Edible Inspiration: Working with Karin Guild and Reimagining My Yard
One of my favorite parts of this job is getting a peek behind the curtain of other people’s passions.
I may not be a winemaker, but I’ve learned more than I ever expected about growing grapes in specific climates, bottling techniques, and industry trends.
I’m no wellness guru either, yet I regularly get schooled (in the best way) on how my body responds to different foods, how to manage stress, and how to build strength—straight from the pros.
And while I’m definitely not a landscape architect, working with an Edible Garden Specialist this past month has shifted how I look at my own backyard—and honestly, maybe my whole lifestyle.
A couple of months ago, while pondering my soon-to-be empty nest, a friend gifted me The Food Forward Garden by Christian Douglas. The book is stunning—full of captivating photography and grounded advice from a local expert right here in Marin. The foreword was written by none other than Tyler Florence, who I once had the pleasure of meeting during a photo shoot with the brilliant Rachel Weill. (Fun fact: he has the biggest, warmest hands I’ve ever shaken. And yes, we waited hours for that perfect dusk shot of El Paseo. At least we were well-fed while we waited!)
Anyway, I devoured the book—visually first, then conceptually. My husband read it cover to cover. It’s not long, but it is inspiring. The idea of a garden being not only beautiful but also useful? We were hooked.
And then—because the universe is weird and wonderful—I got a call from a client who specializes in eCommerce. She had a friend who needed help with a website. What did she do? You guessed it: she designs edible gardens. And at times she is referred by Christian Douglas himself! (you can find her on his website, too!)
Cue the goosebumps.
Of course, I said yes. And that’s how I met Karin Guild.
Karin is a former speech pathologist who pivoted just before the pandemic to start her edible garden design business, Yard to Table. Like many early entrepreneurs, she DIY-ed her first website—and did a solid job of it! But as time passed, a few things fell out of date: her Instagram feed disconnected, some buttons lost their links, and a few formatting quirks crept in. It happens.
All she needed was a weekend refresh—and a little extra love.
We gave her site a light but thoughtful facelift:
Refreshed the header and footer for better navigation
Updated typography and color palette
Added clearer section headers to highlight Karin’s value proposition
Cleaned up white space for better readability
Simplified the user journey (less scrolling, more clarity)
Grouped services visually to make them more digestible
Revived her newsletter sign-up area
Fixed broken links and fussy formatting
Up next? We’re planning a simple shop for Karin’s favorite tools and products, along with merch that reflects her thoughtful, earthy brand.
And then, naturally, I started thinking about our own garden.
Cute little except from my fledgling garden pre-Karin guidance
We’d long talked about getting rid of our water-thirsty lawn and turning it into something more meaningful—but we weren’t sure exactly what until being introduced to this concept. Karin was 100% on board and ready to help. That’s when we stumbled upon Marin Water’s Cash for Grass rebate program.
It turns out, if you replace your irrigated lawn with a low-water landscape—especially one with native plants, drip irrigation, and sheet mulching—you can qualify for up to $4.68 per square foot back. Not too shabby, right?
But there’s a process. And it matters.
To get the full rebate, you can’t just dig up your lawn. You actually need to sheet mulch it, which means layering cardboard over the grass, then covering it with compost and mulch. You also have to apply and be pre-approved before you do anything. There’s a pre-inspection, a timeline, and yes—potential tax paperwork if your rebate hits a certain threshold.
My husband has gone full garden nerd researching it all (and I say that with total love and admiration). We’re planning to follow it to the letter—both for the rebate and for the benefit of our soil and water usage. You can find the full rebate details at MarinWater.org/Cash4Grass.
And if you're dreaming about your own garden transformation, talk to Karin. She’s familiar with this process and can guide you through it, especially if you want something that’s beautiful and functional.
AND A Garden Event You Won’t Want to Miss
As if the universe wasn’t already sprinkling signs everywhere—guess who’s coming soon to the Marin Art and Garden Center? The one and only Christian Douglas (yes, the author of The Food Forward Garden) will be speaking on Saturday, June 21st, from 10 AM to Noon.
The event is called “Food for a Thoughtful Garden: Talk and Tour with Christian Douglas.” He’ll lead a guided tour through the center’s edible garden, followed by a private visit to one of his nearby residential projects in Kentfield—think veggie beds, fruit trees, ponds, chickens, and ducklings. Tickets are $100 and include a signed copy of his book. Total garden goals.
If you’re looking for inspiration, guidance, or just a beautiful way to spend a Saturday morning, this is the event.
I’m so excited to continue working with Karin—not just as a client, but as a garden guide for what comes next at our home. I can already see the raised beds, the herbs outside the kitchen window, the tomatoes we’ll pretend not to overwater. And yes, once things are in bloom, I’ll be bringing my camera along to capture the magic in her clients’ gardens too. Stay tuned.
And if you’re starting your own journey—whether it’s a lawn conversion or just a pot of herbs on the balcony—don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Or to ask for help. Karin’s your girl.
You can follow her on Instagram to see what she’s up to. You won’t be disappointed.
