The tepary bean contains as much or more protein than most other edible legume crops. Buffalo gourd, a perennial native to the Mojave Desert, has seeds that can be processed into lubrication oil and a starchy root that can be used to make alcohol. The jojoba bush produces a bean that can be processed into a high grade lubricant oil that can also be used in cosmetics. But of all the useful drought tolerant plants that could be grown locally, hemp is one of the best prospect because of its many beneficial properties and uses. According to Monica Emerich, President of Natural Information LLC, hemp, one of the world's oldest cultivated plants, has 25,000 uses, from food and medicine to textiles and auto parts.
Hemp milk tastes similar to coconut milk without the sweetness.
Not only is hemp seed tasty, it's also good for us. It also contains gammalinolenic acid. Next to soybeans, hemp seed has the most complete protein, but hemp is more digestible. Canadian food researchers have found hemp has high levels of antioxidants that remain highly stable during processing. The same properties that make hemp a good food also makes it ideal for use in cosmetics.