Wild Weeds – Dandelion, Pineapple Weed, Plantain, and Lamb’s Quarters

Difficulty level: **Easy

Yesterday was Canada Day. For my non-Canadian readers Canada Day, formerly Dominion Day, is Canada’s national day. So in celebration of Canada I ask you, what better way to appreciate this country than going on a hike and learning about the plants that inhabit it? Even our urban landscapes are full of diversity and abundance.

This challenge is part of a Wild Weeds Series where you will learn about easy to identify medicinal and edible plants. Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to 1) get out there and identify a few of these, and 2) try one (or all) of my suggestions. Don’t worry if you can’t find all these plants.

Now for the big, official warning – unless you are 100% sure of what you are gathering, don’t pick it and definitely don’t eat it. Use at least 3 resources (one being this blog) as references. I am not responsible if you somehow poison yourself! Now that I’ve warned you I want to say that none of the featured plants have poisonous look-a-likes. A few other things:

-practice ethical harvesting techniques;
-make sure the plants you are gathering are not from an area that’s been contaminated by pollutants such as run off from a road;
-and make sure that dogs haven’t been peeing all over it!

 

Dandelion

I am starting with possibly the easiest plant to recognize. However, don’t be so sure of yourself! Some people confuse wild lettuce with dandelion. The easiest way to tell them apart- wild lettuce (also edible) is prickly, dandelion has no prickles. Dandelion can have deeply cut leaves, while others are more rounded.

The good news is they are all okay to eat and use. Now for the bad news – it is July and all the dandelions are tasting pretty bitter right now.

You can actually eat all parts of the dandelion (will cover this in future posts), but the only part I would bother with in July are the bitter leaves (less bitter in spring). And because they are so bitter, I recommend using them in a soup or baking them.

Why bother at all if they are so bitter?

Firstly, we live in Canada. It is winter for like 6 months of the year. There is such a short time frame available to eat wild edibles, it is nice to take advantage of it while we can.

Secondly, dandelion leaves are really, really good for you. In fact bitter foods are really good for you. They are full of vitamins, help clean the liver and blood, and stimulate digestion. Check out this great post by John Kallas on how to make dandelion leaves palatable.

 

Pineapple Weed

Next is one of my urban favourites – Pineapple Weed! Using three sources go out and find some. Chances are you won’t have to go very far. Also known as wild chamomile, this plant grows everywhere – sidewalk cracks, the edges of gardens, and disturbed areas.

Now pick the bud and crush it. Smell that? Smells like pineapple doesn’t it? That is one of the distinguishing features of this plant.

Use Pineapple Weed just like chamomile. Make hot tea with the fresh or dried plant (everything but the roots)…or better yet make iced tea with it (so just make regular tea, let it steep, then refrigerate).

Toss a few of the young buds in your next salad or try some in a fresh fruit smoothie. This little beauty hangs around all summer long so it is worth making friends with it.

 

Plantain

Plantain (not to be confused with the banana-like plantain!) has been used for millennium by humans around the world as a food and herbal remedy for all sorts of ailments.

You can eat the young leaves of plantain but to tell you the truth there are so many other delicious wild edibles that I don’t really bother it because the leaves even while young are a bit tough.

What I love using plantain for is bug bites. Bee sting, mosquito bite, spider bite? Take some plantain, chew it up in your mouth so it breaks down a bit and place it on the bite. Congratulations – you’ve just made a spit poultice! Now, it is not a miracle cure and my bites still itch after a while, but it will provide you with some relief and I find it especially effective on bee stings.

Plantain also has many medicinal properties, but I will leave that to you to explore.

 

Lamb’s Quarters

Lamb’s quarters is another plant found all over urban landscapes, lawns, and gardens. It is a bit of a harder one to identify (check out this video to help id), but once you do you will be thankful because this plant is super versatile and grows all summer.

Once upon a time, lamb’s quarters meant “all good”. And it is “all good” containing more iron and protein than spinach and numerous other vitamins and minerals. Because lamb’s quarters contain oxalic acid (like all members of the spinach family) consume it moderately (not every day).

Lamb’s quarters, also known as goosefoot, tastes best when it is young, but it can be used at any time. Rinse it really well (it gets sandy) and use it just like spinach. I use lamb’s quarters all year in green smoothies, salad mixes, lasagnas, stir-fries, raw food recipes and more. Seriously you may never buy spinach again!

 

The world of wild edible and medicinal plants is huge and I hope this blog has piqued your curiosity. If this is something that really interests you and you want to learn more check out one of my wild plant walks and wild edible dinners. I am also available for private plant id and foraging walks if you want to get a few people together and organize it.

Happy foraging!