Desert Growing

Amaranth is not only pretty in the garden, but its poised to be the super food of the future. It produces a gluten-free, high-protein grain that’s easily digestible. Dr. Matthew Blair, associate professor, shows us around the amaranth trial gardens at Tennessee State University’s research farm to talk about this plant that’s been called the next best thing since quinoa. To WATCH full episodes, visit http://www.volunteergardener.org

Cultivated as a grain for 8,000 years, today, Amaranth is gaining popularity as a crop of the future. It's a very adaptable, drought-tolerant, and hardy plant; in fact, most species of Amaranthus are classified as a weed (commonly known as pigweed). Today Amaranth is making a comeback as a kind of superfood; it’s high in protein (12-17%), calcium (more than spinach), and amino acids like lysine (deficient in most grains). The leaves are high in vitamins A and C, riboflavin, and folic acid. Amaranth is also gaining popularity as a crop of the future. It’s a very adaptable, drought-tolerant, and hearty plant; in fact, most species of Amaranthus are classified as a weed (commonly known as pigweed). It’s an easy plant for the backyard farmer. Plant after the last frost and it should continue to grow through the summer. The seeds can be used sprinkled on salads or cereals or even popped as popcorn. Once milled, it can be used as any other flour: to make gluten-free bread, cereal, cookies, etc. In this video, we talk to one backyard farmer about the amaranth growing all over her yard. On *faircompanies: https://faircompanies.com/videos/amaranth-a-superfood-for-the-backyard-gardener/

John from http://www.growingyourgreens.com/ takes you on a field trip to Phoenix, Arizona to the home of Jake Mace where you will learn the top 12 fruit trees that can thrive in the desert with little care. In this episode, you will discover the garden of eating that Jake Mace has created at his standard residential tract home in Phoenix, Arizona. You will get a tour of his edible food forest garden and learn about the 12 most important desert adapted fruit trees you can grow. Besides some of the most desert acclimated fruit trees, you will learn about some of the more tropical fruits that Jake is growing in the form of "extra credit". You will also discover a few of the most important practices you must do to ensure your success growing fruit trees in the desert or other hot, dry, arid climate zone. Finally at the end of this episode, John will interview Jake about some of these desert adapted fruit trees as well as talk about some good vegetables to grow in the heat. You will also learn about water and water conservation and how you can save more water growing your own food and eating lower on the food chain. After watching this episode, you will have a better understanding of the best fruit trees to grow in the desert and how to make changes in your life to leave a lesser foot print on the planet. Subscribe to Growing Your Greens for more videos like this: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=growingyourgreens Follow John on Instagram: https://instagram.com/growingyourgreens/ Watch all 1100+ GrowingYourGreens Episodes at: https://www.youtube.com/user/growingyourgreens/videos Talk to John for 10 minutes https://www.fiverr.com/groworganic/be-your-organic-gardening-coach-for-10-minutes Related Videos: Over 150 Fruit Trees on Suburban lot in the Desert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHgMrprGgIY Best way to lose weight and get healthy is gardening https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DdjjjCcjis Exotica Fruit tree nursery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbfOWooFOSw Check out Jake Mace at his garden channel at: https://www.youtube.com/user/VeganAthlete