Remember when I told you, many moons ago, about the very cool project Edible Estates? Dreamed up and spearheaded by Los Angeles-based architect Fritz Haeg, the project pushes the idea that lawns, which are, in many parts of the world, unnatural groundcover, should be replaced with native plants and edible crops. Now, Haeg, along with contributors, has given urban, suburban, and rural gardeners the world over some serious inspiration with his book Edible Estates: Attack on the Front Lawn.

To see a gallery of photos, and to learn more about this book, read more.

The book, which includes an essay from one of my culinary heroes, Michael Pollan, offers food for thought on everything from the history of turf grass in the US to the challenges of replacing said lawn with an incredible, edible front yard. Haeg's first garden was built in Salina, KS, with other gardens quickly sprouting in Lakewood, CA; Maplewood, NJ; Austin, TX; and London, England, among other spots on the globe. Eventually, Haeg plans to establish regional gardens in nine cities across the US.

The book serves as one part manifesto, one part how-to, and one part inspiration, with owners of the first four gardens weighing in on the challenges and joys of turning their grassy lawns into edible estates. The book includes beautiful photos, extensive garden plans, and thoughtful essays from additional writers. I read this book earlier in the Spring, and it's no small coincidence that a few days after reading it, I built my first garden box at my new house. If you need a kick in the pants to get your garden going, I dare say there's no better inspiration than Haeg's book. I highly recommend it!