Doris gave a power point presentation showing photos and discussing plants normally considered to be nuisance in the garden. Doris considers a weed is simply a plant growing in the wrong place. It is thought most of our common weeds were introduced into Australia when the first fleet arrived carrying crop seed and seeds attached to clothing. Doris described using weeds in the daily diet as being food that is fresh, local and seasonal.
- STINGING NETTLE - 8 cups nettle, steam down to 1 cup. Contains 10% daily iron, 40% daily calcium, 3 times daily Vit A
- DANDELION - Broadest range of nutrients available are found in the leaf. Dandelion flower high in Vit A & C and is a great blood builder and purifier. The flowers can be used to flavour cakes. Leaves used in salad, soup and stews.
- 3 CORNERED LEEK (Onion Weed) - Use as onion/chives in pasta dishes and stews. White flowers used in salads.
- PURSLANE - Use in salads, popular with Greek people. Lebansese use it in pies as it is very glutinous. Very high in omega 3 fatty acids. Aboriginals would use the seeds to make a porridge.
- MALLOW - Middle Eastern vegetable used since ancient times, Makes a lovely soup and the leaves provide a wealth of vitamins an d minerals.
FORAGING RULES
- Do not pick plants from areas that may have been sprayed with pesticides .
- Not all parts of a plant are edible.
- Some plants need to be cooked to be edible .
- Some plants are edible when ripe, but poisonous when unripe.
- Plants can have poisonous look-alikes.
- Always research plants before eating.
Doris donated her book on Edible Weeds as a raffle prize.
