This is what about 30 pounds of Sunchokes looks like.



To be safe -- meaning to get my household through the winter -- i think i need about 30 pounds per person.   In addition to about 200# of potatoes.   More? Less?  i'm not sure.      Last year i pulled in the 200# of potatoes pretty easily.      So, i've demonstrated to myself that I can do that, and am well on my way to sufficient Sunchokes.      Still way low in understanding other stuff like parsnips, sweet potatoes, carrots, etc.    This is a long, slow learning process.  

I met one of those 'rewilders' at my permaculture class.   this was bizarre to me: permaculture is the direct opposite of primitivism.   Growing sunchokes takes time, direct alteration of my 'natural' environment.    But i dig them cuz they are a perennial tuber, that just spreads well and feeds plenty of people.     The dude in my class thinks he can live off the wild.   Having been there, done that professionally, I know he'd be hungry mighty quick, and would be eyeing my sunchoke stands with drool on his face within a short span of time.  :) 

Anyhow:  i've cut way back on production this year cuz of all the irons we have in the fire -- but its nice to see these sunchokes still going strong, regardless.   that's why they're so fantastic -- they don't require much work at all.