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Since the dawn of humanity – before language and before religion – humans communed with creatures of the plant kingdom. From hunger to injury to childbirth, our ancestors knew that the plants around them held their healing.
Today, the air we breathe, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the houses we construct, and much of the medicine we ingest, is borne of the abundant generosity and wisdom of the green world. And the plants still need us too. We nurture their seeds, we protect their young, and we draw local pollinators close with our shimmering summer gardens. Our connection to the plant world is still rich with knowledge – both ancient and just burgeoning – and our interdependence remains vital to our survival. We can all cultivate deeper relationships with these plants that house and heal us by caring for them in our yards, inviting them into our foods, and mixing them into our medicines. Whether you live on a farm, in a suburban home, or in a city apartment, you can find or sow these plants beside you for the joy of their beauty and companionship – or to cook up healthy, whole foods and gentle concoctions for your own home apothecary. First, become familiar with your landscape and pick up a plant identification book for your area. You’ll likely discover that many edible and medicinal plants already grow right outside your doorstep, but I’ll give you a few simple suggestions to start with. Let’s begin with weeds.
weeds Dandelions and violets are some of the first and most tenacious little sunbeams to burst their bodies through the dirt in springtime. If possible, you should collect dandelions and violets away from roadsides and other polluted areas and in places that you know are free from pesticides, like a meadow or an abandoned lot. Your best efforts will reward you with incredibly delicious treats. Additionally, both dandelion and violet flowers are edible.
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