The Small Edible Garden Guide: Part 1

Patch from Scratch: A Small Garden Makeover That Grew Big Things

May 05, 2025

Welcome to Part 1 of The Small Edible Garden Guide - your step-by-step companion for growing good health in even the tiniest spaces. We’re starting this series with a real-life makeover that proves even a narrow strip of lawn can become a thriving patch of edible paradise.

If you dream of stepping outside to forage for herbs, pluck a handful of greens, or harvest “incredible edibles” from your own garden - no matter how tiny - then this series is for you. Whether you’re starting from a bare balcony, a shady or narrow space, a raised bed, or a few pots and a sunny windowsill, designing a small edible garden can feel like staring at a blank canvas! 🙄

The smaller the space, the more important the decisions.

So, where do you start?
What can you grow when sun, space, time, or budget is tight?
How do you choose the right pots or prep your soil to set down strong roots for a healthy harvest?

In this guide, we’ll sow the seeds for success, step by step. From planning your patch from scratch to choosing containers that work for your space (and won’t break the bank), to nutrient-rich soil and potting mixes and picking plants that thrive in small spaces, we’ll dig into it all.

You’ll find practical advice, tips, gentle nudges, and lessons from Nature’s Classroom to spark ideas and keep things growing. I’ll also share inspirational case studies from my clients to get your creative juices flowing!

My hope? With each article, your confidence will grow alongside your lettuce and cherry tomatoes 🍅 and you’ll find joy in the journey as a caretaker of your own little edible ecosystem. 🌱🌿🐝🐞🌻🍆🥕🥒

“In his garden every man may be his own artist without apology or explanation. Each within his green enclosure is a creator, and no two shall reach the same conclusion; nor shall we, any more than other creative workers, be ever wholly satisfied with our accomplishment. Ever a season ahead of us floats the vision of perfection and herein lies its perennial charm.” – Louise Beebe Wilder

Patch from Scratch: Shannon’s Edible Wellness Garden Makeover

Before we sow the first seeds of your garden design, I thought you might enjoy a little behind-the-scenes peek at one of my favourite makeovers … a little patch that shows what’s possible, even in tricky soil and a tight suburban space. My client, Shannon has a small suburban block on 700m² (7,530 sq ft) sitting on coffee rock, a cemented layer of sand that causes waterlogging and would break the most expensive shovel!

BEFORE: Street view of front garden - great sunlight, no privacy = opportunity!

The house, concrete paths/driveway, existing gardens, pool and chicken shed covered most of the site. Like many urban blocks, it had limited flat lawn to convert to more food. Shannon had a BIG wish list as it had to meet her client and extended family’s needs, and be sustainable when she was away travelling! I dug deep on this project to tick all the boxes.

We co-created a plan for an ornamental Kitchen Garden incorporating:

Fruit trees, berries, vegetables, herbs and flowers.
Plants to feed chickens, chop as mulch, and attract beneficial insects.
Habitat for bees, pollinators and birds, including a bird bath.
A sensory garden for grandchildren to snack on food and play (keep some grass)!
A space to sit with her counselling clients as a private sanctuary.

Turning the Front Lawn into Lunch

See anything that might sprout an idea for your own space? After assessing the best sunlight hours and limited options in the backyard and side areas, the best location was the front yard! Very exposed to the street, lacking privacy, but a massive opportunity to create a well-designed, compact, beautiful edible garden. So, after designing the first raised garden bed to maximise space, this is a snapshot of ten weeks after starting with just 7m x 0.6m or 22ft x 2ft (for most of the narrow garden bed) along the front. These pics don’t do it justice, so wait for the garden tour …

Mature habitat tree retained and raised bed was planted with herbs, dwarf fruit trees, berries, herbs, flowers and vegetables

Come have a wander over the virtual fence with me, to see how much was growing just three months in. 👀

Note re Edible Flowers: Always verify the safety of a Lobelia species before consuming it. Some varieties contain toxic compounds, while others offer medicinal value.

That’s just the first season of this edible transformation. In Part Two, I’ll show you how Shannon’s garden grew beyond food - into a space of connection, healing, and community. But first, let’s sow some seeds of success from her journey that you can take straight into your own garden plan.

“From little things BIG things grow.”

Seeds for Success: Lessons From This Patch

🌱 Start small, dream BIG
Sketch a plan, make a wish list, and start one patch at a time. This garden began with a single raised bed and kept growing from there. Your edible dream doesn’t need to be fully baked on day one. Watching your design evolve is half the fun!

🏡 Rethink your growing zones
Out the front, up a sunny wall, or on a well-lit windowsill - sometimes the best spot isn’t where you think. Reimagine your space. Keep an open mind and a wide-angle lens. I see edible garden opportunities in surprising spaces!

