Perennials play a critical role in delivering the ecosystem services you need to produce nutrient-rich foods. They cycle water, cycle nutrients, provide habitat, support pollinators and beneficial insects, build soil, and create buffers that allow your plants to better weather the impacts of a changing climate. Often we overlook their place in a garden or farm because they aren’t the plants we’re used to eating. If you are interested in creating a perennial system or adding a perennial backbone to your annual system this class will provide the tools you need. We will discuss the role of perennials and ways to incorporate them into your system. You will learn about useful native and edible perennials, look at the latest research on plants and what that means for your designs, and use the Natural Capital plant database as a tool for plant selection and design.