Nowadays when we think of food, we think about going to the grocery store and buying something in a package or plastic bag. We don't think about what might be growing in our own backyard (that we didn't intentionally plant) as something to eat
The grocery store will remain the primary source of food for my family and me, but I can also look outside my door and see healthy things to eat even in my not terribly large city yard. Harvesting enables me to deal with several plants that are invasive or that I don't particularly want in my flower garden. I don't have to just send them to the county yard waste site. I can eat them. These plants can also harvested before many of the other things that I intentionally plant are ready to harvest. These edibles are often super nutritious and I don't accumulate any clamshell packaging.
Many people know that dandelions are edible and they were originally brought to the United States for food purposes.
I have been sautéing greens from dandelions, hostas, wild violets and lamb quarters with olive oil, salt and lemon. Dandelions have a strong flavor and aren't actually my favorite. I don't eat dandelion greens raw, but I will make salads with the lambs quarter, which is milder and softer. Wood sorrel also makes for a lemony addition to salad, but turns goopy when cooked.
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Edible flowers such as violets, nasturtium and marigolds make good garnishes for cakes and salads. Last year I boiled several bunches of lilacs in a sugar syrup to make my own lilac soda (add carbonated water from a soda stream).
If you are going to forage in the back yard, you will need to ensure the area you are harvesting is not contaminated. You also must correctly identify plants you did not cultivate so you do not poison yourself The internet is handy and I particularly like this article for Minnesota edible weeds. Otherwise put your weeds and garden plants that grow a little too robustly to good use.
