In our desperation to make the perfect... boring singular hard to manage plant in our yard, we destroy and ignore entirely native wonderful plants that thrive.
Dandelions are just as beautiful as any other little yellow flower. It's also completely edible! It's wonderful to dry to make teas or wines! It's roots are also ground into being a caffeine free coffee substitute! This plant is rich in vitamins and minerals.
Chickweed: More lovingly called starweed, satin flower or mouse-ear this plant is part of the carnation family. It's high in vitamins and minerals including vitamin C and beta-carotene. It can be eaten raw or made into teas. It's been known to help inflammation and help digestion
Purslane: This plant has a slightly sour or salty taste very similar to spinach or watercress. It can be use much as the same ways in salads or sandwiches! It's incredibly drought tolerant. It's also a great source for vitamin A and C as well as containing omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants and many other vitamins and minerals.
Plantain (Plantago major): Also called broadlead plantain, waybread or greater plantain. This plant can also be eaten raw in its younger state or boiled for stews when matured. It's also been used to make cord or fishing line due to its pliable and tough fibres. The seeds of this plant can also be used to be ground into a flour substitute!
Nettles (Urtica dioica): Also known as common nettle or stinging nettle. While not all varieties of this plant species do sting, its much easier to understand how this plant became undesirable to have in your yard. Ouch! Soaking the stinging nettles in water or cooking them removes the stinging chemicals form the plant which allows them to be handled and eaten without injury. So do be mindful if you intend to handle or eat this plant. It is very high in protein for a leafy green, and can also surprise you guessed it, be made into tea.
Clover: Are actually a member of the legume family, like soybeans, peanuts and lentils. They are rich in antioxidants and used to treat inflammation and ease coughs. Red clover blossoms can be used to make teas, jams or jellies. You can even eat clover sprouts in a similar way to broccoli sprouts.
Sources: Scott, Timothy Lee; Buhner, Steven Harrod (2010). Invasive Plant Medicine: The Ecological Benefits and Healing Abilities of Invasives https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/healthiest-winter-vegetables#TOC_TITLE_HDR_12 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/chickweed-benefits#benefits https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dandelion-benefits https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-clover-edible#food-uses https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/purslane
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