permaculture

["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <venaurafarm@bellsouth.net>]

On 11/5/2011 3:05 PM, georg parlow wrote:
> Hi Lawrence,
>
> I am missing (propably amongst other things - but this one is a great
> cropper and so easily grown, that the lack just jumped on me)
> Fagopyrum dibotrys (D.Don) H.Hara, Syn.: Polygonum cymosum Trevir. -
> this is a perennial buckwheat, that is traditionally used in the
> Himalayas for a spinach. It does not set a lot of seeds, so it might
> be an interesting parent for a future perennial seed buckwheat, but as
> is it is a great perennial spinach, very mild (without the 'wild food'
> flavor - as a matter of fact my brother-in-law who owned an italian
> restaurant carried it off in full trunk loads and served it to
> unknowing customers as ordinary spinach in italian dishes), and once
> established it  grown about 1.5 meters high and produces so heavily
> that it can be slashed for mulch when you get tired of the green stuff
> in summer. Here in eastern Austria it needs a somewhat protected place
> in the garden (close to a wall for wind protection and a bit sun
> trapping), but I guess in somewhat milder climates it could run

> rampant. I originally got the seeds from seedsman J. L. Hudson 
> http://www.jlhudsonseeds.com/

JL Hudson...wonderful source; that company has been around for decades.
Thanks for the addition to the list, George. I will Google this plant 
and see what I can find. I could probably grow it here in Zone 6-7. It 
sounds delicious. Here, spinach seedlings can stand 5 degree F weather 
with wind chill.

I will add another plan to the list: tea, camellia sinensis. Can be 
grown in part shhade for best quality tea leaves or even in total shade.
Te seeds contain a lot of edible oil and it is also used by woodworkers
to protect hand tools and as a wood finish; in this context it is called 
camellia oil.

Have you visited Sepp Holzer's farm yet? If so tell us about it. He is 
one of my all time heroes as is Paul Wheaton for promoting him so actively.

LL