As we become more aware of our dinner’s carbon footprint, many are seeking to grow as much as possible close to home using environmentally-sensitive methods. In St. Louis, Matt Lebon of Custom Foodscaping builds permaculture food forests, focusing on native plants and resource management to create bountiful urban harvests. From restaurants to churches to schools, his food forests fulfill a range of needs, feeding bodies as well as spirits with his innovative edible landscape designs.
If you’re interested in learning more and planting your own edible landscape, Matt suggests the following books:
Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist by Michael Judd
Gaia's Garden by Toby Hemenway
Paradise Lot by Eric Toensmeier
Restoration Agriculture by Mark Shepard
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What exactly is permaculture? In St. Louis, Matt Lebon focuses on building regenerative permaculture foodscapes in urban areas with his company, Custom Foodscaping. Using nature as his guide, the gardens he designs capture rainwater and bring an edible landscape to backyards and businesses.
Read MoreIn consultation with Matt Lebon, Jubilee Community Church’s leaders not only built a diverse, perennial permaculture garden in what many would consider to be a food desert, they decided to cultivate unique plants that would appeal to chefs looking for something unusual and locally grown to add to their menus, things like fresh figs and jujubes.
Read MoreMatt Lebon's South City backyard shows how a typical St. Louis city plot can become a food forest
Read MoreAt EarthDance, Matt was involved in just about every aspect of running the farm, leading classes, hosting events and generally ensuring that the farm operated smoothly.
Read MoreAt Principia School, Custom Foodscaping installed a permaculture orchard which is used by kids from every grade level to learn about farming, the environment, resource conservation and sustainability.
Read MoreTara Gallina said that she expected they’d be able to plant some sort of garden, but the bounty that the chefs are able to pull from this urban oasis is astounding.
Read MoreAt Confluence Kombucha in St. Louis’ The Grove neighborhod, they pull from co-owner Julie Villarini’s backyard to supply the kitchen with unique items for kombucha as well as plated dishes.
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