Edible weeds everywhere. Some are nasty. Find purslane!
So I checked my son Ten out early from school yesterday because he had a double header far from home. On the front step on the school is my favorite edible weed, purslane, see photo below.
It’s higher in iron than any other green I have ever found–cultivated or wild. If you’re anemic, find some and toss it in the blender. It’s also really mild-flavored. Most non-cultivated greens taste pretty strong.
I don’t see that much purslane in Utah. I saw a ton of it in Nebraska a few years ago, and it grows many places–very close to the ground, with small, fleshy leaves and stems, all of which is “food.”
No, I didn’t pick this from the school steps, for my green smoothies. I didn’t want to drink whatever is on the bottom of kids’ shoes! Don’t pick weeds on the side of busy roadways, near where weeds are sprayed, or where people walk.
I am going to try to locate enough wild edibles to do a video soon to help you identify them. I rode up the canyon today on my bike with my camera to take more photos. I mostly enjoyed the ride and forgot to look for greens.
But I did see a thistle and got off my bike to photograph it. I put a leaf in my mouth to chew it up and make sure it is what I thought it was. (That’s me taking one for the team: if I don’t get sick, it’s edible!)
All the squirrels went running as I gagged and choked. OMG. Worst thing that’s ever been in my mouth. It would take 20 pounds of fruit to neutralize that bitter-awful blech. Which I could still taste 20 minutes later, even though I then drank half my Camelbak of water.
I put thistles in my green smoothies a few times, years ago, but my younger daughter got an itchy throat from it, so I quit. So, um, maybe don’t eat those.
This time of year, a lot of the weeds are too tall and woody and bitter. They’re best in the spring. If you pick them in the heat of the late summer, find small, tender ones.
There’s another photo here of me YEARS ago eating one variety of lambsquarter from an empty lot in Provo. Lambsquarter is also abundant in Utah and great to toss in your blender. It’s good to know this stuff and start using wild greens, for emergency preparedness.
Posted in: Gardening, Green Smoothies, Whole Food
I pull that up in my garden all the time, purslane, had no idea it was edible…… sounds interesting.
Wow! I have purslane growing in my yard and in pots, too. I just took a bite. Yum!
I’ve been posting food and fitness posts on a seperate new blog. rawontheriver.blogspot.com
Denise
Thanks for the heads up with the iron in purslane. I’m hoping this will help with my anemia.
Hi Robyn,
Thank you for your response on the HCG diet. I appreciate your candor. I look forward to the group buy in October and will keep my eye open for it. Keep up the great work you are doing.
God Bless,
Charmaine
I have been pulling and tossing this stuff for years. Guess I’ll be more careful about it now. It sorta grows out from a central stem and lies flat on the ground. The leaves are small and a little thick, but not much. I think it is the same.
I am in the menopause age bracket and wondered how much greens,
almonds etc. would be the same as the 1500 milligrams women
my age are supposed to eat. Do you recommend supplements as well?
I also have high cholesterol because of my family’s heart disease
and what do you recommend to lower it besides green smoothies.
I have been faithfully eating your way since March and my LDL
is 143 and HDL is 50. I do not want to take medicine for it.
Thanks,
Jandora
We call it “pigweed” or more commonly “pig polk” here in Missouri. It’s very invasive, choking out any veggie in my garden that gets in its way. But I never thought it to be human food. Learn somethin’ new every day!
Here in Salmon, Idaho we are inundated with it! Takes over the garden almost completely and is HUGE! — so this is so good to know….
Come to Salmon and you can take back all you want! Maybe I should sell it? Nope…. going to have to wait till more of the population knows about eating better. 🙂 lol
Can you freeze purslane if you happen to have a bunch of it growing nearby?
In the first pic the weed looks just like my whole back yard and we eat it in salads here and there but in the second picture the weed looks completely differents, like something I have growing on the side of my driveway. Are they the same?
Kevin
Oh my gosh! I’ve been throwing this stuff away all summer long as I pick it out of the garden I started this year! If I find some more I’ll definitely add it to that day’s smoothie to try it out. I’ll be looking forward to more photos of edible weeds to educate myself!
Should have finished the article before my question. Purslane and Lambsquarter. Got it.
Kevin
Hi Robyn, Thought I’d mention that somewhere, I read that there is something that looks like purslane that is not edible. It would be good to provide this info, so your readers have a heads-up about this and can know the differences to look for.
I appreciate your postings a lot. Thanks,
Elizabeth
For heavens sake! I just killed a whole bunch of it with round up. It was taking over my garden!
Hi Robyn.
I LOVE the wild greens info! Have you also heard that bullhead or puncture vine is edible. If so and you have more info about it, would you let us know.
I looked on your pages for info about combining fruits and veggies. I read somewhere else that it’s NOT a good idea, I think because of digestive issues, but that it was pertaining to cooked veggies. What can you tell us?
Thank you so much.