Growing food in full view

BY REED WRIGHT

PHOTOS BY SASHA GULISH

“What researchers have discovered in ‘Blue Zone’ areas is that growing your own food is closely tied to longevity,” says landscape designer Christian Douglas. This insight has been a guiding principle for him since he left the South of England, where he grew up tending his father’s postwar victory garden. As a professional garden designer, he later earned awards for creating beautifully-planted estates.

Now based in San Rafael, he runs his own garden design firm, which blends both his passion and expertise. He designs gardens that are not only “beautiful but also delicious,” combining aesthetics with functionality. His elegant outdoor spaces, designed for leisure while promoting food literacy and culinary independence, found a deep resonance during the pandemic. After the lockdown, many of his clients—such as TV host and chef Tyler Florence—retreated into their newly-completed gardens, marveling at how they had flourished. Along with lush ornamental plantings, these gardens became productive home ‘farms,’ offering fresh herbs, vegetables, and greens.

This particular garden, shown in Douglas’s new book, The Food Forward Garden, by Artisan, is in Kentfield on a third of an acre. It was designed for a young family that had relocated from San Francisco with their two elementary-aged boys. “She didn’t want something formal or overly manicured,” says Douglas. “She envisioned a homestead, like an old farmhouse.” The existing Cape Cod-style manor featured standard lawns, concrete paving, olive trees, lavender, and a backyard with little activity. Douglas introduced vibrant flowers, a chicken coop for fresh eggs, and an apiary for the owner, who has a fondness for bees. He also installed recycled redwood beam planter boxes along the home’s stone perimeter near the pool, ideal for growing vegetables and fruit. A sunny area of the garden, complete with a fire pit for cozy evenings, is designed for dining and entertainment. Meanwhile, the side garden, shaded and serene, now features a rocky creek with rustic plank bridges. It’s a playground for the kids, who can forage for alpine strawberries and huckleberries growing in the cracks. “Frogs, insects, and bugs love it there too,” Douglas chuckles. 

christian-douglas.com