WEBVTT 00:00.400 --> 00:05.300 align:left position:42.5% line:89% size:47.5% [♪♪♪♪♪] 00:05.900 --> 00:07.333 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% Daphne: So here we are 00:07.333 --> 00:12.800 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% at R&R Herbs with farmer and owner Jose Ramirez. 00:12.800 --> 00:16.966 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% Jose, tell me, how many kinds of plants are you growing here? 00:16.966 --> 00:21.500 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% Jose: It's blackberries, strawberries, 00:21.500 --> 00:23.166 align:left position:35% line:89% size:55% raspberries 00:23.166 --> 00:26.700 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and olallieberries and rosemary. 00:26.933 --> 00:30.066 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% Daphne: That sounds like a lot of perennial plants. 00:30.066 --> 00:32.200 align:left position:12.5% line:71% size:77.5% Why do you like those plants? 00:32.200 --> 00:35.033 align:left position:27.5% line:65% size:62.5% Because you don't have to plant it every year. 00:35.033 --> 00:38.033 align:left position:40% line:83% size:50% Daphne: So you plant your Blackberries, 00:38.233 --> 00:38.833 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% and then 00:39.466 --> 00:42.700 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% how many years does it take before they really are producing 00:42.700 --> 00:44.200 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% at scale for you? 00:44.200 --> 00:48.666 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% Jose: Blackberries produce the same year. 00:48.666 --> 00:50.566 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% olallieberries take two years. 00:50.566 --> 00:53.066 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Daphne: And how about rosemary? 00:53.066 --> 00:57.133 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% Jose: Rosemary. It takes probably a couple of years 00:57.133 --> 01:02.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% or more before you have a good, you know, full production. 01:02.300 --> 01:04.966 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% And we have plant 01:04.966 --> 01:07.766 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% has been in the ground for 50 years. 01:07.766 --> 01:08.966 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% Daphne: Wow. Jose: Yes. 01:08.966 --> 01:10.333 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% And its still producing. 01:10.333 --> 01:12.433 align:left position:40% line:83% size:50% Daphne: And that whole time, it's 01:12.433 --> 01:15.500 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% got its roots in the soil and it's protecting the soil. 01:15.733 --> 01:17.566 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% Jose: Oh yeah. Oh yeah. 01:17.566 --> 01:20.733 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% Daphne: It turns out that growing perennial crops is great 01:20.733 --> 01:21.733 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5% for the soil. 01:21.733 --> 01:23.266 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% These roots also help 01:23.266 --> 01:27.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% the plant access, water and minerals deep in the soil. 01:27.066 --> 01:31.633 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% So that that plant requires less fertilizer and less water. 01:31.633 --> 01:35.633 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% Because these plants are not uprooted, there is less tilling 01:35.633 --> 01:39.466 align:left position:30% line:47% size:60% a farm practice which can harm soil microbes. 01:39.466 --> 01:42.733 align:left position:10% line:47% size:80% Perennial crops block out weeds, so there's less of a need 01:42.733 --> 01:44.466 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% for herbicides. 01:44.466 --> 01:47.033 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% Perennial crops are also great homes 01:47.033 --> 01:50.200 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% for birds, butterflies and other pollinators, 01:50.200 --> 01:52.166 align:left position:35% line:83% size:55% which help all the plants on the farm 01:52.166 --> 01:55.900 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% do better and lower the need for herbicides. 01:55.900 --> 01:58.400 align:left position:37.5% line:65% size:52.5% The fruit that grows on perennial plants. 01:58.400 --> 02:00.966 align:left position:22.5% line:65% size:67.5% Because these plants tend to be hardier. 02:00.966 --> 02:02.766 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% The fruit is so good for you. 02:02.766 --> 02:06.766 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% So strawberries, olallieberries, raspberries, 02:06.966 --> 02:11.500 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% blackberries are incredibly rich in phytonutrients. 02:11.500 --> 02:15.566 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% Those chemical compounds that help our bodies 02:15.566 --> 02:17.133 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5% fight cancer 02:17.133 --> 02:21.633 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% and even decrease our risk of diabetes and heart disease. 02:21.633 --> 02:24.700 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% While the roots are promoting healthy bugs in the soil, 02:24.700 --> 02:25.900 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% the berries are doing 02:25.900 --> 02:30.066 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% the same in our gut by promoting a healthy microbiome. 02:30.066 --> 02:34.100 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% One cup of berries offers about one third of our daily 02:34.100 --> 02:35.566 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5% fiber needs. 02:35.566 --> 02:38.966 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I like to have mine on a salad or with a scoop of plain 02:38.966 --> 02:42.900 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% Greek yogurt and some chopped almonds or walnuts as garnish. 02:43.100 --> 02:47.766 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% Rosemary is great with roast chicken and squash and potatoes 02:47.766 --> 02:48.633 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5% and rosemary. 02:48.966 --> 02:53.100 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Essential oil rubbed on painful joints will help alleviate 02:53.100 --> 02:54.666 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% pain and inflammation. 02:54.666 --> 02:56.300 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Having a little bit of rosemary 02:56.300 --> 02:58.866 align:left position:40% line:83% size:50% extract can help with your digestion. 02:58.866 --> 03:01.966 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% It can also calm you or soothe your nerves 03:01.966 --> 03:03.566 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% just to smell rosemary. 03:03.566 --> 03:07.066 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% So it's also used as an aroma therapy. 03:07.066 --> 03:11.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% So it has a lot of more medicinal purposes as well. 03:11.600 --> 03:12.600 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% Given all the ways 03:12.800 --> 03:15.866 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% that perennial crops impact soil health and our health. 03:15.866 --> 03:17.900 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% We want to see more of them. 03:17.900 --> 03:19.833 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% Perennials cover most of the earth, 03:19.833 --> 03:22.900 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% but make up only 13% of our cropland. 03:23.133 --> 03:24.833 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% Fruit and nut trees and berry 03:24.833 --> 03:28.833 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% bushes are among the most common types of perennial crops. 03:28.833 --> 03:31.333 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% But what about perennial vegetables? 03:31.333 --> 03:36.000 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% Some in this region include asparagus and artichokes. 03:36.000 --> 03:38.866 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% And in the Midwest, farmers are beginning to experiment 03:38.866 --> 03:42.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% with perennial wheat called Kernza, which is a cross 03:42.433 --> 03:46.466 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% between a wild wheat grass and your typical annual wheat. 03:46.466 --> 03:49.766 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% It has twice as much protein and fiber as your standard wheat 03:50.033 --> 03:52.866 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and a lot more disease fighting phytonutrients. 03:52.866 --> 03:56.866 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% Perennial plants that have permanent roots in the ground 03:56.866 --> 04:00.866 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% are a win-win win for the farmer and the soil 04:00.866 --> 04:03.800 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% and eaters like us.