Planting edible perennials increases food system resilience. It is better for our soil and our health. It also makes our work in the garden a lot easier.
Perennial edibles are the type of plants that often get a bad rap. In the popular quest for ultimate control and perfectly manicured gardens, perennial edibles are willfull, wild, resilient & unruly rebels!
When it comes to food security increasing the amount of perennial food you grow is the smart thing to do. Basically, If you want a lot of food, plant perennials.
Perennials food is also better for our soil, nutritional diversity and they increase and protect biodiversity (at present only 12 plant species account for 70% of nutrition (ProSpezieRara Germany 2014)). In just the last century, we have lost 75% of our edible plant varieties. When you look around a supermarket, this becomes quite apparent, but we can do something about it. Cultivating local hardy perennial food helps to protect our food heritage. (source)
Plant it once and enjoy for years!
I've got to tell you, as we toiled in the garden all day planting vegetable seeds, it was thrilling to walk around and see all of this perennial food just growing and thriving without needing any attention from us.
Some of the perennials we grow are cultivated varieties including rhubarb, horseradish, raspberries, herbs and blackberries. Other types are wild local foods that we've learned to identify such as fiddleheads, chickweed, and burdock.
As we experience the benefits of perennial food, we begin to seek out more options for the garden. We do this for all the reasons I've mentioned plus, perennial food is nutrient dense and good for us. It is also less work to grow perennials. In many cases, you plant it once and enjoy for years with minimal to no effort. This gives us peace of mind because we'd like to live on our homestead for the rest of our lives. Having well-established gardens is a bit of an old age insurance policy for us as well.
If you'd like to explore perennial Edibles more here are some articles you might enjoy
Garden Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) Early Perennial Greens
Why You Should Grow Perennial Chives
Perennial Vegetables & Fruit: Plant a Perennial Food Garden
Rhubarb: How to Plant, Grow, Harvest and Preserve
Horseradish; Harvesting, Planting and Storing
Six Ornamental Plants & Flowers That You Can Eat!
Posted with love from my blog walkerland.ca with SteemPress : https://www.walkerland.ca/plant-perennial-food-for-resilient-gardens/
I feel the same way about our garden - establish it well for old age. Either that or fill it with concrete.
What are you holding in your hands? is that a type of jerusalem artichokes?
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Ryan is holding Jerusalem artichokes in that photo, yes indeed! Going to try and give them another chance this year. Might as well since we have such a good established crop.
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They are really purpleish - mine aren't at all!
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you know, that's one idea I haven't jumped on yet - trying different varieties. Like everything, I bet some are way different than others. Gotta hope anyhow.
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Yours look tasty!!! @mountainjewel did you see the Walkers sunchokes?
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I completely agree!
Perennial crops are certainly are more sustainable option, the less we interfere with the soil (tilling, digging etc.) the more we allow the soil food web to work its magic.
Great advice!
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Thanks, @brizhorticulture - Absolutely!
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Love the basket of blackberries. :)) Once construction is done, with the trees gone, I hope to find places for more perennial foods.
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oh you are losing some trees? I think you said that before and I forgot. I love your violet jelly post. So nice that you are sharing your knowledge and teaching others.
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Yes, we have to take them all down because of construction and the new septic system. I had hoped to save 1, but the septic killed that idea. :((
But as soon as construction is done, we will plant new trees and in 30 years, I'll see big trees again. :))
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Things that just come back, year after year, are also hugely common here in Asia. All sorts of things self-sow and replicate, and then go dormant in their off season. All we have to do is remember to mark their spots well so we don't accidentally dig them up or crowd them out.
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I would love to see Asia. It's been on my bucket list a long time. Around here the garden is under snow for half the year and I often do forget what I've planted where - always a delight to re-discover things.
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I'm all about food that grows without my having to put a ton of work into coaxing it to grow every spring!! It was such a thrill to see my oregano survive the winter...it's going crazy right now. Though I'm thinking "unruly" really does describe raspberry suckers, which are busy popping up everywhere 😆
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We've got the same thing. The oregano is gorgeous and the patches keep getting bigger - so gorgeous and the bees love the flowers. We started this huge patch for the raspberry/blackberry transplants to live. It will be amazing if it takes off. So much fruit!!
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Mmm yummm! Your berries totally caught my eye.. looking forward to berry season. I am inspired by all the perennials you have been planting and tending! Horseradish and rhubarb are definitely on my future perennials to grow list! This is my second year growing burdock! Will have to compare notes :)
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I can't wait either. We are down to our last bag of blackberries. I am going to try something new with the burdock this year (plus other wilds that I want roots from) Raised beds!! I am hoping that the roots are bigger & yields are better.
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OMG!! I am trying raised burdock beds too! We are definitely going to have to compare notes! They are just starting to come up with their tiny leaves now...
We went through our frozen blackberries a long time ago, but still have a few quarts of BB jam and almost half gallon of dried bb's that we've been enjoying, mostly in yogurt. Starting to crave the fresh ones again after seeing your pictures though!
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How uncanny. I love that! Well, I think you'll be way ahead of me so I'll have to remember to ask you for updates. The snow just thawed this week so we are a bit behind the game.
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Kind of one time investment ...and enjoy the dividends every year.👍....it is always again. As it help in making soil fertility and at same time keep growing the fruits year after year
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Absolutely! We've been able to grow our stock substantially all from the original investment as well - very economical if you've got patience!
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