Wild Edibles III

Greenbriar

The GREENBRIAR is a vine that many consider invasive, but for those who appreciate their medicinal and nutritional values, will find them edible as raw, or cooked as spinach (leaves) and asparagus (stems.) The best thing about this plant is that it can be found plenteous year-round. The Native Americans valued this plant. 

Sow Thistle

 SOW THISTLE was brought over by the Europeans as a garden vegetable. This plant is widely confused with the Dandelion as they look similar in appearance. I have on many occasions confused both the Sow Thistle and Dandelion as being the same. The difference is that the Sow Thistle has several vining flowers, as well as a green stem that led to the flower. The Sow Thistle is rich in vitamin A, C, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Phosphorus, and Iron.

 

Sow Thistle

*Harvesting the roots of both the Sow Thistle and Dandelion can be used as a coffee substitute. Another interesting characteristic of sow thistle is the milky white sap that appears when the stem or leaves are broken. This sap is common among members of the lettuce and dandelion family and has contributed to the plant's long history in traditional folklore and herbal traditions. Today, sow thistle is primarily appreciated by foragers as an edible wild green and by gardeners as a plant that attracts pollinators and other beneficial insects.

Unlike the Dandelions that prefer a watered lawn, the Sow Thistle will thrive under drier conditions. I have noticed since we've mowed our lawn that this "weed" is popping up throughout my yard, towering above my freshly mowed grass. Yesterday, I took a bucket and picked all the Sow Thistles I could find and gave them to my chickens. Now that I've learned the value of this European garden vegetable, I'll be finding ways to add this to my family's menu. What a gold mine I have growing in my yard!  (Stay tuned for part 4 of Wild Edibles.)