05-19-2026 Florida-Friendly Food-Scaping: Including Edibles in Your Yard

FFL's nine principles are not just for creating and maintaining aesthetically pleasing residential landscapes. They are also great for creating edible landscapes of herbs, vegetables and fruits. A sustainably grown “kitchen garden” landscape can complement your FFL yard and provide a healthy food source. Florida’s generally mild climate lets you have an edible landscape almost year around. Creating an edible landscape need not be expensive or labor intensive. Even a modest container grown edible landscape can produce a bountiful harvest. Edible landscapes are also a natural at attracting bees, butterflies, and other natural pollinators. In neighborhoods, sustainably grown community gardens are a great way for residents to connect with both nature and one another, inspiring each other as they work together to grow their own healthy food. What you do in your landscape matters. From the fertilizers you apply to the water you use, your gardening choices can have an impact on land, water, wildlife, and the overall well-being of Florida’s residents. The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) Program is here to help you learn how to have healthy and beautiful landscapes that protect Florida’s natural resources by following nine science-based principles: * Right Plant, Right Place * Water Efficiently * Fertilize Appropriately * Mulch * Attract Wildlife * Manage Yard Pests Responsibly * Recycle Yard Waste * Reduce Stormwater Runoff * Protect the Waterfront A Florida-Friendly landscape can be designed to look the way you want, fit the aesthetics of your community, and suit your lifestyle, while being environmentally sustainable. Join us to learn how! This lecture is presented by Kate Kaste, UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County, FFL Program Manager.