Growing an Edible Landscape: How to Transform Your Outdoor Space into a Food Garden

Millions of modern gardeners are converting their unproductive lawn and landscape areas into fruitful edible gardens to reduce time and energy, improve lives, and mitigate climate change. Growing an Edible Landscape is a practical guide to help with ideas, plans, designs, and know-how. It outlines the transformation process, sensible garden design options, step-by-step projects, and practical plant-care tips. It also includes 25 profiles of common and uncommon plants for an edible yard. By saying goodbye to lawn and hello to an edible landscape, gardeners can start a journey toward a more self-sufficient and flavorful life.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 23 November 2023
Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc

Out with the lawn and in with the food! That's the battle cry of millions of modern gardeners who are not only looking to reduce the amount of time and energy they have to spend tending a lawn, but they're also looking to improve the lives of their family, friends, and neighbors by supplying them with fresh, homegrown food. In the United States alone, 46 million acres of land are covered in turfgrass (that's more acreage than corn and soybeans combined!). Imagine all the good that would come if that land were dedicated to growing food instead! Converting unused areas of the landscape into food gardens helps mitigate the effects of climate change, reduces food miles, improves food security, and allows us to be a better steward of our little slice of the planet. But how do you get started? Which plants do you choose? Is there a series of best practices to follow to successfully convert your yard into an edible oasis so that it's not just high-yielding, but it's also attractive? Growing an Edible Landscape is here to help answer all of these questions and many more. Setting up an edible landscape is much more than just placing a few tomato-filled raised beds in the middle of the lawn, though for some gardeners, this might be a logical place to start. The eventual goal, however, is to have a landscape filled with layers of fruitful plants combined together to produce edible harvests for as many months of the year as possible. To reach that end, there's much to plan and do to ensure your success. Authors Gary Pilarchik of @therustedgarden and Dr. Chiara DAmore have devised the perfect guidebook to take you on this journey.

Introduction:
In a world where the demand for fresh, healthy food is on the rise.

Millions of modern gardeners are embracing the idea of converting their unproductive lawn and landscape areas into fruitful edible gardens. Not only do they want to reduce the time and energy they spend tending to a lawn, but they also want to improve the lives of their family, friends, and neighbors by supplying them with fresh, homegrown food. In the United States alone, 46 million acres of land are covered in turf, more acreage than corn and soybeans combined! This vast amount of land could be used to grow food instead, which would have a significant impact on mitigating the effects of climate change, reducing food miles, improving food security, and allowing us to be better stewards of our planet.

Benefits of Converting to an Edible Landscape:
Converting unused areas of the landscape into food gardens offers numerous benefits. Firstly, it helps mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting biodiversity. Turfgrass, which is the most common type of lawn in the United States, requires a lot of water, fertilizer, and pesticides to maintain. By replacing it with edible plants, we can reduce our carbon footprint and help preserve our natural resources.

Secondly, converting to an edible landscape reduces food miles. Food miles refer to the distance food travels from farm to table. When we grow our food locally, we reduce the amount of energy and fuel used to transport it, which helps reduce our carbon footprint and supports local economies.

Thirdly, converting to an edible landscape improves food security. By growing our food, we can become more self-sufficient and reduce our reliance on imported food. This is especially important in times of crisis, such as pandemics or natural disasters, when food supply chains may be disrupted.

Lastly, converting to an edible landscape allows us to be better stewards of our planet. By reducing our use of pesticides and fertilizers, we can help protect our soil and water resources. We can also promote sustainable farming practices, such as crop rotation and composting, which help maintain the health of our ecosystems.

Getting Started:
Converting to an edible landscape can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. Here are some steps to get you started:

1. Assess your yard and landscape:
Take a walk around your yard and landscape and assess the areas that are suitable for growing food. Consider factors such as sunlight, soil quality, and water availability.

2. Choose your plants:
Choose plants that are suitable for your climate and soil conditions. Consider factors such as temperature, humidity, and rainfall. You can also choose plants that are native to your area, as they are often more adapted to local conditions and require less maintenance.

3. Plan your layout:
Plan your layout carefully to ensure that your plants have enough space to grow and thrive. Consider factors such as the size of your garden, the types of plants you are growing, and the amount of sunlight they require.

4. Prepare the soil:
Prepare the soil by adding organic matter, such as compost, to improve its fertility and structure. This will help your plants grow strong and healthy.

5. Plant your garden:
Plant your garden according to your plan and ensure that each plant has enough space to grow. Water your plants regularly and provide them with proper care, such as pruning and fertilizing.

Maintaining an Edible Landscape:
Maintaining an edible landscape requires regular care and attention. Here are some tips to help you maintain your garden:

1. Water your plants regularly:
Water your plants regularly, especially during dry periods. Ensure that the soil is moist but not waterlogged.

2. Prune your plants:
Prune your plants regularly to remove dead or diseased branches and promote healthy growth. This will also help your plants to produce more fruit.

3. Fertilize your plants:
Fertilize your plants regularly with a balanced fertilizer to provide them with the nutrients they need to grow.

4. Protect your plants from pests and diseases:
Protect your plants from pests and diseases by using natural pest control methods, such as companion planting or introducing beneficial insects.

5. Harvest your crops:
Harvest your crops regularly to ensure that they are fresh and nutritious. You can also use your crops to make homemade preserves, soups, and sauces.

Conclusion:
Converting to an edible landscape is a rewarding and fulfilling experience. It not only provides us with fresh, healthy food, but it also helps mitigate the effects of climate change, reduces food miles, improves food security, and allows us to be better stewards of our planet. By following these steps and providing your plants with proper care, you can create a beautiful and productive edible garden that will provide you and your family with years of enjoyment.

Weight: 710g
Dimension: 204 x 254 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780760381489