Today while doing chores I spotted some rhubarb and horseradish popping out of the ground! This just makes me so happy. It's one of the first real signs of spring that we've had.
There is SO MUCH snow still on the ground and it's really cold outside! Spotting this new life seems so miraculous and reminds me of how much we value perennial edibles.
Perennial foods are really important for food security.
I should note that this time last year I was preparing some of the raised beds for planting. The year before I had already sown some of the cold tolerant seeds. This year, we've still got several feet of snow on top of the garden. We are weeks behind.
The climate is changing and becoming so much less predictable. Most perennial food plants are incredibly durable. In fact, many are considered invasive. This is a good thing! When it comes to growing a lot of food with ease and having a reliable food supply, it really doesn't get much better than a resilient perennial.
Here are some posts that I've written about growing perennial foods
If you are feeling inspired to add perennial foods to your landscape, spring is the perfect time to get started!
Grow A Perennial Food Garden!
When it comes to establishing a self sufficient food landscape, perennial vegetables are impossible to beat. You'll thank yourself when food starts popping up out of the ground in early spring, with no effort on your part. Edible perennials are often hardy, reliable food crops that need very little care and attention. A lot of these plants can be invasive and spread, some might see this as a down side but to me that's the ultimate goal. Read it here
Why You Should Grow Perennial Chives
In early spring when the ground is just thawing, chives are one of the first plants to emerge from the ground. They are also one of the first spring time flowers for bees. Chives are a hardy and easy to grow perennial in zone 3-10. Read it here
Cold Hardy Perennial Food Shrubs & Trees
There is nothing better than perennial plants that produce food. They look beautiful, nourish you and best of all you only need to plant them once while reaping the benefits for years to come. There is also a cool factor. Just the idea of walking around our land while snacking on food gets my heart racing. Not to mention, some of these trees will be here long after we are gone. It's such a good feeling to know you are leaving behind a legacy. Read more here
Perennial Vegetables: Jerusalem Artichokes
The Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)also known as Sunchoke, is a species of sunflower native to eastern North America. It is cultivated for the tuber which is treated as a root vegetable. The flower will grow 8-10' tall producing lovely sunflowers in August but unlike other sunflowers this species does not provide seed/oil and it used exclusively for the tuber. Read more here
How to Plant, Grow, Harvest & Preserve Rhubarb
Rhubarb is one of my favourite perennial edibles. Although most often treated as a fruit, rhubarb is actually a vegetable. The edible stalks have a rich tart flavour making it a rather diverse ingredient in the kitchen. Rhubarb is the lowest maintenance food crop on our homestead. It requires a little bit of tending in the early spring and autumn but otherwise grows happily without interference. It’s easy to grow and hardy in pretty much all growing zones.Read more here
Here are some Fabulous Posts From Other Steemians About Growing Perennial Food!
Forgotten Plants | 6 Perennial Vegetables Bought With Steem Planted! from @mountainjewel
THE EDIBLE OUTDOORS 26 - BLACK RASPBERRY from @papa-pepper
Beauty and Abundance in one Perennial Plant from @fernowl13
Edible Perennial Ground Nutfrom @fernowl13
There are so many perennial edibles that you can grow! This post just skims the surface of possibilities
Talk to locals in your area and search local resources to see what will grow best for you. You can also search for "perennial food" in the steemit search bar. There are many other articles for your to pursue on this topic!
Happy Growing!
Building a greener, more beautiful world one seed at a time.
Homesteading | Gardening | Frugal Living | Preserving Food| From Scratch Cooking|
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