So, why the HOA? (And how to begin Edible Landscaping)

It finally happened to me. My husband and I built the home we had been planning for quite some time, and on the day of closing the title company presented us with a welcome packet...of sorts. Rules and procedures known as the "HOA covenants and regulations" which dictates what we can and cannot do with the property we own!

Yes, you read that correctly. We buy a house and sign a document which states that SOMEONE ELSE will tell us what to do with our own property. And we pay them to do it through annual dues! Almost 10 years later, I'm still in disbelief that people willingly sign up for such organizations or vote them in. Couple that with the neighbor who is a "lifer" on the HOA board who called code compliance on our move-in day because our moving van was one foot into the street! That's where Undercover HOA was born!

One of the many regulations in our welcome packet stated "vegetable gardens will be limited to small side gardens or back gardens only." As a lifelong gardener, and someone who loves canning, that simply would not do! They installed huge front flowerbeds on my house, and that was a lot of wasted real estate for just flowers and shrubbery (aka, rather pointless plants).

So, like all creative people, I set out to find a solution. I dutifully researched edible landscaping and how to tuck plants into a front flowerbed with three goals: they must be aesthetically pleasing, they must have a purpose (be edible!), and they must fly under the radar of the most discerning pro-HOA nosy neighbor (you know who you are!!).

Here was my initial solution:

1. Shrubbery (tell me you didn't say that in a Monty Python-esque voice)- Rosemary, Rosehips, Lilac. All are quite useful plants and very visually appealing. Rosemary can be shaped like a standard HOA shrub, and has produced for years. I make hair growth oil out of it (rosemary infused oil, put on hair, and wrapped with a shower cap and towel), season meat, and make a year's worth of dried rosemary powder. Lilac makes a wonderful salve, and rosehips are rich in vitamin c and make a lovely, vibrant tea for the winter months.

2. Herbs- Along with rosemary, I tuck in oregano, marjoram, lavender, calendula, and chamomile. I also place pots of lemon balm, spearmint, catnip and peppermint. A warning now- do not put those last four directly into the ground. I did once, and I will be battling spearmint every year for the rest of my life. Each of the listed herbs has been amazing in my Undercover HOA flower gardens, and allows me to free up space in my main vegetable garden for actual vegetables.

3. Flowers- Marigolds (in the front of the garden), Gladiolus, Daffodil (in bunches), iris, vinca, daisies. With the exception of the gladiolus, these are all placed in the front of my gardens to hide the hidden edible landscaping and to increase curb appeal. From the road, it looks like a normal flower bed (perfect for the HOA snoops!)

4. Undercover vegetables- Here is where the real artistry comes in to play, and where your creativity will shine. Have an open spot in the back of the garden? Pop in a zucchini or pattypan squash. Swiss chard adds a pop of color and food. Want fruit instead? Add some strawberry clusters or even a Bushel and Berry Raspberry bush plant, or some low bush blueberries. I've done it all, and it all works. By tucking in vegetables, I can maximize my space and minimize our grocery bill!