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4/2/2014

Perennial Plant Profiles...

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PictureDioscorea opposita, Chinese yam
We can think of at least 180 great forest garden & perennial crops for cold climate Sweden.  Want to hear about them? Over the course of the next year we will profile 5 a week on the blog. Perennial plants and crops offer a low energy, oil & resource input based foundation for future-proof agricultures. By default if an agriculture is to be called regenerative the bottom line is that it must be soil building, not soil depleting. Relentless deep tillage & poor soil husbandry (wifery?!) contributes to the majority of the 24 billion tons of topsoil lost every year on planet water.  We are going to be focused on holistic polyculture grazing and perennial production at ridgedale over most of the site as this represents the most effective way to restore our degraded landscape, produce high value produce and ensure the future resource base we are managing holistically for in our decision making. 

Picture
Genus Dioscorea
Species opposita
Common Name Chinese yam
Form herbaceous
Habit vine
Origin Asia 
Light sun
Moisture mesic 
Edible Tubers

Note: Edible species of Dioscorea have opposite leaves whilst poisonous species have alternate leaves.

Dioscorea opposita is an exception to the rule that yams must be cooked before consumption (due to harmful substances in the raw state). In Japanese cuisine, it is eaten raw and grated, after only a relatively minimal preparation: the whole tubers are briefly soaked in a vinegar-water solution, to neutralize irritant oxalate crystals found in their skin. The raw vegetable is starchy and bland, mucilaginous when grated, and may be eaten plain as a side dish, or added to noodles.

The tuber has a floury texture with a very pleasant flavour that is rather like a potato. The tubers can be boiled, baked, fried, mashed, grated and added to soups. They store well and for a long time and can also be left in the ground and harvested as required in the winter, providing ground does not freeze. This is a top quality root crop, very suitable for use as a staple food. An arrowroot can be extracted from the root, though this is not as good at binding other foods as the starch from D. japonica. The root contains about 20% starch. 75% water, 0.1% vitamin B1, 10 - 15 mg% vitamin C.  

The Chinese yam, called "Shan Yao" (山药- literally mountain medicine) in Chinese herbalism, is a sweet soothing herb that stimulates the stomach and spleen and has a tonic effect on the lungs and kidneys. The tuber contains allantoin, a cell-proliferant that speeds the healing process. The root is an ingredient of "The herb of eight ingredients", traditionally prescribed in Chinese herbalism to treat hyperthyroidism, nephritis and diabetes. The tuber is anthelmintic, digestive and gently tonic. It is used internally in the treatment of tiredness, weight loss, poor appetite, poor digestion, chronic diarrhoea, asthma, dry coughs, frequent or uncontrollable urination, diabetes and emotional instability. It is applied externally to ulcers, boils and abscesses. 

OUR FRIENDS AT PFAF HAVE AN AMAZING DATABASE OF SPECIES (UK BASED);

Dioscorea opposita

Want the learning experience of a lifetime?

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We are offering what we think is the most exciting Permaculture training going on in Europe this year.  Check out this awesome learning opportunity- the 10 Week internship includes over 530hrs of curriculum based learning & 5 Certificate Courses with some of the planets leading practitioners/ designer joining us via conference call as well as local expertise ;
  • 90hr+ PDC certified by PRI (Aus) & PC Assoc (UK)
  • 5 day Forest Gardens & Perennial Cropping
  • 5 day Regenerating Soils
  • 5 day Keyline® Design & Holistic Management®
  • 5 day Teaching Permaculture Creatively
You will also have time each week to be working on a detailed personal design project, with regular feedback from a professional designer and your peers.  You are also encouraged to keep a daily Learning Journal to build up a portfolio.

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  • Home
    • Join My Newsletter
    • Contact Us
    • Job Vacancies
    • Annual Reunion 2025
    • Getting to the Farm
  • About
    • About Us
    • Design at ridgedale
    • Keyline Design
    • Managing Holistically
    • Agroforestry
    • Reading List
    • Past Co Teachers
  • Training on farm
    • 6 Week Internship May-Jun 2025
    • 9 day Regen Ag Design May 2025
    • 4 Day Market Gardening June 2025
    • 4 Day Pastured Poultry Training June 2025
    • 9 day Regen Ag @Henbant Aug 2025
    • 6 Week Internship Aug-Sep 2025
    • 9 day Regen Ag Design Aug 2025
    • 4 Day Market Gardening Sep 2025
    • 4 Day Pastured Poultry Training Sept 2025
    • Feedback from students
    • Refunds Policy
  • Online Courses
    • Free Mini Course
    • Online Masterclass
  • Read our books
    • Regenerative Agriculture
    • Ridgedale Farm Builds
    • Farm Fish Hunt Pick Bake
    • $15 Natural Swimming Pool Guide (PDF)
  • Hire Richard for trainings
  • Our Account Terms