Today we’d like to introduce you to Rita Bachmann.
Hi Rita, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I became interested in food and where it comes from and how it is produced when I was in college. I participated in community gardens and decided to appreciate on an organic farm after graduation. I fell in love with the work and the land and the connection.
I was hooked on the aspect of self-sufficiency and reducing my carbon footprint.
After two apprenticeships in New York and California, I headed back to the Lowcountry of SC, to run a farm and eventually start my own farming enterprise running one of the area’s first Community Supported Agriculture programs, participating in the farmer’s market, and selling to Charlestons best chefs.
Eventually, the business evolved out of the field and into the yards of homeowners, helping them install and grow their own organic vegetable gardens. Rita’s Roots has been helping people grow their own food since 2011!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The weather is always a challenge for plant growers! We experienced 3 years in a row of hurricanes in the Fall when we were getting ready for planting season and we had a nursery full of transplants. We had to quickly figure out a way to protect our seedlings from the rains and the winds.
We also had to replant entirely for one year due to the storms. Plants are stronger than you would think but they do not like being indoors for a prolonged period. Hurricane season always adds a baseline of nerves for those of us in the growing world.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our mission at Rita’s Roots is to take the guesswork out of gardening in order to empower our clients to grow their own food. We provide consulting and coaching services to teach our clients one on one.
We also supply all of the plants, seeds, soils, and fertilizers to our clients to make the entire process easier. We install organic gardens, host community plant sales and have an online membership community called the Garden Growers Club where we coach members through the annual gardening cycle.
I am very proud of how many brown thumbs we have turned green in our community. Our clients are so proud of their gardens and we are so proud of their efforts and commitment to growing food.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I think suburban homesteading is on the rise – in addition to vegetable gardens, people are wanting to add fruit trees, berry bushes, bees, backyard chickens, cut flowers, and more!
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.ritasroots.com
- Instagram: @ritasroots
- Facebook: Rita’s Roots Backyard Harvest
