Edible Wild Plants: Exploring Nature’s Nutritious Bounty
There are many ways to find edible wild plants. You can use a list or field guides to identify plants near you. Another option is to take a class that incorporates field trips and learns from others’ findings.
Then, you can build on those findings by identifying the plants you find in the wild. Here are some common edible weeds you can find in the wild:
Avoiding Poisonous Plants
While many people are not knowledgeable enough to tell the difference between harmless plants and poisonous wild plants, playing it safe will protect both you and your pet.
You should only look at plants in the woods and avoid coming into contact with their body parts. In addition to plants, you should avoid picking flowers, leaves, and other parts of animals. Many animals are allergic to poisonous plants.
In the U.S., stinging nettle can be found in any damp, shady area. Its bright green leaves and fine hairs will sting and cause blisters if they come into contact with your body.
However, if you’re willing to take the risk of stinging nettle, boiling it can turn it into an edible leafy green. Another noxious plant is poison ivy. It can be easily mistaken for a less dangerous plant like wild parsnip, though its leaves are about a meter wide.
Giant hogweed also produces large clusters of yellow flowers that are typically a meter long. Despite its name, many plants are extremely poisonous.
To keep yourself safe, you should avoid these plants, such as poison ivy and poison oak.
Common Edible Weeds
Many weeds are edible, and some are even tasty! Listed below are seven of the most common edible weeds you can find in your yard. Always be sure to positively identify any plant you intend to eat before you attempt to eat it.
These plants have very different nutritional values, and the younger leaves are sweeter and less bitter than the older ones. Likewise, stems and flowers are generally more bitter than leaves. The greens of dandelion are delicious and can be used raw or cooked.
The young leaves are best eaten raw, but you can also cook or blanch the tougher material. Cooking does not affect the nutritional value and only degrades vitamin C.
Cooking also makes it easier to digest and makes the nutrients more available. Using a little bit of cooking techniques can add a lot of variety to your meals!
Common Weeds That Are Edible
A few common weeds are edible and worth trying. Lamb’s Quarters is one example. Its leaves are heart-shaped with a stem that shoots straight through the middle. This weed is often used as a substitute for spinach leaves.
Though unattractive and powdery, it’s quite tasty. You can eat the raw or cooked leaves, and it also makes a great tea. Although it is not poisonous, you should make sure to avoid eating the spikes and hairs on the plant.
When preparing edible weeds, you should wait at least 24 hours before consuming them. The chances of a negative reaction are low, but you should still take precautions to ensure you are not allergic.
While there is no need to be paranoid when foraging for wild edibles, following these tips will ensure your safety and make your foraging experience a positive one. Just remember to have fun and explore nature.
Common Weeds That Are Poisonous
Toxic weeds are commonly found in Ontario. The Factsheet below identifies some of the most common ones and details how they can cause poisoning in livestock.
Because these weeds act rapidly, the chances of rescuing livestock are very small. Fortunately, there are many simple solutions to poisoning livestock.
Using chemicals or mechanical control can be a successful solution to preventing exposure. Fencing off infested areas can also protect livestock from poisonous weeds.
A few common weeds that are harmful to livestock can cause skin allergies or serious respiratory problems. Poison Ivy is the worst of the bunch, causing severe rashes and itching in humans.
You should protect your animals as well, as a pet will roll in the poison-ivy foliage and the oil will be on their coats. While poison ivy is usually not dangerous to humans, contact with the sap of this plant can cause severe skin reactions.
It is always a good idea to protect your animals and yourself from this danger by following best practices and avoiding common weeds.
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