The next two edible "weeds" I will be discussing are Chickweed and Clover. While this is mainly about their edible uses I will cover their traditional herbal uses as well.
Chickweed is in the Stellaria Genus, in the Carnation or Caryophyllaceae family. Chickweed can be found growing all year round but is more prevalent in the rainy months. The young tender leaves have the best flavor but mature leaves may be eaten as well. Consumed in excess chickweed may cause diarrhea or vomiting because of its saponin content. Saponins are not easily absorbed by the human body, in moderate amounts chickweed is fine to eat. Chickweed makes a fine addition to pestos and salads. Used externally as a poultice chickweed can help soothe skin inflammations and promote healing.
Clover is of the Trifolium genus in the Pea or Fabaceae family. The leaves and Flowers are edible raw or cooked. It is said that the leaves are hard to digest raw and are best cooked. The Flowers and leaves also make a refreshing beverage when steeped in hot water. Sprouted Clover is also a nice addition to salads and sandwiches. Taken internally Clover is good at cleansing the blood, helping to relieve skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, and has been shown to have some anti-cancer properties.
Mission Statement
My goal with mande plants is to teach about medicinal and edible plants, show how to grow these plants, where to find these plants, and how to use these plants. There are many useful botanicals in our world. I will growing seasonal crops and perennial edibles using organic methods as best as possible. One of my long term goals is to grow a temperate food forest garden. As I grow new plants and harvest them I will be sharing photos and details on this blog. All photos on this blog are taken by me. If you like this blog and you would like to help me further my research you can use the paypal donate button on the right. All donations will be used to buy tools, plants, seeds, and pay for expenses needed to develop gardens.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
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