I was in the vegetable aisle at the grocery store the other day, looking for salad greens. The ones in my garden had just sprouted, so they were of no help. Walking along, I saw heads of lettuce, kale, chard, collards – an abundance of color and nutrition right there before me. And then I saw them, tucked in between the Romaine and the rainbow chard: dandelion greens.
Looking up, I saw a card that read “Dandelion Greens $2.99 a bunch.” I instantly started to laugh, thinking of all the people bent over their soon-to-be pristine lawns, swearing under their breath at the plethora of yellow flowers spoiling their turf. Some people say location is everything, and in this case it’s so true. Place dandelion greens in the front lawn, and they are hated enemies that must be eliminated. Place them in the grocery store, and they are unusual, hip additions to the dinner table.
This is a great example of being fooled. We’re often fooled in this life, not only by outside things, but by ourselves as well. In the case of dandelions, so many of us have been fooled into believing that they are nothing but weeds, worthy only of being hatefully plucked or poisoned.
Well, think again. Dandelions have been considered by many to be a healthful food and medicine for centuries. They are rich in potassium, iron, phosphorus, and Vitamins A, B, C, and D. Drinking a tea made from dandelions, especially the roots, cleanses the liver, bladder and kidneys. Some have even used the tea to calm an upset stomach. The milk inside the dandelion has been used for toothaches, and to remove corns and warts. The roots can be baked in the oven, and then ground to make a tasty, healthy coffee substitute. And, of course, there is also dandelion wine, which I have never had, but I can imagine is good.
Given all this, I think there is something way off about the common attitude held about dandelions.
There is a certain kind of madness in wanting a “lawn” made only of grass that isn’t even native to the region it’s growing in. There is also a certain madness in paying three dollars for something that grows all around you, despite your best efforts to get rid of it. And behind both of these ideas is the great madness of separation from the earth, which has lead us down a road to environmental destruction and an unclear, but strong spiritual longing for reconnection.
We are of the earth. Dandelions are of the earth. Don’t be fooled by what they have told you, or what you have told yourself.
Photo Credits
“Taraxacum officinale” by Franz Eugen Köhler. Wikipedia. Public Domain.
Recent Nathan Thompson Articles:
- A Balm for Your Body and Mind
- The Gifts of Comfrey
- Learning in the Community Garden
- Passionflowers
- The Beautiful, Powerful Coneflower
Please Share Your Thoughts - Leave A Comment!