(3) Use a sod-cutter to remove the lawn. Roll it up, give it away, or find a new use for it. If you do not have Bermuda grass or another type of rhizomatic lawn, you may turn over the existing turf to keep the topsoil and nitrogen-rich grass in your yard. You also can cover any lawn with a series of raised beds or mounded plantings.
(4) On existing exposed soil, mix in a generous amount of compost, earthworm castings, manure, mushroom soil, and any combination of soil amendments that you may need or have access to.
(5) During the first few seasons, experiment with plants, trying any edibles that are appropriate for your growing zone and establishing seeds, starts, trees, and vines according to your local planting calendar. You will gradually become aware of what does well on your land and what you like to eat. A diverse garden is a healthy garden.
(6) Cover the exposed soil with a thick layer of mulch.
(7) Water the plants thoroughly and install soaker hoses or drip lines as necessary for irrigation.
(8) Install fencing as needed to deter local animal visitors, such as rabbits and deer, if they become an issue.
(9) Set up compost bins and a rainwater catchment system.
THE PROTOTYPE GARDEN SITES
Prototype garden locations are selected for maximum impact and influence. We want to plant Edible Estates where they are least likely to exist otherwise and where they will provide a vivid contrast with the surrounding landscapes of suburban lawns or inner-city concrete. Each prototype provides local inspiration and momentum to plant gardens in situations not previously considered.
Edible Estates’ gardens are established on streets where the interruption of the endless lawn is dramatic and controversial. A monotonous housing development of identical homes and front lawns would be ideal! Our dream is to be arrested for planting vegetables in a front lawn in a housing development or town where it is illegal.
The layout, design, and plant list of each garden is developed in collaboration with the family who owns it. The garden is planted with the help of friends, neighbors, and local volunteers, and all costs associated with establishing it for the first season are covered.
We look for prototype garden sites that conform to the following parameters.
The front yard should:
- be very visible from the street, with regular car or pedestrian traffic
- have good solar access, ideally with a south or southwest orientation
- be relatively flat, with few large trees or major landscaping that can’t easily be removed
The house or apartment building should:
- represent a typical or common living situation
- open on to the front yard with windows or a front door
- provide an iconic domestic backdrop to the Edible Estate garden
The prospective Edible Estate owners should be:
- avid and knowledgeable gardeners who are enthusiastic about the project
- eager to share their stories of front yard gardening
- committed to continuing the Edible Estate prototype garden indefinitely
