A month ago we were treated with the news that a woman in michigan was facing jail for planting a vegetable garden in her front yard. Since then there has been much debate and discussion about what should and should not be allowed. This can be a problem for people interested in Urban Homesteading.
But a potager garden can be the solution.
A french potager (pronounced por-tah-zhay) garden is a kitchen garden that combines the practicality of a vegetable garden with the beauty of a flower garden. It is usually comprised of raised garden beds (square, rectangular, or sometimes round) arranged in a classic French style in a geometric design. Other ornamental touches like fountains or sculptures are also integrated as well as gravel or stone paths between the raised beds.
Colorful lettuces are the staple of the french potager garden, but also herbs and edible flowers, peppers beans and cherry tomatoes are also often included. The key to a French potager garden is not to arrange plants in rows like a vegetable garden, but to arrange plants and flowers to the best visual impact. It is also intended to be managed so that you always have something available to eat at any given time. You literally just snip off veggies, fruits, flowers and the like as you need them for whatever meal you're eating on that day.
Here is a list of several websites that showcase the potential of a potager garden:
http://www.northerngardening.com/...
http://www.plantersplace.com/...
http://garden.lovetoknow.com/...
http://gardens2grow.com/...
http://homedesigndecorating.com/...