Yes, they are. I believe they may fall into that edible, yet undesirable category...

Here is a link that might be useful: Other edible plant parts

Great link, thanks!

That cat also keeps my indoor bamboo pruned and chews on rose leaves -- but I don't think I'll try either of those. :)

Are you kidding? Think about what deer like to eat most, baby bean plants! When small I wager they are delicious. Last year I tried pea shoots for the first time and enjoyed them over snap peas. That got me thinking that the other things deer and rabbits absolutely love must be good. Funny thing was in fall they ate my parsnips and carrot tops but wouldn't touch cilantro. They know what they are doing!

Many bean leaves are edible, as well as the flowers.

In southeast asia, they sautee the flowers of the winged bean. The leaves are edible, as well as the tuber.

Scarlet runner beans, flowers and young leaves and tuber are also edible.

Bean leaves seem too hairy and scratchy for me to want to try them. They probably have good protien, since they are known to be high in nitrogen. Most of the "other edible parts" sound too scratchy for me.

Hmmm....now I might need to plant more, just for the leaf eating.

Look at what deer prefer over everything else in the vegetable garden:
1. baby bean plants
2. baby pea plants
3. young beet greens
4. baby brassica plants
5. baby cucurbit plants
They know what to choose first.

Hi Sara,
My cats prefer oats.
I could not believe the price for "oat seeds for cat grass" at the pet store, so I went to the feed store and bought oats by the pound for my three cats.
The cats depend on it so much to settle their stomach that when the feed store stopped selling it by the pound I bought a 50 lb bag. Even if I have to feed most of it to the birds, it is worth it.
Oats are very easy to grow and it can be grown in cycles. I plant it various places outside. I play it by ear, but probably replant every 2-3 months. When it is ready to replace I pull it and add it to the mulch pile.
Oats are great! and easy to grow and safe for the cats.
I often see the neighbor cats come by to eat the oats as well. A cat without access to grass (or oats) is like a person with severe heart burn who is unable to take a Rolaid.
Good Luck,
Bob

This post was edited by bugbite on Sat, Mar 9, 13 at 21:47

If the oats grow the same kind of grass as the pet stores, my cat's don't like it. They are weird. They do like baby lettuce and salad greens, so I've got some of that planted indoors at an easy height for them. One inexpensive packet gets them a lot of salad.

So glad you mentioned issues about oats from the pet store. I know my cats will not eat the oats I plant outside until they reach about 6+ inches tall. Always felt, right or wrong, that the oats as seedlings produce a bad taste to ward off "eating things". That fades and then the cats love them.
Problem is that "cat grass" from the store never seems to get past that state and a cat would have to be desperate to eat them.
Very happy that you found something that works; sounds like a brilliant solution.