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The Edible Front Yard: The Mow-Less, Grow-More Plan for a Beautiful, Bountiful Garden
“Front lawns, The Germinatrix has you in her crosshairs! Ivette Soler is a welcome voice urging us to mow less and grow some food—in her uniquely fun, infectious yet informative way.” —Garden Rant
People everywhere are turning patches of soil into bountiful vegetable gardens, and each spring a new crop of beginners pick up trowels and plant seeds for the first time. They're planting tomatoes in raised beds, runner beans in small plots, and strawberries in containers. But there is one place that has, until now, been woefully neglected—the front yard. And there's good reason. The typical veggie garden, with its raised beds and plots, is not the most attractive type of garden, and favorite edible plants like tomatoes and cucumbers have a tendency to look a scraggily, even in their prime. But The Edible Front Yard isn't about the typical veggie garden, and author Ivette Soler is passionate about putting edibles up front and creating edible gardens with curb appeal. Soler offers step-by-step instructions for converting all or part of a lawn into an edible paradise; specific guidelines for selecting and planting the most attractive edible plants; and design advice and plans for the best placement and for combining edibles with ornamentals in pleasing ways. Inspiring and accessible, The Edible Front Yard is a one-stop resource for a front-and-center edible garden that is both beautiful and bountiful year-round.
People everywhere are turning patches of soil into bountiful vegetable gardens, and each spring a new crop of beginners pick up trowels and plant seeds for the first time. They're planting tomatoes in raised beds, runner beans in small plots, and strawberries in containers. But there is one place that has, until now, been woefully neglected—the front yard. And there's good reason. The typical veggie garden, with its raised beds and plots, is not the most attractive type of garden, and favorite edible plants like tomatoes and cucumbers have a tendency to look a scraggily, even in their prime. But The Edible Front Yard isn't about the typical veggie garden, and author Ivette Soler is passionate about putting edibles up front and creating edible gardens with curb appeal. Soler offers step-by-step instructions for converting all or part of a lawn into an edible paradise; specific guidelines for selecting and planting the most attractive edible plants; and design advice and plans for the best placement and for combining edibles with ornamentals in pleasing ways. Inspiring and accessible, The Edible Front Yard is a one-stop resource for a front-and-center edible garden that is both beautiful and bountiful year-round.
213 pages, Paperback
First published February 14, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
May 8, 2017
This volume had gorgeous illustrations and I might have gleaned more from it if I lived in Southern California as does the author, but I was unimpressed but how little information was actually contained in this book. No mention on the components of a healthy soil or suggestion of getting a soil test before investing in plants and hardscaping, and some of the sidebars are clearly padding as no one needs to have the instructions for removing a sidewalk (her advice? get a sledgehammer, bust up the concrete, pry up with a crowbar and take the pieces away in a wheelbarrow). I'd have felt more confident if the author had suggested other works or resources (like the cooperative extension office) but she neglects to do this. I think my biggest issue is the vague understanding of who is the intended audience for this book - there isn't enough for the beginner to truly make a start, the intermediate gardener will crave more details, and the advanced gardener will find themselves covering familiar ground.
I'd suggest checking this book out from the library, instead of purchasing it.
I'd suggest checking this book out from the library, instead of purchasing it.
May 2, 2011
I didn't find the book useful because its descriptions of suggested plants ("pretty" edibles) were not organized in a way that made it easy to determine whether a plant was appropriate for a particular climate or location. Hardiness zones were not consistently listed in the same place (or sometimes at all) and the full description had to be read to determine whether a plant was appropriate for shady/ dry/ high-traffic/ etc. areas. Maybe it's intended more as an inspirational read than a practical one?
April 17, 2011
The Edible Front Yard describes how to replace boring, needy, thirsty grass with a diverse mix of ornamentals and edibles. It is filled with beautiful photos and lots of design ideas for various regions and climates. There is advice for shade plants and sun plants, how to remove grass without poison and how to prepare the soil for planting.
There is also a section on building codes, restrictions, permits and neighbors who think your plants are weeds. I am not doing anything that grand, maybe a small retaining wall and a trellis or two. Half my grass is staying put, but it’s nice to know how to handle some of those issues.
