A weed is an artificial construct. A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, a plant in the wrong place, or a plant growing where it is not wanted. It's like people calling people they don’t agree with racist, a plant may call another plant weed, just because of its looks. As the Guardian might say: Weeds: is it time to stop using a word with racist roots?
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| Weeds growing in the cracks of a concrete staircase |
Portulaca Oleracea Used in Cooking and Medicine
Take for instance, purslane, (Portulaca oleracea) also known by the most prejudicial names like
pigweed, little hogweed, fatweed and pusley. However, purslane is
not only edible but it is a highly nutritious vegetable,
loaded with all sorts of nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids. In 2015, the
NIH used purslane in a
study concluding that “Purslane
(Portulaca oleracea) is a globally-distributed plant with a long history of use
in folk medicine and cooking…. Taken holistically, our results suggest that the
two varieties employ different strategies in allocating resources to cope with
saline stress. This conclusion establishes purslane as a suitable model system
for the study of saline stress and the molecular basis for differential
responses.” Purslane can grow in
gardens and sidewalk cracks, but can also adapt to harsher conditions, including drought, as well as very salty or
nutrient-deficient soil
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| Sample purslane plants- NOT "weeds"! |
Any purslane plant can be harvested and eaten, as the
leaves, stems, and flowers are completely edible. According to webMD Purslane is tart and a little salty,
making it a great addition to salads and other dishes. Purslane is a succulent that offers a juicy bite. This allows it to be
grown in conditions that would kill even the hardiest lettuce. Its sturdy nature
makes purslane a great garden-vegetable option for dry, hot regions or
gardeners who don’t trust themselves to water regularly. Purslane’s
health benefits are an added benefit for this hearty gardener’s treasure.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration, a 100 gram (3.5 oz) portion contains
Vitamin A (from beta-carotene): 26% of the DV.
Vitamin C: 35% of the DV.
Magnesium: 17% of the DV.
Manganese: 15% of the DV.
Potassium: 14% of the DV.
Iron: 11% of the DV.
Calcium: 7% of the RDI.
It
also contains small amounts of vitamins B1, B2, B3, folate, copper and
phosphorus.
Say no to Abortion
to Reduce Inflation – Eat Your Weedies
You might recall that Stacey
Abrams, the Democratic nominee for governor in Georgia, floated the
abortion could be used to beat inflation, explaining to Morning Joe
viewers that “having children is why you’re worried about your price for gas,
it’s why you’re concerned about how much food costs.” I say, forget about the
barbaric practice and instead start adding weeds to your diet. It will not only fight inflation, but will
also help fight ecological discrimination:
All plants matter!
All Plants Matter
In addition to purslane, there are dozens and dozens of edible weeds,
including wild blackberries. I started training several wild blackberry vines,
and this summer we harvested a bumper crop.
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| Dandelion Plant - Not "weed" |
I started eating purslane as a child. Because I would not
be able to tell if eating purslane is an acquired taste, I decided to try other
weeds. First on the list was Dandelion.
My granddaughters like to make dandelion soup, by taking the petals off the
plant and making piles. Oonce they are done playing, they dump the “dandelion
soup” in the trash. My dandelion soup
was different. I decided to use the same
condiments I use with purslane. The
resulting dandelion juices were tasty, while the leaves tasted somewhat like spinach
leaves but drier and stringy. I plan to
try clover and everwilde. Everwilde attracts bees and the entire plant is edible.
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| Sautéed Dandelion |
According to Pew research, over 66% of Americans think
government should do more to combat climate change, yet this past Halloween, $billions
worth of carved-up pumpkins are finding their way to landfills while millions
of children don't have anything to eat. Today, over 700 million people are undernourished,
most of them children. The moral of the
story is that we can all help stop ecological discrimination, stop the barbaric
and some would say satanic practice of infanticide as a solution to inflation
reduction, feed the hungry and reduce inflation if we just eat our weedies.
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| Next Up: Clover |
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