardens pointing out the _multiplier effect_ of having many located in our neighborhood.  But the focus was on getting it done.  Gail provided detailed, practical guidance and manuals on locating, sizing, preparing, and planting them.  Neighbor, Dave Stecher, then described his specific needs and goals as he plans to build his own this summer.  Shout out to Becki Fiegel for providing pictures and describing how she built her own two rain gardens.

Wyatt Orcutt announced his Eagle Scout project to remove invasives from Garner Park this Saturday March 15 from 10 – 4.  He asked volunteers to rsvp

Next meeting is April 5, entomologist Claudio Gratton (https://entomology.wisc.edu/directory/claudio-gratton/) , will present on how best to support pollinators in Hill Farms.

As a group we are looking for alternatives to Facebook.  Currently we are exploring Discord.  I am setting up a server (i.e., group site) for our evaluation.