One of the ideas I did like and will consider is a beautiful trellis with a section of climbing plants. Another are the herbs. Sage comes in many varieties, makes pretty flowers and is hardy in most climates. I’ve been using chives as perennials for many years. They make gorgeous purple flowers. If you live in a warm climate rosemary is also a beautiful shrub and can be used as a hedge. Last year I let my parsley go to seed and it make big white flowers and also attracted many swallowtail butterfly caterpillars. I hope to have many butterflies this year as a result.
I have been pulling out sections of grass in the front and back yards for a few years now and replacing it with native shrubs, clumps of tall grasses and wildflowers. The benefits are many. They are pretty, add diversity and interest, butterflies and humming birds have appeared, they need little water, little maintenance and no chemicals or fertilizer. Until I saw this book I really hadn’t thought of using my herbs and maybe even a veggie or two out front.
If you are looking for ideas to add some edible and pretty plants to your landscaping I recommend this book.
There is also a section on building codes, restrictions, permits and neighbors who think your plants are weeds. I am not doing anything that grand, maybe a small retaining wall and a trellis or two. Half my grass is staying put, but it’s nice to know how to handle some of those issues.
One of the ideas I did like and will consider is a beautiful trellis with a section of climbing plants. Another are the herbs. Sage comes in many varieties, makes pretty flowers and is hardy in most climates. I’ve been using chives as perennials for many years. They make gorgeous purple flowers. If you live in a warm climate rosemary is also a beautiful shrub and can be used as a hedge. Last year I let my parsley go to seed and it make big white flowers and also attracted many swallowtail butterfly caterpillars. I hope to have many butterflies this year as a result.
I have been pulling out sections of grass in the front and back yards for a few years now and replacing it with native shrubs, clumps of tall grasses and wildflowers. The benefits are many. They are pretty, add diversity and interest, butterflies and humming birds have appeared, they need little water, little maintenance and no chemicals or fertilizer. Until I saw this book I really hadn’t thought of using my herbs and maybe even a veggie or two out front.
If you are looking for ideas to add some edible and pretty plants to your landscaping I recommend this book.
November 11, 2018
The title gives a very clear focus: for the front yard, curb appeal is important, at least more than in the backyard. So while there is a focus on the edible part, there is a lot on appearance, with practical tips, like which plants are unlikely to look neat, how to organize some, and how elements like contrast can improve the result. To show the way, half of the book is lush photos.
July 1, 2024
Really a 4.5, rounded up.
This one is more of a garden design aspect than a how to grow veggies book. Both the photos and the projects offered are gorgeous, and it gives a lot of knowledge on how to make a veggie garden beautiful, especially in places that it is fully visible. And for that, it does a great job. On the example plans, plants would obviously have to be changed out to fit your growing area better, as with any other template. It is more of a reference and idea book, so I would probably recommend checking it out from your library. It does a really good job of looking at the whole of the project, not just the plants.
If you are looking for how to garden and improve your soil/garden life not just aesthetics, this probably isn't the book your looking for.
This one is more of a garden design aspect than a how to grow veggies book. Both the photos and the projects offered are gorgeous, and it gives a lot of knowledge on how to make a veggie garden beautiful, especially in places that it is fully visible. And for that, it does a great job. On the example plans, plants would obviously have to be changed out to fit your growing area better, as with any other template. It is more of a reference and idea book, so I would probably recommend checking it out from your library. It does a really good job of looking at the whole of the project, not just the plants.
If you are looking for how to garden and improve your soil/garden life not just aesthetics, this probably isn't the book your looking for.
January 21, 2021
Fun idea book, with lots of luscious photos. Not so much a step-by-step guide as a series of essays about the pros and cons of specific design ideas, and a list of some excellent edible plants for structure and form in a garden. Great book for entertaining the dream of that sustainably edible front yard.
May 17, 2023
I really love the idea of mixing ornamental and edible plants together. I got some great design ideas from the book. It’s not extremely thorough with the plant information—I needed to look up more about the plants I was interested in.
July 23, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. Its full of colorful pictures of various plants and has good descriptions many, many plants that are edible and look good, or would go well with an edible landscape. I love the idea of this book, and will, someday, have an edible front yard. For now, I will strive to make my backyard garden look nicer.
