Resources
Benefits of an Organic Edible Landscape
The major upside to organic edible landscapes or urban/suburban microfarms is that they are much more sustainable in the long term than global agribusiness operations, which require many times the inputs of energy (human, petrochemical, solar, etc.) and water to produce the same amount of food (calories/nutrients that can be digested and assimilated by the human body). Moreover, it actually takes more pounds of a particular conventional food crop to provide the same quantity of nutrients found in a given (lesser) amount of the exact same food crop that has been raised organically. There are many additional reasons for people to landscape their properties with edible plants:
- Food security--you know exactly where your food came from and how it was produced
- Convenience--fresh, nutritious food is available only feet away from your house almost year round
- Increased biodiversity--more different kinds of birds and other desirable wildlife will be attracted to your yard because you are creating a habitat for them
- Greatly improved topsoil
- Long-term cost savings on food bills--and probably water as well
- Pleasure of harvesting your own food--caring for, harvesting from, and showing off your edible landscape can be very exciting
- New and unique colors, shapes, and textures in your yard
- Lusher and more attractive streets and neighborhoods
- Increased property values
- Improved mental and physical health from interacting with and eating from your garden
- Reduced pollution into watersheds
- Ability to grow unusual fruit and vegetable varieties not available in stores
Growing your own food really does open up a world of possibilities and can be a wonderful way for children (and adults) to learn about nutrition, botany, entomology, ecology, and so much more.
"Be Green from the Ground Up!"