When Ed came to us he wanted help saving water and growing his own fresh fruits and vegetables. Along the south end of his yard there was a long narrow strip of grass that received full sunlight, yet offered little practical use. Additionally, the grass demanded large amounts of water and fertilizer to stay green.

We began this project by thinking about how to get the most out of this currently underutilized space. After developing a detailed drawing, planting plan, and irrigation map we set out clearing the grass and building a retaining wall to maximize available space. Along the lower level of the block wall we placed an array of colorful, drought-tolerant natives. On the higher levels we planted SEVEN different varieties of fruit trees ranging from apricots to apples and oranges. We used our unique agro-ecological approach to grow a variety of other vegetable crops under and around the young fruit trees.

This southern strip that was previously dominated by thirsty grass is now a thriving ecosystem of California native plants and host to a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Here the beauty of a formal landscape meets the wonders of a diverse ecosystem; saving water, providing food, and looking fantastic!