PHOTO PROVIDED Shown is author and horticulturist Brie Arthur. She will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming Penn State Master Gardeners of Lycoming County’s “Bringing Nature Back: One Yard at a Time” spring symposium on March 15 in Montoursville.

In a front porch garden bed, a burst of pink cosmos teases an elegant eggplant, dripping with speckled purple fruits while rudbeckia and swiss chard daydream in the sunshine.

This mixing of edibles and ornamentals is known as foodscaping, a garden technique that horticulturist and author expert Brie Arthur views as a revolutionary act.

Arthur, the author of The Foodscape Revolution, will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming Penn State Master Gardeners of Lycoming County “Bringing Nature Back: One Yard at a Time” spring symposium on March 15 at the Lysock View in Montoursville.

Arthur’s talk, titled “Foodscape Harmony: Embracing Natives and Edibles,” will explore how foodscaping innovates and improves traditional gardening practices.

What is foodscaping? 

Arthur says, “Foodscaping isn’t about replacing your ornamental plants but rather focuses on how to compliment the plants you are already growing by adding an edible layer in the open spaces.”

Additionally, she says, if one isn’t a farmer or harvesting with a machine, growing plants in a straight line isn’t necessary. 

“Take advantage of the open areas in your landscape and break free of these farm-like standards, because if, like me, you live in a neighborhood, you are a home gardener, not a farmer. Celebrate it by being creative in how you plant your favorite edibles.”

BENEFITS OF

FOODSCAPING

There are many benefits to foodscaping.

“Fundamentally the vegetables we grow as home gardeners are not biologically diverse, and when you plant them in a tight space you are creating a monoculture which will lead to insect and disease problems.”

CONS OF FOODSCAPING

Though foodscaping is beneficial, there can be difficulties. 

“The reason many homeowner associations ban vegetables from the front yard is

simple-they don’t offer year-round appeal,” says Arthur. 

She recommends keeping those beloved and HOA-approved ornamentals but adding edibles to any open or mulched spaces. 

“This is a great way to make the most of the land you already manage and reduce your need for spraying herbicides. Remember, the less open mulch space you have the fewer weeds you will have to battle.”

BEGINNER FOODSCAPING

For those new to foodscaping or even new to gardening, Arthur recommends starting with a bed edge. 

She says, “You will be shocked by how much available square footage lies in the most convenient location in your landscape. Also, this is a great way to help reduce mammal browse, by planting edibles that deer, groundhogs, rabbits, and voles are offended by.”

Arthur’s favorite bed-edge plants are ones she likes to eat on a regular basis and provide an insurance policy against those animals that wreak havoc on her garden. They include alliums like garlic and onions, herbs like Micrete Dwarf Basil and root crops like potatoes and radishes. Peppers are another favorite. 

GARDENING AS A

REVOLUTIONARY ACT

Arthur reminds us gardening can be a revolutionary act. The title of her book The Food Revolution came to her after a day spent with students. 

“The word revolution came to me after giving a program at an elementary school in New Jersey. After spending a day with these brilliant kids, it occurred to me that growing your own food in the twenty-first century actually is a revolutionary idea.”

She encourages gardeners to think beyond the wooden boxes and grow bigger. 

“And yes, getting people to see beyond the boxed bed and really identify the opportunities within their landscape borders has been a process.”

“Everyone has the potential to be a foodscaper, even if you only have a patio and a container. Any space no matter the size offers an opportunity to grow something,” Arthur says.

To register for the Penn State Master Gardeners of Lycoming County’s “Bringing Back Nature: One Yard at a Time” spring symposium, visit https://extension.psu.edu/bringing-nature-back-one-yard-at-a-time.