The word “weed” has negative connotations to many people.
As such, some humans go about disturbing the landscape, poisoning and removing what they perceive to be valueless plants, a nuisance, a pest. In some cases (if not many) these actions are carried out without fully understanding the true value of the said “weed”
But some “weeds” are actually very nourishing and as any experienced forager will know, some “weeds” are culinary delights. It could be that the roots, leaves, shoots, flowers, seed or fruit of a “weed” that is being treated as worthless is actually edible and nutritious. On the other hand the “weed” could be playing a valuable roll in the ecological system, one that we just don’t see with the human eye.
Edible weeds, now that sounds a little less negative. Spontaneous vegetables, that sounds even better. Self-growing vegetables, that sounds like a no-brainer!
Thanks to Tusha Yakovleva (and funds from the northeast sustainable agriculture research and education grant) there is an informative and free e-booklet all about edible weeds on farms. Learn more about the gifts of edible weeds, making a livelihood from weeds, cooking with weeds and much more in this great e-book:
Edible Weeds on Farms: Northeast Farmers Guide To Self-Growing Vegetables
