Edible Yards

We are still on vacation in Ohio (and other places in the Midwest) and have visited many farms. I am exploring (edible) garden design elements this trip and I’ve been thinking a lot about rows in a garden and how they are rooted in farming. Even on a small scale in a garden, rows are functional and make it easier to do things like cultivate the soil, trellis crops, harvest efficiently and install drip irrigation tape. While we can certainly experiment with different shapes when inventing our garden beds, it is important to remember that lines and rows can be beautiful too! Check out the beauty and functionality of some farm rows we’ve encountered:

Wheat shocks stacked neatly in rows on an Amish farm

Blueberries planted in wide rows (to allow room for pickers and mowers) at Chance Creek Blues

Cucumbers, kale, and squash lined up at the George Jones Memorial Farm