Learn how to turn edible weeds into delicious, nutritious food!
Chickweed – stellaria media is a delightful plant and my favourite edible weed, growing lushly in the colder months. It is one of the most common weeds, growing all over the world in gardens, cultivated land and waste places. It is an annual preferring cooler, rich, moist conditions and doesn’t survive dry summers. It’s Latin name ‘Stellaria’ […] Read more
Violet – Viola odorata The delicate, sweet scent of violet flowers wafts in the air as I go near the heart shaped leaves of this plant. The meaning of Violet is modesty, she calms tempers and has a cooling effect. This is because the leaves are mucilaginous (or a slippery/slimy sensation in your mouth if […] Read more
Dandelion – Taraxacum officinale Description Dandelions are one of the most health giving, nutritious and abundant wild edibles that I have come across. To identify a true dandelion from the three look a-like plants of Catsear, Hawkbit and Hawkesbeard (all of which are edible, yet non are as beneficial), dandelions have a single golden yellow […] Read more
Purslane – Portulaca oleracea Purslane has to be the one of the least appreciated edible weeds in New Zealand with huge hidden benefits. The greatest benefit being high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids (known to help prevent heart disease and improve the immune system), a whopping 4mg per gram, compared to .89mg in spinach. Purslane […] Read more
Magenta Spreen – Chenopodium giganteum This is a beautiful plant to grow with it’s soft green goosefoot shaped leaves that have a splash of magenta-pink on the newest leaves of each stem. It is an annual, meaning it grows for one season, and then dies down. Looking at the photo on the left one would […] Read more
Amaranth, Green Amaranthus viridis or Purple Amaranthus lividus Description These are summer growing annuals found in disturbed, impoverished places and cultivated nutrient rich places like our vegetable gardens or animal pens. They have densely clustered small green flowers that grow at the terminal or tip of the stem or in the axils of the […] Read more
Here is a recipe for Fudge Frosting and Strawberry Green Smoothie from Raw Food Made Easy for One or Two People, by Jennifer Cornbleet. Fudge Frosting 1/2 cup date paste (see note below) 1/2 cup agave nectar, maple syrup or honey 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 avocados, mashed (1 cup) 3/4 cup organic cocoa or carob 2 […] Read more
As well as harvesting wild edibles to enhance my nutrition, I love making my own products for use around the house – I know what ingredients I have put in and I save money. These two recipes come from Wendyl Nissen who has been collecting recipes for homemade cleaning products for years. www.wendylsgreengoddess.co.nz I’ve now […] Read more
Greetings everyone, Spring is definitely here on the farm where I’m living with daffodils and some rhododendrons out along the drive. They look so vibrant and bright, revealing that the season has changed and everything is starting to burst forth. This is also true in the ‘weed’ world as you’ll notice, all the weeds are […] Read more
Winter Wild Edible Pesto Big handful of wild edibles (Abundant in August during winter I used storksbill, hedge mustard & chickweed) Juice of 1 lime Juice of 1 lemon 1 tsp mineral rich cider vinegar (recipe below) 1 tsp wild salt and pepper (recipe below) 1/4 cup sunflower seeds 1/4 cup almonds Place […] Read more