Food security. The tanking economy. Self-sufficiency. These related topics are in the news and on everyone’s minds these days. The boom in interest in urban agriculture and local food is everywhere now. Some people want to rip up their lawns to grow vegetables and build a chicken coop in the back yard to ensure they have a regular supply of locally grown, high quality food. Some people want to learn how to can fruits and vegetables to put away a little something for the hard times to come. Some want a way to simplify and change the way they live because they’ve seen that the culture over-consumption just isn’t working for us. There are many ways and many steps people can take to move toward these very sensible goals.
In my recent backyard farming travels I’ve been introduced to a new breed of landscaper. These guys aren’t your typical “mow the lawn, trim the shrubs, install a hardscape” kind of landscaper. They are interested in food crops as an integral part of the urban landscape. They incorporate permaculture techniques as well as complete vegetable garden systems into their designs. If you’re not ready for Food not Lawns or a neighborhood egg co-op these are the people you want to call on.
I met one of these new kind of landscapers at the B-ISA Summit put on by Sky Vegetables in Berkeley, CA in December. What a revelation! Landscapes and food all in one! It doesn’t have to be one or the other. Joshua Thayer, owner of Native Sun Gardens in Berkeley opened my eyes to the possibilities. It’s not strict vegetable gardening. It’s not strict permaculture. It’s not strict landscaping for asthetics only. It’s a hybrid that I think is going to make sense to many of you out there. Take a look at Joshua’s website to see what services he provides. See if you can find someone in your community who is doing the same thing.
