I read an
article sometime back decrying our American preoccupation of cultivating green,
grassy, lawns. It went something like
this.
We plant
grass, we fertilize it, and we water it. Then we cut it. We haul it off. We mow with expensive lawn mowers that need gas
and oil . All expensive. We cut the grass, collect it in piles, and then discard
the very grass that we have been working so hard to grow. Then the process
starts all over again. We do it over and over.
We deplete valuable,
fertile soil to raise our grass, so we fertilize so that we can grow more…and
all this time we are diligently working at getting rid of the varmint weeds…you know, the
dandelions and the lambs quarter.
We are such
lemmings. I don't even know if we know why we invest such time and money in
growing grass! We just do.
In California , there is a
terrible water shortage. But even before that drought became serious, a movement
was escalating among the "yuppie" crowd to forget grass and grow food
instead. Even front yard rock gardens could be attractively arranged with
edibles. You know, like olden times! A garden! There's a site aimed at this
pursuit and it is www.foodnotlawns.com . Take a look. Maybe get some tips?
But there's
more to this story. I have discovered and am learning slowwwwwly that there are
many edible plants around that we are discarding or ignoring. We are totally clueless.
Such knowledge has disappeared among this "modern" and very dependent
population.
Some of you
know. You recognize these natural edible herbs, berries, tubers, and the like. Not me. I am still at the kindergarten level.
Let's look at Dandelions. Do you know that they are good to eat? This
free food is right under our noses. But, we dig them up, or spray them to keep
them from spreading. The lowly
Dandelion happens to be a great source of iron, Vitamins A and C, Calcium
and many other vitamins and minerals. The yellow head is the edible part. It
must be picked early in the Spring. The harvested head can be dipped in egg and bread crumbs;
then fried for a delicious snack. If you try this be sure it hasn't been
sprayed with herbicides. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgh_qo--QJ8
There are scads of books available
on Amazon relating to the edible plants among our natural vegetation.
Fred hunts Morel mushrooms. Yes, you
need to know what you are hunting .The Morel is distinctive in its appearance.
The native sand hill plums are ripening now. They
make delicious jelly and jams. And most of the time, these bushes are available
to any one for the picking.
Elderberries
are delicious too. They hang in clusters on bushes and are deep purple. The
only reason I don't pick them is because I am a bit lazy. But I am turning over
a new leaf! No pun intended.
Lamb's Quarter
is another available naturally grown vegetable. Once you recognize its
distinctive look, you will find it. Lamb's Quarter makes great salads, and is
similar in taste to fresh spinach.
Day Lilies
can be eaten as well. Prolific in the
wild or in the garden, they open in the morning and close at night. They bear
flowers, blossoms, and shriveled blooms (all edible) at the same time and are distant cousins of
the onion. Their tubers are edible as well, and can be harvested in early April
or late October. The tubers look like thin potatoes and can be boiled. The
flower petals and buds can be picked and dipped in egg and bread crumbs and
fried. Once fried on both sides, they resemble bacon, and taste sweet with a bit
of zing. Look up "Blanche Cybele Derby? on You Tube and watch some of her
videos.
If you are
like me, this information might overwhelm, and yet, it intrigues one to know
more. People actually used to know this information.
We are
accustomed to running to the grocery store for food, but we might want to
recognize other sources for food. At
least, if nothing else, plant something that can be eaten. . It's not hard. Ask
Fred.
The abundant returns are, well, rewarding!
