As grocery prices continue to strain American household budgets, some creative ways to gather food are cropping up.

A Tampa Bay 28 news article highlighted Growing Back to Eden, an organic farm owned by Nick Ager, who says, “Eating local and in season, that’s the way to do it.” (1)

Ager may be onto something. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS), grocery prices rose 1.2% from 2023 to 2024. (2) Over the longer term, from 2020 to 2024, the all-food Consumer Price Index rose 23.6%, (3) which was higher than general inflation figures over that same time period.

With consumers feeling the price squeeze at the grocery store, the trend of edible landscaping, like what Ager is doing with his farm, could be worth digging into.

Edible landscaping, also known as foodscaping, culinary landscaping, or edible gardens, is when gardeners include food-producing plants in ornamental or landscape design. Instead of treating vegetables, fruit trees, herbs, and the like, as strictly produce to be consumed, they become part of the aesthetics of the yard.

The goal is to create a garden that is both beautiful and productive so that your walking path, flower beds, fence lines, and shade trees can double as food sources. According to Edible Landscapes, an environmental nonprofit organization, foodscaping can help with addressing food insecurity. (4)

Because it’s a mix of style and substance, edible landscaping can appeal to people who don’t want a fenced “veggie patch” but still want to grow their own food.

According to the Tampa Bay article, Ager teaches families how to set up edible landscapes in their yards, and, being in Florida with warm weather, many plants can grow year-round.

Ager’s not the only one with this type of business. Another example is California-based Farmscape, which offers edible garden consulting, custom design, licensed installation, and organic maintenance. There’s also Home Harvest in Boston, showing that depending on the climate, different types of plants do best in different areas of the county.

Interested in setting up your own edible landscape? Keep in mind some of the pros:

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You don’t need a ton of space. Many edible landscaping designs can fit into smaller lots, front yards, side yards, container gardens, and vertical gardens.

Many edible plants are low-maintenance once established (perennials, shrubs, fruit trees).

Over time, you can reduce food costs, especially for pricier items like herbs.

Don’t forget the potential cons:

Upfront cost and labor. Be prepared to get the soil ready, spend money on plants, irrigation, fencing, and design work.

You’ll need to learn about soil, pests, composting, plant selection, local climate, water management, pruning, etc.

It’s not “set it and forget it”; you’ll have to be ready to maintain the landscape to prevent weeds, pests, and diseases, which means pruning and other seasonal tasks.

Keep in mind the climate you live in. Some plants won’t thrive in cold climates or very short growing seasons; perennial zones matter.

Check your HOA rules. Some homeowner associations restrict edible gardens in front yards or have rules about tidiness.

You can’t fully predict a yield because of weather, pests, or other disasters.

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Let’s say you’ve thought it over and want to explore the idea further. How much can you really save by turning your lawn into a food garden? It depends on your yard, your climate, and how much effort you put in.

A carefully designed edible landscape filled with fruit trees, berry bushes, herbs, and perennial vegetables can make a dent in your grocery bill over time. According to a 2022 Trees.com survey, 33% of Americans surveyed report saving $100 a month or more on produce by growing a garden. (5)

Just don’t expect the savings to happen overnight. You’ll have upfront costs for soil prep, compost, plants, irrigation systems, fencing, and tools, depending on the size and setup. Most homeowners need a few years before their harvests start paying them back.

The value also depends on what you grow. Producing your own herbs or organic fruit, for example, can offset pricier grocery-store purchases. And don’t forget about extra “hidden savings,” like less food waste, fresher ingredients that last longer, and no markups for packaging or transport.

Ready to get your hands dirty? To get started with edible landscaping, here’s what it takes and what to look out for:

Get your ground ready. Start with the basics: prepare your soil, compost, and learn your yard’s sun and shade patterns. Good soil and proper drainage are critical for a productive edible garden.

Pick plants that play well with your climate. Choose fruits, herbs, and vegetables that make sense for your growing zone, frost dates, and drought tolerance. Planning for spacing, irrigation, and microclimates will help everything thrive together.

Build and maintain. You may need to add trellises, raised beds, fences, or pathways. Stay on top of pruning, weeding, mulching, and pest control and expect to spend more time in the first couple of years as your landscape transitions.

Start small and learn as you go. Begin with one small section or a few fruit shrubs before expanding. Track your costs and yields, and connect with local gardeners, native plant societies, or edible landscaping experts for guidance.

Edible landscaping can be rewarding, but it’s not without hard work up front. Treat it like any other investment: start small, learn, adapt, and grow from there.

Growing your own may not replace all of your produce, but for many households, it can become a meaningful (and beautiful) way to complement it and hedge against rising food costs.

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

Tampa Bay 28 (1); U.S. Department of Agriculture (2); U.S. Department of Agriculture (3); Edible Landscapes (4); Trees.com (5).

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.