guidelines for selecting sites for the nine prototype gardens

The new prototype garden locations for 2009 have not yet been announced. We do gardens in cities where we have been invited by a local sponsoring institution, or art museum. We then put out a call, searching for estate owners with a suitable front lawn to remove. For maximum impact, influence, contrast and demonstration, we would like the prototype gardens sites to conform to a few parameters...

the house should be:
> on a somewhat lengthy typical residential street lined entirely with uninterrupted groomed front lawns.
> in some way 'conventional', 'iconic', 'american'.
> not too big and not too small.
> this could also be a duplex or an apartment building, anyplace people live where they are isolated from the public street by a front lawn.

the front yard should be:
> very visible from the street, with regular car traffic.
> relatively flat and currently covered with lawn.
> few large trees or any major landscaping that couldn't easily be removed.
> have good solar access, ideally with a south or south-west orientation.
> be relatively pesticide free.

the prospective edible estate owners / gardeners should be:
> super enthusiastic about the project.
> committed and willing to continue the Edible Estate prototype as long as they live in the house.
> avid and knowledgeable gardeners.
> potential spokespeople, willing to engage others in conversation about the project.
> agree to document the project with writing and regular digital photos of the progress and development of the garden throughout the seasons for the first year.

We would particularly like to do the Edible Estate prototype on a street where the interuption of the endless lawn would be dramatic and controversial. A monotonous housing development of identical homes and front lawns would be ideal! (but not a requirement).

We will work in collaboration to create the layout, design and plant specifications. We will install the landscape and all costs associated with establishing the garden for the first season will be covered.

Check back at the end of 2008 to see where our next gardens will be....