| While I was growing up I lived outside a small town in | | | | relief from insect stings and the roots can be chewed |
| the Fraser Valley, just above the forty ninth parallel in | | | | to diminish toothache. |
| British Columbia. Back then, that was 3 miles from | | | | I find yarrow a pretty little plant with its heads of tiny |
| town. I just had to cross the road to find bush to build | | | | white flowers and feathery leaves. This perennial herb |
| forts in, and a small river to swim in. Our yard, and my | | | | has been used as a wound healer for centuries. |
| grandfather's Saskatchewan farmer know how, | | | | Science has found that an alkaloid from this plant |
| supported a big vegetable garden, as well as several | | | | makes blood clot faster. It also contains helpful |
| fruit trees, and a variety of yummy berries. Although | | | | anti-inflammatory compounds, which supports its |
| the thorns are wicked, my favorite were (and still are) | | | | traditional use on wounds. |
| the wild blackberries, alas they don't grow at the fifty | | | | I love the yellow flowers of mullein. My books tell me it |
| third parallel where I currently reside. Our lawn back | | | | can be used to relieve cough, sore throat and reduce |
| then was a conglomeration of grass, clover, plantain, | | | | congestion. If memory serves I believe mullein is also |
| dandelions, chickweed, and a few other plants | | | | known as candlewick plant and when dried makes a |
| commonly known as weeds. I often went barefoot in | | | | dandy torch. |
| the grass. | | | | Gardeners know that clover returns nutrients to the |
| When I was older I lived in the city where there was | | | | soil so it makes a good green manure and the flowers |
| plenty of concrete, not much grass, still a few | | | | supply nectar for the bees. Who doesn't like honey, |
| dandelions and I almost never got to go barefoot | | | | itself a natural healing agent. |
| outdoors. | | | | Those nasty stinging nettles tip us off to the presence |
| Now, once again I live in the country. The difference | | | | of iron and fertile soil where they grow, and their high |
| being that it's fifty-five kilometers from town. There is | | | | vitamin C content may be the reason they have been |
| bush on my property. I could build forts if I wanted to. I | | | | used as a spring tonic. Cooking them like kale or |
| manage to grow a few vegetables and berries in my | | | | spinach removes the sting and different parts of the |
| garden and greenhouse. My lawn is a conglomeration | | | | plant provide both a yellow and a green dye. They |
| of grass, hawkweed, clover, plantain, dandelions and a | | | | also host several beneficial insects. |
| host of other plants such as yarrow, commonly | | | | Goldenrod has some unproven traditional uses but we |
| referred to as weeds. In addition I have fields with | | | | know for sure that it makes a great dye, supplying the |
| mullein, goldenrod, nettle, oxeye daisies and buttercup. | | | | crafter with various shades of yellow. |
| My free berries are Saskatoon's and bog blueberries. I | | | | I haven't had much luck growing roses here, so I |
| have ventured barefoot, but hawkweed is tough on | | | | devote small plots to the wild ones. The aroma in |
| the feet. | | | | spring is divine, the petals are slightly astringent and I'm |
| When I moved here and started looking around at the | | | | sure you've heard of rose water, a common ingredient |
| native plants, I was delighted to find plants I hadn't seen | | | | in homemade and natural hand lotions. The petals can |
| since I was a child. One of my first purchases was a | | | | also be chewed to a bubblegum consistency I'm told. |
| book on native plants with wonderful color pictures so I | | | | The bright red rosehips are higher in vitamin C than |
| could identify my flora. You see in the intervening | | | | oranges, and are also rich in A, B, E, K and pectin. |
| years I had learned that many of the plants people call | | | | They can be used to make tea or jelly, and you can |
| weeds are actually herbs. Many of these plants have | | | | substitute them for cranberries in sauce and relish |
| medicinal uses and can also be food. | | | | recipes. |
| Those pesky dandelions are spring's first salad greens, | | | | There are so many great, free medicinal plants |
| they make a wonderful natural dye for wool, and | | | | growing at my house. I feel fortunate that my friend |
| some books still list them as digestive aids. | | | | Cindy, the herbalist, keeps quizzing me on what certain |
| Plantain is not so desirable a salad green with its | | | | plants are for. With her help I keep finding more uses |
| slightly laxative effect, but the crushed leaves provide | | | | for the "weeds" in my own backyard. |