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Gardening Idea: Good For the Pocketbook, and Good For the Environment
Biology Culture Exercise, Health & Nutrition Science
Gardening Idea: Good For the Pocketbook, and Good For the Environment
Biology Culture Exercise, Health & Nutrition Science

Gardening Idea: Good For the Pocketbook, and Good For the Environment

Plants unfortunately dismissed as “weeds” are good for your health. And, since they are local, do not require as much water or fertilizer or pesticides or herbicides.

Grow them for yourself, or share with those in need. Lots of this stuff is a great addition to a salad. I like lettuce as a base, but I like to throw in lots of other greens — then add lots of meat. 🙂

In “Weeds Growing in Poor City Areas Are More Nutritious Then Store-bought Produce” (Cosmos, 13 August 2018), Natalie Parletta writes:

“The researchers, led by Philip Stark, collected the edible wild greens from three areas, each equivalent to nine city blocks, in disadvantaged neighbourhoods surrounded by busy roads and industrial zones. The areas, classified as “urban food deserts”, are more than one to one-and-a-half kilometres from the nearest shop that sells fresh produce.

“Six different species were tested for nutrition content: chickweed (Stellaria media), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), dock (Rumex crispus), mallow (Malva sylvestris), nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) and oxalis (Oxalis pescaprae). All compared favourably to kale – arguably one of the most nutritious domesticated greens – for several nutrients.

“The wild greens boasted more dietary fibre, protein, vitamin A, sodium, calcium, iron and vitamin K, and provided more energy. Kale’s vitamin C content outshone the species tested, but the researchers suspect other greens such wild mustard (Hirschfeldia incana) and wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) might rival it.”

One thing we need to do is change some of the bad neighborhood rules/regulations/codes that forbid gardens or natural lawns. Too many rules/regulations/codes demand grass lawns that are not natural to this area and hence require lots of water and this-icide and that-icide to keep them growing and (appearing and pretending to be) “healthy.”

Local, natural plants can be chosen by pulling out everything else, and leaving the good stuff growing. Or by letting it all grow naturally and together synergistically, then harvesting what you want.

But make sure your yard and garden is clean! Do not, please ingest pesticides or herbicides or other poisons.

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