Stephen Treimel, Expert Gardener, Carrboro NC
Stephen is an expert gardener who designed two community gardens at the Pacifica Cohousing Community in Carrboro, NC. He has installed extensive terraced and raised bed vegetable gardens, and has expertise in the following areas:
- Building productive garden soils from the native clay through use of compost, organic fertilizers and soil amendments, and micro-nutrients;
- Growing vegetables and greens using raised-bed, bio-intensive methods;
- Designing and building deer-proof gardening enclosures, both large and small scale;
- Installing cisterns, solar pump systems, and drip irrigation systems;
- Using crop rotation and succession planting to grow vegetables all four seasons;
- Worm composting.
Stephen uses the bio-intensive method of gardening, which spaces plants closely together, making maximum use of sunlight, water, and nutrients to boost yields: “I use succession plantings to keep the garden actively producing year-round. My approach to soil balancing and plant nutrition is based on the methods published in the farming journal ‘Acres, USA’.”
In his gardens, Stephen adds primary and secondary plant nutrients to balance their amounts in the soil. Compost and soil micro-organisms are then added to help create a living soil. This living soil feeds the plant through the growing season. This provides a solid nutritional foundation for the plant, and confers a large degree of protection from disease and insect attack. It also produces vegetables with superior flavor and nutritional value. He do not use synthetic herbicides or pesticides, and relies instead on biological methods of insect control or organic pesticides when necessary.
Starting with the Soil
Stephen has years of experience building productive, healthy soil, which can often be one of the biggest challenges for gardeners growing in the red clay soils of North Carolina.
“In general, soils in the piedmont in NC are heavy, infertile clays with significant mineral imbalances. The soils typically need hi-calcium lime and gypsum to raise pH and break up the heavy clay. The soils also need a lot of good compost to add carbon and humus. They need a good source of phosphate and trace minerals. Most of these materials can be purchased locally at Southern States in Pittsboro. The compost can be purchased by the truckload from local producers.”
Stephen is familiar with soil and plant nutrient, and can assist growers in figuring out how much of each of these ingredients any particular plot might need to bring its fertility to optimum level.
- Stephen meets you on-site for 1 to 2 hours, where he will get to know you, your interests, goals, and evaluate your land, soil, and other factors.
- Stephen will takes soil sample for you to send to the Extension office for free testing, or recommend additional soil testing services.
- Take “before” pictures, to track your progress.
- Determine if any zoning regulations or city ordinances must be reviewed, and if any digging is called for, if cable, sewer, or other lines must be surveyed.
- Stephen will then develop appropriate proposals, project plans, maps, budgets, materials and seed lists, and other recommendations, and send electronically.
- YardSprout will follow up with additional information and a short evaluation survey.
- Full consultations are generally $150.
Gardening Consultation
Services: Stephen offers following gardening and landscaping services in Carrboro, Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, and beyond:
- Consultations
- Garden Planning and Design
- Soil Testing
- Building Healthy Soils
- Installation Projects
- Deer Fencing and Appropriate Pest Management
- Garden Maintenance
Types of projects:
- Small, individual/residential vegetable and herb gardens
- Medium to large scale home or community gardens
- Farming projects
Contact YardSprout at 919-360-2028 for more information about working with Stephen.
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