Rainwater Gardens

Rainwater Gardens is located in the historic town of Plattsburg Missouri, between Kansas City and Saint Joe on 116 HWY. (see map)
A little history by Tracy Pincus:

When I moved back to my hometown of Plattsburg in the spring of 2010, my mother’s flower gardens were a little more to handle then I had anticipated. She has over 20 beds and hundreds of different species many being native to this area. Taking care of my parents and a 12 room Victorian House built in the 1880’s plus the gardens, I still wanted so start my own business. I have been in the catering, restaurant business for many years; I am a fabulous cook who loves FRESH vegetables and herbs. With the help of my sister Sarah we have transformed many of the flowerbeds into vegetable gardens. The soil is out of this world. Black Gold we call it, many years ago this area was a barnyard. My mother has been gardening here for 50 years. She was always an organic gardener (before it became the trending thing to do) She never used any pesticides, always composted and used nature’s leaves as mulch and fertilizer in her beds.

I had rain barrels at my home in Kansas City and wanted to figure out a way to catch all the rainwater I could for the garden, (better for the plants and the water bills). The gardens are located at the back of our property, making it a challenge to get the water that far. Growing up we had a small brick patio that had a big concrete slab on a platform that we always just called the “old well” It was really the cistern that was closed up in the 1930’s or 40’s when city water came to town. To my joy and surprise it was full of clear beautiful rainwater! With the help of my friend Marc we redirected some gutters, got a pump in the cistern, built a new top and we now have all the free rainwater we want.

Our first year we grew broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, radishes, beets, potatoes, brusselsprouts, carrots, onions, spinach, all kinds of lettuce, watercress, peppers, beautiful heirloom tomatoes, melons, peas, beans, cucumbers, all kinds of herbs and have started a blackberry and raspberry patch. We enjoyed the fruits of our labors and so did many of our friends and family all spring, summer and fall. It felt soooo good eating from your own back yard, knowing no carbon footprint had been left, everything tasted so good.

My sister and I decided to expand the beds and start Rainwater Gardens. We have the space, we love the garden and we love FRESH food. Look for us at local farmers markets, or come visit us in the garden.