Oh the Weeds

I love how life will often push you in a direction you never thought you’d go. I was doing yard maintenance years ago in Kelowna when I stumbled upon one of my passions. Herbs. I asked the gentleman I worked for, why he didn’t care what was growing in his lawn. I mean I felt like I was literally mowing weeds, there was little to no actual grass. He had 10 splendid acres located on the road to the main ski resort, and he won’t plant grass? He told me that all plants served a purpose even if we don’t know what that is, including weeds. That has stuck with me. Years later when I took my herbal courses I specifically chose to stay away from eastern herbs and focus on the herbs, or weeds, right in our own backyards. Wouldn’t you know it, we started with what we commonly refer to as weeds! For most avid gardeners, such weeds as dandelion, couch grass and alfalfa can be the bain of our gardening experience. We herbalists and wildcrafters on the other hand, know that these are a goldmine of resources! Most of our pesky weeds have extensive root systems, which means they are great at harnessing the micro nutrients from the soil. If you have ever tried to pull out a clump of alfalfa, burdock or dandelion, you know how deep those roots go. It’s getting to know the ‘weeds’ cropping up in your yard, and learning about what they can do for you. You gain an appreciation for them. Aside from the food aspect of weeds, most are healing in one form or another. Dandelion helps support our livers. Plantain is great for helping draw out poison from bites and stings. Viola’s for lymphatic stimulation. Even that invasive Couch grass is known as an expectorant herb. Ahh, weeds. From Alfalfa to those wee Viola’s that sprout in the grass, these wonderful little plants are truly a wealth of health and nourishment. So, while you're yanking out those dandelions, look up their uses. You just might not send all of them to the garbage pail. The only difference between a weed and a flower is how you look at it.

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