Main complaint: most of her examples and pictures are of easy-to-grow-things climates, whether nice temps or water-rich. Sure, she says that if you live in Arizona, your edible front yard will look different that if you live in the NW, but she doesn't directly address it all that much. She does give a short list of drought tolerant edible plants, but there were only about 5 on that list. I know this is likely due to her writing about what she knows... she lives in Southern California, which is an easy-to-grow-things kinda climate (I lived there for 6 years, and grew all sorts of stuff in pots on our balcony). Why do I have a lawn out front here in central Texas? When it brown from 3 1/2 months of 100+' weather and rain twice in 6 months, it doesn't look overly bad. The garden, on the other hand, is looking not so great, and it gets watered every few days.
Anywoo, a fun gardening book, worth getting if only for the pictures.
Main complaint: most of her examples and pictures are of easy-to-grow-things climates, whether nice temps or water-rich. Sure, she says that if you live in Arizona, your edible front yard will look different that if you live in the NW, but she doesn't directly address it all that much. She does give a short list of drought tolerant edible plants, but there were only about 5 on that list. I know this is likely due to her writing about what she knows... she lives in Southern California, which is an easy-to-grow-things kinda climate (I lived there for 6 years, and grew all sorts of stuff in pots on our balcony). Why do I have a lawn out front here in central Texas? When it brown from 3 1/2 months of 100+' weather and rain twice in 6 months, it doesn't look overly bad. The garden, on the other hand, is looking not so great, and it gets watered every few days.
Anywoo, a fun gardening book, worth getting if only for the pictures.
July 4, 2012
Having a front yard is a love-hate relationship. You love it when your front yard looks great, but hate keeping it up. Wouldn’t it also be awesome if you could put some of that great real estate to good use?
In The Edible Front Yard, designer Ivette Soler presents the reader with some stunning ideas how to utilize a front yard as a colorful, dramatic statement from which one can grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Be bold! Cast the brilliant red stems of chard against the bushy leaves of Italian parsley. See how sea lavender or ruby-red loose leaf lettuce can edge a path to perfection, while an espaliered apple tree climbs ever skyward behind a thriving bed of tomatoes. Even if you don’t have a lot of space, you’ll find some useful ideas in this stunning book filled with pictures and a host of creative information.
In The Edible Front Yard, designer Ivette Soler presents the reader with some stunning ideas how to utilize a front yard as a colorful, dramatic statement from which one can grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Be bold! Cast the brilliant red stems of chard against the bushy leaves of Italian parsley. See how sea lavender or ruby-red loose leaf lettuce can edge a path to perfection, while an espaliered apple tree climbs ever skyward behind a thriving bed of tomatoes. Even if you don’t have a lot of space, you’ll find some useful ideas in this stunning book filled with pictures and a host of creative information.
September 15, 2012
I wanted this book because I wanted to create an attractive, edible garden in my back yard. One that wouldn't look like your typical "vegetable garden". It was an excellent resource. I was really pleased with the advice, the plant lists and the layout suggestions as well as the tips to consider when planning your garden. Lots of beautiful full colour pictures as well. A great find.
May 6, 2024
The edible front yard, is my fantasy. As a backyard vegetable gardener I've had to deal with a tall redwood fence, awkward pre-existing trees, and the inevitable shade they cause. But the idea of uprooting the plants in the front yard to plant an aesthetically appealing garden of herbs, vegetables and fruit trees to maximize the use of this sunny space? That would be amazing. This book tells you how to do it in an affordable and pleasing way.
The book shows you how to plant plants that are both appealing, and edible. It talks about organic methods to keep your garden looking nice and pest free. There is discussion about how to plan and maximize even the most restrictive neighborhood to include a few harvestables. I particularly enjoyed the creative use of brick and the discussion of each plant and their distinct properties.
Reading about this, made me wish to get started on my own front yard vegetable garden. Unfortunately for me, the slugs and snails would devour it alive and what they didn't get, the gophers and moles would finish off. I have raised beds lined with sand paper on the outer rim to prevent the slugs in the backyard... But I'm not sure how well this would go over in the front. Without raised beds, a front yard veg garden would be impossibility. I like the idea of planting fruit trees in the front yard.
