Small Scale Cover Cropping: Cover Crops for Urban Growers

Join us for part 1 of this workshop series: Cover Cropping for Urban Growers. This workshop held at FireFly Ridge Community Garden (10305 Underwood Pkwy, Wauwatosa, WI 53226) is open to anyone interested but is especially valuable for farmers and experienced community gardeners who want to integrate cover crops into their annual crop plans.

You'll learn:

• How cover crops boost soil health, suppress weeds and pests, and protect water quality

  
  

• Methods to select cover crops that align with your goals, crop rotations, and growing seasons

  
  

• Planting techniques, with hands-on practice broadcast sowing and precision sowing using tools like a Jang seeder

  
  

• Termination methods, including interactive demonstrations of simple, effective approaches to ending cover crop cycles

  
  

Plus, you'll take home free cover crop seed to plant during the 2025-2026 seasons!

Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. Bring a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated. We’ll provide a light snack to keep you fueled.

Speakers:

• Dr. Nicole Tautges is an Agroecologist at the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in southeast Wisconsin. Her research program focuses on sustainable cropping system design, including soil fertility management with organic inputs, nutrient cycling, integrated crop–livestock systems, and perennial crops.

  
  

• Emilee Gaulke is part of the UW–Madison Extension specialty crops team and serves as the Diversified Vegetable Educator for the greater Milwaukee area. She provides production assistance to direct market vegetable growers. Her areas of interest include integrated pest management, high tunnel production, and nutrient management.

  
  

• Rue Genger is the Emerging and Specialty Crops Program Manager in the Crops and Soils Program at UW–Madison Extension. They work with county educators and Extension specialists to develop research and educational programming to support Wisconsin producers of emerging and specialty crops.

Cost: Free, but registration is required

Question?

Contact Meg Sargent at 414-615-0531 mudfarms@extension.wisc.edu

This event is hosted by the UW-Extension Milwaukee Urban Demo Farm Network, with support from Michael Fields Agricultural Institute.

About The Milwaukee Urban Demonstration (MUD) Farm Network

The Milwaukee Urban Demonstration (MUD) Farm Network is led by the UW-Extension Community Food Systems Program in collaboration with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

MUD brings together farmers, researchers, and conservation experts to share practical strategies that build soil health, protect water resources, improve yields, and support wildlife. As the first urban USDA demonstration farm network, we showcase how conservation practices can be effectively applied to small-scale urban farms across Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region.

About Michael Fields Agricultural Institute

MFAI is a non-profit organization that has been cultivating resiliency through research, education, and policy work since 1984. With a broad coalition of public and private partners, The Institute supports farmers, food systems and communities in the Upper Midwest and beyond through a range of programs and initiatives. We believe agriculture can sustain both human and ecosystem health, while advancing food security, independence, and justice. Follow along on Instagram and Facebook for news and events.