Garden Tour: Cottage Inspired Front Yard Kitchen Garden (March 2021)

This growing area was created in the summer of 2019. As part of our home addition, we moved a good amount of loamy soil from a planter that was demolished. The soil created a berm that created both a nice growing area and separation from the sidewalk. Soil was developed with permaculture principles. Growing plants that thrived in clay soil and harvesting biomass for composting. Overtime nutrients and life in soil became more robust. Overall, this is a good type of space to grow in. In an urban environment, providing enough direct sunlight for plants can be a challenge. Structures and trees block out a good amount. The front yard is often a space that receives a good amount of sunlight because streets provide a good buffer against the things that block sunlight. In the design of this space, it was important for us that we try to blend the edible plants in as much as possible. Using polyculture and dense planting, the space is an edible version of a cottage garden. Another key element is to plant in a more organic layout by avoiding symmetry. In the open growing spacing we have curving and meandering paths. Plantings are not formalized in grids but sectioned off by various shapes in varying orientations. Zone 10b / San Gabriel Valley / Los Angeles / Southern California / USA