We bought our house last August and part of my list of “things to do” was create our yard into an edible landscape. I was so enthused to stumble upon Love & Carrots and see what they have to offer. They can create it customized to you, where your yard is transformed into your own farmers’ market. You can be as hands on as you’d like through their different services. So whether you have a roof, a rowhouse, an embassy, or a townhome (or even a real yard!) these are the folks that can transform your space to feed you! And an added bonus…they work with a canner and preserver who can transform those goodies into year round bounty!

Founder Meredith Shepherd took a moment to answer a few questions. For more information please visit their website www.loveandcarrots.com

What is Love & Carrots?

Love & Carrots is a home organic gardening company that designs, installs, and maintains vegetable gardens. We help provide a hand to those who want to grow their own food, but lack the knowledge or time to make it happen.

When did you start gardening? At what point did you decide you wanted to make it a career?

I grew up in Vermont where my family always had a huge garden, so I was required to help seed and weed at a very young age! I’ve always been passionate about Environmental issues, but it wasn’t until i moved to DC in 2006 that I saw farming and gardening as a possible career. My first move was to gain as much experience growing food as possible, which led me to managing Chailey Farm– a small farm in Virginia that sold produce to various DC restaurants including Citizen, Sou’ Wester, and Komi. Chailey farm was still an hour away from the city, though, and I believe so strongly in Urban Farming.. Growing food right where its needed! Once the concept for Love & Carrots popped into my head I dove right in.

Do you have a favorite experience or garden you have done so far?

My absolute favorite part is seeing the client’s reaction to the transformation of their space. I see a lot of neglected, overgrown yards, empty patios, and people fed up with mowing- we get to fill these headache-spaces with a beautiful jungle of bounty! The satisfaction of making that happen, and thereby drawing people outside to appreciate a previously neglected space is just priceless!

There is a really cool food movement happening where a lot of people are getting back into gardening. What is the best advice you can give someone who wants to transform their yard into an edible landscape?

Sunlight is king. Find the sunniest spot possible and your garden will be worlds happier. Then make sure you prepare your soil well; add lots of compost, amend it appropriately, and create a raised bed- roots need drainage. Don’t be afraid to try growing what you want. If you are direct-seeding, make sure you thin! Finally watering well, sometimes daily, is oh so necessary. We install automated drip irrigations systems for that.

What is you favorite spring time meal?

Raw kale salad with turnips, home-made asian-style dressing, and nutritional yeast! It sounds so crunchy but its SO good! and Turnips. They are so underrated. A big, juicy hakurai turnip is good enough to eat like an apple!

Thanks, Meredith! Contact Meredith and her crew at www.loveandcarrots.com

 Photo via Flickr