Tina Marie Wilcox, head gardener at Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas: program on creating an herb and vegetable garden.

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Cooking up a Kitchen GardenCooking up a Kitchen Garden
From ScratchFrom Scratch

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Tina Marie WilcoxTina Marie Wilcox
Ozark Folk CenterOzark Folk Center
head gardener, herbal interpreter, writerhead gardener, herbal interpreter, writer
Photo credits:Photo credits:
Bill YoungBill Young
Deborah ReddenDeborah Redden
Special thanks toSpecial thanks to
Tricia Hern, archivistTricia Hern, archivist

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Wisdom from theWisdom from the
Ozark Folk Center’sOzark Folk Center’s
Kitchen GardenKitchen Garden
The problems it solvedThe problems it solved
The steps of installationThe steps of installation
Herbs, vegetables and edibleHerbs, vegetables and edible
flowers to incorporate in mealflowers to incorporate in meal
preparationpreparation

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For decades the Ozark FolkFor decades the Ozark Folk
Center’s garden had its charmsCenter’s garden had its charms

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It also had problems -- invasiveIt also had problems -- invasive
Bermuda grass, poor soil, and itBermuda grass, poor soil, and it
needed more interesting featuresneeded more interesting features..

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We decided to kill two birds withWe decided to kill two birds with
one stoneone stone
There was a huge herb garden in the craftThere was a huge herb garden in the craft
village and we had a restaurant (the Skillet)village and we had a restaurant (the Skillet)
that only used herbs for special herbthat only used herbs for special herb
dinners.dinners.
We decided to create a real “kitchen” gardenWe decided to create a real “kitchen” garden
within easy reach of the Skillet’s chefs andwithin easy reach of the Skillet’s chefs and
cooks.cooks.

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Starting from scratch,Starting from scratch,
we rescued the ornamental plantswe rescued the ornamental plants
that did not belong in a kitchenthat did not belong in a kitchen
gardengarden

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And we tried to eradicate bermudaAnd we tried to eradicate bermuda
grass and other perennial weedsgrass and other perennial weeds
by the rootby the root

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We were organicWe were organic
in nature, but hadin nature, but had
to be practical into be practical in
spirit.spirit.
We had to resortWe had to resort
to an herbicide.to an herbicide. 

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We added six inches of top soil toWe added six inches of top soil to
raise the garden bedraise the garden bed

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Then we fed the soil in the bedsThen we fed the soil in the beds

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We added worm castingsWe added worm castings
to contributeto contribute
organic matter and fertilizerorganic matter and fertilizer

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We establish boundaries byWe establish boundaries by
mulching the bedsmulching the beds
withwith
wheat straw for the vegetableswheat straw for the vegetables
&&
mineral mulchesmineral mulches
for the perennial herbsfor the perennial herbs

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Compost, ground minerals & mulchCompost, ground minerals & mulch
suppliedsupplied phosphorus, potassium, calcium,phosphorus, potassium, calcium,
trace elements, & organic mattertrace elements, & organic matter

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We planted in early springWe planted in early spring

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And, here’s how it looked inAnd, here’s how it looked in
early summerearly summer

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What to Plant inWhat to Plant in
your Kitchenyour Kitchen
Garden?Garden?
What will you use?What will you use?

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Culinary herbs . . .Culinary herbs . . .

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Edible flowers add color to theEdible flowers add color to the
garden and the plate.garden and the plate.

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Use pineapple sage for edible redUse pineapple sage for edible red
flowers.flowers.

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Chive flowers add color to aChive flowers add color to a
saladsalad

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Perennial herbs add flavor andPerennial herbs add flavor and
form year after year.form year after year.
Rosemary and sages are examplesRosemary and sages are examples

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Parsley is biennial and will set seedParsley is biennial and will set seed
the second year.the second year.

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Annual herbs can be grownAnnual herbs can be grown
from seed every yearfrom seed every year
Dill Sweet BasilDill Sweet Basil

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VegetablesVegetables
Ornamental Kale ArugulaOrnamental Kale Arugula

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Summer squash and sweetSummer squash and sweet
potatoespotatoes

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Home grown tomatoes along withHome grown tomatoes along with
beans and okra . . . .beans and okra . . . .

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I hope these ideas help youI hope these ideas help you
cook up a Kitchen gardencook up a Kitchen garden
andand
make it a success!make it a success!