Design an organic, edible landscape.

Project Title: Edible Landscape
Designer: Avis Licht   
Title: Landscape Designer
Company: Sweetbriar Landscape Design
http://www.sweetbriarlandscapedesign.com

Are you concerned about global warming and wonder how you can help? Try turning your front lawn into an organic, edible landscape. If the millions of ornamental front and back yards around the world were turned into edible landscapes, global warming would likely cease to be an issue. Edible landscaping conserves energy, soil, and water. Food grown in your own yard requires no middle men to produce, harvest, ship, and store. Organically grown food is safe to eat and free from harmful pesticides that seep into the soil and water. The health benefits for our planet are plenty.

Think about it—you simply replace your ornamental plants with edible plants. Not only will you save time and money in the long run, you will enjoy seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables year round, and you will be doing your part to fight global warming by reducing harmful environmental pollution. Consider planting fruit trees, berry bushes, vegetables, herbs and spices, and edible flowers, depending on your location and climate. No need to shop every other day for produce when you can step out your front or back door and pick it fresh. It's a win-win proposition all around!

In this project, landscape-design guru Avis Licht guides you through the steps you need to take to plan, design, and install an edible landscape. Keeping in mind her mantra "reduce, reuse, recycle," you begin by considering project specifics such as site location, climate, accessibility, budget, and project scope. Based on these factors, you lay out your plan by measuring, photographing, and making sketches of your site. You input the drawing details into AutoCAD®, and begin to play with ideas. Where will the pathways be? Do you want to include structures such as benches, arbors, sculptures, or picnic tables? What types of plants will thrive in your site? Make a list of materials that you will need including the plants and material structures. Keep your eyes open for materials you can reuse for garden sculptures or fences. Reused materials can be even more beautiful than new materials.

Following Avis's video mentorship, design and install an edible landscape where you live. If you live in a warm climate, you might consider citrus or avocado trees, lavender bushes, sunflowers, blackberries; your choices are boundless. For cooler climates, you might consider berry bushes such as blueberries, gooseberries, and currants. Be sure to use native plants in your landscape. Because they evolved with the local environment, native plants are naturally low maintenance, conserve water, and support local ecology. Wherever you are, whatever you grow, your edible paradise should meet three basic criteria: it should be beautiful, functional, and sustainable. Bon appétit!