How many wild edibles to you know?
What if you decided you wanted to head off into the wilderness on the opposite
side of the country, or maybe even the world? Well, Ive heard it said that the
average American can only identify about five plants. But chances are that one
of them is every suburban homeowners worst enemy... the Dandelion.
Did you know that it was common up until the 1800's to pull the grass from
your yard to make room for more useful plants like the Dandelions and other
herbs and edibles? They were native to Europe and Asia, but when the first
colonists came to these shores they brought the pharmacy of all plants, the
Dandelion with them. Soon its fluffy
little seeds took off upon the winds maybe fifty to 200 seeds from each plant.
Sometimes they would float for up to five miles and eventually they covered a
continent.
Dandelions are perennials that bloom
early in the spring and continue to bloom well into the fall. They probably
have one of the longest flowering seasons of any plant on Earth. The first half
of our winter this year was very mild and I saw dandelion flowers well into
December.
All parts of the dandelion are edible. It is best to harvest fresh young
leaves as they are less bitter, and may be eaten uncooked in salads, or just
pick a handful while you are out wandering. Mature leaves can be lightly boiled
in a change of water to reduce
bitterness, it is really an acquired taste that is best cultivated before you
are relying on it as a major food source.
Roasted Dandelion roots makes a healthy coffee substitute. Its best to harvested in the fall as they
have stored all their nutrition in the root to prepare for winter. The strong
root tends to break off and leave part in the soil, which is great because this
will produce another tender plant in the
spring. Then just wash and chop them and slowly roast them in your oven on a
cookie sheet.
My cousin and I used to drink herb teas in the evenings after spending the
day in the woods. We would sometimes make different tea mixes just to try
something new. So one night we mixed dandelion root, mullein and peppermint tea
and found that the three together has a distinctive chocolate taste, similar
to hot chocolate. It became a favorite,
So there is something for you to try.
Dandelion blossoms can be dipped in batter and fried as fritters, they are
surprisingly sweet. So if the greens are too bitter for your taste buds at
first, there is still other options as
you learn about dandelions.
The dandelion has been used by Chinese herbalists for thousands of years,
to treat stomach problems, and appendicitis. In Europe it was used in remedies
for fever, boils, eye problems, and diabetes. It’s been found in 1000 year old
documents written in Arabia, and by the Welch during the 1300’s.
After European contact the Native Americans quickly added Dandelion to
their medicinal knowledge. A tea was
made from the plant that they took to treat kidney disease, swelling, skin
problems, heartburn, and upset stomach.
Dandelion is about the most nutritious food you could ask for. A cup of
dandelion greens contains as much calcium as half a glass of milk and It
contains more Vitamin A than spinach with even more Vitamin C than tomatoes.
Additionally it is rich in Vitamins D, E, and several B vitamins. Potassium,
lecithin , iron, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus , silicon, boron ,thiamine, riboflavin, copper,
selenium, folate zinc and proteins. The
leaf also includes Omega 3 as well as 6 fatty-acids.
It is maybe best known as a treatment for liver disease, It cleanses the
bloodstream and increases bile production,
Recent studies have shown it may lower elevated blood pressure and
provide relief for arthritis and joint disease.
Dandelion is a safe and nutritious herb used worldwide. But be aware that Dandelion stems contain a
liquid latex substance that may be irritating to those with latex allergies.
I was actually surprised to find out that Dandelions tell you there is some type of imbalance in
your top soil. They are not an invasive weed that takes over as often supposed,
but instead an attempt to help replenish the soil with what it is missing. They
are a scab plant that sprouts into an injured piece of ground and improves and
restores it back to a well balanced soil. Their wide root system works to
loosen hard-packed soils, aerating and helping to reduce erosion. As the tap
root reaches down deep into ground to bring the lacking nutrients to the
topsoil. The sun and rain to which the soil is exposed to by tilling or over
growing has removed these minerals such as calcium. So the tap root of the
dandelion brings them from deep in the soil and makes them available to other
plants, thereby restoring the balance.
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