Heidi Billotto's Organic Garden

Heidi Billotto is serious about making cooking fun.  When she’s not teaching one of her popular cooking classes, you might find her giving culinary demonstrations on WCNC-TV, or WCCB-TV.  “I always shop local farmers markets for ingredients,” explains Heidi. “I think it’s important to support the local food system. ..which is easy because the quality of the produce is so much better!”

While many of her classes are taught in the instructional kitchen at Reid’s Grocery, she often teaches classes at local farms, like Proffitt family farm, which specializes in grass fed organic meat.

“I’ve taken a couple of stabs at gardening in the past, and I’ve done okay with my herbs,” she says, waving a hand toward an army of potted plants on her deck.

“This year, I was absolutely determined to have a successful edible garden, and I heard that Microfarm might be able to help,” she continued , smiling.

As with all of the gardens we install, but especially one for a chef, it was important that the garden be close to the kitchen.  An aging gas grill was finally put to pasture, which opened up the perfect spot for Heidi’s garden : a sunny nook beside the deck, and mere feet from the kitchen table.  A 4’x6’ Kitchen Garden style raised bed fit perfectly, and was planted with heirloom beet, eggplant, green bean, and pepper varieties. Cucumber plants were placed at a corner of the bed so that they can climb up and out along the deck’s railing.

An area just across from the raised bed was prepped and planted with six tomato varieties, and three types of squash.

So Heidi’s garden is off to a great start, and one of Charlotte’s most successful chefs will finally have a successful organic garden!