THE EDIBLE ESTATES CHALLENGE!

Have you been thinking about removing your front lawn and establishing your very own Edible Estate? We are looking for new lawn to Edible Estate garden transformations from each of the ten USDA Plant Hardiness Zones {or go here to find your zone by zip code} to feature in our upcoming Edible Estates book. It will be published by Metropolis Books and distributed by DAP in February 2008. Each garden featured will include before (lawn) and after (garden) photos taken by the family along with a short story about their experiences.

1. We will be selecting one residence from each of the 10 USDA Plant Hardiness Zones.

2. You must remove your ENTIRE front lawn and replace it with a bountiful landscape of edibles.

3. The front lawn should be in front of a private residence, surrounded by other front lawns. To get a better sense of what we are looking for, go here to see our regional prototype garden guidelines.

4. You should send the information, images and text requested below by June 1st, 2007. The 10 families will then have about a month to edit the text and provide updated and improved images of the garden. (This means your garden needs to be established before June 1st. If selected you will then have another month to get better photos of your garden growing!)

5. We will select gardens based on the contrast between the barren desolation of the pre-existing lawn and the abundance & exuberance of the edible landscape that replaces it. We will also be looking for a diversity of families and regions.

6. Each family with a featured garden will receive a free copy of the book.

To Apply, please submit the following materials by June 1st to info@edibleestates.org (with Edible Estates Challenge & your growing zone # in the subject heading):

1. Name and complete contact information.

2. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone you are located in.

3. Two images showing your front yard from the exact same point of view of 'before' (with front lawn) and 'after' (with edible landscape established). These should be at least 4" x 6" at 300 dpi (or the highest setting on your digital camera).

4. A short description of your new garden, your experiences creating it, the reactions of the neighbors, your general thoughts about the experience. (between 300 and 500 words).