The term “edible landscape” can seem rather confusing for some people. Or it sounds a lot like something straight out of the movies. In truth, the concept dates all the way back to ancient Egpyt! Growing food crops in a deliberate manner to give off visually ideal arrangements has been going on for a long time.
Another term for this is “foodscaping,” which is a far cry from traditional isolated garden beds and row crops on land. Do you have flowerbeds that aren’t really in use? You can convert it and get started on creating food-producing plots that are aesthetically pleasing.
Aside from the obvious benefit in terms of having beautiful surroundings and organic sources of nutrition, there are several advantages when taking on foodscaping! Let’s explore them below:
Foodscaping Is Great For Keeping Your Budget Safe
The actual logistics relating to an edible landscape’s return on investment (ROI) will take quite a bit of maths. On the other hand, an ornamental garden’s value is visual. That’s all there is: it looks good. At most, it can add to do-it-yourself (DIY) floral arrangements since fresh cut flowers are expensive.
An edible landscape goes beyond the good looks. It affords fresh, organic food sources. If you grow blueberries, for example, aside from the pretty plant you get a snack or something that can go in smoothies, pies, desserts and more!
Think about vital factors such as the climate, light and space. There are plenty of temperature tolerance variations depending on plants. Sunlight can also make a difference when it comes to what kind of crops or plants are set out. Space has to be taken into consideration especially since there are plants that tend to expand quite a bit.
Here are some of the key benefits of edible landscaping/foodscaping:
Foodscaping Is Great For Making the Most Of Available Growing Space
Urban gardening is on the rise. When you don’t have a lot of space, taking on edible landscaping can be a good way to effectively use a garden. It allows for the beautification of the surroundings while serving as a source of fresh produce. Most vegetables and fruits can be grown in containers. A small pot, together with some seeds, will go a long way already!
Foodscaping Is Great For Saving Resources
Minimizing bare soil helps prevent weeds because, when you plant an edible landscape, you can use a variety of plants, and the pests that attack one plant usually don’t like others. If most of the plants in your garden repel insects, you can avoid using pesticides.
All of that means there will be far less effort and finances needed for maintaining the garden. Who doesn’t enjoy savings in terms of time and labor?
Conclusion
Edible landscaping-sometimes known as foodscaping-is essentially the act of using crop, herb or fruit-bearing plants for landscaping. It’s growing in popularity especially in urban spaces as a means of sustainability. Benefits include saving resources, keeping your budget safe and making the most of available growing space.
Looking for edible landscape plans? Check out Blossom & Broom today! We’re chock-full of information about the home and gardening.
