Green Options » Edible landscaping

Edible Landscaping: Flavorful Vegetables

Linda Kincaid, MPH, CIH — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:27:27 +0000

Part of the White House lawn is becoming a vegetable garden. For the first time since World War II, our First Family is setting the example of eating locally and sustainably. Lawns consume inordinate amounts of water and chemical fertilizers. Gardens produce fresh healthy food with far less inputs.

Suburbia can follow the example set by the Obamas. Vegetables fresh from the garden burst with flavor and nutrients. Kitchen gardens are enjoying a new popularity this season. With the renaissance of gardening, many Americans will “taste” vegetables for the first time.

The vegetables we find at the grocery store are attractive, but commercial varieties are selected to endure mechanical harvesting, storage, and transportation. Their flavors are a mere shadow of the more ephemeral heirloom vegetables grown by our grandparents.

Edible Landscaping: Perfect Summer Fruits

Linda Kincaid, MPH, CIH — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:49:24 +0000

Summer fruits are appearing on grocers shelves. But are they locally grown? Are they sustainably grown?

Unfortunately, the peaches and plums that are now available have been shipped from Central or South America. Transportation gives these fruits a large environmental footprint and a high price. Although they may look enticing, these fruits were harvested green and have little flavor. The most delicious and the most environmentally friendly fruits come from our own gardens.

Edible Landscaping: Luscious Spring Fruits

Linda Kincaid, MPH, CIH — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:54:58 +0000

Spring weather entices us outdoors, and our thoughts turn to delectable fruits that will soon be ripe. Many of the spring fruits that we see in grocery stores are shipped from Central or South America, definitely not a green option! Those same spring fruits grow well in many home gardens. Homegrown fruits are healthier, tastier, and they have a fraction of the carbon footprint.

Bing cherries were once grown throughout the Santa Clara Valley. However, the valley has warmed, and only lower chill cherry varieties now produce fruit in the same locations. Lapins and Stella cherries require less chill, and they rival Bing in flavor. Royal Rainier is a lower chill yellow cherry that is as scrumptious as Royal Ann.