ypsi~dixit

Before kind readers understandably dismiss Y. as a survivalist nutball kook, please allow me to elucidate my reasons for having an interest in wild edibles:

1. It is wasteful to waste good food
2. Many wild plants are more healthful than supermarket produce
3. Learning about, harvesting, and eating wild plants broadens one's
knowledge and skills. It's like having a Swiss Army knife in your
head.
4. It is good to have a connection to the Earth and not live some arid
life divorced from it
5. Many plants we think of as weeds were once widely cultivated. The
American colonists grew dandelions in rows in their gardens because it
is such a useful plant; all parts may be eaten. Amaranth is an ancient
grain that was widely cultivated in the ancient world.
6. It's fun. Until the moment when you chow down on Water Hemlock,
thinking that it was Queen Anne's Lace (all members of the wild carrot
family should be avoided by amateurs for this reason. One mouthful of
WH can kill. One of the most toxic species in N. America).

Yeah, what most people don't know is that common weeds are mostly European medicinals, which is why settlers bothered to bring them over in the first place. Because they had no natural enemies, these plants escaped gardens and multiplied vastly, becoming "weeds." Dandelion is outstanding for any urinary complaints (in fact, the french call it "piss-en-lit," piss in bed, because too much can really increase the flow! Plantain "lily" is wonderful for any kind of fungus and general healing of wounds, plus soothing rashes. Gill-over-the-ground is another good urinary herb, and you can use it as a substitute for parsley. Chickweed is also soothing on the skin, can be eaten in salads, and is an anti-inflammatory. Also, eating it is supposed to support weight loss.

So, eat your weeds! Or make 'em into medicine.

Purslane (all over my flower beds) is being touted as one of the only big plant sources of Omega-3 fatty acids - cheaper than fish oil. ;-)

http://landscaping.about.com/cs/weedsdiseases/a/purslane.htm

It is rather mucilaginous, though.

Well, I'll be double-dipped and deep fried.

Sandy, you're not gonna believe this, but as I was at the bus stop this morning I was looking at a funny little trailing plant (which is in my gardens, too, and thinking, "darn, I don't remember that from my plant book. I'm so ignorant--wish I knew what that was."

It's purslane! Thank you for teaching me about it! The plant sounds amazing:

"Purslane herb has turned some heads at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, no less, reports Usha Palaniswamy, Department of Plant Science, University of Connecticut. "Purslane is receiving much attention for cultivation by the United States Department of Agriculture as part of their effort to bring about a modification in the western diet with increased intake of fresh fruits and vegetables."

They're actually gonna cultivate it! Wow.

Lisa: That is fascinating about weeds being escaped European medicinals. Never knew that.

Nor did I know dandelion is a good diuretic. It's also said here that it is rich in minerals.

Actually, there already is a lovely cultivated version of purslane, several if you count "moss rose," another relative. The golden purslane stands up rather than sprawling, and has quarter sized lime green leaves. It's great in salads, sort of lemony and less mucilaginous. It re-seeds pretty prolifically, so I never have to plant it anymore, just weed out ones growing where I don't want them.

Medicinals are my "thing," Laura, been studying them for years. Dooryard weeds and native medicinals are my special interest. I make lots of salves & tinctures out of 'em. Many culinary herbs also have significant medicinal uses, too -- most people know garlic does, but also thyme is a good decongestant, and sage is good for flu, helps induce sweating and break fever. My favorite tea for flu is sage + hyssop + goldenrod, with thyme honey stirred in.

My wife grew up waay back in the hills of the South-South Korea,that is. Right after the Korean War,everyone was on the edge of starvation,and they ate pretty much anything they could-bugs,roots,and leaves of all sorts. Even today, she can find all kinds of things to eat out in the woods,and each spring we go to our "secret" areas of local woods to gather bagfuls of various plants,which she usually dries. Of course, dandelions are a springtime delicacy,which she makes into a kimchi,and oddly enough, Forsythia flowers,too. There is basically no plant growing on our yard that can't be eaten-this time of year, all she needs from the store is rice.

Doug: What a beautiful story of something lovely coming out of something horrible.

I was completely charmed to read it. I love kimchi (from my days of teaching in Pusan) and buy it regularly from the Korean grocer on Michigan Ave....but you can bet I've never had dandelion kimchi.

That is amazing that "all she needs is rice" to make meals from the good things in your yard.

An amazing story. Thanks for sharing it.

Lisa: That is really an enviable skill. I'm just an amateur with a plant-book and a growling stomach (and miserly ways). I admire anyone who can read the land like a book and use its parts to make something helpful and good.

I don't know that I'd go so far as the term "skill..." Just something I've remained consistently interested in and keep on learning about. It's SO HARD to find time to make salves & tinctures when one works 40 hours per week. I simply have to take days off to do so, because the best time to harvest is the middle of the day and my weekends are always jam packed.

Speaking of jam, I have made some solar jams. COOL!!! With the solar cooker!

The guide or book I most want is Native American Ethnobotany, by Daniel Moerman, who lives right nearby in Superior Township. He covers native uses of plants for food, beverages, dyes, medicinals, and ceremonial uses, and by tribe, by plant, and by use. I think he has around 40,000 entries. It's all online, fyi, http://herb.umd.umich.edu/ -- but I want the book!

861888a9319a Hello!

9b1e6d574fed Hello!

307cbb7a25f4 Great work

869a7f233f33 Nice site

ed4d6dd518ec Great work

81e31de21f46 Very good

81e31de21f46 Hello!