Alternative Community Farmer/WPB.FL

In an economic reckoning or meltdown or crunch or whatever you name it , the best bet is to save money if you can not make more !

Penny saved is a penny earned.

Now we who shop for Organic produce at an "X" health food store know how EXPENSIVE is the PRODUCE TAG. There are so many of us who are labeled "Green Thumbs"and  outdoor lovers , have opted to start a veggie Organic garden to replace the unproductive lawn in our front/backyard to save on the grocery bill.Others ,who do not garden, imagine that they have a "BLACK" thumb and go outdoors only to shop for their produce at the grocery store instead of growing it.Here is an easy way to harvest produce that is FREE for the grab for both categories of the imagined "Green and Black" thumbs .To save on the grocery bill ,shop for FREE at your front/ backyard  for NATURALLY , LOCALLY and LEGALLY grown Weeds! What inspired me to write this article is a book which I read recently  by Pamela Jones: "JUST WEEDS" !

 I recommend you READ it if you really want to have a full grasp and learn more about edible weeds.I hereby try to give some highlights and qoute selected excerpts  as a sample to invite your appetite!

Important note:.If you are suffering from a health condition , please check with your health professional first. The below information   is only meant to educate about wild edible weeds  considered by some as invasive  to be rounded up and eliminated from the garden.They are  NOT  to be used for whatsoever reason as food or medicinal alternatives to your doctors recommendations.They are only mentioned for informative and educational purposes and are NOT  recommended or intended to heal or cure any disease or condition.It is your sole responsibility to do whatever you choose to do on your own.

1-Couch Grass/Dog grass/Dutch grass (Agrpyron/triticum repens): "A perenial with both culinary and medicinal use.Part used is the root.The World famous Herbalist Nicholas Culpeper describes it:"The stalks are jointed like corn,with the like leaves on them,and a large spiked head ,with a long huskin them ,and hard seeds in them.If you know it not by this description,watch the dogs when they are sick , and they will quickly lead you to it."Europeans have long prepared juices or teas from the rhizome/root to purify blood.Also recomended, the dried and ground rhizomes by a French Dr.Cazin ,for gout,gallstones,hemorrhoids,scaby skin conditions,acne.."

2-Watercress (Nasturtiumofficinale):" A perenial aquatic weed that is usually located at springs,brooks,freshwater ponds...It is said to have high content of iodine and iron,as well as vitamins A,B2,C,D and the minerals calcium,copper,potassium and magnesium.

3-Purslane/Pussley/Pursley/Pigweed (Portulaca oleracea):"Annual weed that grows intermittently throughout summer in fertile and sandy sunny areas.It is used for culinary and medicinal puposes...According to Euorepean world famous Herbalist  Icholas Culpeper :...the seed expels worms..also Purslane soothes the heat of the liver...when applied to the eye it takes away inflammation".

Recently it was discovered that puslanes is rich in OMEGA3.

4-Dandelion (taraxacum officinale):" A perenial that grows at road sides,meadows,lawns,fields,waste places.Parts (leaves,flower and roots) are used for culinary ,medicinal ,cosmetic and commercial purposes.Nicholas Culpeper found it very effectual for the obstruction of the liver,gall, and spleen,for jaundice,urinary infections..."

Spring is in the air and weeds are everywhere..

Be aware of what is edible versus what's NOT and  terrible!

It is good to KNOW :what 's  legal to GROW!

When markets CRASH , just stash your CASH!