Onto Edible Landscaping

Betcha can’t guess what I’ve been doing? It’s been both entertaining and enlightening. I’m loving it!

This country gal likes to learn. Dunno why, but I’d rather read something on farming, gardening or animal life than I would a novel. I can eat lunch while watching a youtube video of a pig giving birth. Just saying! If it has to do with natural living, I’m in!

Hence the reason I’ve been taking books out of our local library and perusing the internet for how-to tutorials on  landscaping… with edible plants! Along with this, I’ve also been researching edible hedgerows. Fascinated, I am!

I’ve been intrigued by traditional English hedgerows and wattle fencing for several years, but alas, don’t have property to try it on! I did once make a willow trellises for climbing peas. They fell apart at the end of they year, but looked great. At least I thought so.

But let us stay on track, shall we? Traditionally speaking, edible plants were part of a home or estate’s landscape. Not until after the Renaissance were edible/non-edible plants separated from one another. And in some countries (such as Europe) this method of landscaping is still put to good use.

The frugal girl in me loves this idea. Loves it! Why not use food producing plants in landscaping? Grape vines and climbing roses? Berry bushes and hazelnuts? A hundred and one varieties of fruit trees? And please, please, please could there be quince among them?! I’ve been waiting for years!

Fruit bearing plants, yes! But why not also use plants that afford homemade teas and home remedies? Why not use herbs and tomatoes? Leafy greens and red cabbage? Peppers, okra and vegetable-bearing vines?

And so they did longer ago. Food bearing plants combined with ornamentals. Sensible and logical, this idea is.

I’ve been reading the book “Landscaping with Fruits and Vegetables” by Fred Hagy. He emphasizes how traditionally, people took starts from local herbage, from plants that were already acclimatize to their particular area. They came at little cost to the landscaper, though it took more than a few years before edibles could be harvested. In spite of this, I liked this idea. I really did!

I tried rooting plum tree clipping last year which totally worked. Until I forgot to have someone water when we went away on vacation. I aim try it again, adding hazelnut, lilac and elderberry to the mix.

Pots, folks! All I need are pots and soil to be in business!

Some day, this learning will pay off I’m sure! I hope!

So I keep researching. Learning how to assess a property, develop plans, select plants. To take note of the sun’s patterns and where shadows will fall. How wide pathways, parking lots and driveways should be. Important things like this, that I’ll probably have forgotten by the time I actually need the know-how.

But still, all learning is not lost! Yes, some day, hopefully within the next 10 years I shall have my chance.