If you've ever wondered about replacing part—or all—of your lawn with a vegetable garden, this might help you. Meet Dan DiVito, the local gardener behind Front Yard Food, who is helping homeowners transform ordinary South Jersey lawns into productive gardens filled with vegetables, herbs, fruit trees, native plants, and even wildlife ponds.
Thinking about buying or selling a home in Collingswood or elsewhere in South Jersey? Connect with the JFKLiving Team for local real estate guidance—and the neighborhood news that makes these communities special.
From the Pharmaceutical Industry to the Garden
A few years ago, Dan stepped away from the stress of working in the pharmaceutical industry and began searching for his next big project. His wife encouraged him to create a garden that could help feed their family. Once the vegetables started growing, Dan immediately noticed how different freshly harvested produce tasted compared with what they had been buying at stores like Acme and ShopRite.
How Front Yard Food Began
As Dan continued expanding his garden, neighbors started noticing. They wanted to know what he was growing, how he was doing it, and whether they could create something similar at their own homes. That growing interest became Front Yard Food, a Collingswood-based business that designs and builds edible landscapes. Its services range from installing a single raised garden bed to converting a larger portion of a yard into a food-producing space.
The work does not necessarily end after the garden is installed. Front Yard Food also provides continued coaching and check-ins to help homeowners understand what to plant, when to harvest, and how to keep their gardens thriving. You can explore the company’s services on the Front Yard Food website or follow Front Yard Food on Instagram to see its latest South Jersey garden projects.
More Than Raised Vegetable Beds
Front Yard Food has expanded beyond traditional vegetable gardens; these projects give homeowners another way to use their outdoor space—especially those who want something more productive and personal than a traditional lawn. Could a garden, patio, pool, or larger yard be part of your next move? Explore South Jersey homes and communities with JFKLiving to find a property that fits the way you want to live.
Why This Idea Fits Collingswood
A business like Front Yard Food feels especially at home in the 08108 community. Collingswood residents already have a strong connection to local food; the popular Collingswood Farmers’ Market has operated since 2000 and brings local farms, food vendors, flowers, and other products into the community every Saturday morning from May through Thanksgiving.
Transforming part of a lawn into a garden feels like a natural extension of that local-food culture. It can also be a practical option for homeowners who are tired of maintaining a lawn that does little more than grow, require mowing, and demand ongoing upkeep (and wastes valuable water!). An edible landscape can provide fresh ingredients while making an outdoor space feel more useful and connected to the homeowner.
A Different Kind of South Jersey Yard
Reducing traditional lawn space can offer environmental benefits, too. According to Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, appropriately selected native plants can support local wildlife and pollinators while requiring less fertilizer, fewer pesticides, and relatively little care once established.
That does not mean every homeowner needs to remove every blade of grass: even a small raised vegetable bed, a few fruit trees, or a section of native plants can create a more productive and interesting outdoor space. The goal is not necessarily to eliminate the traditional yard—it is to rethink what part of that yard could become.
Would You Trade Part of Your Lawn for a Garden?
Front Yard Food is showing South Jersey homeowners that a yard can be more than grass and landscaping. It can become a source of tomatoes, herbs, berries, flowers, wildlife habitat, and even dinner. Follow Front Yard Food to see what Dan is growing and building throughout Collingswood and beyond.
And follow the JFKLiving Team for more stories about new businesses, local people, neighborhood changes, real estate, and life throughout 08108 and South Jersey. Whether you are searching for a home with room to garden or preparing to sell a property with a one-of-a-kind outdoor space, JFKLiving can help you make your next move.
