Plants for trade for June 2016

This month, June, is the official start of hurricane season for us here in Florida. It can be a trying time for transplanting right now, due to the high temperatures and heavy, windy storms. IFAS is recommending that June is the time to plant Sweet Potatoes, and the seeds of Okra and Southern Peas.
These are all plants with a place in permaculture, the art of growing perennials to meet the needs of people. Most are flowering and attract pollinators and can be used as food for people and animals like rabbits and goats. I am always available to answer questions about the growies, particularly the beautiful ones for the front yard.
Here is what Eat Your Sand is offering for trade this month:

Cowpea, or Black-Eyed Peas, grow quickly and prolifically in Florida and can handle poor soil and heat. Plant in the spring and the fall for two harvests a year. These are from my garden, they have been grown for many years now. A few more years, and they will become heirlooms for West Florida. The other beans are frijoles negro, which also grow well here. Beans of any kind should be planted at the end of February and the end of September. Seeds for trade.

Cranberry hibiscus with cannas.

Hibiscus sabdariffa, also called Jamaican sorrel, or cranberry hibiscus, has green leaves, pictured here from my garden. When it flowers, the blooms are large and pink, about the same size as the single petal Chinese hibiscus, or the size of your hand. Then the blooms form interesting-looking pods, which contain the seeds. The outer petals of the pods can be cooked into an amazing tart drink, which turns bright red and tastes similar to cranberry juice. The sorrel are high in Vitamin C and is one of the main components of red zinger tea. A great plant for survivalists, the pods can be dehydrated or frozen and brewed later. Seeds for trade.

Red sage is a perennial herb that thrives in our weather. The blooms last all spring, and it will draw pollinators to your garden. The leaves can be used in cooking, or dehydrated for burning as an incense. It may self-sow. About 3 feet tall, loves full sun, potted plants for trade.

Lemongrass is a perennial that is used for adding flavor to your cooking. It can also be added to homemade soaps or cosmetics. It thrives in full sun, grows about 2 feet tall, and looks like an ornamental grass. Another beautiful edible for the front yard, potted plants for trade.

Spiderwort is a small perennial that produces night purple flowers all spring long. The stems are edible, if mucilaginous, and it is known as the asparagus of the south. Spiderwort thrives in our hot dry springtime, and looks beautiful in bunches. May self-sow. Potted plants for trade.

Loquat trees are both fool-proof and beautiful. They tolerate poor soil and love full sun. The fuzzy fruits are small, similar in size from a cherry to a golf ball, with a seed or two in the center. They have a unique flavor, not quite peach, not quite apple. I have seen trees more than 30 feet high with a canopy of about 30 feet, but I keep my larger trees trimmed to about 8 feet so the fruits are attainable. The leaves make an excellent tea or addition to a green smoothie. One year old, potted seedlings for trade.

Cannas are an edible perennial that love full sun and plenty of water. Our native yellow cannas dwell in ditches and swamps. I have yellow, pink, and red cannas, and the purple-leaved variety, which has red flowers. The purple ones appreciate shade, but still love water. I have even had success growing them in floating planters in the pond. Potted cannas for trade.

Purple-leaved Cannas

Cardamom ginger is a beautiful dwarf perennial that tolerates shade and dryness well. A member of the ginger family, it has edible tubers and leaves. It is very slow growing if placed in the shade, unlike some other members of the ginger family. Potted plants for trade.

I have many rabbit kits for trade. They are all New Zealand kits, some are white and some are red. I have all different ages of kits, or you can message me and have me contact you when the next set of kits has weaned. Rabbits for trade for plants...they turn weeds into fertilizer.