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Edible
/ Residential Landscapes
 An
edible
landscape mimics
natural systems and
replaces plants that
are strictly ornamental
with plants that produce
food or are useful
in various ways. An
edible landscape is
an attractive, multidimensional,
species-rich, polyculture
weave of fruits, vegetables,
nuts, animals. A well-designed
residential landscape
will have colorful
fruits and foliage,
make efficient use
of water, fuel, money
and time and be easier
to maintain.
Benefits:
 *
Improved
Taste and Nutrition
of Food: Nutrient
content and flavor in
most plants is highest
immediately after harvest.
The edible landscape
provides fresh foods
which can be eaten minutes.
In addition, many exceptional
and flavorful varieties
not found at food markets
are available to growers
of edible landscapes.
* Increased Food Security:
An edible landscape
reduces your dependence
on foreign food sources.
* Reduced Food Costs:
Some edibles are highly
productive and are
more economical to
grow at home than
to purchase.
* Convenience: Having
fruits and vegetables
right outside your
home may help you
add fresher, healthier
foods to your diet
and makes meal preparation
easier.
* Fun and Exercise:
Growing your own crops
can be rewarding and
fun; the exercise
you get in the process
can help you stay
fit.
* Sustainability:
Consuming locally
grown produce can
be an important part
of reducing energy
inputs and protecting
our environment.
Designing
and Managing the Edible
Landscape
Design
 Most
food-producing plants
need sunny locations
and well-drained soils.
Certain fruit trees
easily integrate into
a landscape and function
in multiple ways -
as shade and/or flowering
trees as well as edibles.
Smaller fruiting plants
can substitute as
shrubbery and some
perennial herbs make
nice ground covers.
Both can be inter-planted
with existing ornamental
shrubs and ground
covers. However, edibles,
like vegetables or
seasonal herbs that
are planted and harvested
frequently, should
probably be planted
in a garden solely
devoted to their production.
This allows you to
amend and cultivate
the soil without disturbing
the permanent plantings.
Inputs
 Edible
plants, like ornamental
plants, require maintenance.
Maintenance can be
reduced by planting
the "right plant
in the right place,"
matching a plant's
growing requirements
with the site conditions.
When growing vegetables,
consider the season
as well, since they
only grow at specific
times of the year.
All plants require
some pruning, fertilizer,
and water, as well
as monitoring for
pest problems. Take
special care to select
pesticides and fertilizers
that are appropriate
and safe on plants
to be consumed.
Harvesting
 Harvesting
the "fruits of
your labor" is
rewarding, but sometimes
challenging. Keeping
up with ripening fruits
and vegetables may
require weekly, or
even daily, monitoring
during the harvest
period. Highly perishable
crops will require
either quick processing,
such as canning, freezing,
or drying, or friends
and neighbors to accept
the abundance.
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