Which five plants would you choose?

[debilorrah]

Apple tree (shade and food), Mulberry tree (shade, food and it attracts birds for more food), wheat (obvious), Citrus tree (shade ,food and peels can be used for bait because I will be near water) and tomatoes (vitamin rich).

 

[Stevenson]

To answer my own question. I think I would have to say Sugar Maple (for the obvious reasons of syrup, wood, shade, and windbreak) and Apple trees (wood is great for cooking, apples are so versatile - cooking, juice, etc).

So, that would be two of my five plants....now I have to think about the other 3!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Hickory tree-shade, syrup(uh huh ya can

) and strong building material.
garlic-medicinal antibiotic properties, flavor!!
beans-for protein because with fewer plants, there will be fewer animals
corn-versatility

and last but certainly NOT least and I can NOT believe you women have forgotten...I am SO ashamed of you ALL!!!!!

COCOA BEANS!!!! Who the heck can survive without chocolate?!?!?!?!?!?! What is wrong with ya'll??????????????

 

[Stevenson]

Quote:
Don't they have to be shagbark hickory? I think it's made out of the bark instead of the sap....but if memory serves me correctly, the guy who figured out how to make it isn't telling how to do it!

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
I was going to say sasparilla tree because it can be used for ALL kinds of things. However, they take decades to mature to that point, as do maples. The others do not.

 

[Stevenson]

I have to say, I love this question. I have been thinking about since I read it last night.

I think I have come up with my answer also.

Sugar Maple
Apple Tree
Hemp (I wouldn't have EVER chose this, but I had to research why you did...and I must agree once seeing all the benefits that they claim)
Wheat (nice ground covering and straw to go with typical use - flour)
Tomatoes - extremely versatile, can be canned, juiced, made into sauces and soups

Of course, this is with the understanding that we don't need to worry about protein (as was stated in the original question)...so I am not worrying about plants to feed the animals.

So there you go....

 

[GiddyMoon]

Quote:
WOW.

I LOVE Cattails..it's all the better half can do to contain me in a the car when we drive by them..I JUST HAVE to shake them and watch everything fly......

but never knew any of this..thank you

 

[GarlicEater]

Collards
Corn
Peppers
Amaranth or wacky weed not sure which
Potatoes

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Quote:
Don't they have to be shagbark hickory? I think it's made out of the bark instead of the sap....but if memory serves me correctly, the guy who figured out how to make it isn't telling how to do it!

I know how to do it

Yes it is the shagbark hickory. Indians used hickory sap a lot. You can tap them just like a maple, OR clean and boil the bark. I read about the guy who "figured it out" too, and he's doing it the hard way

I like the sap, it's tasty

I actually tapped mine this last year and drank the sap. It wasn't enough to boil down, I missed the window of good flow from them, but got a little smidgen on the end

I wanted the experience, and look forward to going full out tapping and sugaring next year because it is AWESOME! I can only eat pure maple syrup due to a food allergy, and I want to make my own hickory syrup from now on. Maple syrup is EXPENSIVE!!! I have 5 shagbarks in my yard

 

[Tam'ra of Rainbow Vortex]

That is the most difficult question I have been asked in a long time...
If we still get animal protein, what about honey? No need for syrup if we can keep the bees.
Man, that's tough. I will get back to you.