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Plants in the backyard organic garden aren't always grown to provide food. Many plants have qualities other than nutritional ones.
Some plants may benefit others just by growing near them. Legumes are well known for providing nitrogen to the soil through rhizobium bacteria nodules on their roots (look for little white lumps clustered around the roots). So it makes sense to plant legumes near crops requiring higher levels of nitrogen eg, lettuce and spinach. Some plants discourage unwanted insects, while others encourage useful insects.
There are also bad companions, an obvious one being grass growing at the base of fruit trees. The grass uses valuable nutrients in the soil, which could otherwise have been taken up by the tree. Other plants like potatoes can make apple trees prone to disease and visa versa.
Companion planting has been considered much more seriously in agricultural research in recent times, and many old hands in the garden get a feel for what plants grow well together. Click on the link above to see a table of good and bad companion plants.
Other plants may provide rich pickings for poultry and other animals eg; nut trees, tagasasti (tree Lucerne), elderberry (also makes very potent wine) and sunflowers. Groundcovers smother weeds, reduce evaporation, and provide shelter for predator insects and lizards. These can keep the harmful insects at bay. Comfrey and Lucerne can be grown purely for mulching and composting. Legumes are used as green manure crops, providing not only nitrogen to the soil, but also organic matter when they are dug in. Many herbs and other plants have medicinal purposes. Bamboo is a great building and staking material. Timber is another obvious building material, which has many other uses too eg; fuel, furniture making, craftwood and fencing.
Also grow native plants endemic to your area. These may attract native birds, which can then devour more of the less useful insects. See the new section of this web site dedicated to Tasmanian native plants.