Golden Purslane

A few years ago my wife pointed out the wild purslane naturally growing in our garden. I tried it and found it to be rather mild so continued to eat it whenever I discovered it in the garden with our vegetables. Two or three years ago I found that Fedco Seed (http://www.fedcoseeds.com/) as well as a small handful of other companies offered seed for golden purslane. I ordered some from Fedco and have been growing more and more of it ever since.

Purslane is an interesting plant. Both Gandhi and Thoreau ate it. Knowing the health benefits of this small succulent I can understand why someone such as Gandhi would have eaten it. It is a good source of vitamin C and B-complex vitamins such as niacin. It is a major source of vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids which are normally linked with eating fish. So if you are a vegetarian or simply do not eat a lot fish this is a great little plant to consider as part of your diet.

I have found it to be reasonably easy to grow. It takes up very little space so I am able to sneak it into all sorts of little nooks and crannies. I have grown it along the garden path, on the borders of raised beds filled with peppers and along side of pea plants just to name a few spots.

Tobias Whitaker blogs for Mother Earth News and Grit Magazine. Click on the Mother Earth News logo at the bottom of the page for all of his post. You can also find him on Facebook at Seed To Harvest: Bossy Hen Homestead  https://www.facebook.com/seedtoharvestbossyhenhomestead/ which is a central location for his homesteading blogs and his homeschooling blog, A Mile In Her Shoes: Tales Of A Stay-At Home Dad found here https://amileinhershoestalesofastayathomedad.wordpress.com/