Introducing Mario Batali’s Edible Garden

Posted in Around the Garden, Mario Batali's Edible Garden on April 21 2011, by Ann Rafalko

Mario Batali was at the Garden on April 12. But he wasn’t here to see the cherry blossoms or to catch a glimpse of José and Justin. Nope, Mario was here for one very good reason: To promote children’s gardening through the launch of Mario Batali’s Edible Garden at the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden. The gathering also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Family Garden and its role as an important place to educate the public on the benefits of vegetable gardening and using fresh produce in daily meals.

The day was a bit gray and drizzly, but the profusion of Batali orange and a cheerful group of schoolchildren from the Bronx’s own C.S. 211 made the day feel sunny and bright. Mario and the kids were joined by local officials and community gardeners, Garden employees, and Garden board members in preparing the beds and planting the first seeds and plants.

Three individual beds make up Mario Batali’s Edible Garden.

The Otto Pizza Garden is a pizza-shaped plot. Each of the six garden “slices” are planted with the plants–including wheat, tomatoes, onions, and oregano—that go into the delicious pizza at Batali’s West Village restaurant Otto Enoteca Pizzeria.

The Babbo Beets, Beans, Garlic, and Greens Garden features plants on the menu at Batali’s iconic restaurant Babbo.

Batali’s Berry Patch features the tiny fruits that are Mario’s all time favorites. According to the chef, his love for berries developed as a child in the berry nirvana also known as the Pacific Northwest. Batali’s Berry Patch is an opportunity for Mario to pass on his love to a new generation of budding chefs.

The Family Garden provides students, teachers, children, and families with the hands-on excitement of growing vegetables and learning about gardening and plants. With help from parents, volunteers, and staff, children dig, weed, compost, plant, tend, and harvest. Themed activities change monthly. The Family Garden is open daily, 1:30 – 6 p.m. during the vegetable gardening season.

Throughout the spring and summer, visitors to the Family Garden will be able to watch the cornucopia of fresh food grow in Mario Batali’s Edible Garden display beds. And then, beginning August 27, Mario Batali’s Edible Garden program will allow families to enjoy daily gardening activities and cooking demonstrations that showcase kid-friendly recipes with the chance to sample and search for ingredients in the garden.

We’ll be posting regular updates on how Mario’s garden is growing right here on Plant Talk throughout the spring and summer. We’ll also be tweeting directly from the garden, and posting updates on both the Garden‘s and Mario‘s Facebook pages. So be sure to stay tuned for special contests, updates, tips, and features. It’s going to be a tasty, delicious, nutritious growing season!

Photos by Ivo M. Vermeuelen and Mark Pfeffer.