EDITOR’S NOTE: We encourage our readers to consult their primary care physician prior to beginning any new regimen including the consumption of garden herbs.
With the rain we have had lately we can be sure that many different weeds will be popping up in our yards. But before you spray or pull those weeds take a second look at them. Many weeds are edible and more nutritious than the greens you can buy in the store. Let’s talk about four of these common weeds.
First is the dandelion plant, the roots, greens and flowers are all edible (I use all three) and they are a great source of vitamins and minerals A, C , K, E, folate, iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium and much more! Some stores actually sell dandelion.
Second is sow thistle. This plant has four times more antioxidants than red wine and 12 times more than black tea. It is rich in essential fatty acids, minerals, and nutrients like zinc, magnesium, copper, iron, calcium and fiber.
Third is common mallow. It contains vitamins A, B, C, E, inulin, mucilage, phenols, flavonoids, fatty acids, fiber, calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, potassium, and medicinal uses.
Fourth is plantain. It is rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamins A, B, C, and K. Plus it has anti-inflammatory properties.
I only used to think about weeds as a food source for my rabbits and chickens. But one day I was frustrated with my garden and I was talking to God about it as I was reading Psalm 103:5 “who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” and God asked me, “what do you have growing well in your garden?” I said, dandelions, mallow, plantain, and sow thistle. He said, pick these, dry them and grind them into powder and make a drink from them. So that is what I did! (There are many others weeds that are edible also, they just aren’t growing in my garden.)
Over time I added other items from my garden to this mixture of weeds. They are:
1. Moringa, known as a super food that they use in other countries to fight malnutrition. It has seven times more vitamin C than oranges, 10 times more vitamin A than carrots, 17 times more calcium than milk, nine times more protein than yogurt, 15 times more potassium than bananas, and 25 times more iron than spinach.
2. Sweet potato greens, they are an excellent source of riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, phosphate, calcium, zinc, and vitamin C.
3. Carrot top greens contain significant amounts of vitamin A, C, K, calcium, iron, phenolic compounds and carotenoids without the sugar of the roots.
4. I also added activated charcoal as it helps to remove toxins from your system.
I gather all the plants and dry them in mesh bags in the sun. I then run them through a food grinder and store the powder in jars in a dark dry cabinet. I add around 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of each to about 3/4 cup of water. Shake and refrigerate till rehydrated. Or I make two or three bottles ahead of time and keep refrigerated. These homemade V8s are incredibly nutritious! These weeds can also be added to salads and soups; however, they are a bit bitter if eaten raw.
Those nuisance weeds may just be a nutritional blessing in disguise! I deliberately planted the four mentioned weeds into all my gardens, giving me year round nutrition on my plate or in a bottle. Remember, not all weeds are edible so make sure you have proper identification before eating. Bon Appetit!
Caroline Thomas can be reach at abbynormalstories@gmail.com
