| EDIBLE LANDSCAPING . |
Edible LandscapingEdible landscaping is an ancient and sensible practice that fell out of style as the proliferation of markets and cities took over social structure. Landscaping of every major civilization included edible fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs. Only recently has this fallen out of practice. Even if you see something edible today, it is probably saturated with chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The "typical garden" idea of a rectangular plot of dirt with rows of vegetables is not a very appealing site in a yard or park. Why not incorporate them into the space with a natural and aesthetically pleasing maner? This is actually the best way to do it, and for several reasons. Why Develop an Edible Landscape?Food security is the first reason. You know you will
have food in the event of an emergency. You know where your food
came from, and whether or not it has chemicals or genetic alterations.
Another reason concerns resources like oil and coal: -growing your
own saves
you money and reduces energy costs in the community associated with
shipping and storage. Having
the option to grow what you want is another excellent reason for developing
an edible landscape. If there is a particular grape, apple, or spice
you enjoy, you will always have it on-hand, and for free! Although
there are more reasons, the last I will offer here is that living in
an edible landscape will give you many opportunities to get outside,
interact with nature, and enjoy life more.
What to Grow?Primary consideration of course will depend on where you live: the climate, soil, and sunlight. Learn the local vegetation, and for other produce, find varieties that will grow best for you. Typically, a range of fruits, vegetables, nuts, spices, and edible flowers are included. To simplify this, let's break it down into groups, also including some extras: Trees / Shrubs / Vines / Groundcover / Small
Plants / Flowers / Structures / Planning
TreesTrees are important as foundational elements around which to organize the rest of the landscaping. Trees cover the shade plants and provide a home for birds and wildlife. They also change color for the seasons, hold firm the soil, and provide an abundance of food! An excellent tree is often the focal point of a beautiful landscape. The gorgeous tree above is an Apple tree in bloom. Other popular trees (depending upon climate and soil) include: Pear, Peach, Plum, Cherry, Chokecherry, Almond, Fig, Olive, Avocado, Orange, Pineapple, Coconut, Guava, Filbert, Serviceberry, Carob, Elderberry, Mayhaws, Persimmon, Mulberry, and more.... Some trees like Black Walnut kill their neighbors. Others like Pine are too acidic and prevent most edible plants from growing, however, you can try Strawberries or Sweet Woodruff as a nice edible ground cover if you have Pines.
ShrubsShrubs and hedges are excellent choices for framing and subdividing the landscape. Shrub Roses, such as the popular Rugosa variety shown above, are beautiful, functional, and highly nutritious. Rugosas produce large red rose hips that contain 60 times the vitamin C of an orange. The hips can be used to make tea, jam, syrup or jelly. Blackberry, Black
Currant, Boysenberry, Blueberry, Cranberry, Gooseberry and
Raspberry do well as a hedge and they are easy to establish
in the garden. Rosemary is
wonderfully fragrant and hardy, as is the sweetness of Honeysuckle. Honeysuckle is available in different colors, grows fast, and likes
to sprawl. Remember to keep in mind individual plant needs and growing habits. For example, Blueberries and Cranberries prefer an acidic soil (low pH); Gooseberries a neutral one. And Raspberries, while yummy, tend to invade adjoining spaces.
VinesThe best vine crop for the edible landscape is grape. Grapes grow well in a wide range of soils but do best in well-drained soils. Grapes are self-fruitful, which means they do not require another cultivar to produce fruit. When choosing a variety, remember that American hybrid types are hardiest. Grapes are usually grown on a trellis or an arbor, however, grapes
(and other vines, shrubs, and trees) can also be espaliered
to grow as a fence or along a wall. Nasturtium is a flexible plant that can shrub, climb walls, or crawl along the ground, as in this photo from Monet's garden, which is still tended today in Giverny, France.
Ground CoverGround Cover is a great way to offer yourself low-maintenance, high-yield, and very beneficial plant life to your landscape. It protects the soil, provides living space for wildlife, and provides a lush and beautiful alternative to an ordinary grass lawn. The photo above is wild Lingenberry in it's natural habitat. If
you look closely, you can see the beautiful bright red berries! Flax grows easily and provides essential fatty acids in the seeds.
Small PlantsHerbs and vegetables can be placed about the yard. From a patch of Sage, Tomato, Corn or even Cactus. Some Mint, a small Parsley bush, Wild Leeks ("Ramp"), and perhaps some Ornamental Cabbage. I will be adding more to this section soon-- How to fill all those little nooks with goodies, expand your variety, and enhance the garden.
FlowersThey draw attention wherever you put them, whether in the garden or
in a recipe; the color and energy of flowers is undeniable. Flowers
are also a source of nutritional and medicinal value, but it is important
to know which parts of the flower to use and at what time to pick them.
Structural ElementsA good landscape includes more than just the plants. Other elements to add in your garden are things like rocks, sculptures, ponds, fountains, waterfalls, streams. Architectural features include patios, decks, or even a bridge, gazebo or tea shrine. They allow for people and other animals to enjoy the garden, and they are also good for the plants themselves.
PlanningOrganizing all of this so it works together is the key to having
a long lasting and abundant landscape. Arrange the plant life according
to soil composition and compatibility. Terraforming the surface may
be needed to accomodate drainage or additional features. Additional
rocks, dirt, sand, and mulch should be on-hand.
A WORD OF CAUTION . . .It is very important that you learn about the plants you choose to eat. Just because a plant is "edible" doesn't mean you can't eat the whole thing. Only certain parts of each plant are edible. It could be the fruit, leaves, seeds, the root, or whatever. Sometimes they need special preparation before eating. It is possible to become very sick, or worse, if we're not careful !!! The article above is just a sketch of what Edible Landscaping is all about. There is much more to learn and experience. The links below are intended as a jumping-off point and quick reference.
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