For those of you who don't already know it I am a big fan of edible landscaping. I am also a big fan of Commity Supported Agriculture so when I found a project that combined them, I had to share.
Obviously, I am among those thrilled at the prospect of a vegetable garden on the South Lawn. It will be the first vegetable garden grown at the White House since Elanor Roosevelt's Victory Garden.
Closer to home for most of us are the stories I have read lately about folks organizing their neighborhood into mini farms. Some use backyards, some use front yards. The general arrangement is that the vegetable garden is planted in the yards of the participating homeowners who donate the use of their land for the project. The CSA farmers then plant and tend all the gardens which is especially easy to do if they are on what used to be the front lawn. Most are tended using only hand tools so thee is little danger of damage to power lines of any infrastructure that might be damaged with heavy equipment. All the work is performed for the homeowners- their contribution is the land and usually the water. Most groups also have a fee to cover the cost of seeds, and at least some of the labor., some sell the excess produce not distributed to members at the farmer's market (if you have ever grown zucchini or tomatoes you know there can be bumper crops!)
Here are some links to articls and Information about this idea:
This is very interesting I used to garden with my grandfather years ago and I plan to do it with my kids this summer... Good Info.
I've had a vegetable garden every summer since I was a kid and there is nothing better that fresh veggies from your garden. I've had a victory garden in Downtown Boston, a beach garden on the Cape and for over 20 years a back yard garden thats about 15' x 20' which provides me with terrific meals year round. I freeze my extras so I can enjoy my garden veggies in the middle of the winter, plus I prepares a real easy pesto that freezes nicely for real special treat on a snowy winter eve. Aside from the good eats from the garden it also provides a relaxing way to communicate with nature. Try It You'll Like It.
I used to grow some of the best tomatoes around and had plenty to share with friends and family. I think this year would be perfect for a full blown garden!
My garden usually gets away from us very quickly. I either have the opportunity to tend to it or to tend to my business of making money. Making money wins every time, therefore the garden gets away from me...sigh
I think it's a great idea. Why put money in the form of water, fertilizer, work and time into something that effectively doesn't give any return except for looking "pretty" aka a lawn. Once planted, a vegetable garden doesn't take more effort than maintaining a lawn and it'll give you some tasty rewards. Happy Gardening!
Thanks to all for the comments. Gardening can be a meditation for some and a chore for ohers, that's why the idea of Community Supported Gardening is perfect for people like Evelyn who tend to spend so many hours working or in oter activities that the garden gets neglected. For Renee and John I agree- this is a great year to really get back into the garden.
I hate exercise as an activity but walking to get somewhere and working in the garden give a person a lot of exercise and also achieve another result at the same time.