Amaranthus has many common names from Love-lies-bleeding to Tassel Flower and even Pigweed - the latter because some species are toxic to livestock and they do seed freely. It has been cultivated as a grain for over 8,000 years, initially by the Aztecs and even before that it was cultivated in the wild. It was a staple crop for indigenous communities until it became prohibited after Spanish colonisation because they disagreed with its religious importance. All these years later, we are realising it’s immense benefits from being both gluten free and high in fibre, protein and along with many other vitamins and minerals, Amaranth is now rumoured to be a crop to watch for the future. Something the Aztecs knew all along.
Get your copy of the November Grow Your Own Magazine to read the full article.
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