I have grown Amaranth, back when I could have a garden.
I highly recommend it as an alternative grain.
DO note that cooking is required to release the nutrients in the seeds.
The leaves may be eaten like most leaf crops (spinach, kale, etc.).
Harvesting is about as simple as wheat or oats, with about the same return per square foot of garden space.
The plant itself can grow tall and wide ( 6+ feet tall x 4 square feet footprint ). It is comfortable with close spacing of adjacent plants.
Amaranth is also less likely to be recognized as a foot plant if you don't do traditional row crop garden layouts.
For more information on growing and using Amaranth, read this article:
http://thesurvivalmom.com/storing-using-amaranth-tutorial/[edit] The storage life given in the article does NOT match my own experience. I kept seed for over a year, and both ate it and replanted it after that time. I did keep my seed in airtight containers and made sure it was well dried before storage.
I suspect, but did not try it, that the leaves could be dehydrated for storage just as many herbs and leaf vegetables.
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