Monday, July 27, 2009
Weeds Redefined
 Over the last week I've read three independent magazine articles, by pure chance, about eating plants we normally classify as weeds. The first came from a magazine to which I subscribe, the second came from Wild Plants of Eastern Canada, a book that I have borrowed from my mom and the third was an article in Small Farm Canada, a magazine my brother had left at my parents house, which I found myself reading while enjoying my breakfast this weekend.
This past Thursday, I took a little time off from the store and relocated myself and the kids to my parents house for a little down time. It's during these times that I can let my mind slow down, and try and sort out exactly the priority of the tasks facing me for the week ahead. The kids have lots of room to run and play, cats to chase, cousins to play with, vegetable gardens to wander through, and grandparents to shower them with attention.
While reading these articles, I was thinking about the herbs that I currently purchase for producing Baby Balm and the other Anointment ointments, and wondering if I could indeed wildcraft these myself, or even start to grow my own garden of weeds (then my father could never tease me about my weeding - or lack thereof - again)?
While, of course I am limited on space, I decided while I was in the country, I would make the most of it, so I strolled out into what used to my the pastured land for the cows that now grows mixed grasses and clover for hay, and picked a handful of clover blossoms to make into tea. Pulling the purple flowers from their stems, I boiled them up and let them steep for about 10 minutes. The tea took on a dark green colour, which suprised me given that the flowers were pink/purple. The tea tasted of grass, but was still refreshing, particularly if you're someone that regularly drinks herbal teas. I can only imagine the nutritional content would be quite good, given how fresh the tea was!
While I didn't delve too far into the realm of weed eating, this first little taste has left me eager to learn more. While driving back to the city yesterday, I noticed plants growing in the median of the highway that would have been very useful, but not easily accessible! It certainly puts a new spin on my backyard naturalization process.
Give it a try in your own neighbourhood!
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