Photo: King Associates
Whether you call it edible landscaping, foodscaping, or front-yard farming, many landscapers around the country are helping homeowners convert work-intensive, enviromentally unsound lawns into productive gardens.
If you’re a homeowner and your yard is covered with snow right now, you may be dreaming of the beautiful lawn you will have in spring. You may even be imagining that you love having a lawn even though no one uses your lawn to picnic or play catch and that you enjoy mowing and spreading weed killer to give your home a green welcome mat until summer sun turns it brown. When you’re in a deep freeze, it’s easy to feel that everything about spring is fun.
But what if someone knocked on your door one day and offered to plant and care for a vegetable garden where your lawn is now, promising to give you a generous cut of the produce?
That is actually happening. Fleet Farming, for example, does this work in Orlando, Florida.
Their website says, “Fleet Farming is a non-profit urban agriculture program whose mission is to empower all generations to grow food to increase local food accessibility. Our Vision is to create localized food systems that bring communities together towards a healthier, more connected world in harmony with people and planet.
“We accomplish this by converting underutilized lawn space into productive localized edible gardens or micro farms. Our program works to provide edible landscaping to schools, community centers, affordable housing units, businesses and individuals through our community farming initiative and Edible Landscapes garden-installation service. Together, we are changing the cycle of food.”
The organization describes a 2018 project at its blog, here. “In May 2018, over 100 student volunteers from Rock Bridge Community Church in Northern Georgia came down to Orlando and partook in a series of action days in partnership with United Way. They aided Fleet Farming and Orlando Permaculture in revitalizing Audubon Park Covenant Church’s beautiful grounds.
“The students were a massive help in clearing bushes and planting new trees. They collaborated in shoveling and transferring fresh mulch to the church’s plentiful gardens. They showed a true sense of generosity and community.
“Every person, young or old, deserves the right learn how to grow their own food, and engage with nature and the outdoors. If you have a group who would be interested in working with Fleet Farming for a day of action, contact us at info@fleetfarming.org.”
You can also consider “donating” your lawn.
I agree!!! Great work they’re doing! Our program is exploding…this year we may try to add pollinator patches near edible gardens, particularly those left untended by schools.
Keep up the posts; I love reading them! And you Pam and I are overdue for dinner, eh??? xoxox
Love your new website, Jean: http://www.meadowmaking.org . I want to keep track of your Meadowscaping work and will blog about it again before long.
It’s an interesting idea, especially in urban/suburban areas, where growing food is unusual. Maybe because I grew up on a farm, I have no real desire to farm anymore . . .
Past experience can get that out of one’s system. In my father’s case, he hated weeding the renowned Alpine garden his own father grew in Syracuse, but loved doing gardening as an adult, even after a debilitating stroke.
Oh how nice. I love garden 🙂
I enjoy other people’s gardens and would be happy to have someone work on one in my front yard. Not sure my husband would like that though.
I think the garden is a very nice thing. A place where you can relax and enjoy yourself. I know there is a lot of work in the garden, but it’s not psychic work, so I love it.
Anything that is peaceful for someone is good.
I agree with you.