What do you see in this picture?
If you said weeds, you're right. And if you said food, you are also right! I am taking a class at the local Cooperative Extension office on foraging that is changing my relationship to the landscape.
28 years as a professional gardener and landscape architect has left me with a moderate disdain for plants that don't behave themselves, aka weeds. But in recent weeks I am finding many weeds surprisingly delicious. When once I would see weeding work to be done, now I look around and I see food. It's fabulous!
I already knew about dandelion root tea, but I was blown away by the deliciousness of dandelion flower and crown tempura. I compared stinging nettle with wood nettle, both were tried boiled or sautéed. (I prefer either sautéed.) I recently collected a salad of narrow and broadleaf plantain, bedstraw, and garlic mustard, and served it to visiting guests with a balsamic vinaigrette to rave reviews. Today I ate cattail “hotdogs” and burdock stems and milkweed buds and chicory leaves for lunch!
I realize I am surrounded by food, and the feeling of abundance is nourishing in itself. Everything we need to survive is provided by our mother earth, if we could just allow her to do her thing.