Walking through the apple orchard at Old Frog Pond Farm the other day someone asked me "are you the Lightroot lady? " Well, yes, I suppose I am," I replied and laughed a little. I hadn't heard it put quite that way before.

What is Lightroot? This plant, Dioscera Batatas, is also known as the Chinese Yam or Lightroot or Lichtyam. It is a special plant that imparts Light to the body or so it is said. We are pleased to introduce this special yam to New England.

Dioscera Batatas has been used for thousands of years in Asian medicine. The plant is native to Northern Japan and the Mongolian region of China. We are helping this plant make a home in New England. The original nodes came to us through biodynamic farmers in Europe. We hope that once the plant has adapted to our climate and soils we will be able to offer Lightroot to New England kitchens. Rudolf Steiner, the father of the Biodynamic Agriculture Movement said of this plant " it is uniquely beneficial to modern humans". This has been my experience. When I eat small quantities of the Lightroot daily I feel that I benefit and am ‘lighter’ in many ways.

At Old Frog Pond Farm we welcome Lightroot to New England and hope to bring it to local markets this Fall. It is a late tuber or root, so look for it at pumpkin time. It may be a good friend for your body and soul for the New England winter.