Foodscape Revolution author Brie Arthur
Foodscape Revolution author Brie Arthur
Visiting author Brie Arthur talked about her unique approach to pairing edibles with ornamental landscapes and her book, The Foodscape Revolution. She sold out a case full of her books and autographed them, having a lengthy personal chat with each HUGger. And it really is a good book and it was a great talk.
Brie’s approach is aimed at fitting edibles into an HOA-tolerated suburban landscapes, usually large sprawling landscapes, but there is plenty in the book to use for smaller urban spaces provided you have the sun.
You start with a landscape plan of ornamental perennials, shrubs, trees, flowers–your ornamental framework. The book has a chapter on planning your landscape and suggestions for plants including some natives and even some edibles. Many edibles are beautiful plants such as citrus and other fruit trees, beauty berry bushes… What else is good for our climate?
Plant the edges–Edibles as Borders:
Her first, and simplest, tips is to plant edibles along the edges of your beds where not only can they make attractive borders, they are easy to plant and harvest. Examples include garlic, which has the added benefit of repelling some pests from your beds, greens, potatoes, peppers, peanuts, basil etc. Switch with the seasons by doing garlic or onions, lettuces, winter herbs or potatoes in cool season. Peanuts, peppers, bush beans, basil, etc for warm season.
Edible Groundcovers:
Ideally around your ornamental shrubs, you want warm & cool season options. Use vining squashes, melons, sweet potatoes for summer and lettuces and other greens; winter herbs such as chamomile, and cilantro; and strawberries for cool season
Use Shrubs as Support
Brie names some shrubs that she says can support a tomato growing through it practically invisibly. A photo on page 48 ofThe Foodscape Revolution illustrates this with tomatoes, but little tomato foliage visible, apparently supported by a hydrangea. In addition to the tomatoes, vine plants are obvious selections with peas in winter and pole beans in summer. These have the benefit of being attractive vines as well. Brie names spires (Virginia Sweet Spire?) hydrangea, viburnum & lilac. Although we don’t do lilacs here. Perhaps we can compile our own list, ideally from native plants.
Planting Zones
Another concept is to divide up your landscape into zones radiating out from the house. The idea is to put mostly ornamentals near the street where they won’t upset the HOA and most edibles near the house where you have quick access, can give them more care, and where they are less visable. Also, near the home, they can be used to define your outdoor living spaces into “rooms” with vertical structures and planters.
