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!

OMG, it's OMRI!

If you’re reading this article, you're probably in one of three places:

You've got the bug! You can already taste your organically grown basil-paired tomatoes and like nodding along to the info in these posts.

1. You're just starting out, maybe have purchased a bio-degradable pot at Home Depot... Whatever says, “Organic”, you say, “Sounds right.”
2. Or you're someplace in between or outside watering your plants.

But how would you know for sure that the products you buy or materials you use are really organic?

The Organic Materials Review Institute

The folks who direct the OMRI Advisory Board set up shop in 1996 for the purpose of evaluating materials allowed for use in organic production and processing. The USDA had issued a rule called the National Organic Program rule that caused all sorts of confusion about what the standards were to certify a material “organic.” The OMRI provided one-stop-shop for suppliers to get their product evaluated who, otherwise, would've wasted lots of time and money going to multiple reviewers. Doesn't sound very fun, but OMRI set the record straight and they continue to work with the USDA and the National Organic Standards Board to provide necessary guidance.

OMRI received ISO 65 accreditation from the USDA, which gave them global recognition as a competent certification body. Congrats OMRI!

Want to make sure your soil blend qualifies as organic? Already got your raised beds filled up and ready to add amendments? Check OMRI’s list of materials approved for organic growing. All of the items in our soil blend – Pine Bark Fines, Mushroom Compost and PermaTill, are listed, along with the ingredients in our amendment blend : Bone Meal, Dried Blood Meal, Kelp Meal, Rock Phosphate, Green Sand, And Dolomitic Limestone.

Got an insect pest problem in your garden or looking for a foliar spray to add supplemental potassium? Always look for the trusted OMRI Listed logo on product packaging.

Q & A : Shade Gardening

Q. I live in Southeast Charlotte and have a house on just over 1/3 of an acre. My house is 2 stories+ and faces east and my backyard is fenced and filled with trees. So, there's almost no sun back there... I would love to grow tomatoes or grow some types of hot peppers and make my own hot sauce, but with the limited sun I assume that's not feasible. I'm assuming that mushrooms don't require sun -in fact, they require shade I imagine.

Do you have any tips and hints to help me get started? I want to do something but I just don't know what!

A. Passion for gardening is certainly something you can't buy or haggle, so it's great you're willing to try something new knowing failure may become a good friend of yours! I would like to emphasize that if you take one thing away from these suggestions, remember the importance of experimentation. You want some fiery peppers? Plant some in a raised bed or large pots with good drainage and properly amended soil and see what you get!

Let's start with an area assessment. Depending on how shady the area,  there are several plants can grow reasonably well with only 3-5 hours of sun (lettuces, leafy greens, peas, beans, and herbs). Mushroom logs would definitely reside happily in your shady knoll! You mentioned your house is east facing, perhaps a side garden would work best on the south facing side of your house. Whatever the location, a raised bed would certainly be your best bet. Plants wouldn't have to compete with neighboring tree roots for water and nutrients in the soil. They would also get a fresh start with that loose, rich, organic potting soil mix you're going to be using.

 
Secondly, consider reflective surfaces. If you have minimal sun, make the most of what you have by using a reflective mulch (or crumpled up pieces of aluminum foil around the base of a plant) and attracting sunlight with a white lattice (or other reflective fixture) posted up behind your plants. You're plants won't pass judgement if you happen to blind your neighbors in the process. And we won't judge you for the source of your inspiration! It could even distract them from the cooing chickens you're thinking of smuggling in.

On a more precautionary note, shade can increase the dampness which brings to mind disease and pests like slugs and snails. So keep a close eye on your darling peppers and parsley and don't overwater. Less sun allows the soil to retain more moisture. Soft, sticky pests will scamper at the sight of egg shells. Homemade tea concoctions made from a variety of kitchen items like vegetable oil, cayenne pepper, paprika, and dishwashing soap can make your garden sing.

So, be brave! Let your unwieldy gardening spirit soar and go buy some seedlings!

Additional Resources:

 http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/vegetables-to-grow-in-shade-zm0z11zsto.aspx?page=3

http://www.motherearthnews.com/shade-tolerant-vegetables-zm0z11zsto.aspx 

http://anewscafe.com/2011/07/07/dig-this-gardening-in-the-shade-challenges-and-opportunities/

http://www.paystolivegreen.com/2008/12/make-your-own-homeade-pesticides-and-repellants/

Race Car Driver, Organic Gardener

For Jeff Gordon, it’s not all about dodging 10 car pile-ups and gunning for the checkered flag. Just like a lot of us, the NASCAR driver wanted an organic garden so he and his family could eat better quality produce that they grew themselves.

We made four 2.5’x5’x 12” high, raised beds using Western Red Cedar 4”x4” timbers and installed them in a sunny nook behind the kids’ playhouse.

We planted an assortment of leafy green varieties like spinach and bibb lettuce, as well as popular summer favorites like green beans, tomatoes and radishes. The family’s personal chef regularly harvests produce from the garden for use in creative, healthy meals.

Rooftop Gardening with the Cole Family

“We tried putting a garden in the backyard, last year, but it didn’t grow very well”, explained Alicia, pointing to the railroad ties down below. Weeds had overtaken the raised bed which sat in a shaded alcove in the backyard.

“And we had a hard time keeping the dogs out of it too”, she laughed, pointing to the two German Shepherds pacing around the backyard.

“So I thought why not put a garden on the roof?”

"As a physician, I definitely think that good food is linked to good health", explains Alicia. " I want my kids to not only know where food comes from but eat healthy, home-grown vegetables (and keep me out of the grocery stores on busy week day work days!).  I am excited about growingcarrots, garlic, lettuces and leafy greens in the cooler seasons. In the meantime, I should have a bumper crop of zuchinni this summer!"

The flat roof area on the back of the Coles' home was plenty big enough for a garden. It had a convenient access door, a load bearing wall underneath that could support the Ringling Brothers Circus, and nearby downspouts where they could harvest rainwater.

In order to minimize heat, the Coles had the existing black roof replaced with new cooler white roofing material. Before installing the raised beds and rain barrel, we placed a layer of durable so-slip material that’s specially designed to prevent tears in the waterproof membrane caused by objects and foot traffic.

Two 4’x6’ Kitchen Garden style raised beds fit perfectly over that burly load bearing wall, and according to Alicia the 80 gallon rain barrel is already earning its keep.

The summer vegetable varieties that the family planted are loving all that new sunlight and they’re just fine with those German Shepherds staying way down on the ground below.