The Plant Report- Every Plant Has A Story - Thistles- The Prickly Plant With An Important Job

Thistles- The Prickly Plant With An Important Job

03/28/15 • 14 min

The Plant Report- Every Plant Has A Story

Episode 13: Ecological Designer and Permaculture Instructor Larry Santoyo talks about thistles. More interesting than you might think, thistles play an important role in soil restoration.

Larry tells us about the intrinsic characteristics of thistles, why the Earth calls them in, and what effect they have on the landscape.

After listening you may gain a new appreciation for this prickly, unpopular plant!

To learn more about Larry Santoyo visit his website at: The Permaculture Academy.com

To read an interview with him click here. To listen to an interview, click here.

Episode 13: Ecological Designer and Permaculture Instructor Larry Santoyo talks about thistles. More interesting than you might think, thistles play an important role in soil restoration.

Larry tells us about the intrinsic characteristics of thistles, why the Earth calls them in, and what effect they have on the landscape.

After listening you may gain a new appreciation for this prickly, unpopular plant!

To learn more about Larry Santoyo visit his website at: The Permaculture Academy.com

To read an interview with him click here. To listen to an interview, click here.

Previous Episode

Chaya- The High Protein Greens You've Never Heard Of

Chaya (Cnidoscolus chayamansa) commonly called Tree Spinach is a very nutritious plant with high protein, iron, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins. Reaching 3 meters (10 feet high), Chaya has maple-shaped leaves that are delicious steamed or cooked. Chaya is resistant to disease and pests, is highly productive, and needs little inputs to thrive in both arid and rainy areas. A fast-growing perennial shrub, Chaya is easily propagated by stem cuttings.

To learn about Chaya, I spoke with Dr. Anabel Ford, director of the MesoAmerican Research Center. To hear Dr. Ford and some of the Mayan Forest Gardeners in a 2008 interview on Sustainable World Radio, click here.

Note: Chaya contains hydrocyanic glycosides, some people recommend cooking it before eating it.

Next Episode

The Winter Squash Fan Club

Episode 14: Are you a winter squash fan? If not, you may become one after hearing organic farmer and seedsman Justin Huhn talk about one of his favorite crops- Winter Squash or Cucurbita. In this episode, Justin gives us his tips on growing this beautiful and productive plant. He also talks about how to save squash seeds and shares his favorite recipe. Delicious and nutritious, winter squash is a great plant for home gardens.

Justin is the founder of The Seedkeepers, an educational company dedicated to teaching people how to grow food and save seeds. To learn more about Justin's work, visit The Seedkeepers.com.