Anyone can put plants in the ground…

But it takes genuine care (and expertise!) to grow an amazingly productive Lowcountry garden.

At Rita’s Roots, we answer all your questions before you even think of them, ease your stress about starting your garden and make you feel completely confident growing your own food.

Most of all, we believe anyone can become a successful gardener with the right tools and thoughtful guidance.

No green thumb required.

WHO WE ARE

RITA BACHMANN

Owner + Founder | Rita’s Roots Backyard Harvest

Gardener | Teacher | Mentor

An unlikely farmer, Rita graduated with a degree in Political Science from the College of Charleston in 2004, and accidentally fell in love with growing her own food after apprenticing on a farm in the Catskill Mountains.

Rita became devoted to the ideal of sustainable, locally-grown food and fueled her passion and knowledge with a subsequent internship on Towani Organic Farm in central California.

Rita returned to Charleston in 2006 to apply her newly developed farming skills in the Lowcountry. She began by starting a small, organically certified farm on Johns Island and quickly developed a following amongst area chefs. 

Transitioning from the field in 2011, Rita founded Rita’s Roots Backyard Harvest with the goal of helping aspiring gardeners establish productive vegetable gardens and farms of their own in the Lowcountry.

In 2019, the Rita’s Roots nursery was founded in Summerville and became Certified Organic in 2023— the first woman-owned, certified organic nursery in South Carolina!

JESSICA JONES

Office Manager

Jessica met Rita in 2009 when her husband, Aron, worked on Rita’s CSA crew. Jessica and her daughters have volunteered on farms in California, Hawaii and South Carolina. In 2011, Rita helped Jessica set up her first home garden here in Charleston, which was impressively productive!

Jessica’s educational background in accounting and prior experience in office management made her a perfect fit to take the majority of Rita’s office work off her hands, so those hands have more time to get dirty!

Rita’s Roots Crew

  • Jamey Bezuidenhout

    GARDEN GURU

    Jamey has been with Rita’s Roots for two years as a Garden Guru and is currently pursuing her degree in Horticulture! She loves getting her hands dirty, growing food, and helping others discover that gardening doesn't have to be complicated. When she's not working in someone else's garden you'll find her talking to her bees or discovering her new hobby of the year!

  • Steven Boyer

    INSTALLATION CREW LEADER

  • Phyllis Gasper

    MARKETING MANAGER

    Phyllis calls Austin home and works behind the scenes managing the Rita’s Roots website, email newsletter and social media. If you’re on Instagram, send a DM to say hi!

  • Chrystine Mileski

    NURSERY MANAGER

    Chrystine spends her days keeping plants happy, solving problems, and making sure the many moving pieces of the nursery stay on track. With a love for hands-on work and a willingness to tackle just about anything, she enjoys watching a crop go from seed to healthy, thriving plants!

  • Mark Rigatti

    GARDEN GURU + INSTALL CREW MEMBER

    Florist, garden designer and landscape architect.

  • Michelle Scheible

    NURSERY TEAM

    Michelle has worked at Rita’s Roots since 2023, specializing in seeding and potting every one of the plants we sell! Much like mail workers, she arrives in sun, rain, or snow—nothing will stop her from growing those plants! Michelle is one with nature and has an entire room devoted to found feathers, flowers, and all things whimsical.

  • Travis Weddle

    GARDEN GURU + INSTALL CREW MEMBER

    Born and raised in Florida, Travis traveled and worked in Alaska, Hawaii, and abroad as a deckhand and Divemaster.  Travis and his wife, Nikalina, who he met in Alaska, moved to Charleston in the Summer of 2024 for her residency at MUSC. Travis has had a passion for growing ever since his grandparents took him on garden walks as a child!

  • Patricke Westbrook

    NURSERY TEAM

    Patricke has been a horticulturist and bonsai artist for virtually his entire adult life, but was growing plants and playing in the garden since childhood. Patricke loves all the unique traits different plants can have and their ability to adapt to virtually any environment and enjoys sharing his knowledge with the Rita’s Roots community!