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  • Rain Gardens in Hill Farms

    Presenter: 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. This is the second meeting in what we hope will be an ongoing collaboration of Hill Farmers focused on sustainability and planting for biodiversity. In February we focused on the principles of Home Grown National Park. In this meeting we will focus on one aspect – the rain garden. Rain gardens help absorb stormwater, recharge ground water, improve pollinator and bird habitat, and provide year-round interest. We will learn about the basics of rain gardens, including design and plantings. Come at 1:00 to get settled and visit with neighbors. Gail’s presentation will start at 1:30 followed by Q&A and discussion. When we talk about rain gardens it will be helpful to focus on one or two specific scenarios. If you would like to volunteer your property as a scenario, let me know in advance and we can discuss details.

  • Permaculture Talk, Tour, and Plant Sale

    - This will be a field trip to a permaculture demonstration food forest on the northeast side of Madison. It's a talk and tour by Susan Hessel, program manager of Madison PermacultureWorks https://www.facebook.com/MadisonAreaPermacultureGuild/. Children are welcome. - BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE! They're holding their Annual Perennial Edibles Plant Sale that day: stuff to buy. Their list of offerings may be posted beforehand. We will update this announcement as we learn more. - Note: For those with accessibility concerns, they can offer a path with few obstacles. Please let us know ahead of time, if you would prefer that.- We can coordinate ahead of time to car-pool

  • Promoting Pollinators in our Neighborhood

    Presenter: Claudio Gratton, Professor of Entomology and Landscape Ecology at UW-Madison Professor Gratton has focused on the importance of insects in our habitats. He will share his knowledge and help us promote them in our yards and the neighborhood.

  • Owen Conservation Park Friends of Amphibians Field Tour

    HEY SUSTAINABLE HILL FARMERS! Join the Owen Peeps for an evening field trip to Owen Conservancy to learn about (https://jhua13.wixsite.com/friends-of-amphibian) monitoring efforts through Dr. Jessica Hua’s Lab at UW-Madison. Gail, Beth and Jane, otherwise known as the Owen Peeps will demonstrate the frog and toad survey they perform weekly March through September. Maybe you’ll even want to become an Owen Peep! Amphibians are widely regarded as the most threatened vertebrate group globally. Habitat change and diseases are identified as the top two drivers of amphibian declines. Our goal is to better understand how disease and human activities associated with urbanization influence amphibian communities by monitoring amphibian populations in urban ponds across Madison. Notes:- Will meet at the entrance to the Conservancy- For those with accessibility concerns, we will walk a short distance on a gravel path and there is a bench nearby to use.- Dress in layers as it can get chilly as daylight fades. - Rain date June 11.

  • Yard Tour at Katy’s and Dave’s

    Come to Katy and Dave's house to see the sustainability improvements they've made. Katy and Dave live in the neighborhood at 37 S Eau Claire Ave, on the corner of Eau Claire Ave and La Crosse Lane. They'll take you on a tour of the property and discuss the changes they've made and plan to make. This includes solar panels, an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV), a rain garden, a food garden, harvesting wood from the property, and more! This is a family event. Kids are welcome.

  • Visit Alex’s re-wilded yard — and more

    In February, Wisconsin Master Naturalist Alex Singer did an inspiring presentation for us on what he’s done over the past decade to turn his suburban yard into a homegrown national park. We're invited to tour that yard while it is at its summer best. Please join us at his place (410 Luster Ave, Madison) on Sunday July 20 at 10am. There won't be a formal presentation, but we’ll have the opportunity to see what he’s done and ask questions. Alex lives on the north side of Madison so we can carpool or come on our own. Since we’ll be on the north side anyway, it would be easy to check out Troy Farm (https://rootedwi.org/troy-farm/) after and then the Lansing Food Forest (https://www.wisconsinfoodforests.com/lansing-food-forest/). If you're interested in coming to any or all of this, let Scott and Gloria know and we can plan from there.

  • Hill Farms Honey Bees

    If you've been curious about how beekeeping works, now's your chance to find out! Hill Farms beekeeper Chris Pierce has offered to introduce us to his bees and speak a bit about how they work and produce that fantastic Hill Farms honey. Join us in Chris's front yard  Sept 20 at 3pm. The two hives in his front yard are accessible to all. He will have honey available for purchase.

  • From Consumer to Community Member

    Fullerton's 4813 Bayfield Terrace, Madison, Wisconsin, United States

    This event focuses on the community aspect of sustainability. - How does a strong local community support sustainability?- What is the connection between consumer culture and building community?- How can we build greater well-being in the neighborhood? Let's explore and discuss these questions. Image used with consent from Michelle Tylecki https://www.michelletylicki.info/,

  • Annual Seed Swap

    Fullerton's 4813 Bayfield Terrace, Madison, Wisconsin, United States

    Get ready for gardening without spending a cent on seedlings.  Bring your favorite seeds; leave with new ones

  • Permaculture Design Workshop – Basics and Design

    The presentors are Marian Farrior and Susan Hessel from PermacultureWorks Cooperative / Madison Area Permaculture Guild Join us for this introductory workshop on permaculture, a design process that uses ecological principles to create healthy and resilient food systems and communities. Last year Sustainable Hill Farms visited the Madison Area Permaculture Guild Food Forest to see permaculture design in practice. It was an inspiring display of abundance and diversity. In this interactive workshop, you will learn about permaculture basics and design principles and how you can apply them in your own back yard. Please come a few minutes early to visit, have a snack, and settle inThe workshop will begin promptly at 1:00

  • Cleanup at Rennebohm Park

    Rennebohm Park Madison, Wisconsin

    What: This is part of the Madison-wide Earth Day Challenge Initiative (https://www.cityofmadison.com/.../pro.../earth-day-challenge)When: Sat 4/25 10 AM - 12 (leave when you need to)Where: We'll meet at Rennebohm park at corner of Regent and Eau Claire Celebrate Earth Day with neighbors, friends, and family by volunteering to clean up Rennebohm Park. What we'll do: Stick Removal and trash pickupWe can work as a group or independently What to bring:Trash bag and gloves (grabbers are handy if you don't want to bend over a lot).We'll have extra trash bags in case you need more

  • Home Energy Efficiency Event

    Fullerton's 4813 Bayfield Terrace, Madison, Wisconsin, United States

    MG&E ask-an-expert, Leah Samson, will present on smart electrical use and programs that can reduce your bill and your carbon footprint. There will be time for Q&A. Meet-n-greet-n-snacks followed by presentation. Topics will include:- Time of Use, energy efficiency tips- MGE’s renewable energy programs- State and federal rebates- Heat pumps- Electric vehicles- Net metering (solar)- Basic overview of how we, as energy producers and consumers, are part of the gas and electric distribution networks.