What you get:
* Instructions on how to build maintain and grow your own edible garden
* Detailed discussion of herbs and plants you can add to your edible garden
* Nice pictures of pre-existing gardens in a variety of locations and styles
* Chock full of helpful tips
Cons:
* May not be suitable for all climates
* Pest control methods a bit optimistic
Recommended. 5/5 stars
The book shows you how to plant plants that are both appealing, and edible. It talks about organic methods to keep your garden looking nice and pest free. There is discussion about how to plan and maximize even the most restrictive neighborhood to include a few harvestables. I particularly enjoyed the creative use of brick and the discussion of each plant and their distinct properties.
Reading about this, made me wish to get started on my own front yard vegetable garden. Unfortunately for me, the slugs and snails would devour it alive and what they didn't get, the gophers and moles would finish off. I have raised beds lined with sand paper on the outer rim to prevent the slugs in the backyard... But I'm not sure how well this would go over in the front. Without raised beds, a front yard veg garden would be impossibility. I like the idea of planting fruit trees in the front yard.
What you get:
* Instructions on how to build maintain and grow your own edible garden
* Detailed discussion of herbs and plants you can add to your edible garden
* Nice pictures of pre-existing gardens in a variety of locations and styles
* Chock full of helpful tips
Cons:
* May not be suitable for all climates
* Pest control methods a bit optimistic
Recommended. 5/5 stars
April 3, 2023
Excellent overview of how to use edible plants in ornamental gardens. I went ahead and ordered a copy for my own reference b/c I liked it so much. I do think there are a couple of flaws that kept this from being a 5 star book:
1. While occasionally the author puts the zones and general climate preferred by the plants, in many places she forgets and just assumes everyone lives in Southern California. This is annoying for me, but would really mess things up for a less accomplished gardener who doesn't understand that artichokes just won't grow in Minnesota no matter how beautiful they are.
2. I also wish there were more example photos and/or layouts. The author only included 2 very specific layouts and while they are fantastic, I would have really appreciated seeing other examples to help when thinking about my own design.
Overall 4.5 stars rounded down and I purchased my own copy to keep.
1. While occasionally the author puts the zones and general climate preferred by the plants, in many places she forgets and just assumes everyone lives in Southern California. This is annoying for me, but would really mess things up for a less accomplished gardener who doesn't understand that artichokes just won't grow in Minnesota no matter how beautiful they are.
2. I also wish there were more example photos and/or layouts. The author only included 2 very specific layouts and while they are fantastic, I would have really appreciated seeing other examples to help when thinking about my own design.
Overall 4.5 stars rounded down and I purchased my own copy to keep.
April 25, 2021
The book has some helpful ideas and lots of lovely photos. However, many of the plants are more suited to the author's home state of California. I'm not too sure that they would work for my zone in the Midwest. I did like the the tips on replacing the harvested plants with fast growing ones such as parsley, lettuce and in the summer garden, amaranth is a good replacement for cool-season greens, like spinach. This next tip made me smile as I am not sure it would be workable in my house. Beer is a well-known targeted pest control technique that helps eradicate slugs and Snails are raging alcoholics and can’t resist beer. Who knew!!
I hope that I can incorporate some of the ideas as I try to add some edible interest to my front yard
I hope that I can incorporate some of the ideas as I try to add some edible interest to my front yard
November 5, 2019
Lots of good ideas, I liked the content on companion plantings and some of the design rules. However, much of it was repeating common knowledge ideas with composting, or the details on herbs. I did not know about espalier trees and maybe someday if I am crazy I might try it! Here was also value in the descriptions of less common plantings like Shiso. For anyone who is not familiar and wants to start urban gardening with lawn space from A-Z this is helpful, as it details design, plantings, how to remove grass, how to build some common structures, and what to do with the edibles once you have a crop.
May 8, 2024
I borrowed this book along with others about ornamental vegetable gardens from the library. This was my favorite for inspiration. It’s a little short on technical detail, but makes up for it with beautiful color photographs and recommendations for varieties of plants I wouldn’t have considered ornamental. The pictures of amaranth sent me straight to the seed catalogue to look at varieties to try. The author enthusiastically expounds on the cities of all her favorite plants in a way that makes me want to put the book down and go pick up my trowel.
