Turning our Front Lawn into a Vegetable Garden (Pt 1): Rationale

I'm back early from my summer 'blogging break' because I was inspired to write about some of our spring gardening projects.  Waiting until autumn to share about growing vegetables or improving a yard--well, that seemed silly!

Perhaps someone out there can benefit from all that we learned while undertaking the enormous task of converting our front yard into a vegetable garden.   I know it's mid-summer, and rather late to plant veggies, but let me encourage you (if you plan to go this route): start this summer on preparing your yard, then you'll be ready in spring 2012 for planting.

So, why grow veggies in a front yard?

For a while, we've been drawn to the idea of reducing the amount of grass we grow on our lot.  Doesn't it seem peculiar that millions of North Americans actually 'farm' grass on their properties, seeding and watering and mowing it all through the summer, then bagging up the 'harvest' and chucking it in the garbage?!  There are so many resources wasted, so much toxic fertilizer and herbicides used, and so much time spent on managing a crop that we just throw away.  As long as we have kids at our house, we'll likely always keep some grass for them to play on, but being surrounded by lovely parks and playgrounds almost makes that unnecessary.  Growing beautiful, valuable, organic veggies of our own makes sense to us.  We don't own much land, just a regular city lot, but we think it can produce quite a bit of food if we learn how to manage it properly.  We're excited to have begun learning!

As for why we chose the front yard, not the back:
Most of our back yard is too shady for veggies, for one thing, and also we wanted to keep our sheltered back-yard as a more private place to gather with friends, have BBQs, and sit and relax.
Since starting the veggies out front, though, we've noticed more unexpected benefits to that specific location.  The increased time we spend outdoors in the front yard has led to more interactions with the neighbors on our street.  Many of them have come over to see what we are doing, offer advice, or just visit.  To respect our neighbor's view from the street, we are keeping the garden attractive and carefully maintained, including plenty of flowers and shrubs, not to mention a mature 4-foot surrounding hedge.  I'm glad to share my produce with neighbors, too.  Their response so far as been approval and keen interest.  (Even our postman has commented on our delicious veggies!  We've never spoken with him before...gardens bring people together.)
I have also enjoyed how, since our veggie-crop took off, visitors always pause in the front yard before ringing our door-bell.  Sometimes they step off the walkway and into the garden to take a closer look.  Maybe they're wondering whether the meal we're about to share will include any of those goodies!

Back-yard gardens are more common and acceptable.  Our city of Calgary is fine with veggies growing everywhere, but you'd better check with your locality for by-laws that may prohibit 'public' veggie-gardening; otherwise you may end up in trouble like this poor woman in the USA.  If in doubt, use your back-yard for veggies.

In Pt 2, I'll begin outlining the steps we took to make this change in our yard.  Now excuse me, while I go water my tomatoes!