Edible Gardens: Matt Fahy Creates Landscapes That Feed

Matt Fahy, co-founder of Fire of Hope, a business specializing in edible landscaping and environmental education, sees independence rooted in nature.

On a recent afternoon he was working on Fuguitt Elementary’s newest addition- a fig tree. It would be part of the school's edible garden he created two years ago. 

“It’ll grow tall but not big enough for the kids to climb,” Fahy said.

In 2009, Fahy and his wife, Cindi created the garden when their daughter began kindergarten at the school. It was the school's first edible garden and a small kernel of Fahy’s environmental presence.

At the Fahy's home, the family’s edible garden features a cornucopia of edibles, including sweet potatoes, Thai okra, Jamaican sorrel and cassava, a subtropical staple that must be boiled to remove its natural cyanide.

“I would never plant cassava here,” Fahy said, “And at home, my daughter knows all the plants, which to stay away from, what to do.”

Fahy’s love of nature was seeded by his grandmother’s annual Victory Garden. Planting edibles became a way of life for him. As an anthopology major in college, Fahy made sure his rental house had a small garden.

When people figured out he was planting an edible garden they were surprised. They told him," ‘You did what? You planted a garden?'".

“I tore up a big chunk of the backyard and planted a garden. Yeah, that’s who I am.”

He expanded on his anthropology undergraduate degree with a master’s in mental health counseling.  

So, how does someone with a seemingly divergent background flourish? What does an anthropologist with a counseling education and passion for nature do?

“I looked at all my strengths,” Fahy said.

They include a desire to help others, an expertise in cultural periods and a viewpoint that nature is the root to solving many societal problems. With this in his toolbox, Fahy founded Fire of Hope, LLC with partner Robert Segundo, in 2009.

They guide people and communities into creating sustainable and edible gardens. They design landscapes with the principals of permaculture, or working with nature’s own ecosystem.

Fire of Hope offers training, classes and education about permaculture, edible landscaping, water and energy conservation, natural resources and sustainable lifestyles. 

“We can do everything from small gardens to urban homesteading,” Fahy said.

Fahy also works as a mental health counselor with a focus on horticultural therapy. Fahy views the rewards of nature as far more than sprouting seeds, though in itself, the benefit of providing food is immense. He sees that being accountable and responsible for nature can yield mental, physical and spiritual joys.

The benefits of gardening have been recorded for thousands of years, Fahy said.

“As far back as Egyptian times, treatments included walk in the garden two to three times per week,” he added.

“If you think about someone who can’t sleep, suffers from insomnia, gardening is perfect. You’re outside, you’re gardening and you’re tired at the end of the day. You’ll eat good foods, that you planted yourself, and be healthier. You’ll get the exercise you need.”

Fahy moves to the bigger plot of the garden and starts digging small holes for strawberry plants. He crouches, scallops a hole, places the roots down and scoops the soil around the newest additions. The strawberries line up next to the green onions and the rosemary bush.

His dream is to multifold: to provide more green space, spread awareness of nature’s benefits, help people reconnect with nature and educate people on creating their own agricultural independence.

“That was the pride of America. At one time, we were independent, self-sufficient. Everyone knew that about us. They can do it on their own,” he said.

For more information about edible landscaping, contact Matt Fahy at Fire of Hope, 727-488-2597.