Journal Entry #6 - Dandelion Uses and Benefits -

Recently, we took a drive out for the afternoon and noted the changes Spring has brought in the landscape that alternated between forests, creeks, and fields.

The grass is greening up everywhere in lawns, ditches, and edges of the plowed fields. The forest is starting to feel more closed in from the new buds and leaves popping out.

This last winter I could peer into the forest as we drove by, seeing how deep the swamp and creeks were from the road. The bare tree branches allowed the winter sunlight through the areas that most of the year is covered by dense foliage that turns into a “wall of green”.

The way everything is growing, it won’t be long before it’s all a “wall of green” again and you literally can’t see the forest for the trees (and all the green!).

Another herald of spring is the dandelion. Even as a kid I always loved dandelions and never understood why people hated them so much in their yards.

DANDELIONS are the BEST INDICATORS of…

After I married, I fell into the role of “weed picker” and spent evenings out in the yard picking dandelions, pigweed, goat head stickers, and other non-grass plants so we could have a decent looking lawn.

I remember digging down to pull the long roots out, amazed at how far they seemed to grow downwards into the soil.

I would hold the entire plant and look at all the parts of it, the long root still clinging to soil clumps, the jagged “lion’s tooth” leaves, the milky sap oozing from the stem, and the tiny yellow petals clustered at the top.

Dandelion Uses and Benefits

Then, I looked closely at the other plants, amazed at how different they all were, and thought, I bet every one of these has a use. This is pointless to pick these if they have a use for food or medicine!

I already knew that dandelions were used as food by our ancestors, but I had a very busy life at the time so I didn’t take the time to experiment more. That was pre-internet days!

Great Depression Cooking – Dandelion Salad

When I did make the time, I learned I was right, these plants did have uses. And although I haven’t experimented much, I have learned more about them and have a deeper respect for how nature provides for us.

Dandelion is popping up everywhere, so now is a good time to nature journal this amazing plant and learn about dandelion uses and benefits.

Susun Weed – Dandelion Medicine