Suggestions for perennial food garden - plant types/soil health

Hello everybody, first time here. I am making a vegetable garden at my parents house and interested in making it into a long term, perennial food garden. That way, when I move out, they can have a garden that they only need to water, harvest, and occasionally de-weed. I recently changed the vegetable patch to a hugelkultur-style patch, so it has rocks, logs, sicks, grass/woodchips, under the soil (which is clayish).

What edible perennial plants would you recommend I plant? What plants keep my soil healthy? Should include any cover crops or nitrogen fixing plants? What plants complement each other in a way that would keep the soil healthy for the long time?

I know it's too late this year to start a lot of it. I am about to transplant some annual veggies in it soon. However, I am interested in planning for a perennial garden soon so I am aware of anything I need to do before next year.

Edit: I live in zone 6a.

what zone are you in? what area? what sort of food do you enjoy eating?

There is tree collards but they don't tolerate much frost so would only work in a mild climate. I planted some horse radish yesterday and apparently the greens can be cooked as a leafy green vegetable and they taste good. I planted my horse radish in a planter because it can take over. Jerusalem artichokes also are considered to be invasive and sometimes problematic but a lot of people really enjoy them and they have pretty flowers. lots of fruit is perennial. I am thinking about growing grapes since the leaves can be used for dolmas and other savory dishes and then there is yummy grapes to eat too! lots of perennial plants. you might try the search function up on top of the page where it says search.

Olivia Helmer wrote:what zone are you in? what area? what sort of food do you enjoy eating?

There is tree collards but they don't tolerate much frost so would only work in a mild climate. I planted some horse radish yesterday and apparently the greens can be cooked as a leafy green vegetable and they taste good. I planted my horse radish in a planter because it can take over. Jerusalem artichokes also are considered to be invasive and sometimes problematic but a lot of people really enjoy them and they have pretty flowers. lots of fruit is perennial. I am thinking about growing grapes since the leaves can be used for dolmas and other savory dishes and then there is yummy grapes to eat too! lots of perennial plants. you might try the search function up on top of the page where it says search.

I know my mom likes berries and my dad likes asparagus. They don't cook with herbs much, so stand alone snack/side-dishes are better than seasonings. I like anything I can put into a stew or fry together.

I know asparagus is perennial, but which types of berries are as well?

most berries (maybe all berries?) are perennials. raspberries, black berries, thimble berries are very yummy and may grow where you live. strawberries are also perennials. I just planted asparagus this year. it is a lovely plant. also artichokes are perennial and may grow where you are. artichokes and some other perennials are good to divide after several years so there is that maintenance. lots of fruit trees and also some trees have leaves that can be eaten. I am just learning about trees with edible leaves and can't think of any names right now. mulberry trees seen to be a popular tree to grow. I have a weeping mulberry tree and I saw on one web page they said you could turn a weeping mulberry into an outdoor shower stall which seems like a fun idea. huckleberries and blueberries are more perennial berries. i think most berries are perennials.

Jerusalem artichokes are probably good in stew, you might also want to look into apiosa americana as a possible stew veggies.