[Diana in Wisconsin]

It figures! But, there are some useful weeds out there:

Dandelion (eat the young greens, make wine)

Chicory (roast and grind roots for ‘coffee’)

Purslane (add to salads; high in Vitamin C)

Stinging Nettle (makes a fine Spring Tonic!)

More:

https://balconygardenweb.com/beneficial-weeds-in-a-garden-and-their-uses/

[Pollard]

National Weed Appreciation Day on March 28th each year reminds us that some weeds are beneficial to us and our ecosystem. Humans have used weeds for food and as herbs for much of recorded history. Some are edible and nutritious, while other weeds have medicinal value.

Do you remember as a small child the fun you had with dandelions? Well, these bright yellow flowers serve a purpose. Dandelions are a food source for insects and some birds. Humans eat young dandelion leaves and enjoy tea and wine made from the leaves and flowers. The Native Americans used dandelions to treat specific ailments. Nutritionally, dandelions contain a source of vitamin A and C, calcium, iron, and fiber.

[Pollard]

MO Dept of Conservation - Jan Phillips' award-winning book, Wild Edibles of Missouri, was published in 1979 and is now out of print. We've preserved it here as a PDF. Download it to learn how to turn wild Missouri plants into biscuits, fritters, jellies, juices, pancakes, pies, salads, soups, wines and more. Color illustrations help you identify plants that are poisonous or have poisonous parts. -Check it out!

She actually tried every weed she researched for the book and had to learn to do illustrations and paint.