Urban Edibles Part 2

There are several alternatives to buying grocery store produce, and one of them happens to be a whole lot of fun. In our front yard we have removed all the sod and replaced it with two raised veggie beds and an array of low-water plants.

Tween Trivia: Kentucky bluegrass, the most commonly used turf in front and back yards in the U.S., originated in Europe and was intended for cool, moist climates. If that’s not what the weather looks like where you live, you’re likely using a whole lot of water to force something to stay green that would rather be growing somewhere else.

Veggies like sunshine, and they require regular water, so you need to consult with your parents about if and where it’s okay for you to plant. This is a family project, not a Mom-and-Dad-are-on-vacation-in-Mexico-and-Grandma-is-babysitting-so-I-don’t-have-to-ask-permission project. Don’t even think about it.

We have very hot, dry summers where we live. The growing season -- the time from the last hard frost to the first hard frost -- is pretty short. We make the most of it by planting seedlings around Mother’s Day and caring for them up until around October. Today is October 9, and we picked a bowl full of tomatoes. Crazy.

In our raised beds we plant lots of herbs. When we need oregano, thyme, parsley, or basil for a recipe, we can snip it fresh out of the garden. At the end of the season, we hang the herbs upside down to dry and use them all through the winter.

We also grow tomatoes and squash. There’s nothing quite so delicious as eating an heirloom Black Cherry while it’s still warm from the sun. Doesn’t that sound better than a store-bought tomato that’s been sitting in a box in a dark van for several days? The beauties below are all heirlooms from our front yard. The family favorite is the Green Zebra, second from the left. For an interesting NPR article about the book Tomatoland by Barry Estabrook, click here. You may never want to eat another store-bought tomato. And trust me, once you've eaten one grown in your own garden, there's no turning back.

We have also planted cucumbers, peppers, and peas in the past as well as nasturtiums, which are a type of edible flower. Yum. Eating the plants you’ve grown right in your own back (or front) yard is a responsible way to cut down on the resources you use. And it’s delicious.

Are you ready to start planning for next spring? Stay tuned...