<p>What we are planting this year - including some surprises.</p>

<p>Why Do We Garden?</p>

<p> - Why do we plant this year?</p>

<p> - Grow our own healthy food!</p>

<p> - Gardening provides a therapeutic and prayerful respite and reset in our day.</p>

What new things we are planting this year:</p>

<p> - Milpa - Mix of multiple seeds (corn, squash, beans, greens, okra, etc.) that provide ground cover and multiple crops to harvest over the summer months, plus good mulch over the winter.</p>

<p> - Indian Ricegrass - a perennial grass with a gluten free source for edible seeds of <p> - porridge, etc.</p>

<p> - New Jersey Tea - a herb that can be used as a stand-in for tea.</p>

<p> - Landrace squash - including Nanticoke squash, Jemi-Nanticoke squash mix, Desert Spirit Landrace Squash</p>

<p> - Landrace beans</p>

<p> - Grandpa McKay's Cream Pea Cowpea</p>

<p> - Perennial Pollinators - a mix of perennial flowers that can be used to sow bands of pollinators in your garden and improve crop pollination. Also brings in some other pollinators, such as wasps, that prey on typical garden pests.</p>

<p> - Sugar beets</p>

<p> - Spring Lentils</p>

<p>(links to the above seeds on our website)</p>

<p>Episode website: https://thrivingthefuture.com/why-garden</p>

<p>Sponsors:</p>

<p> - The Homestead Journal - Find us at www.thehomesteadjournal.net and follow us @thjdotnet on Twitter.</p>

<p> - https://FreedomFarmer.net - Where I focus on #SkillsOverStuff and designing your intentional life</p>