March 28: Weed Appreciation Day. Have you hugged a weed today? (I know its everyday here with us)

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2125/

"The dandelion, which has saved peoples from starvation, is a three-tiered food..." and "Raw dandelion greens...have an abundant 14,000 international units of Vitamin A per 100 grams, plus .19 milligrams of thiamine, .26 mg. riboflavin, and 35 jmg. of the vital ascorbic acid." "This same portion of edible greens is further enriched with 198 milligrams of calcium, 76 mg. of sodium and 397 mg. of potassium." (I remember reading somewhere that the blooms are high in lithium also).

My friends, plants with these qualities should be given free reign to grow anywhere! Why are we frantically throwing them in the garbage whilst running to the health food store for vitamin A, ascorbic acid, calcium, lithium and potassium supplements? I guess it is the same reason that we fight for a parking place nearest to the door...of the gym. If we pay for something, it must be more valuable than the same thing when it is freely available.Clover

This article is about appreciating many different weeds. What if many weeds that fill our yards and fields are really excellent food items or cures for cancer or other maladies?

I agree and I think you are preaching to the choir. However, if you find a use for nutsedge, bind weed or bermuda grass please let us know

Nutsedge has edible tubers. http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Cyperus+esculentus

Whooo Hooo!!!

errr umm wait... ..wrong kind....

*heads for door while taking off rasta hat and tie dye shirt*

Don't hug them, eat them. Still have snow so will have to wait a bit here in NE Ontario.

I have these weeds in my borders that I call wire weed. i pulled, wrong term, dug them up and washed them so you can see the root balls. My question is are they edible since they are full of water. and is wire weed a correct name for them?

Leaves almost look familiar but can't see well enough. Where are you posting from?

I'm on the California central coast. They put out a single runner that can grow to 8 feet in length and climbs anything.

Looks like it might be Asparagus asparagoides/Myrsiphyllum asparagoides/Medeola asparagoides: http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/plant_profiles/Asparagus_asparagoides.php

I can't find a reference to it being edible.

while we're at it, i have a weed popping up all over my yard that has spinachlike leaves, except they're smaller, and it climbs absolutely everything that it can, I'll have to post a pic of it later but itd be nice if it was useful for something...

Brad Davies wrote:Whooo Hooo!!!

errr umm wait... ..wrong kind....

*heads for door while taking off rasta hat and tie dye shirt*

and thats another month or so.... lol

I'm glad someone liked my joke.

Just found this thread, I live in what must be the weed capitol of the universe, along with the bugs; and wish it to come back up.

I think dandelions are delightful salad, the leaves collected early enough.

I am allergic to lettuce (I can prove it in a minute in person) and can't say enough about Lambs Quarters as a sub. Going to flag this one, my first time at doing so!

I don't know if this counts as a hug, but my son seemed to be getting a bit close and personal with the purslane yesterday...