Dandelion

Scientific name: Taraxacum

Identification: Hairless leaves, with toothed edges. Roots, leaves, and hollow stems exclude milky white sap. One flower per stem. Either newly opened and yellow, or reopened and white full of seeds.

Benefits: Packed with vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A,C,E, and K, and minerals like iron, magnesium and potassium.

Ah, the almighty dandelion! So beneficial in a number of ways, yet still considered a nuisance to many others. You really have to understand the importance of dandelions to appreciate their presence. First and foremost, as one of the few early spring blooms, they are the very first meal for bees and pollinators alike. As a beekeeper, I can attest to the amount of dandelion pollen that is present inside of the hive.

Dandelions are super versatile, as you can utilize the entire plant! They’re also a natural soil benefactor, as their roots get super deep, so if you let them grow in your flower beds before you mulch for the year, when you pull them you’ve loosened up that part of your bed for worms and other little creepy crawlers that we want and need in our gardens. If you have clay soil like me, you can purposely plant dandelions to help loosen the soil deeper.

You can eat all of the dandelion fresh if you choose to do so, but there are more common methods of preservation for dandelions. You can dehydrate and use the roots for tea or medicinal purposes. The leaves can be eaten fresh, cooked like any other greens, or dried and used as an herb. The flower can be used for many different things, including salads, juicing, wines, jelly, and teas just to name a few. Start small and work your way up, you’ll be doing all of the above in no time.

I want to encourage everyone reading this to always use more than one resource before trying something yourself, especially foraging. Although dandelions are pretty easy to identify, it is important to do quite a bit of research before diving in. For me it’s kind of been a gradual thing over the years, and I hope to continue to grow, and try some dandelion wine next! Always try to buy as many books as you can, watch some youtube videos, read articles, scroll on pinterest, and educate yourself as much as possible on each different plant. Take your time, and gradually work your way up. Below are a few pics of ways I’ve used dandelions over the years, and I will continue to add recipes and methods and I experiment myself. Hope you enjoy, and happy homesteading!