Backyard Foraging

by Qwantese Dourese Winters

Backyards are often seen as places for recreation only after the Wisconsin winter has finally melted away. Unbeknownst to many of us, underneath our running feet are edible plants we can use for cooking and to support our health. Backyards are full, fruitful landscapes that have a variety of plants all enclosed in an accessible and safe place. Perfect for foraging! Here are three edible plants you can forage that will show you what your yard has to offer.

Dandelion

Dandelions get their claim to fame for their whiteskirted seeds that speckle the air during spring and for being every gardener's foe. You can find their yellow petals and tender leaves all over your yard without much effort. Despite the fact that it’s so unpopular, dandelion is actually a great plant. It supports a healthy digestive system and improves the immune system. The roots, leaves and petals of dandelions can be used in different ways. Make a tea from the petals, a warming apple cider vinegar with the roots, or a yummy soup or salad with the leaves.

Dandelion

Broadleaf Plantain

Broadleaf Plantain

This is not the long banana-shaped fruit eaten alongside fragrant rice. Broadleaf plantain is a different plant species. It has shiny, short leaves that are broad just as their name suggests. Plantain leaves and seeds are edible and can be used to soothe bug bites, small cuts, scrapes, rashes and even eczema. This plant is known as the “Band-Aid plant” and is perfect for making skin salves. There are many ways to derive benefits from broadleaf plantain. My favorite way to use this plant is to dry its leaves, then infuse them into almond oil which I use as a healing body oil. It works great for keeping my skin calm on buggy days in the garden.

White Clover

I have so many memories as a child playing outside and seeing white clover, small white flowers embedded in the grass all around me. What I didn’t know then is that white clover is nutritious. And not only does this member of the legume family offer many nutrients, it has many uses too. It can treat colds, coughs, fevers, infections—the possibilities are vast. While the plant’s name is white clover, its color can range from white all the way to pink. You can find it in low-growing patches in your yard. The petals have a slight sweetness that tastes great on top of a fresh salad or as a garnish for iced tea. Who knew that backyards could not only be the perfect place for weekend barbecues and late-night bonfires, but also a place to get in touch with nature’s bounty? As we begin tending our gardens and dreaming of all the fresh veggies, greens and fruits soon to come, and begin to ponder what this season means to us, let us not forget the backyard, our subtle nourisher. It’s a place where we can find medicine in the vibrant petals of the dandelion and white clover, healing in the waxy leaves of the broadleaf plantain, or just simply a good meal.

Safety Alert!

There are so many nutritious and beneficial plants waiting for us in our yards, but be aware that sometimes plants look alike. To avoid accidentally poisoning yourself or someone else, it is important to make sure you have properly identified the plant. Do your research, and consider using a plant identification app to help you. You also should only forage from places where you can be certain that no pesticides or other toxins have been used.

White Clover

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