by Moringa-
This tropical tree is originally from India but it became an important food item in South East Asia as well. It is rich in B Vitamins, fiber,Vitamin C, Iron,Magnesium, Vitamin A and potassium. Though it is a tropical tree, it survives all climates that even Canadians are starting to grow them in green houses.
Some people use it to make tea, while others treat it like spinach because its a bland veggie that can absorb flavors. Some people dehydrate them and turn the leaves into powder. Aside from the leaves You can also eat the flowers, the seeds, the pods and the roots. It is also proven to have no side effects. I believe Vegans should add this to their diet.
This is a description of how nutritious it is:
There is an NGO who wants to fight the malnutrition in Africa so they introduced Moringa trees to the locals and ask them to add it to their diet. The malnourished children become healthy within a month.
If you plant this tree in your backyard, You will have a lifetime source of vegetables. I am farmer and I also use this as livestock feed. It is a tropical plant but it also thrives in the dessert.
Linden trees
For the people who lives in colder climates, Linden is the man! It provides you fruits that can be turned into Jam. its young leaves can be eaten raw for salads while the mature leaves can be boiled into tea. The younger leaves have taste and texture that reminds me of Kale. They are rich in antioxidants and lower blood sugar.
Tree Collard
This tree looks very pretty and your neighbors will mistake it for an ornamental plant. It is rich in Vitamin K, Calcium,potassium, folate and Beta Carotene. The Younger leaves taste like Collard greens and the older leaves taste like cabbage. You can eat it raw or cooked, You can also use it as livestock feed for rabbits, geese, pigs and goats. It is cold resistant and also heat resistant so it can grow in any climate. Some people bake it in the oven or dehydrator to make crispy chips. No one sells this in my country so I ordered from An American in Ebay. I planted the cutting to a temporary pot and after it grow leaves I planted it in the ground. It is easy to propagate. Just cut a branch and stick it to the soil.
It can replace collard greens and cabbage in many recipes. I even managed to make Kimchi and Sauerkraut out of it.
Chaya AKA Tree Spinach
Ancient Mayans use this tree for medical purposes back in the days.
This tree originated from Mexico and it is called Tree Spinach because it tasted exactly like spinach and it can replace spinach in all recipes that needed it. Just like tree collard it is easy to propagate. Cut a branch and stick it to the ground. It gained recent popularity in Cambodia and the locals adapted it to their cuisine. It has edible leaves and flowers.
This is the nutrition of the Tree Spinach.
I will rather plant a Tree Spinach over actual Spinach because once you harvested the spinach, there is no more Spinach. Meanwhile Tree Spinach is a tree that can provide you leaves for a lifetime. There is a warning though. Do not cook this in Aluminum cookware, it becomes poisonous with it. Cook it with cast iron, Stainless steel,non stick pan, clay or glass cookware.
