permaculture

[Rain Tenaqiya <raincascadia@yahoo.com>]

Gumi are one of my favorite food forest plants, producing well even in a lot 
of shade.  The berries from cultivars are larger and perhaps sweeter.  I love 
them fresh, mixed with other fruit, or in pies.  The seeds are squishy and I 
just ignore them- they are supposed to be nutritional as well.  They grow 
super fast, are very drought-tolerant, and can be repeatedly coppiced.  
Here's what Raintree Nursery says about gumi (Elaeagnus multiflora):
 
 
Each year in midsummer this self-fertile 6' tall bush is covered with 
thousands of juicy red, pleasingly tart fruits. You can eat them out of hand, 
though they are usually made into sauces, pies, and jellies. The full, bushy, 
nitrogen fixing decidious shrub has attractive leaves with a silvery color 
underneath. They tolerate a wide range of soils, and will begin bearing in a 
year or two. Plant in full sun, 7' apart, or 4' for a hedge. USDA Zones 4-8.

                
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