How to Grow Liveable Worlds

Chinese Okra (Luffa acutangula)

While called okra in English, Chinese okra is not related to the North American okra plant. Instead, it is more similar to a zucchini or summer squash, with a similar flavour, texture, and preparation method that can be eaten raw or cooked and made into loofah sponges. While the plant is native to India, it can be grown in tropical and sub-tropic climates, like Florida and California.

This food plant was submitted by Kelly who said, "Unlike the okra you can purchase in Canadian grocery stores, the Chinese Okra plant produces a much longer and larger (bigger than a cucumber!!) vegetable that is commonly used in Chinese dishes. Ever since my Dad immigrated to Canada, he has always grown Chinese Okra plants in our backyard. Not only does it remind him of home, it teaches me about my origins while we share a tasty meal with Okra. I chose it because of what makes Chinese Okra truly unique, which is its ability to become a functional dish or body loofah by setting the vegetable out to dry in the sun. Growing up, my Dad always would encourage our house to be sustainable, and one example of this was by always using Okra sponges from our very own backyard instead of buying disposable plastic sponges."

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia cespirosa)

Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus occurs in the United States and Canada. In Canada, it is found only in southern Ontario. There are two known locations, which are on sand spits along the shore of Lake Erie. The species is primarily at risk from habitat loss and degradation due to vegetation succession and shoreline erosion.

This food plant was submitted by Steve who said, "[Eastern prickly pear] is the only cactus species native to Ontario. Both the pads (nopales) and fruit are edible. I was given one for free a few years ago, and it is thriving in my garden. I've tried the fruits but I am a little scared to try cooking the pads."

Garlic (Allium sativum)

Native to Central and South Asia, as well as Northeastern Iran. With its sharp flavour and a wide variety of uses, it is hard to believe that garlic is part of the lily family, with a head of garlic being the bulb of the plant. One of the oldest crops, garlic, has been planted for over 5000 years in Egyptian and Indian cultures, having grown wildly in many parts of the world, including most of Asia, North Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Garlic is grown almost worldwide and can thrive in colder climates, often planted in the Fall. Garlic has many uses in traditional medicine and cuisine and is used in recipes worldwide as a flavouring agent.

This food plant was submitted by Maha who said, "Garlic is the foundation of most Pakistani dishes."

Corn (Zea mays)

Corn, also known as maize or Indian corn, is a cereal plant and part of the grass family. Domesticated initially in Southern Mexico, it grew as far north as Maine in precolonial North America. It was introduced to Europe and beyond during the colonial period and is now among the most popular crops globally. There are wide varieties of corn, with yellow and white being the most popular for eating, but they can contain red, blue, pink and black kernels. Different classifications of corn are based on texture, including dent corn, flint corn, flour corn, sweet corn and popcorn. Dent corn is primarily an animal feed crop, with the other varieties popular for human consumption.

This food plant was submitted by Evie who said, "I love popcorn so corn is my favourite food plant!"

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

Originating in the Andes Mountains, tomatoes were domesticated in pre-Columbian Mexico. Introduced to Europe during colonization, the tomato was doubted initially as a food plant as it is part of the nightshade family and related to poisonous plants like belladonna. They were introduced to North America with settlers but became popular in the early twentieth century. Now, tomato is widely eaten worldwide, with a large percentage of tomatoes grown to be processed for canned tomatoes, ketchup, puree, paste, and more!

This food plant was submitted by Emma and Zaynab.

Emma said, "Tomatoes are so versatile they can be used in pasta, salad, sauces, etc. They are also very prevalent in Italian dishes which happens to be my favorite kind of food (specifically bruschetta). They are super tasty but they also are quite pleasing to look at and I think they would add a pop of color to the garden."

Zaynab said, "I chose tomatoes as the food plant for its variety of purposes in Middle Eastern cuisine. It can be used for salads, dressings, roasts, etc. and can be included in every dish. It can range from red to orange colours and different round shapes."

Elderberry (Sambucus)

Elderberries of different varieties are native to North America and Europe, with the Sambucus nigra and Sambucus canadensis species. The shrubs are often found in wooded areas and along streams or rivers, growing up to eight feet tall. Elderberries are used in many herbal remedies, with their effect claiming to help with swelling, colds, and sore throats, and as an immune booster, with many other uses. It can be made into jams, wines and pies most commonly, and its flowers can also be used in food preparation.

This food plant was submitted by Heather who said, "This is an important berry in the homesteading lifestyle to keep immune systems strong. It fruits quickly as a young plant, and the flowers can also be used."

Green Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Green beans, along with kidney, navy and black beans, originated in South America and were spread throughout the Americas through migration and trade. Beans, along with corn, have played essential parts in the diets of Native North American peoples. Other kinds of beans grew across the Atlantic, but green beans were only brought to Europe in the sixteenth century with colonization. Green beans go by various names, including string beans, snap beans, and French beans, and can come in multiple colours, including purple, red, or spotted, not just green!

This food plant was submitted by Eleftheria who said, "My parents and I grew green beans in our garden during summer, and then harvested them and cooked them in many different ways (steamed with salt, traditional Greek dish Fasolakia Lathera)"

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Sunflowers are native to the Americas, being brought to Europe during the colonial period. Seeds of the sunflower were used for flour or meal or eaten whole. The sunflower grew in popularity in Russia in the 1800s as a source of oil and in North America after WWII for the same purpose. In addition to their ornamental and food purposes, sunflower seeds can be used to create dye, which is purple in hue.

This food plant was submitted by Kirsty because of "Its phytoremediation properties, as well as they fact that they look amazing and feed so many insects and animals."