Do you have Edible Weeds in your garden?
A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, "a plant in the wrong place". But with some careful research we can discover that these apparent ‘weeds’ are more than that. Some can be a food source or show that there is more going on in the soil that we originally realised. Weeds can be a language that when unlocked can show us great potential.
Many common weeds we have, Wild amaranth and Dandelion as an example not only are soil indicators, but also a potential food source that can supplement our diet with little to no effort.
For example:
Amaranth is rich in vitamin A & C and its leaves taste a little like spinach and great to use in cooking. It typically grow in healthy aerated soil and also attract beneficial insects such as the ground and bombardier beetles which hunt and feed on other pest insects.
The Dandelion is great to use in soups, salads and steamed vegetables and contains nearly twice as much vitamin A, iron and Calcium as spinach. It is also a compost activator and helps attract predatory wasps that feed on the larvae of pest species.
It must be noted that you must be certain of what you are picking before you eat it, but with time and research these forage foods can help add great diversity to not only your diet, but help add to the diversity of the surrounding landscapes.
For more info on Edible weeds, join us in the garden to meet guest presenter Michael Wardle from Savour Soils: Permaculture.
