GARDEN DESIGN
LANDSCAPES THAT ARE BOUNTIFUL AS WELL AS BEAUTIFUL
No it is not a cake sculpted to look like the South Downs , although that ’ s a nice idea , here we are talking about landscape design that integrates edible plants into the space .
By using edibles in a landscape design a deeper connection with the garden or outdoor space can be encouraged . When there is something to be harvested or tended our natural instinct is to check on it . Imagine waiting for the first spears of asparagus to appear in spring or checking on the ripeness of the currents . This connection with a garden and the outdoors has been shown to increase health way beyond just the nutrition gained from the crop .
Incorporating edibles into the whole design is not just about putting in a veg patch but using the edibles as an aesthetically pleasing feature . In this way a garden or outdoor space can be bountiful as well as beautiful .
The aim is to create low maintenance landscapes that fulfil multiple functions . Incorporating edibles into landscape designs the space can :
• Produce high nutrition high value , organic food
• Create connection with our food
• Reduce food miles , packaging and transport
• Inspire children to connect with plants and the outdoors
The majority of the edible plants used are perennial . This means that once established , they will continue to produce yields every year and in some cases the yield will increase year on year . Using lots of perennials also introduces new plants into diets as the majority of what we eat are annuals .
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