Day 6/ Reintegration: Wild thing... I think I love ya....

I was so wired on high energy and sauerkraut last night I had to get my 'Dandelion Tincture' out and root back down.....Happy Leap Day!!!!

Last day of February.... I don't know about you, but this winter has just flown by me. Tomorrow is March ,  which to me means Spring is around the corner! So get spotting.. our wild things will soon be here!
I love wild things. Wild foods are an important and forgotten part of our diet. They are the richest in nutrients, life force, and have survived mother nature's cycles without 'our help'. They are tough, and gentle at the same time, and our bodies thrive on them. By incorporating Wild foods into our diet, we become one with the natural world. "Wild foods, microbial cultures included, possess a great, unmediated life force, which can help us adapt to shifting conditions and lower our susceptibility to disease."- Sandor Katz. Author of Wild Fermentation.

Benefits of Wild Edible Plants

There are numerous benefits to eating wild edibles such as:

• They are free.
• They are genetically stronger than other food.
• Nutritionally speaking they are beyond organics!
• Longer root systems make most weeds drought-resistant.
• Most edible plants and weeds are more nutritious than hybridized store produce.
• Eating local wild plants means that the plant fights off the same organisms as your body therefore making them highly beneficial for the immune system.

Last night, or rather, quite early this morning, I took out my Dandelion Tincture I made last May. They last for a very long time and this year I made a huge batch of it! Dandelion is well known for its diuretic and blood purifying properties. It helps flush toxins and excess salt out from the kidneys. It helps build immunity and strengthens the liver and gallbladder and aids in their detoxification. It's bitter taste stimulates the digestive system.


Making your own Tincture is easy and well worth the effort, so put away your spray and get your shovel! Dandelion roots here you go!


Dandelion Tincture Recipe:

Gather several dandelion roots from your garden and chop them up into small pieces (i am tempted to say sidewalk too, but depending where you leave that may not be such a good idea!).

Fill a quart-size jar halfway with dandelion root. Pour 80-90 percent proof vodka over the root until 2 - 3 inches above the root. Cover with a cheese cloth and then close tightly. Place in cupboard (away from light).

Shake daily for a month. If the root expands above the liquid add more vodka. Keeping the root submerged in alcohol keeps the root from breeding bacteria.

After a month, place cheese cloth in a mesh strainer over a measuring cup. Pour tincture through strainer. Pour into a dark coloured bottle with a dropper lid. Voila!! A few drops in your tongue is all you need.

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"Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light."
- Theodore Roethke, poet
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