Dandelions: They're more than a "weed"

Spring is the season to welcome new growth, longer days, and lots and lots of sprouting green stuff. But wouldn’t it be great to actually be able to identify all of that new plant life in your neighborhood? And wouldn’t it be even better to be able to pick out those plants that are actually edible? Indeed, there are many wild edibles to be had in your own backyard, but it helps to know what they are and what they’re good for. Wild edibles are often the source of very valuable nutrients and can make a lovely, delicious, and unique addition to your diet.

Take a wild edibles walk: forage for food

The best way to learn about wild edible plants in your city is to find a local wild edibles walk. Try doing a search for a wild edibles walk in your area to see if any are offered. New York’s own Wildman Steve Brill offers walks through Central Park, and Slow Food Santa Cruz is actually offering a walk in the next few days.

Benefits of wild edibles

There are many benefits to identifying and eating wild edibles. Firstly, they can be found absolutely everywhere once you learn what they are. Wild edibles, which can include fruits, mushrooms, greens, and flowers, are free for the taking and are often more nutritious than many store bought fruits and vegetables:

For instance, dandelion, which you might think of as little more than a garden-variety weed is actually an incredibly nutritious wild edible plant. In a single hundred gram amount of cooked dandelion greens, there is 11,000 mg of Potassium, 18 mg of vitamin C and 42 mg of calcium.

Not only are there great health benefits, but learning the local edible plants in your neighborhood is an empowering experience. To be able to forage plants and know why they are beneficial will bring you closer to your local ecology and understanding ecosystems.

Stinging nettles: a delicious wild edible green

Try taking a wild edibles walk to learn about the power of wild plants! Happy foraging!

Not ready for stinging nettles and dandelions? Forage through our selection of natural foods…

Image credit: Flickr via Lady-bug, brewbooks