Before modern agriculture, many of our favorite greens, legumes, roots, and spices grew wild in the forests – and they still do. Plus, there are a bunch of extremely delicious and nutritious greens right in your backyard that the textbooks in school never mention. TRIPLE CHECK the plants you forage with a reliable plant book before eating them. There are toxic plants out there that can mean trouble with a capital “T” if ingested. Purslane For decades, folks have been yanking this thick leaved succulent out of their gardens and tossing it in the compost heap – if only they knew what they were missing. This cinderella plant is not only a delicious, slightly bitter and salty addition to any salad, it is also extremely nutritious. Pay attention all vegans – Purslane has the HIGHEST level of Omega 3 Fatty Acids of any plant out there – almost as much as fish oil. Originally from India, this plant now grows just about everywhere. Where to find it: in your garden and flower beds along the side of your house. Garlic Mustard The name alone get’s my mouth watering. Introduced to North America in the 1860′s for culinary and medicinal use, Garlic Mustard is now looked at as an invasive species in many states. It is used a ton in French cuisine, both as a salad green and a flavor enhancer to soups and stews. In traditional medicine, garlic mustard is used as a diuretic and to heal wounds. Where to find it: along rock walls, hedgerows, at the edges of the forest, and on the side of the road. Dandelion Greens Growing up, who knew that these yellow lawn dwellers had any nutritional value? Come to think of it, I didn’t know much at all back then Dandelions are one of my favorite forage-able foods because of their overall versatility. The roots can be used for medicine, the flower can be used to make wine, and the greens are a wonderful culinary item for stewing, roasting, salad making, sauce craft, and more. Nutritionally, Dandelion leaves contain more calcium than kale, more iron than spinach, and just two fresh leaves will fulfill your vitamin C requirement for the day. Where to find it: in your front yard. - See more at: rawfor30days/blog/eating-well-on-the-cheap-three-fantastic-forage-able-greens/#sthash.cNgG3rnW.dpuf
Posted on: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 17:04:16 +0000
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