Rethinking Garden “Weeds”
What if the plants we call weeds were actually the unsung heroes of our gardens and ecosystems? The definition of a “weed” is a wild plant growing where it’s not wanted. Well then, it’s rather subjective whether something is a weed! There are plants referred to this way that hold medicinal and ecological value. The desire for unblemished lawns or perfect garden beds leads many to pull out these medicinal plants, or worse, to spray harmful chemicals to eradicate them. My hope is that when you’re done reading, you’ll think about them differently.
Take dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), for instance. Often called the quintessential “weed”, it is the bane of many suburban dads on their quest for perfect lawns. Despite my protests, my father spends countless hours pulling dandelions and tossing them unceremoniously into the compost heap. He can’t figure out why, no matter how many he pulls, there are always more. I tell him it’s dandelion’s deep rooted (tap root humor!) survival instincts, but here's my secret: I collect those puffball seed heads from other lawns and sprinkle them across our yard when he is not looking! Shhh, don’t tell.
I wage sneaky warfare in defense of dandelion because it’s been a source of strength for me through tough times. Winters used to take heroic strength to muddle through. Though I’ve come to appreciate the season for what it is, I remember how the first signs of spring used to be more than exciting, they felt like a sign of survival. Dandelion was my most beloved sign. The flowers are pure sunshine. Their color and beauty are joyful and enticing. Seeing the first dandelion is a sigh of relief. A sign that things are getting better, life is getting warmer and softer. We can go out hunting for signs of life hidden under last fall's leaves or the smallest buds forming high up on tree branches, but what a gift that dandelion flowers are not shy. They jump out at us, shouting their presence, soothing our hearts. They give with abundance. There is no shortage of dandelion, and every part of the plant is medicine.
The flowers are uplifting heart medicine, desperately needed after a long winter. The leaves are nutritive and diuretic, helping to flush out all the gunk we’ve accumulated. The roots are bitter and grounding – stimulating digestion and reminding us of where we are in this world. Not to mention the medicine that is built into the process of harvesting. Hands in the earth, dirt on fingernails, a bowl full of radiance. And that’s just what dandelion does for us! As one of the first flowers of the spring, it provides vital food for pollinators. By loosening compacted soil with its deep tap root, dandelion helps water penetrate deeper, reducing evaporation and preventing soil erosion. This creates a better environment for plants with shallower roots. Dandelion’s tap root also pulls nutrients from deep in the soil bringing them closer to the surface where they can be absorbed by other plants.
That’s all just one little weed. There are so many other wonderful herbs that get the same negative treatment. Violet, chickweed, cleavers, nettles, garlic mustard, and ground ivy are a few others that have their own benefits to the health of humans, animals, and the planet. It’s disheartening to think about the ecological damage caused by the ongoing war on weeds. My deepest hope is that you move forward in the world with a different perspective and healthy dollop of appreciation for the incredible plants God has surrounded us with.