There are two main types of homeowners out there: those who pay out the nose to manicure a perfect lawn full of perfect grass and those who just mow what they’ve got and hope for the best. And then there are the outliers, like me—the ones who look at all the weeds growing in what some people would laughingly call a “lawn” and wonder, “Huh…I wonder what that is?”
I like outliers. You’re my people. You’re the ones who have realized there’s something interesting about the plant world, something more than just the perfect gardens built with plants from a local nursery. The ones who see the wildflowers and the weeds and hear Mother Nature calling to them from the little patch of forest down the way.
The Earth has so many secrets that can help us and heal us. Are you ready to listen?
Be Weed-Weird
If you’re one of the weird ones, like me, who sees dandelions in your yard and gets excited rather than disgusted, keep reading. I can’t wait to introduce you to the world of wild foods and medicinal plants growing right beneath your feet in your own backyard!
In the words of a beloved herbalist I know, the worst weeds are our best friends. A weed is simply a plant growing in a place that you don’t want it to grow. Most of the weeds you pull out of your garden beds are edible, if not also medicinal.
Food is medicine, and wild food is all around us!
Of course, you can read a plant identification book or watch some videos on YouTube. I post some of my adventures on YouTube too. But it can feel daunting when you’re out on your own. You second-guess yourself, and you’re not certain if you’re identifying something correctly. You don’t want to poison yourself or your family.
This fear is what stops most people from getting interested in foraging. It’s just too dangerous, they think. Well, I’m here to empower you! I will show you how you can be confident at foraging and finding simple herbal remedies in your own backyard.
Know Your Weeds
I have gardens here on my small farm and grow some plants on purpose, but a solid 25% or more of my regular diet, including what I pull out of my garden to eat most seasons of the year, is weeds.
No, not that weed. I mean the things you get on your hands and knees and crawl around pulling out all summer long so you can have nice peas or tomatoes. A huge portion of those little plants are edible and perfectly delicious once you know how to cook with them.
Have you ever tried dandelion fritters? Hickory bark syrup? Lamb’s quarters quiche? What about stinging nettle pesto? Or acorn flour cookies?
When you start eating nature’s wild foods, your body remembers. It remembers the flavors, the sensations, and the feeling of having the right balance of vitamins and minerals. Wild plants have far greater nutritional content than most cultivated vegetables. In a society severely lacking in vitamins and minerals, they can be a powerful, life-saving tool for restoring health.
Let me show you how to find and create delicious meals and powerful herbal remedies and connect with your land in a way you thought was out of reach in this modern era.
I’m available for private foraging workshops, educational presentations, retreats, consultations, and other events. Explore my website, Blacksunfarmct.com, where you can read my educational blog, find my podcast appearances, and get on my schedule (April through early November is best).
I can’t wait to meet you!
Amelia South is a professional Foraging Instructor, Herbalist, and the owner of Black Sun Farm in Danielson, CT. She creates handmade herbal teas, oils, salves, and tinctures from ingredients she grows and forages in the wild. Book a private or group foraging walk with Amelia at: blacksunfarmct.com/foraging/.
Photo credit: Ling Li Messer Photography
COMMENTS