Gardening is one of those things I love more in spirit than in practice. I love gardens, flowers and especially edible plants, but not necessarily the work that they require. So, in order to improve my gardening experience, I am trying to develop the perfect low-maintenance garden. This involves taking advantage of what grows well in my soil, and changing my perspective on what I consider a weed. Three things that grow exceptionally well in my garden are stinging nettle, chickweed and dandelion. Trying to eliminate these from a garden is a futile battle, unless you are prepared to use some pesticide helpers. The good news is that these are all edible plants, rich in nutrients, and can be viewed
as a food rather than a weed.
This time of year is perfect for harvesting stinging nettle. Stinging nettle has long been considered a medicinal plant. In medieval Europe, it was used as a diuretic and to treat joint pain. Today, many people also use it to treat urinary tract infections and hay fever. Nutritionally, it is rich in vitamins A, C, iron, potassium, manganese, and calcium. Stinging nettle has fine hairs on the leaves and stems that will sting you if you touch them, so wear gloves when you pick them. Young shoots are most tender and the plant should not be eaten after it flowers. Though I have not tried, I’ve read that if soaked in cold water, stinging nettle can be eaten raw. When cooked, it has a flavor similar to spinach. Last week I made stinging nettle lasagna and no one could tell, except my 15-month-old daughter developed a rash around her mouth after eating it, so maybe avoid
feeding it to infants (and, just in case, pregnant women too.)
Dandelion and chickweed are great salad greens and do not give you a “sting.” They can also be blended in a smoothie or cooked like spinach. I would not recommend picking weeds from the side of the road, as they may be full of pollutants from vehicles. Also don’t pick them from your yard if
you use herbicides or pesticides.
While I don’t mind eating my weeds, food prices will have to get a little higher before I start munching on my other garden woes – slugs, beetles, moths – but always good to keep your mind open!