Get Prepared – Edible Weeds

Photo Credit to calindarabus on Flickr

Did you know nature has provided a grocery store in your own backyard? I suspect that most of the weeds you mow, spray, and pull can actually sustain you in a major crisis at worst, or supplement your fresh produce at best!

A very common briar, commonly called Greenbriar, is something Brer Rabbit loved, but we tend to hate. It is very persistent . . . very hard to kill . . . ask me how I know! But that can actually be a good thing!

The leaves, stems and roots are all edible! The stems can be cooked like asparagus, the leaves like spinach and the roots can used pounded and ground, using the gelatin as a thickener!

Another weed that is extremely common – look in YOUR backyard – is Broadleaf Plantain. This is NOT the banana-like fruit you can purchase at the store. This is a free weed that has a multitude of food and medicinal uses.

Cook the leaves like spinach, even going so far as to using it in recipes such as spinach dip or Creamed Spinach. Or add the leaves to a tossed salad. Or ground the seeds into flour. Or cook the seeds like rice.

Medicinally, plantain has so many uses that you really should cultivate it. Put it in a corner of your flower garden or vegetable garden and encourage it to grow! Used as a tea, it is an effective body detoxifier. As an ointment, it is a useful remedy for a long list of skin conditions. As a poultice, place on wounds.

We have no idea what the future holds. Hopefully, it holds nothing but rainbows and sunshine. However, just in case, I am looking into ways to survive, and even thrive, just in case we have to deal with a major, large scale national crisis. Want to join me?

About Robin Egerton

Robin Egerton has written 84 posts in this blog.

Robin considers herself a "Baby Prepper" - that is, she is not preparing for a Zombie Apocolypse, but is proficient at preparing for emergencies. The most current project at her homestead is establishing sustainable gardening in raised beds. She is an experienced homeschooler and has extensive experience in fostering and adopting. After several years as a foster parent, Robin and her husband adopted a total of five children and later began a homesteading project. Robin learned to raise chickens, sheep and dogs. After growing extensive gardens and planting an orchard, the produce is canned and added to the food storage pantry to this day. When life with teens became extraordinarily hectic, Robin began putting her canning energy into preparing her own convenience foods. Robin's hobbies are knitting, crocheting, genealogy and she will soon be joining the world of amateur photography. All of Robin's interests can be found on her blog www.RobinsCozyNest.Webbly.com