Blog Archives

IT'S ONLY A WEED IF YOU DON'T WANT IT

4/18/2016

FIVE PLANTS THAT DON'T HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED A WEED!

Keeping the garden and yard weed free is NOT SIMPLE, but there is a simple solution: Keep them!

There are many uses for weeds other than getting 'rid' of them. Some can be eaten, some attract butterflies, and others are medicinal. No matter what the use, it's really only a weed if you decide you don't want it! So, think about creating a simpler life in the yard by keeping some :-)

Definition from Merriam-Webster:
Weed: a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth; especially : one that tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants.

Here are my favorite five plants that don't have to be considered weeds:

1. Dandelion

No surprises here, but this is really a useful plant because just about every part of it is edible! The flower, leaves, and roots can all be eaten.
They can be eaten raw or cooked and can be used to make hot teas, fresh salads, cooked in a side dish, yummy syrup, wines and more!
Check out "16 Dandelion Recipes from The Prairie Homestead".

Image from http://www.maine.gov/dacf/php/gotpests/weeds/lambsquarters.htm

2. Lamb's Quarters

We have these growing all throughout our gardens. Since we don't plant them the first instinct is to get 'rid' of them. However, they are edible and my daughter absolutely loves them! We make sure to keep an area for them to grow just for her and only pull out the ones that crowd out my other garden plants.
These can be eaten raw, added to a salad, or the best way (in my opinion) is cooked in a pan just like we do with kale and spinach!
Check out "Real Food Right Now and How to Cook It: Lamb's Quarters" for some thorough information and a GREAT recipe!

Image from 1920px-Portulaca_oleracea.JPG

3. Purslane

Another plant that grows wild every year in my vegetable garden. And again, it was usually ripped right out until I learned it was actually edible! NOTE: it DOES NOT HAVE A HAIRY STEM!! If what you find does have a hairy stem then it IS NOT purslane.
The best part is the small succulent leaves at the top which can be eaten raw!
Check out this awesome "Purslane Salad" Recipe from Georgia Pellegrini!

4. Jewelweed

This 'weed' has a pretty little orange flower and can often be found around poison ivy. But that is a GOOD thing...if you slice open up the stem of this plant and rub the juice from the inside on the poison ivy you will find relief! That also makes it very helpful for other plant rashes (such as poison oak), insect bites, and other minor skin ailments. NOTE: the berries are poisonous.
This plant also attracts butterflies and hummingbirds!
Read more about Jewelweed at Wildflowers.org.

5. Milkweed

This is not edible, however it is important for the monarch butterflies. And believe me, if you have milkweed they will come!
The monarch population is decreasing rapidly so there is a need for more milkweed plants.
Get FREE MILKWEED SEEDS and learn more at Save Our Monarchs!

Disclaimer: Please learn to carefully identify any plant before using or eating it in any way. This post is meant to provide information about possible uses for what may or may not be considered a weed. This post is not meant to be used for identification purposes.

Thank you for visiting!

Sincerely,

0 Comments

FLOWERS THAT BLOOM IN OUR YARD

4/12/2016

I have been collecting pictures of all the different flowers that bloom every year from spring to fall in our yard. In anticipation of enjoying them again this year I put a few of my favorites together in a slide show and thought I would share them :-) Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Thank you for visiting!

Check out the other flowers and plants we grow in our yard on our What We Grow page and/or visit our Flower Gardening Board on Pinterest!

Sincerely,

RECIPES: CHILI & CHEESY GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

4/2/2016

There is nothing more comforting on a cold and rainy day than a healthy bowl of chili! Served over rice with some grated cheddar cheese and sour cream I have to say it is absolutely delicious. it is a meal all by itself. Then there is the baked cheesy garlic mashed potatoes. This is a great side dish and even though it can be eaten after mashing, it is so much better if it is baked until it is crispy on top! This is a family favorite and is therefore made for just about every holiday. What makes them both even better is that they are SIMPLE, SIMPLE, SIMPLE to make!

Click on the button below the recipes to download the pdf file and print one sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock paper. Then cut out each of the 4 x 6 inch recipe cards. They always come two recipes per sheet in an effort to not waste paper!

Visit my Recipes Page to view or print out previous recipes (pdf files) or to download a FREE 4 x 6 Recipe Card Template (.dox file) for your own recipes! You can also check out my past Recipe Blog Posts here or visit my our Recipes Pinterest Board.

Enjoy!

Download the pdf file here!

FYI: there are always two recipes because I do not want to waste paper!

Thank you for visiting!

Please 'like' us on Facebook or join our mailing list
so you never miss out on a blog post!

Sincerely,

Blog

IT'S ONLY A WEED IF YOU DON'T WANT IT

FLOWERS THAT BLOOM IN OUR YARD

RECIPES: CHILI & CHEESY GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

Categories

Archives