Dandelion greens were dug up by us grandkids and cooked by our grandmother who ensured that no cooked dandelion went uneaten. It simply wasn’t worth the pain.
I sense a bit of rancur there. Yeah, I've not gotten into the habit of eating dandelions, but at least I know of some weeds that are edible and when the zombie apocalypse finally arrives and the food supply stops (although it does seem to get back on track quickly) I'll be able to cook a little something, even it it's just tea. sigh
Maybe a little residual rancor after only 60 years, but I have moved on, mostly. The thing is, I like dandelion greens. It feels satisfyingly vindictive to eat hateful things that interfere with my efforts to create a paradise (lawn) on earth.
Did you read about an incident with my friend who, in a state of near starvation, ate yellow fawn lillies? It seems they contain an especially potent and fast acting laxative effect. Who knew?
Oooops! So do some other favorites of mine. Too much mullein tea, for example, can be a really good training drug for the U.S. sprint teams.
As for "paradise" lawns, I see dandelions a symbol of rebellion against following the neighbors. Eons ago, I dated a guy who lived in Sunnyvale, CA, a suburb in the Bay Area. (The name of the place should be a clue to its mindset.) He deliberately planted clover in his front yard just to bug the neighbors. My Dad, also, loved dandelions, thought they were a pretty little flower, but spent most of his time and energy digging them up or poisoning them. And he had a huge corner lot too. What a nutty idea for a working class neighborhood to do ... work at the job all day, then come home to yard chores. Anyway, we're making a slow bit of progress turning our lawn into a meadow of wildflowers.
Wow, a deliciously inspiring post, Sue! I've harvested nettles for soup before, and ramsons (wild garlic). Haven't done that for ages, though - I shall take my basket down to the bottom of the garden next spring for the new shoots!
This made me laugh - "And no, we didn't hallucinate either, darn it." 🤣
I've often come across wild mushrooms and been tempted to gather some - I've never dared, though.
Glad you enjoyed this piece, Rebecca. Yeah, mushrooms are tricky. I've decided I don't eat them anymore unless I buy them and saute them over a lamb shoulder. That's a Basque thing (not that I'm Basque, but Jeff is.)
I used to eat the abundant Lamb's Quarters that grew on my property. Picked young they weren't bitter and went well in a salad. My mother was good at which mushrooms to pick, but i never picked that up from her. For awhile way back i dated a woman who knew tons and foraged when we hiked. But i never learned from her either. I guess since i have money I buy my food from my local co-op. Foraging was easier when I lived in Minnesota. Not so easy in SW New Mexico. Although i know local Latinos eat prickly pear fruit and leaves I've never gotten into that.
Remember Ewell Gibbons? Even though he wrote a book on Foraging when on the Johnny Carson show and asked what his favorite food was he said Chilli Dogs 😆🤣
I just have two words for you
Yum. Yum.
Dandelion greens were dug up by us grandkids and cooked by our grandmother who ensured that no cooked dandelion went uneaten. It simply wasn’t worth the pain.
I sense a bit of rancur there. Yeah, I've not gotten into the habit of eating dandelions, but at least I know of some weeds that are edible and when the zombie apocalypse finally arrives and the food supply stops (although it does seem to get back on track quickly) I'll be able to cook a little something, even it it's just tea. sigh
Maybe a little residual rancor after only 60 years, but I have moved on, mostly. The thing is, I like dandelion greens. It feels satisfyingly vindictive to eat hateful things that interfere with my efforts to create a paradise (lawn) on earth.
Did you read about an incident with my friend who, in a state of near starvation, ate yellow fawn lillies? It seems they contain an especially potent and fast acting laxative effect. Who knew?
Oooops! So do some other favorites of mine. Too much mullein tea, for example, can be a really good training drug for the U.S. sprint teams.
As for "paradise" lawns, I see dandelions a symbol of rebellion against following the neighbors. Eons ago, I dated a guy who lived in Sunnyvale, CA, a suburb in the Bay Area. (The name of the place should be a clue to its mindset.) He deliberately planted clover in his front yard just to bug the neighbors. My Dad, also, loved dandelions, thought they were a pretty little flower, but spent most of his time and energy digging them up or poisoning them. And he had a huge corner lot too. What a nutty idea for a working class neighborhood to do ... work at the job all day, then come home to yard chores. Anyway, we're making a slow bit of progress turning our lawn into a meadow of wildflowers.
Wow, a deliciously inspiring post, Sue! I've harvested nettles for soup before, and ramsons (wild garlic). Haven't done that for ages, though - I shall take my basket down to the bottom of the garden next spring for the new shoots!
This made me laugh - "And no, we didn't hallucinate either, darn it." 🤣
I've often come across wild mushrooms and been tempted to gather some - I've never dared, though.
Glad you enjoyed this piece, Rebecca. Yeah, mushrooms are tricky. I've decided I don't eat them anymore unless I buy them and saute them over a lamb shoulder. That's a Basque thing (not that I'm Basque, but Jeff is.)
Oh wow, that sounds delicious, Sue!
I used to eat the abundant Lamb's Quarters that grew on my property. Picked young they weren't bitter and went well in a salad. My mother was good at which mushrooms to pick, but i never picked that up from her. For awhile way back i dated a woman who knew tons and foraged when we hiked. But i never learned from her either. I guess since i have money I buy my food from my local co-op. Foraging was easier when I lived in Minnesota. Not so easy in SW New Mexico. Although i know local Latinos eat prickly pear fruit and leaves I've never gotten into that.
Remember Ewell Gibbons? Even though he wrote a book on Foraging when on the Johnny Carson show and asked what his favorite food was he said Chilli Dogs 😆🤣
How nice. And unfortunate at the same time. Thanks though, because we really aren’t carnivores. xo
We're omnivores ... like bears.