Dandelions

Dandelions. 

If Dandelions were hard to grow,  everyone would want them.   

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear that word? 

Is it something like this?   “Ugh!  I hate dandelions!  Those pesky weeds take over my lawn.  I need to call the people to come spray.  I can’t believe my neighbor’s yard...it’s covered in yellow!”  If you are one of these humans, I hope I can share some information with you that may have you thinking differently about this herb.  

Yes, that’s right.  Dandelions are an herb.  Not only can you eat the delicious greens, make coffee/ tea from the roots, but you can also enjoy homemade jelly, wine, and dye from its blossoms.  Everyone says, “It’s so hard and expensive to eat healthy and organically.”  Well, I eat the very best salads, daily from early spring until...well,  just a few days ago before the ‘big snow.’  Amazing!  Simply by going into my yard, taking seconds to pick handfuls of these delicious herbs and others that are freely growing at will, not costing me a cent, I can have the start to a delicious meal.  

What’s even better is the super nutritional value!  Dandelions have roughly 30% more Vitamin A and 50% more calcium compared to spinach.  And talk about eating local.  How much more local can you get?  

Not a great gardener?  There’s no effort to keep them alive. Actually, they are very hard to kill, as those of you who spray your yards already know.  Hmm, is there a reason you line up spraying services several times a year?   Why fight it?  Why not help them?  It blows my mind the amount of money people spend every year in this nation, trying to eradicate this plant, when it was a staple of our ancestors.  

Could Mother Nature bee trying to tell you something?  She sure is!  Dandelions are not only an excellent source of food for us, (even though taken for granted) but more importantly, one of our world’s greatest microorganisms,  the honey bees.  

Dandelions are the ONLY field flower that bloom in reddit spring, in such a mass quantity, providing ESSENTIAL pollen and nectar for the honey bees.  I am consistently asked my opinion as to why the bees are having so much trouble.  A major piece of the puzzle is that their food supply is super depleted.  We do not have enough flowers.  Plain and simple.  Flowers are food for bees -- the ONLY food.  

What other flower blooms as early and extensively as the dandelion in our country?  I can’t think of another.  If you truly want to help the bees, let the dandelions grow.  By doing so, you are not only keeping money in your wallet and having the very best salad bar at your fingertips, but YOU are providing and assuring essential food for the bees, without much effort on your past.   How cool is that?   

Other ways you can help provide more food for the honey bees: 1) raise your mower height, 2) don’t mow as often, 3) don’t spray your yard and gardens, and  4) PLEASE share your newfound knowledge with your neighbors, family, and friends.  The honey bees will thank you.  And so will I.