Here’s my latest entry for Mother Earth News – an ode to growing cassava:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/grow-it/cassava-subtropical-gardener.aspx#axzz2KdXyIQsL

As a side note on today’s article: one thing people always worry about with cassava is the cyanide.

Relax. Take a deep breath. There’s cyanide in a lot of different plants, including some of our most common edibles. With proper preparation, there’s no need to worry. It’s not like you’re going to kick off like a double-crossed super-villain if you eat a piece of raw cassava, either. It’s not that toxic. Also – the leaves are safe for your compost. During fermentation, boiling, composting, or even drying, the cyanide precursors off gas harmlessly into the atmosphere.

I’ve also fed limited amounts of cassava leaves to goats as a de-wormer. Amazing stuff.

For a a look at growing cassava as a survival crop, click here. For more info on growing survival food, check out my book Florida Survival Gardening.