Weed Walk
Spring is such an exciting
time of year! I love watching the
sun bring life back to everything and everyone in sight.
And I love being able to walk out the door to see lawns covered with our
bright and colorful herbal allies. Would
you like to take a Weed Walk with me? You
won’t have to go far. There is
plenty waiting just outside your door. Be
sure to grab your field guide. Petereson’s
Wild Flower Guide is my favorite.
Blue violet is a very common
beautiful flower that is easy to identify. Wild
violets are the purple flower with five petals on a long, thin stem we see
covering our lawns in the spring. Blue
violet has a long history as a blood and lymph cleanser. It is high in vitamin A
and C. Sprinkle some flowers and
leaves on your salad for a gentle cleansing affect.
I like to make vinegar with blue violet.
To make vinegar with blue violet, pick enough flowers to fill a jar then
cover flowers with apple cider vinegar. It
will be ready to enjoy in 3-4 weeks.
Dandelion is another common and plentiful
ally you’ll find in the spring. It’s
the weed many are trying to banish from their lawns.
Its yellow leaves are long and pointed with notched lobes.
Dandelion greens contain vitamins A and C, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and
iron. They are also very high in
beta-carotene. Dandelion is a very popular spring tonic because it is a natural
diuretic, it’s a mild laxative and it stimulates the function of the liver.
You can add fresh dandelion leaves to your salad, steam them or dry the
leaves and make them into a tea. Dandelion
roots have similar properties as the leaves.
Dandelion wine is another fun way to use these beauties.
You can find recipes to make dandelion wine on the Internet.
Cleavers is a fun herb to
see on an herb walk. Cleavers is a
square stemmed plant that can be identified by sticking it onto your clothing.
If it sticks, it’s cleavers. Cleavers
is known as a diuretic that helps pull toxins from the body.
It can also be used to strengthen lymphatic activity.
Cleavers is a sticky plant so you may not want to add this one to your
salad.
Chickweed
is a great ally to get to know. She
has slender stems growing from her center and white, star-shaped, edible
flowers. Chickweed grows almost flat
along the surface of the soil, forming a leafy green blanket.
Chickweed is another mild diuretic. It’s
a tonic for the urinary tract and is often used for weight reduction.
The best way to harvest chickweed is to snip the tips (about 2 to 3
inches) with scissors. If you keep
trimming this plant you can enjoy it on your salad year round. You can also use
chickweed instead of lettuce on a sandwich. Chickweed’s leaves have a fresh,
green, sweet scent, and taste like spinach.
These
are just a few herbs I’ve seen walking around the neighborhood.
Take your field guide when you are out this summer and start
familiarizing yourself with the blessings all around you. It’s easiest to
identify plants when they are flowering. Each
month will bring new opportunities for you to meet new allies.
You’ll be amazed at all of the useful plants you will find along your
daily path.
Visit
our website for upcoming herb walks, classes,
apprenticeships and spring tonics.
Or come visit our new store in
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. This article is not meant to treat or diagnose. The information provided in this article is not meant to substitute medical treatment.
Jenny is the owner of Divine Creationz. She is a Clinical Master Herbalist. She provides personal health consultations. She specializes in making customized herbal formulas. Jenny is also a certified Tibetan Acupressure System Practitioner and certified Reconnective Healing practitioner. Jenny has been doing energy work for 3.5 years. www.DivineCreationz.com
Blue Violet Dandelion Cleavers Chickweed