{"id":113248,"date":"2023-09-29T13:00:29","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T17:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/?p=113248"},"modified":"2023-09-29T12:36:34","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T16:36:34","slug":"build-an-edible-living-laboratory-to-inspire-educate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/build-an-edible-living-laboratory-to-inspire-educate\/","title":{"rendered":"Build An Edible Living Laboratory To Inspire & Educate"},"content":{"rendered":"

A living laboratory is an important tool for edible ecological<\/a><\/strong> education. Not only can it demonstrate good food-plant design<\/a><\/strong>, possibilities for diversified landscape management and site-suitable plants for your region, a living laboratory can also provide unique education opportunities to suit the sites where they are installed.<\/p>\n

What Is an Edible Living Laboratory?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Edible living laboratories are basically well-organized plantings using a diversity of edible plants arranged into guilds and focusing on education of key topics. They could be planted using native edible plants or orchard-type varieties, like pears. They should employ an ecosystem design<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0with multiple layers of plants (herbs, bushes, trees, etc.). And they should be linear or in plots and fit into the landscape around them seamlessly to make mowing and other larger landscape maintenance possible.<\/p>\n

The topics for education can include important Why?<\/em> information like, \u201cWhy is edible biodiversity important?\u201d and What?<\/em> information such as, \u201cWhat is an edible ecosystem?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0But of upmost importance should be Interactive<\/em> information like \u201cHow to plant your own edible landscape!\u201d<\/p>\n

They often include specialized designs that suit the goals of the stewardship group (those responsible for its maintenance). Examples include \u201cManagement of Diversity on Campus for Climate Change Mitigation\u201d or \u201cNative Prairie Restoration for Pollinator Habitat and Medicinal Tea Plants.”<\/p>\n

No matter how you slice it, the Edible Living Laboratories that I develop have one overarching goal: catalyzing people in communities to plant more landscape by showcasing great plants, designed for success, that work well in an area!<\/p>\n

Who Should Include These in the Landscaping?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Many sites are suited for these types of landscapes and many groups (or stewards) would benefit from their installation in landscapes.<\/p>\n

This can include businesses that want to create a beautiful entrance with an ethical solution to land management and schools that want to create education opportunities and custom outdoor education curriculum. They also work great for government buildings that need climate-friendly landscaping and homes that feature low-work, high-yielding landscaping.<\/p>\n

Key Ingredients for a Great Edible Living Laboratory<\/b><\/h2>\n

The details of a great living laboratory may require a more fine-tuned design. But the basic ingredients (as I see them) are as follows.<\/p>\n