Caroline Metzler

Matthew Nistico wrote:@Joe Grand and Jamie Chevalier - I also live in South Carolina zone 8a, and I am likewise anxious to see how my new tree collards will perform in the winter, seeing that we are pushing the edge of what they are supposed to tolerate!

Actually, while I am in zone 8a, my property almost straddles the line between 8a and 7b.

I am cautiously optimistic.  But I also intend, as Joe indicated, to take a few cuttings early every winter to pot up and keep inside on a windowsill.  They will be my insurance, in case one or more of my tree collards bites the dust one particular winter.  The good thing is that propagating tree collards via tip cuttings seems fairly easy.

I'm in zone 7b/8a and my tree collards survived an unusually hard winter this year. I do have them in a high spot that doesn't gather the cold, mulch them, and on the worst night I throw some cloth over them. They're now setting tons of seed to give away!

Appreciate all the input re: perennial greens I wasn't aware of!

Perennial greens growing in my garden —
Perennial kale (several varieties)
Tree collards
NZ spinach
Nettles
Sculpit
Blood-veined sorrel

Also have self-seeding annuals —
Lamb's Quarters
Orach
Purslane
Parsley
Chard

Hello from southwestern New Mexico (outside of Silver City)! I appreciate this post and the replies, have gotten a few more good ideas.

Are you familiar with Zuni waffle bed technique? See a photo here: https://bit.ly/37D8gCH

I've started using these with good results. The only caveat is if you have really hard dirt/rocks it's difficult to dig the small pits. We purchased an electric jack hammer that's been super useful breaking up the decomposed granite we have here. Also, since we don't have much of anything to build the sides up with, I've used wood chips, rocks, lengths of tree trunks. Lots of things will work, I'm sure you can come up with something.

This design really reduces transpiration and helps the mulch stay in place, too.

Best of luck!
Caroline

Beth, I'm afraid I'm waaay behind you in utilizing these plants and also the challenge of growing food without added water! You're quite intrepid!

I'm a permie/regenerative ag learner three years into my project — experimenting with what grows in this harsh climate. It's been challenging, especially with this year's heat and dryness. Afraid this might be the "new normal" — YIKES! Beyond planting regular garden crops I've started growing a set of "backup species" — plants that survive with less water and that are edible, but may not be my first choice for eating. And very much in the early experimental stages. I want to have those resources growing in the event the system breaks down to the extent we must rely on what can grow right here.

Big Sacaton grass is used for erosion control, landscaping interest, and forage. I'd planted the grass after hearing about it as a possible grain source; apparently that use is still in the experimental stages. This is the second year growing here, and I'm still trying to figure out how to harvest the grains before the birds do. Guess I won't be concentrating on that one until someone comes up with an effective way to harvest the small grains. It is a beautiful addition to the landscape, though, and supporting the critters is a joy.

The Metcalfes got planted this spring and they're growing, but haven't produced yet. Typically they're also used for forage; curious to try them and see how they are to eat. I'm guessing what you're seeing on that slope are Metcalfes. They have a similar leaf to Teparies, but larger, and the leaves tend to stand vertically. Supposed to have a pretty flower, too.

I haven't tried to use the agaves yet. Just getting a few transplanted from the original mother. They do sound challenging to prepare. The sotol sounds very interesting! Not sure if it grows much around here, so will have to keep an eye peeled for them and ask others who know the area better.

My guess is that the crops that end up being really useful for me as staples in hard times are: teparies, sweet potatoes, quinoa, millet, sunflowers, jerusalem artichokes, lamb's quarters, nopales and styrian pumpkins. (That is, if we have enough water for some of those.) Really a shame you haven't been able to get the Styrians going. They're so willing, and such great producers here! It shouldn't matter if they're growing in with other cucurbits for the first year's crop. It's only if you want to collect seeds from the first crop that you have to manage the pollination so they grow true to seed. (My Styrians are growing quite close to a big Butternut vine. They each have their usual characteristics.)

Again, hats off to you for the commitment to using your local natives! I look forward to learning more in that area.

Kim, the Metcalfe bean is mostly used for animal forage, but I'm growing it out of curiosity and also, since it's a desert perennial, as an emergency food. There's not much information on it out there, but here's what Wikipedia has: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phaseolus_maculatus

I should clarify that I am giving my plants supplemental water, especially as we've had very little rain this year and elevated temperatures. That said, the ones I've listed grow in the desert with little help. The Tepary Bean is known as the most drought tolerant bean in the world, and has been known to produce with only one rain all season!

Getting beans started can be a challenge around here, too. I find that birds (mostly Towhees and Quail) like to peck at and/or dig up the newly sprouted beans. I often cover mine with cut off plastic bottles until they've got a couple of sets of leaves. Then the birds leave them alone. Don't know if this is the same problem you're having or not. It can be discouraging! My mantra this year has been, "Replant, replant!".

One (new to me) use for the pads of prickly pear/nopal cactus is to place a few pads in the bottom of a planting hole (for a shrub or tree) . Apparently the gel in the cactus holds water for the plant (like a kind of hugelkulture!).

Here in southwestern New Mexico I'm growing the following drought-tolerant plants with success: Giant Sacaton (grass, edible seeds), Tepary Beans, Metcalfe perennial beans, Agave, spineless Nopales, and Golden Currant. These are recent experimental plantings, but I'm encouraged with their growth and productivity. The nopales and agaves are super easy. And the Tepary beans are showing a lot of promise — very productive and heat tolerant. Another plant that's doing great, albeit with water, is Styrian Pumpkin. That's the variety that is grown for the seeds, as they're "naked". Another new plant for me, but one that's showing good promise is millet. It's a fast grower and producer, and doesn't need much water. I hope this post adds value for others growing under our harsh desert conditions.

Awesome technique! And ditto on seeing a woman out there learning and doing! Thanks for posting this.

Hi, I tried your web url, but there wasn't a site there. What's happening with your permie village? I am interested in living in S. America, and Paraguay looks like a good country for it.

Appreciate this concise but important list.