The Edible Landscape

Edible landscaping is the use of food-producing plants in the constructed landscape, principally the residential landscape. We can design landscapes to combine fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, vegetables, herbs, edible flowers and ornamental plants that are aesthetically pleasing. These designs can incorporate any garden style and can include anywhere from 1-100% edible species.

WHY LANDSCAPE WITH EDIBLES?
These are some of the many reasons why we promote edible plants into the residential landscape.

• To enjoy the freshness and flavour of home-grown, fully ripened fruits and vegetables
• To control the quantity and kind of pesticides and herbicides used on the foods you consume
• To increase the food security of your household
• To grow unusual varieties not available in stores
• To get outside, interact with the natural world, and have fun
• To introduce the whole family to the world of self-sufficiency

HISTORY OF EDIBLE LANDSCAPING
Edible landscaping is as old as gardening itself and has undergone a recent revival. Ancient Persian gardens combined both edible and ornamental plants. Medieval monastic gardens included fruits, vegetables, flowers, and medicinal herbs. Plans for 19th century English suburban yards, which modelled themselves on country estates, often included edible fruits and berries, especially during the two World Wars where fresh food was scarce. The edible components of residential landscapes were largely lost to the now familiar shade trees, lawns, and foundation plantings. In the past two decades, however, there has been a revival of interest in edible landscaping. The founders of Terra Design are English and Scottish so growing up in households that traditionally had a vegetable garden is a very natural and important part of a sustainable garden.