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The Gardens at Havenwoods
Havenwoods has
partnered with the Milwaukee County University of
Wisconsin – Extension (UWEX), the UWEX SouthEast
Wisconsin Master Gardener Volunteers (Master
Gardener Volunteers), and the UWEX Master Composters in the
development and care of several gardens.
Buds 'n Sprouts Gardens
Havenwoods and
UWEX broke ground for the kids' garden in 1995. The
gardens are a place where groups of children can
learn about good nutrition, discover nature, and
develop their gardening skills. They plant and tend
their own small gardens. In addition, a larger
garden features vegetables planted in interesting
ways. Peek through the fence and you might catch a
glimpse of the Pizza Garden, Subway Garden, Pumpkin
Patch, or Salsa Garden. Follow this link to find
more information about the
kids' gardening
program.
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Heritage Gardens
These gardens feature
traditional food crops from five major cultural groups in
America:
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African American
-
Asian American
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European American
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Hispanic American
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Native American
Master Gardener Volunteers plant and tend
the gardens.
A visit in summer will open your eyes to the
similarities and differences in the vegetables grown
by these cultures. You
might also discover new vegetables to grow and new
ways to nurture them.
Heritage gardens in
1993
Heritage gardens in 2008.
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Naturalist's Backyard
In 1990,
the Master Composters built demonstration compost
bins north of the education center. The area looked
like this.
In the
years since, the Master Gardener Volunteers have put much care and attention into
the area. Today, as the Naturalist's Backyard, it is a
model landscape filled with native plantings. It
features perennial forbs, grasses, and trees; accessible gardens; and
a shady, peaceful escape. The compost bins are still
in use.
Visit during the growing season to get ideas for
your own backyard.
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Rain Garden
UWEX staff and
volunteers helped Havenwoods design, sculpt, and
plant this site to model a home rain garden. The
rainwater that runs off the roof of the education
center flows into three basins planted with native
forbs, sedges, and rushes. Come follow the trail
around and through the rain garden. Visit several
times to catch the parade of blooming flowers all
summer long.
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Urban Gardening Rental
Plots
Our partnership with UWEX began in about 1986 when we broke
ground for garden plots. UWEX called the program
Shoots 'n Roots in those days. Gardeners are indeed
both doers and dreamers. Only a gardener could have
looked at this site and imagined growing produce!
This photo from 1986 shows
the "less than ideal" soil. In addition
to the clay, early gardeners dealt with wild animals
that raided the gardens just as produce was ready to
harvest. Supplemental soil, compost, time, a fence,
and an irrigation system have made gardening at
Havenwoods much more productive and enjoyable.
This photo shows approximately
the same view in 2008.
Today neighbors rent
twenty-four rental gardens (about 20’ x 40’ each) to
grow their own vegetables and flowers. UWEX staff
members administer the rental program, and they till
and stake out the gardens before the planting
season.
For information on becoming a
gardener at Havenwoods visit the
Rent a Garden Web site.
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