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2009: The Year of the Edible Garden

Today's best gardens are all about food, not decoration.

Heather Sperling

By Heather Sperling
Chicago, IL, USA | Mon Mar 30, 2009 02:30 PM ET

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The horticulturist Felder Rushing had a great quote in a recent article in The New York Times:

"Well, most people think, 'When I get old, I'll have a garden,' " he said. "What about right now? Grow something in a pot that you can cook. It's not that hard."

He directed an accusatory gaze at a visitor.

"You don't have a garden?" he said. "Come on! Grow a pot of lettuce, man."

It's just that simple, really. If you have a fire escape, a window, a roof, or a stoop, you can have a container garden. If you have more space, you can grow a veritable cornucopia of goods that will spruce up both your backyard landscape and your meals. And delawning) is good for the environment, too.

The idea of edible landscaping is one that’s gaining steam (hey, even the Obamas are getting on board!). Why fill space with ornamental cabbage when you could have edible cabbage? Why buy pricey, pre-packed herbs when you can grow them for yourself, damn-near anywhere?

The idea isn't new, and plenty of people with decorative gardens have always thrown a tomato plant here and a rosemary bush there. What's new—in the last year or so—is way that the concept is spreading through young city-dwellers and country-dwellers alike, thanks in part to innovative ways of spreading the word.

There's more information on gardening than ever, and with a few clicks you can learn how to do it in your backyard or in old toilet paper rolls...even how to get your plants for free. So come on…just grow a pot of lettuce, man!

Related Content:
Take a Gardening Class, Get Growing
Alternatives to a Backyard Garden
Get Free Container Soil
How to Water Containers Effectively

 
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