Midnight Sun Herbal Health

EDIBLE PLANTS

There are many plants in the wild and also in the gardenif you can tolerate a few weeds that are edible or have edible parts, quite aside from the culinary herbs we know; basil, thyme, rosemary and oregano/marjoram. These herbs are by the way also medicinal, but then taken in a different dose. The information about the uses of wild plants has been overlooked because we generaly choose to buy our food at the store. But there have always been people around who have held on to the knowledge and of course in other parts of the world, people have not strayed that far from their roots and habits of eating. Happily we are seeing a re-emergence of interest. Most of the edible plants are in our day considered weeds. There are ornamental plants that have edible parts as well, many were brought from other parts of the world, centuries ago, where they may have been wild or were cultivated as medicinal plants.

In earlier times before there were grocery stores, wild plants were part of the daily diet. All in all, there are thousands of these plants around the planet, that are or have been used as food, but most people concentrate their intake around six to nine of them, or even less. Below I chosen a few and if you click on the plants, you will get some more information about them. Among them are plants I am happy to see emerge in the spring. I use them as part of salads or cooked in dishes. What I, personally, enjoy is the knowledge that using these plants gives me a direct connection with my foremothers and forefathers. It also gives me a greater connection with nature and respect for the wonders our mother earth provides for us. My garden and all that lives in it, animals and plants are an endless pleasure and inspiration to me.

It is important to know that only plants or parts of plants should be used that have grown in soil that is known not to have been sprayed with chemicals and no plant should ever be used, unless it has been positively identified.

(The brief bit of information on this page and the explanatory page is to be considered as education only, please consult with a a botanist or herbalist for more information)

Click on each image to learn more

The page is still under construction

The Wild Weeds

 

 

The Ornamental Plants

 

 

Bodil is available for classes and lectures on edible plants and other herb related subjects.

For further information about edible plants and safety, refer to resources such as Peterson Field Guides; Edible Wild Plants, Peterson's Field guides; Herbs or use other knowledgeable sources. Never eat a plant that hasn't been positively identified.

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email: Bodil or
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