In this episode we visit Brie Arthur in her garden where we explore foodscaping – or edible landscaping. Brie is the author of the book, Foodscape Revolution, so we couldn’t think of a better way to demonstrate this concept than visiting her own foodscape garden.
Brie Arthur shows us first hand how to mix vegetables in with ornamental plants in an aesthetically pleasing way.
Landscaping and gardening have always been treated as two totally different practices. And yet, they have more similarities than differences. Brie shows us first hand how to mix vegetables in with those ornamental plants to create an edible landscape that’s both practical and aesthetically pleasing.
If there was ever a time for foodscaping to go mainstream, it’s now. With more of us at home and foot shortages part of our new reality, 2020 is the year to take advantage of growing food whenever and wherever we can.
Even though the concept of foodscaping has been around for a long time, most gardeners still tend to keep their food garden hidden – tucked away where their neighbors (and their HOA) won’t see. But a better way could be hiding veggies, fruit, herbs, and even grains in amongst trees, shrubs, and perennials. There doesn’t need to be a distinction between a landscape and a food garden.
Instead of hiding your food garden, you can tuck in veggies, fruit, herbs, and even grains like Brie does. When you plant edibles amongst trees, shrubs, and perennials, there doesn’t need to be a distinction between a landscape and a garden.
We see firsthand how Brie mingles food crops in with ornamentals. Even crops you wouldn’t normally see growing in a backyard garden and certainly not an ornamental landscape such as wheat and barley – well, Brie grows them as an integral part of her landscape.
Simple Steps for Getting Started in Foodscaping
Brie offers a few simple steps that anyone can take to get started in foodscaping.
Step 1: Think about a few foods that you eat all the time and are comfortable cooking with. Garlic is a great example of a food that most Americans cook with regularly that is also very easy to grow and is usually imported from outside the United States.
Step 2: Identify the sunniest areas on your property. Then focus on those places you walk by the most.
Step 3: Put your highest maintenance edible plants there and incorporate some ornamental plants for camouflage. Make the most of the space you have and grow enough food to feel like you are changing some habits in your life.
We hope you enjoy this episode and that it removes some of those perceived barriers or limitations on where to grow food in your own yard. Afterall, encouraging more people to include edible crops in their home landscapes might be the best way for all of us to start growing a greener world.
Links & Resources
Growing a Greener World Episode 703 – Masters of the Edible Landscape
Growing a Greener World Episode 813 – New Ways of Growing Our Favorite Vegetable
Growing a Greener World YouTube Episode 1102 featuring Brie Arthur’s Foodscape Garden
The joe gardener Show Episode 079 – How to Create an Edible Landscape, With Brie Arthur
joegardenerTV YouTube: Edible Landscaping – How to Create a Foodscape
Growing a Greener World Newsletter sign-up
The Online Gardening Academy and Master Seed Starting Notification Signup
The joe gardener Amazon Storefront
The Foodscape Revolution: Finding a Better Way to Make Space for Food and Beauty in Your Garden
Gardening with Grains: Bring the Versatile Beauty of Grains to Your Edible Landscape
Edible Landscaping book by Rosalind Creasy
*Disclosure: Some product links in this guide are affiliate links, which means we would get a commission if you purchase. However, none of the prices of these resources have been increased to compensate us. None of the items included in this list have any bearing on any compensation being an influencing factor on their inclusion here. The selection of all items featured in this post and podcast were based solely on merit and in no way influenced by any affiliate or financial incentive, or contractual relationship. At the time of this writing, Joe Lamp’l has professional relationships with the following companies who may have products included in this post and podcast: Rain Bird, Corona Tools, Milorganite, Soil3, Exmark, and Park Seed. These companies are either Brand Partners of joegardener.com and/or advertise on our website. However, we receive no additional compensation from the sales or promotion of their product through this guide. The inclusion of any products mentioned within this post is entirely independent and exclusive of any relationship.
About GGWTV
Growing A Greener World is a national gardening series on Public Television that features organic gardening, green living and farm to table cooking. Each episode focuses on compelling and inspirational people making a difference through gardening. This gardening series covers everything from edible gardening and sustainable agriculture to seasonal cooking and preserving the harvest.
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Books and other product links are affiliate links.
Great episode but very disappointed that you don’t mention, and there is no list in the show notes, of the combination of plants used in the bed you plant together at the end of the show.
What was the name of the soil conditioner for blueberries.
I live in California with a clay soil yard and hard pan about 10 to 12 inches down. What recommendations do you have for crop, soil conditioners etc. . Or if you can direct me to another resource I would appreciate it.
Loved the episode but I also didn’t catch the name of the soil conditioner Brie uses when planting the blueberries. Would you be able to share the name. I grow blueberries but have never heard of a soil conditioner
Love your show. In episode 1102 when you were planting the blueberry plant what kind of potting soil did she use/recommend? Thanks