From Guest Blogger Stacy Waxman: The Incredible Benefits of Edible Landscaping

You’ve probably heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” What if you actually grew what you ate and it could promote sustainable environment and make your home a safer place?

Sound impossible? It’s not; it’s just two of the many benefits of edible landscaping.

This specialized form of gardening combines ornamental and edible plants – such as fruiting shrubs and trees, edible flowers, vines and ground covers – with the purpose of creating a visually appealing and sustainable natural area. Plus, you can also save money at your local grocery store or farmer’s market because you can grow many varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs at home.

What’s more, a number of home security companies recommend security-oriented landscaping to help discourage burglars and trespasser.

Sustainable food production

According to SciDev.net, nearly 12 percent of the world’s land area is used for agriculture purposes. While food production has significantly increased in the last 50 years thanks to advances in agricultural science and technology, there are still impoverished areas with hungry, malnourished people. By growing food either in a local community garden or one’s own back yards, people in every climate can rely on themselves for nutritious, organic food.

Additionally, when you grow your own fruits and veggies, you know exactly what types of fertilizers and other products are going into them (or not going into them). A lot of today’s produce and other food products may have been treated with harmful chemicals or been subjected to GMOs (genetically modified organisms).

Reduce your carbon footprint

With the growing number of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture, edible landscaping can actually help eliminate some of the harmful chemicals and products introduced into the earth’s atmosphere. It also cuts down on the transportation emissions and energy required to get meat and produce to marketplaces.

Currently, the average meal travels more than 700 miles from the farm to your table. The further food has to travel, the less fresh it will be and the more likely it will need refrigeration or processing to prevent it from spoiling (which in turn means more energy and emissions used to produce a meal).

Help support farmers in your area by buying local or grow your own edibles and create a sustainable food source (and a beautiful garden), which can help lessen the impact of your actions on the environment.

Home security

Believe it or not, certain types of edible plants can actually offer more functionality than you think. In addition to being a food source, edibles with thorns, spines or other unpleasant qualities serve as a way to detract intruders or trespassers, because no one wants to get caught up in a prickly bush or needled by a cactus. The best part is, there are quite a few that are edible, too, including roses, blackberry or gooseberry vines and prickly pear cacti. So now your sustainable food source can also provide security for your yard.

The next time you have a gardening project, consider including some edibles in your yard. You’ll not only have a sustainable food source, but also some added home security and perhaps even a smaller carbon footprint when you’re done.