May 9 – Wild Finds
Here are Fabulous wild edibles that are out NOW to be gathered and enjoyed (pictures below)

• Top left is Dame’s Rocket flowers (Hesperis matronalis). The early leaves are useful for food (gather before they flower).  All mustards are edible and all mustards are a superfood, chock full of nutrients and healing constituents.  The 4 pedaled flowers are spicy treats in salads.  

• Top right is Peppermint leaves (Mentha piperita) All mints have square stems, opposite branching, irregular flowers and a strong aromatic odor and taste.  Peppermint is a powerful digestive aid and has many medicinal uses – uplifting depression, relieving headaches, soothing muscle aches….

• Middle photo is a wild child loupe looking at a Batchelor Button flowers.  WOW

• Bottom Left is Spruce nibs (Picea ables) Spruce nibs are out now.  The tender tips feel like a Koosh ball and can be eaten raw in salads or dried for a supply of winter tea.   They are a great source of vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning, potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, and they have an exceedingly high level of vitamin C to strengthen the immune system while reducing inflammation.

• Bottom right are Red Clover leaves (Trifolium pratense) The leaves are a good salad green, the flowers can be frittered or eaten raw in salads.  Medicinally Red clover is a natural blood thinner, a diuretic (helping the body get rid of excess fluid) and expectorant (helping clear lungs of mucous), improves circulation and cleanses the liver.  You can buy Red Clover flowers dried for $45 a pound or pick them for free!

I challenge you to know all the ‘weeds’ that grow around you.  After you are 100% sure of their identity begin adding them to your soups, salads and meal prep.  Eat. Something. Wild. Every. Day!