This post is a bit delinquent, however I feel that it is something I want to have documented in our journey.

Dave and I presented on the topic of Edible Landscaping at the Friendly Garden Club meeting on Oct 15. It was a great group to present to and I learned so much during the preparation and presentation. The ladies in the garden club were so welcoming and provided great discussion and tips at the end of the presentation. It was a great experience.

Here are a few highlights from our presentation:

Edible Landscaping: Incorporating food crops into your landscaping to create a more sustainable way of life. Edible plants, such as lettuce, blueberries, vegetables, and fruit trees can be substituted for traditional ornamental plants, to create a more productive, delicious landscape design.

If you're considering adding edibles to your yard or landscaping, here are a few tips to get you started. 1. Make a list of edible plants you want to try 2. Research the hardiness and life cycle of plant so you can plan when to get them in the ground 3. Walk around your yard and take note: > Size > Lighting > Style you would like to create > What is already there > Soil conditions 4. Consider maintenance: Annuals (replant every year) vs Perennials (come back each year on their own) > Watering: can you get a source of water to the area easily?

Here's a list of my 10 favorite edibles:

Alpine Strawberry Peppers Beans Chard Okra Kale Mint Parsley Tomato Zucchini

The whole presentation was a great experience. The main thing I learned was you don't have to have a big elaborate garden. With a little creativity and some dirt under your fingernails, you can add edible plants into any landscape or yard easily.

If you have questions about starting to add edibles into your yard or landscape, let me know. I would love to help. These winter months are a great time to plan and sketch out our spring garden plans!