☝🏼 When soil’s a letdown, grow UP
No perfect ground? Too soggy, sandy or solid as a rock? No problem. Raised beds, containers, and vertical gardens rise to the occasion and can produce bumper harvests, just like Shannon’s garden.

☀️ Follow the sun (and the shadows)
Observe the sun through the seasons. A spot that bakes in summer may be cold and shady in winter. Knowing when and where the sunlight lands is a big help when deciding what to plant.

🌬️ Microclimates matter
Every garden is unique. A breezy corner or warm protected nook … notice how you feel in that space. If your hair gets a blow-dry every time you are in a high-wind area, your plants may become ‘dried arrangements’! Discover your microclimates, and plant accordingly.

✂️ Be a ruthless gardener (with love)
I’m a tough ‘landlord’! Small space gardeners have limited ‘real estate’ to lease to plant ‘tenants.’ Not every plant resident gets to stay. Some don’t thrive, take up too much room or don’t provide a return on investment. In my garden, they get composted! Don’t be afraid to edit out underperformers and replant with purpose.

So, inspired yet? If Shannon’s makeover planted some ideas, now’s your chance to design your own. Let’s start where every good garden does - with intention. You don’t need fancy tools or a degree in landscape design. Just a bit of quiet time, a notebook, and curiosity about what you want your space to grow into.

How to Plan Your Small Garden

🧭 Step 1: Clarify Your Priorities

Before we dive into designing your dream edible garden, let’s get clear on what really matters to you. This step is like laying down a good compost base - it sets you up for strong, healthy growth. Grab a notebook (or a Garden Journal Planner) and draw a line down the middle of the first page. Label one side NEEDS and the other WANTS.

Start with your non-negotiables. What’s essential for this garden to function? Think practical stuff - a tree that must stay, a pet area that can’t be moved, or a sun-drenched wall you need for tomatoes.

📝 You might want to print out or copy the checklist below and take it outside. Walk around. Let your space talk to you. What already exists that’s useful? What needs to stay put? These are your “must-haves.” Your garden roots.

At the same time, make a note of any elements you don’t love or use. You can edit them out later. These are a few ideas to start with. Add your own!

🌱 My Garden Needs Checklist

✅ Edible/ornamental/medicinal plants
✅ Privacy from neighbours
✅ Reduce road noise
✅ Pet or animal accommodation
✅ Existing trees/plants to keep
✅ Screen an ugly view or create privacy
✅ Safe play space for kids
✅ Outdoor seating or shaded rest zone
✅ Clear access (paths/gates)
✅ Potting bench or seed-starting nook
✅ Storage for tools and supplies

🌼 Step 2: Create Your Wish List

Now for the fun bit: your garden daydreams.

What would you love to include if space, time or budget weren’t an issue just yet? Don’t overthink or edit this list — let yourself dream a little. The right-hand column of your journal is where these ideas go.

Want a patch for herbs and veg? A cozy seat for morning tea? A flower border buzzing with bees? Put it all down. Some of these may overlap with what you already have - if so, give them a little ✅ to mark your head start.

This part is all about imagining what would bring joy, flavour, and function to your space. Here are a few ideas to spark your garden design.

💭 My Dream Garden Checklist

🌿 Culinary herbs for flavour and teas
🌼 Medicinal plants for home remedies
🍓 Fruit trees, vines, or berry patches
🥕 Veggies you love to eat
🐔 Chickens or quail (and their homes)
💐 Flowers - edible or for vases
💧 Water feature, pond, or bird bath
♻️ Compost or worm farm setup
🌱 Potting bench or seed raising nook
🧰 Tool storage or garden shed
🪑 Outdoor seating or entertaining zone
🌾 Small lawn or barefoot patch for pets
🐝 Habitat garden for pollinators

🌿 Up next in The Small Edible Garden Guide…

In Part 2, I’ll dig into how to observe and assess your space like a garden detective. Tracking sunlight, spotting microclimates, and noticing the small patterns that help you design with nature, not against it. No guessing, just grounded guidance to help your garden thrive.

Until then, take a wander, start dreaming, scribbling, and maybe even sprouting a few seeds. Your edible oasis might be closer than you think. ✍🏼🌱

☕ If this helped let a new idea take root, a coffee helps me cultivate more.

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Disclaimer: This information is educational material only and is not intended to take the place of advice from your own health care provider or doctor(s) or to be a means of diagnosing or treating an illness. Seek medical care from a qualified professional if you have a health condition or symptoms. The author does not accept any responsibility for your health, how you choose to use the information contained in the material, or your medical outcomes resulting from applying this information.