In a world that worships the new, sometimes older is better. For me, that's true with tomatoes. While modern hybrid tomatoes look great and are very productive, the old heirloom varieties have the taste and look of "real" tomatoes.

What's an Heirloom?

Heirloom tomatoes are those varieties grown prior to World War II. They often are regional varieties from around the world that have been passed down within families.

When you read the descriptions of where to plant your new tree, shrub or perennial flower, invariably you see words such as “fertile, well-drained soil” and “full sun.”

In an ideal plant world, all soils would be rich in organic matter and well drained, and the locations would be sunny and protected from wind. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t describe my yard. I do have some full sun locations, but those sites are exposed and windy.

The tomato is the most popular vegetable grown in the world. (Okay, technically they’re berries, but you don’t usually see chocolate-covered tomatoes in a grocery store.) They are very easy to grow, and come in many delicious varieties, from small cherry tomatoes to giant beefsteaks. They can grow up to ten feet tall, and can fit in as little as one to three square feet of ground space. Tomato plants can be grown in a container if you don’t have access to a garden.

Whatever variety and flavor you decide to grow, the taste, texture and nutritional value of your tomato is determined by the soil condition in your garden. And if you are an organic gardener, you will know that the health of the soil is the basis for everything else.

Drive around any residential neighborhood in the country and you’re bound to see the same, standard landscaping theme—a few shade or flowering trees, a green lawn and some foundation shrubs around the house. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Imagine having a yard that looks beautiful and produces fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs for you without a lot of extra work. That’s edible landscaping.

Edible landscapes incorporate food-producing plants into a residential landscape. It’s really very simple. Instead of planting a purely ornamental tree, shrub or flower, choose plants that are beautiful and that also produce an edible crop.