Edible Front Yard Ideas

We were in Berkeley recently to check on the status of a guitar repair job.

While my husband was in the shop, I decided to go for a walk. I've always loved walking in this neighborhood of small, but lush front yards. Always on a look-out for ideas, I stumbled onto these two interesting front yards.

The first one has a retaining wall planted with different kinds of lettuce, strawberry, marigolds, tomatoes, and sunflower - right next to the sidewalk.

My first reaction was, “How neat and how trusting these people were to plant their food where anybody could help themselves anytime.”

In my own edible front yard, I made sure to put my edibles close to the house and the non-edibles next to the street to avoid any issues. But I have 40 ft of space between the sidewalk and my front door, they don't.

On the other hand, maybe it was their intent to share their produce with the neighbors.

I kept walking, made a left turn and I saw this - 8 buckets of tomato plants with their own tomato cages, on top of what appeared to be a carport - No one's going to steal those.

As more and more people are switching out their lawns for a more water conserving front yard, we are also seeing more varied and creative front yards that reflect the individual homeowners' style. And it makes for a more interesting walk around the neighborhood(s).

I look forward to my next walk when we pick-up the guitar.

photos by Tina Saravia