Edible Weed Facts
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What is a weed?Some plants are definitely weeds, and others are not, aren’t they? A weed is a plant which is dangerous? Poisonous? Unattractive? Not native? Inconvenient? OR simply a plant growing where we don't want it.
“What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.”
Why consider eating edible weeds?Don’t we have enough abundant sources of food? Isn’t it a pain foraging for weeds? Surely they taste pretty ordinary? Surely they aren’t nutritious? How on earth would I cook them? Only people who can’t afford ‘real’ food would eat edible weeds, wouldn’t they? Why the renewed interest in Edible Weeds? Because they are...
Many of these plants have been eaten or used for their medicinal properties for thousands of years. In many countries some are still considered delicacies today!
How many species of edible plants are there??How many SPECIES of edible plants are there on the planet? Thought starter … … carrots are ONE species of edible plant Answer...There are over 20,000 species of edible plants!!! How many do we usually eat today? About 20 species of edible plants! Our plant diet has become more and more narrow. Edible weeds are a way to begin to bring that richness back into our diet. CARROTS are one species with... over 40 different seeds available - different colours, shapes, sizes, tastes, textures.
But most of the carrots in our supermarkets and fruit shops are ONE TYPE - Nantes.
A bit of history
A note of CAUTION - before you start out with edible weeds...
DandelionThe 'pin-up girl' of the edible weed world - and justifiably so since is it arguably the most nutritious of them all! A unique combination of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and other biologically active substances in a ratio optimal for the human body. The US Dept of Agriculture Bulletin ranked dandelion in the top 4 green vegetables in overall nutritional value. Dandelion blossoms are high in Vitamins A and C. Dandelion is a great blood builder and purifier. Dandelion is rich in fibre, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and the B vitamins, thiamine and riboflavin, and a good source of protein!
Edible Weeds - not just Edible!Did you know that these amazing plants are not just edible? They can have a raft of other benefits!!
Is there nothing these weeds can't do!
Thank you for visiting Hello Little Weed. Happy 'weeding'! |
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EDIBLE WEEDS BOOK
To help you find and identify edible weeds, the booklet Edible Weeds and Garden Plants of Melbourne is now available.
Edible Weeds and Garden Plants of Melbourne details over 25 of the most common edible weeds and garden plants in Melbourne, Australia. Colour photos are provided for easy identification. Information is provided on which parts of the plant are edible, how each can be prepared along with some history on its usage and, most importantly, the nutritional and medicinal properties of each plant - for many, these properties are substantial!