creating an edible landscape...why create an edible landscape? eat fresh food! know how it’s grown...

Creating an Edible LandscapeEast Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District

Photo: Dorling Kindersley

Why create an edible landscape?

Eat fresh food!

Know how it’s grown

Family time

Connect to nature & food systems

Build resilient communitiesBackyard garden harvest (photo: Radish Gardens)

Elements of an Edible Landscape

Soil

Water

Zones

Edible plants & backyard chickens

Site assessment & planning

Design considerations

Beneficial insects & integrated pest management

Maximizing your harvest

What makes great garden soil?

Minerals 40%

Water 25%

Air 25%

Sand - large, coarseSiltClay - small, flat

Organic Matter 10%Decomposed plants, manure

2. Organic matter from plant& animal waste provides

fertility & soil tilth

3. Organic matter is brokendown by organisms in the soil

1. Plant waste can becomposted or fedto livestock

4. Plants take up availablenutrients through their roots

Building Healthy Soil


Soil

Water

Zones






Drip irrigation (photo: USDA)

Be Smart About Water

Manual weeding (photo: Oregon State University)



Water catchment system (photo: Pat Parker)

Be Smart About WaterRain garden (photo: EMSWCD)

Rain garden (image: City of Portland)


Soil

Water

Zones






Zones

1

2 3

Zones3

21


Soil

Water

Zones






Harvested the same year they are planted:

Beans -- Carrots -- Kale -- Lettuce -- Peas -- Potatoes -- Tomatillos

Annuals (Zone 1)

Summer squash(photo: Radish Gardens)

Tomatoes (photo: Radish Gardens)

Broccoli (photo: Radish Gardens)

Herbs & Edible Flowers (Zones 1 & 2)May be annual or perennial. May be woody or herbaceous.

Basil -- Borage -- Cilantro -- Fennel -- Mint -- Oregano -- Thyme

Rosemary and sage (photo: Radish Gardens)Nasturtium (photo: Radish Gardens)

May be woody or herbaceous.

Asparagus -- Currants -- Grapes -- Huckleberry -- Rhubarb

Perennials (Zones 2 & 3)

Artichoke (photo: Radish Gardens) Blueberries (photo: Radish Gardens)

Raspberries (photo: Radish Gardens)

Perennial. Trees that bear edible nuts, berries, fruit, or flowers.

Cherry -- Hazelnut -- Pear -- Persimmon -- Quince -- Walnut

Fruit & Nut Trees (Zone 3)

Figs (photo: One Green World)Apples (photo: One Green World)

Edible Pacific NW Natives

Salmonberry(photo: University of Washington)

Evergreen huckleberry(photo: University of Washington)

Salal(photo: University of Washington)

Oregon grape(photo: University of Washington)

Blue elderberry(photo: Oregon State University)

Thimbleberry(photo: Oregon State University)

Backyard Chickens (Zone 1 or 2)

“Waffles” and “Edie” help with pest control(photo: Radish Gardens)

“Lucille” helps compost kitchen scraps(photo: Radish Gardens)

Fresh eggs! (photo: Radish Gardens)


Soil

Water

Zones






Site Assessment & Planning

ZONES

Z1

Z1

Z3Z3

Z2

Z2

Z1

Z1

Z3Z3

Z2

Z2

F R U I TT R E E S

A N N U A LC R O P S

P E R E N N I A LC R O P S

P E R E N N I A LH E R B S

Elements of an edible landscape

Soil

Water

Zones






Design Considerations

Composition - formal vs. informal

Line - pathways, planting bed shape, sight line/views


Scale - raised vs. in-ground beds, path width

Materials - wood, metal, stone

Raised garden bed (photo: Radish Gardens) In-ground garden bed (photo: Radish Gardens)


Mixed edible/ornamental bed (photo: Almanac.com) Container garden (photo: Radish Gardens)


Texture - fine, airy, layered, coarse, bold


Color - foliage, flowers, fruit

Companion Planting

Broccoli, marigold, & sweet alyssum (photo: Radish Gardens)

Grouping specific plants together to createa mutually beneficial ecosystem.

Cilantro flowers - great for small pollinators(photo: Radish Gardens)

Companion Planting

Attract beneficials:BorageCalendulaCoastal daisyDillLavenderScabiosaSweet alyssumYarrow

Companion Planting

Deter pests:BorageChives, onionsGeraniumHyssopMarigoldNepeta/cat mintRadishThyme

Borage flowers may repel tomato hornworm, whilechickens can help remove soil pests before planting(photo: Radish Gardens)


Soil

Water

Zones






Beneficial Insects & Wildlife

Adult lady beetles can feed on nectar(photo: Radish Gardens)

Lady beetle larva eat aphids (photo: University of Wisconsin)


Douglas aster provides fall forage(photo: Radish Gardens)

Rocks give insects safer access to water (photo: Radish Gardens)

FoodMultiple seasons

Plant diversity

WaterSafe access

Keep it clean

Many insects overwinter in yard debris (photo: Radish Gardens)

Multiple vegetation layers give options for nesting (photo: Radish Gardens)


NestingMultiple layers

Avoid entrapment

OverwinteringTolerate messinessLeave the leaves!

Pacific NW Natives for Habitat

Red osier dogwood(photo: Radish Gardens)

Snowberry(photo: Radish Gardens)

Douglas hawthorn(photo: Radish Gardens)

Oregon iris(photo: Radish Gardens)

Red flowering currant(photo: Radish Gardens)

Douglas aster(photo: Radish Gardens)

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Systematic approach to prevent/minimize problemsusing least harmful methods first.

Slug (photo: Radish Gardens)


Cultural methods prevent or reduce pests through planning

Underplant edible crops with flowers that discourage pests or attract beneficial predators (photo: Radish Gardens)


Physical/mechanical methods use barriers and manual removal

Check your plants often for pests (photo: Radish Gardens)


Biological methods incorporate natural predators

Natural predators can help control various pests(photo: Radish Gardens)


Chemical methods include both organicand conventional pesticides

Minimize or eliminate the use of pesticides(photo: Royal Horticultural Society)


Soil

Water

Zones






Maximizing your harvestSuccession planting: planting another crop immediately following another after harvest.

Important! Consider if crop is short- half- or long-season.

Maximizing your harvestInter-cropping: planting crops with different growth habits in the same space.

Important! Provide adequate water and fertility for all crops.

Corn, beans, and squash interplanted (photo: AHQC.com)

Maximizing your harvestFall crops: plant in late summer for a fall harvest.

Arugula -- Beets -- Cilantro -- Leaf lettuce -- KohlrabiMustard greens -- Radishes -- Spinach -- Turnips

Seeds for fall planting (photo: Radish Gardens)

Overwintering crops: plant frost-tolerant crops in late summeror early fall for winter or early spring harvest.

Cabbage -- Collards -- Kale -- Leeks -- Mustard greens


Overwintered broccoli pushing out early spring side shoots (photo: Seattle Urban Farm Co.)

Spinach surviving through a snowy winter(photo: Seattle Urban Farm Co.)

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”-- A. Hepburn

Photo: Dorling Kindersley

Presentation available online:

EMSWCD Conservation Directory:

Attend other EMSWCD workshops!

Learn how to create natural landscapes that conserve water, reduce pollution, and

attract beneficial wildlife!

PollinatorsNative Plants

Beneficial InsectsNaturescapingRain Gardens

Invasive Urban Weeds

www.emswcd.org

Tell your friends and neighbors!

www.emswcd.org/workshops

creating an edible landscape...why create an edible landscape? eat fresh food! know how it’s grown...

Documents