Edible landscaping (also known as foodscaping) blends the aesthetics of landscaping with the health, financial, and wellness benefits of regular home gardening.
The objective is to use food plants to replace ornamentals or non-productive plant materials. With this, gardeners are transforming their yards into a bounty of produce, giving their families fresh, healthy food.
Today, non-profit organizations are seizing the opportunity to promote food security in underprivileged places while also providing green space for their people through landscaping.
Continue reading to learn how to create an edible landscape and how it can benefit you and the environment. You’ll also get a list of edible plants to incorporate in your edible landscape design.
What Are the Advantages of Edible Gardening?
Environmental Sustainability
The food we eat is made with valuable natural resources. The three most important are water, energy, and land.
The transportation of food from farms to our dinner tables and everywhere in between consumes the majority of our country’s energy budget. Meanwhile, agriculture consumes 69% of the world’s freshwater supply and 50% of the planet’s habitable land.
Rather than going to the store, you may shop for food in your garden, which also encourages environmental conservation and sustainability.
Safety of Food
Simply put, when you garden at home, you know exactly what you’re growing.
You can be aware of the nutrients that go into your soil and the hazardous chemicals that do not since you are farming your crops. Because the current agricultural economy lacks transparency, edible landscaping is a useful activity for health-conscious people.
Financial Gains
Money doesn’t grow on trees, but by planting some in your yard, you might find a new source of income.
You may feed your family by using edible landscaping. Growing food plants is much less expensive in the long run than buying all of your produce from the shop. You can even select to cultivate more expensive fruits and vegetables. Alternatively, grow only the vegetables you know your family will consume.
Better Life Quality
The normal day job encourages people to be inactive. On the other hand, staying idle in your edible landscaped yard is not an option. Gardening forces you to get out and around, exposing you to nature and fresh air.
Not to mention the obvious benefits of having access to nutrient-dense meals and the family bonding time that comes with producing your food.
What Should You Plant in Your Edible Garden?
The answer lies in the aesthetic you want for your garden. The allure of landscaping is its well-planned and structured arrangement, which results in a well-organized and attractive outside space.
It’s critical to consider the final appearance of your landscape, so planning is highly recommended!
Here are a few plants to consider for your garden, as well as how they will contribute to the overall look.
Borders:
- Eggplant
- Mint
- Peppers
- Sage
Colors:
- Gold Zucchini
- Lavender
- Purple Cabbage
- Red Orach (French Spinach)
Height:
- Amaranth
- Asian Pears
- Beans
- Brambles
Shrubs:
- Blueberries
- Elderberry (black)
- Figs
- Haksap (Honeyberry)
Textures:
- Chives
- Collards
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
Conclusion
If you think gardening is already difficult, and landscaping is even more challenging. However, edible landscaping could be the next step in developing a healthy relationship with not only our food but also with our environment.
Blossom & Broom offers home and garden aesthetics that can help you with your edible landscape design. We also offer home decor, kitchen, cleaning, and gardening content. Grow your food today!