Eat Your Weeds

Unless you live on a golf course, you probably have edible wild plants growing in your backyard. Here's how to make a salad from two of the plants which are easiest to identify. They are nutritious, and if you pick them right before you eat them, they are about as fresh as can be. If you have any doubt about the identification of a plant, don't eat it. And only eat plants which do not have any chemicals on them. Do not eat anything from a treated lawn.

This is violet. It smells nice and you can eat the flowers and leaves. We like to decorate spring cakes with the pretty flowers.


This is dandelion. The leaves are too bitter to eat once any shoots with buds or flowers have begun to grow. Dandelion has a strong taste grownups will probably like more than children will.


Rinse your leaves and flowers well. Dribble some virgin olive oil on top. Sprinkle salt and grind pepper to taste. Toss. Now add a bit of lemon, not too much. Lunch is ready!