I returned the library book and bought a copy for myself. I suspect I’ll reference it when I’m planning a new garden each year.
I returned the library book and bought a copy for myself. I suspect I’ll reference it when I’m planning a new garden each year.
February 25, 2018
Beautiful photographs and lots of ideas and inspiration for planting edible plants in the front yard, and having a beautiful and inviting front yard at the same time.
Having a lawn is time consuming and wasteful with nothing real to show for it. A lawn that requires time to mow, lots of water, and chemicals that run off into water supplies can be turned into a beautiful and inviting space that can also provide your family with fresh, organic vegetables. This book gives you the basics of getting started.
Having a lawn is time consuming and wasteful with nothing real to show for it. A lawn that requires time to mow, lots of water, and chemicals that run off into water supplies can be turned into a beautiful and inviting space that can also provide your family with fresh, organic vegetables. This book gives you the basics of getting started.
January 29, 2019
The section on design principles was the first of it's kind I've seen in a book written for the permaculture-concerned reader. Ideas like structure and repetitions and borders were not obvious to me as someone who did not grow up gardening so I really appreciated being provided with a primer on the elements of the art from an author who was using edibles as examples of how to incorporate style functions.
May 10, 2021
A great inspirational starting point for considering the various needs of a public-facing garden. Not a lot of specific how-to, but includes a few steps and things to consider when you’re planning. I learned about a number of edible varietals that can stand in for more common herbs and vegetables, but any person would have to take the included info and research what will thrive in their zone to take these ideas to action.
December 10, 2019
This book was super helpful as I planned out our edible garden. I appreciate the thorough section that discusses different types of edible plants and the pros and cons of growing each. I also appreciate the ways that the author tries to help you think through how to make your edible garden beautiful, as well as functional.
December 13, 2020
Good reference
Good reference for various types of edible plants and the climates in which they will grow. Provides a few easy projects to teach you the basics of gardening...raised beds, drying fruits, removing sod, etc. In the end though, it’s up to you to act and to plant (and maintain) your garden...and decide whether or not the front yard is the place for this project.
Good reference for various types of edible plants and the climates in which they will grow. Provides a few easy projects to teach you the basics of gardening...raised beds, drying fruits, removing sod, etc. In the end though, it’s up to you to act and to plant (and maintain) your garden...and decide whether or not the front yard is the place for this project.
March 24, 2021
This book is very informative and beautifully put together. I love how the author showcases the diverse bodies of plants and uses them strategically as installation art but just happens to be edible. These tips would do well in any garden not just a front yard garden. Lots of hardscaping notes and invitations to try your hand at building structures to help plants become art.
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April 12, 2023Some of these ideas are definitely going too-far in my neighborhood, but I liked learning about different plants that work and looking for ways to incorporate them. I do have fruit trees in my front yard and a small patio container garden, so I could relate to the excitement of growing some useful and beautiful things.
February 18, 2018
Great book to scratch the surface. Lots of interesting how tos and good information to get me started. I feel at times it can be a little vague but it was a great start for my revamping project for my front yard.
April 9, 2019
Such a great book on all aspects of gardening with edibles. How to chose, design, and use your plants. I think I may need to purchase my own copy to keep on hand as a reference as I read this from the library.
January 5, 2022
A great guide on what you can plant in your edible garden, how to plan your edible garden, plants you can put in to use up the space while also incorporating your own style and living spaces into the garden too.
October 28, 2022
Ended up DNFing this (mediocre) book at 80% due to the author’s ableist attitude towards autism. I’m still baffled at why negative opinions on neurodivergencies needed to be brought up in a gardening book
June 20, 2017
BRB tearing out my front yard and planting it with lettuce.
February 18, 2018
lots of color pictures are a plus
February 13, 2020
Great ideas, but most of the book is just listing plants. Too much filler
September 15, 2022
After year 1 of an edible front garden, I found some inspiration but not any new ideas. The ebook version was formatted wonky. Still recommend if you want to make a front yard garden a reality!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews