Terraces have served as fruit and vegetable gardens on Italy's Amalfi coast for centuries. The hand stacked stone walls radiate heat and warm the soil creating micro climates throughout the seaside region. Here at Agriturismo Villa Maria in Minori the gardens are accessed daily for fare prepared by la Singnora Maria, a celebrated chef in the region. The staircase bordering the terrace leads from the road to the Villa's reception area...
...at the top we were greeted by a smiling Vincenzo handing us a fresh squeezed lemonade which we sipped while catching our breath. The accomodation terraces are graced by lemon trees and sport an incredible view of Minori and the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Olive trees sway in the sea breezes and are used for the house oil. Grapes are trellised along the guest terraces and are used for house wine.
How can you make all this happen on a smaller scale in your yard? Consider using edibles as ornamentals. Even here in Western Washington you can create a microclimate for growing table grapes and some white wine grapes. Blueberry bushes are excellent shrubs with blooms in Spring, colorful fruit in summer, and gorgeous Autumn displays. Try herbaceous perennial edibles like rhubarb or shrubs like lavender or rosemary. Once you start you'll be coming up with all kinds of ways to add edibles to your garden without sacrificing beauty.
