From Salinas, Kansas to the pages of the New York Times, Edible Estates, has had a big year. The combination of increased awareness around resource conservation, rising concern over food safety, and the gourmet cachet of a homegrown vegetable has gotten more people than ever interested in trading a water-hogging lawn for a productive garden. The first Edible Estates front yard makeover took place in Kansas, followed by one in Los Angeles. Now founder/designer Fritz Haeg has plans to take it to the East Coast with a New York lawn; but he hasn’t yet found the perfect site! Do you have a lawn you want to transform within a short distance of New York City? Do you know someone else who does?
See details below, and if you think you have a lawn that fits the criteria, let the good people at Edible Estates know!
EDIBLE ESTATES edition #3: SUBURBAN NEW YORK CITY
To be planted June 8th – 10th
We are still looking for a front lawn and family in suburban New York City. We will remove the lawn and replace it with an edible landscape responsive to the local climate and context. We will work with the family to create the design and planting list. All labor and materials will be donated.
We are hoping for a slightly more urban, inner city Edible Estate prototype garden for this third edition. This could be New Jersey, Connecticut, Queens, Staten Island, etc but ideally not more than 20 or 30 minutes from Manhattan. Do you know of one that fits our guidelines? Please let us know! info [at] edibleestates [dot] org
Prototype arden guidelines here >




























I have a pie shaped lot, with most of the lawn in the front. I think it would benefit from your edible estate idea.
I am really intrigued by some of the pictures of designs.
My property is in New Hyde Park, Long Island; typically suburban, the lawn is very uninteresting, and consumes lots of water without even growing a good crop of grass.
Please consider me a very interested, willing candidate.
please just tell were i can find were you can make your own couches…………………………..
i want to know how to make
I live in NJ and am very interested in creating an edible front lawn. Would be nice to have some generalized guidance/plans of lay out and crops. Any possibility?
I noticed on the original post from 2005 there were a number of people concerned with the aesthetics of a front yard edible garden.
I once stayed at the Sooke Harbor House B&B in Victoria BC (http://www.sookeharbourhouse.com/west_coast_organic_gardens.htm) and they grow almost all of the food that they serve in their restaurant. EVERYTHING they grow has an edible component and their “landscaping” was some of the most beautiful I have ever seen.
If anyone is concerned about the aesthetics I recommend they check out the website for some inspiration on how an edible estate can look.
I would love to have a conversation about what you are doing and see if we are a good match. Please visit our website and take a look at The James Dean House, our recently completed green restoration/expansion of a 1860′s Victorian in the charming hamlet of Rosemont. I look forward to hearing from you, Take care, Lise Thompson