Herb/Veggie garden in the FRONT yard: Yea or Nay

[gladhands]

We bought this house in June, so this will be our first spring gardening season. There's a dead patch of grass in our front yard. I want to rip it up, and re-plant. My wife wants me to install a garden box for herbs and veggies. Rationally, I understand that lawns serve no purpose, but I can't shake the feeling that growing veggies in the front yard is for farmers. Ours is a small lot in the middle of the city. Our house faces west and is three stories, so the back yard is mostly shaded by the house, making it unsuitable for gardening.. What say?

 

[Joffrey]

Dont care for the farmer angle, but I think there's something private about a vegetable/herb patch. Since you have no other choice, I guess go for it.

 

[upthewazzu]

Check the city/neighborhood ordinances before you put it in. Some cities, I'm not kidding, consider that a no-no.

 

[foodguy]

upthe is right. some cities don't even allow xeriscaping (weeds).
i've got 4 veg beds in my side yard (corner lot, on the street). really love them. great for growing salads and things like that. and i'm not much of a gardener. actually, it's one of the most-commented (favorably) features of our yard.