Edibles…lots
of them…growing in the front yard
For
years the owners grew tomatoes, strawberries and a few things like that on a
narrow strip on the southeastern side of the house next to the neighbor's
driveway.
New
neighbors built a fence cutting off vegetable garden’s light. The children, now
older, no longer used the grassy area in the front yard for play. it was time
for a change. The backyard doesn't get as much sun as the front, so the owners
determined the front yard was the place to site the new vegetable garden.
The
Westdale soil, as all gardeners there know, is terrible. Rather than trying to
amend it to something less than terrible, the owner decided to construct raised
beds. Using stacking joints manufactured by frameitall, they
were dead-easy to put together. The first
year's produce, in 2011, justified the decision. The owners have grown onions
and garlic and potatos and carrots and beans and snow peas and lettuce and
cucumbers and tomatos and zuchinni and pumpkins and corn and parsnips and a
load of herbs.
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| Solar-powered fountain |
Walla
Walla onions, cut thick and grilled on the barbecue, became a favorite summer
food. The owners just finished the last of their onions in January, having been
self-sufficient since June.
The
surprising side benefit growing edibles in the front yard is the social aspect. The owners have met
more people in the neighborhood than ever before. They stop by on the weekends
to see what's going on…sometimes leaving with some excess zuchinni!
This
is still a work-in-progress. New for this year are a solar powered fountain and espaliered apple trees. The unwatered grass is dying but not gone. The
owners are adding more planters and then will put in low-water natives and
stepping stones to create a more pleasing look. Right now, the owner/chief
gardener has more vision than time!
