I went to a workshop this past weekend on eating yard goodies hosted by the Herbal Community of Central Mass. There are huge benefits to eating wild greens. It is worth learning safe and tasty ways to go on eating adventures.
Eat from your yard or local farm and connect into nature.
Karina Hines from BotanicalKitchen.com is a chef and an herbalist . She shared many of the health benefits of wild greens with us.
Living well with Lyme disease means eating nutrient dense low inflammation foods. Wild greens fit right into this category and add a sense of adventure to eating. No boredom, high nutrient concentration and no inflammation response is a powerful mix.
Wild Green Healthy Components
Wild greens have a bunch of healthy components. Eating what grows near you in season is the way we evolved to thrive. Move back into alignment. Be sure you gather away from the road and away from chemical sprays. Sinc up with nature and support wellness.
A plant rich diet gives the body what it needs to repair and heal. Weeds dig the healthy minerals our bodies need and bio accumulate them. Calcium, Magnesium Potastium and Phosphorous are in good supply in weeds. Plant fiber moves waste out of the body efficiently. Most weeds are bitter, they have not had the wild survival characteristics bred out of them. Bitters support healthy digestion.
Karina brought plants to try and made several recipes. Here is an example that we got to try. It was really delicious and unexpected. Karina Hines www.botanicalkitchen.com Check her site for additional recipes
Spring Salad
- Rhubarb
- Pea Pods and Shoots
- Watermelon Radishes
- Blood Oranges
- Chives
- Mint
- Sunflower & Pumpkin seeds
- Arugula
Chop all ingredients to same size bites. Add ingredients to balance the flavors based on what is in your yard. Dress with herb Vinegar, EVOO salt and pepper. Add just enough dressing, so that all the leaves glisten with flavor, but don’t drip.
Karina encouraged us to look in our yard for spring greens to try. Here are some of my favorite plants to harvest from my yard. You can use these in smoothies, salads and soups.
Yard Goodies I Eat
- Dandelion – Flowers leave and roots are edible bitters that is support the liver
- Red Clover- Flowers have plant based estrogen like compounds and can help ease the transition to menopause
- Forsythia Flowers – A bitter that adds color and a touch of whimsy to a salad
- Plantain – The green leaves are a local source of vitamin A and C
- Knotweed – The roots contain resveratrol a powerful anti-inflammatory compound.
We are coming into prime foraging season. Wild greens are beginning to thrive. Take the time to see the individuals in the grass around your yard. Harvest yard goodies away from the road and in areas where no pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or weed killers were applied. Always check for allergies before ingesting new foods. Connect with a community, herbalist or chef who can help you get to know your yard goodies!
The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional medical care, treatment or advice. All the material here is for information purposes only. Always share strategy and work with your health care team.