If front yard landscaping was beneficial and edible, then it would be beautiful AND useful. I
spent many years landscaping homes that we bought and sold, before I got on the edible landscaping bandwagon. One day it occurred to me that if I was going to work that hard, why not plant things that would be pretty AND feed my family?
As Americans, we aren't taught to think that way. But perhaps times are changing.
It is much easier to plant clover, watercress, chickweed or thyme than fescue. Plant blueberries instead
of boxwoods. Plant sage instead of begonias. Lavenders, mints, fruit trees, horseradish, berry bushes, and bean vines; lettuce, chives, garlic and strawberries...all beautiful, edible, and easier to maintain than fescue. So why do we have acres and acres of plants that don't give back? We could have beautiful yards and produce food at the same time. But most Americans just don't think that way...yet.
Could you imagine if all the time and money spent on babying grass (not to mention the fuel and maintenance of lawn mowers that would be saved), was spent growing edibles instead?
Everything about lawns makes...me...crazy. Our time is valuable, and the food that we eat invaluable. So why not spend one to obtain the other? Especially these days, when eating spinach or cantelopes can kill you.
Granted, there are many places that do not allow for this kind of landscaping; but isn't it time that we stopped accepting that kind of thinking?
spent many years landscaping homes that we bought and sold, before I got on the edible landscaping bandwagon. One day it occurred to me that if I was going to work that hard, why not plant things that would be pretty AND feed my family?
As Americans, we aren't taught to think that way. But perhaps times are changing.
It is much easier to plant clover, watercress, chickweed or thyme than fescue. Plant blueberries instead
of boxwoods. Plant sage instead of begonias. Lavenders, mints, fruit trees, horseradish, berry bushes, and bean vines; lettuce, chives, garlic and strawberries...all beautiful, edible, and easier to maintain than fescue. So why do we have acres and acres of plants that don't give back? We could have beautiful yards and produce food at the same time. But most Americans just don't think that way...yet.
Could you imagine if all the time and money spent on babying grass (not to mention the fuel and maintenance of lawn mowers that would be saved), was spent growing edibles instead?
Everything about lawns makes...me...crazy. Our time is valuable, and the food that we eat invaluable. So why not spend one to obtain the other? Especially these days, when eating spinach or cantelopes can kill you.
Granted, there are many places that do not allow for this kind of landscaping; but isn't it time that we stopped accepting that kind of thinking?
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