basic instructions to make your own edible landscape

(we will be elaborating & updating these as the project progresses)

what you will need:
- a rented sod-cutter (about $80/day)
- a rented roto-tiller (about $50/day)
- a truck load of compost, calculated to cover the size of your estate
- shovels, hand trowels and rakes
- friends and neighbors to help
- irrigation system, such as soaker hoses
- stakes and string
- fencing material to deter animals
- a composting system (bins, chickenwire enclosure, etc.)
- mulch material (bark, straw, etc.)
- selected vegetables, herbs and fruits as seeds, starts, or trees for your region

some questions to think about when planning your edible estate:
- how is my soil? does it need ammendments? has it been contaminated by lawn chemicals?
- where is south? where are the shady and sunny areas?
- where should tall trees or lower groundcover go? are there views to frame or obscure?
- what do you want to eat from your estate? what can't you get from the grocery store?
- alot of fruits and vegetables grow on vines, do you have something for them to grow on?
- how do you want to move through the edible estate? where should paths go?
- what kind of mulch to use? straw, bark, compost, leaves will retain moisture, block weeds and decompose into the soil
- is there an area in your estate for people? a place to relax and enjoy the plants and food growing?

basic instructions to create your own edible estate:
1. do a test on your soil to see what sort of ammendments it might need, or if it has traces of lawn chemicals.
2. use sod-cutter to remove existing grass, roll it up, give it away, or find a new use for it
3. use roto-tiller to loosen compacted soil (or just turn over the existing turf and let it decompose)
4. spread around 2-6 inches of compost
5. till the soil again to mix in the new compost
6. mark out a plan for your edible estate with stakes and tape
7. plant your seedlings, starts, trees and seeds according to the planting calendar and mulch well
8. water them in thoroughly and install soaker hoses or drip lines as necessary for irrigation
9. install fencing as necessary to deter local animal visitors if that becomes an issue (rabbits?)