I too love the folklore surrounding the "weeds" in our gardens. Last summer, shortly after I really got "in to" them , my daughter asked me about a queen anne's lace type plant in her yard...wild carrot....which to my horror wasn't wild carrot at all, but poison hemlock!!!! Boy am I glad that my eyes were open. Even just touching that plant can be fatal. The pioneers, coming to America brought dandelion's with them, that's how revered it was. ;-)
Such an education....... thank you! side note, I remember at my grandparents house being paid 10 cents per brown paper grocery bag when on holiday there, for picking dandelion flowers, that they would use to make wine with....... happy memories from 40 years ago, thanks for digging up that memory!
I love your vids...thank you Vivi. I used to pick from hedgerows in the 70s with my nan and I have remembered some of the things she taught me .. I just wish I'd listened more because a lot of things she did back then seem to be making a comeback now and a lot of sense ... bless her. She would also make her own burgers always asked the butcher to mince the meat cut she chose. I sometimes thought it was over the top not using shop bought but now knowing about the additives etc in food I'm totally agreeing with the natural way. I don't know if you have heard of a herbalist on a youtube channel called wisewomantradition she's got a vid up dandelion vinegar with Monica Jean and another on comfry leaf oil . Think you'll like this woman. We are in our 2nd year at our allotment and totally love it up there it's amazing for the soul too. Thanks again for getting time to do these vids xxxx
Vivi thanks for handing down your knowledge to everyone. I've always thought the dandelion flower was pretty. To most they're just a weed. They're also very nice when a child picks you handful of them because they love you. ✌🏼️❤️& Happy Planting🌱🌱🌱
Loved this video. Looking forward to more videos that share your knowledge. Its going to be fun seeing how you use Calendula and such make personal care products. Have a beautiful day in the sun.
I make tea also along with a years supply of Dandelion Jelly with vanilla bean added. The vanilla bean is not needed. It is delish without it but I added a twist of vanilla bean after several years of making it plain. Enjoy your dandelions. p.s if anyone decides to make dandelion jelly for morning toast you can find tons of recipes online after googling it.
I'm down at the coast and there must be 2 or 3 thousand outside the house. I am needing some of that diuretic power in my tea today Vivi. 😖 Great video. Can't wait to see you making (then drinking 😉) the wine in future. Hope you get something on Freecycle. 💋
What a great video. I've always loved dandelion greens, either steamed or sautéed or in a salad, but wasn't aware of all the specific benefits. Thanks so much for the info. Hadn't thought of tea, but maybe I'll give that a whirl. Our snow is going quickly now, YAY! But now we've got mud and muck and so far lots of cloudy drizzly, dreary weather. But the dandelions will grow quickly (like weeds, in fact😉) once the ground warms. And now I'll know that I can do something with the flowers too. Our grandparents with all their folklore were pretty wise. Whenever I read or hear that something my mother or grandfather told me has actual scientific validity, it makes me smile. Thanks for another enjoyable, interesting video. Happy gardening! BTW, I tried your lemon sesame dressing on my salad last night. It was yummy.
Loved this! I have been getting into herbal remedies and how our "weeds" can be medicinal. Anything else you can educate us on will very appreciated. It us great to hear a nurse talk about this too.
Dandelions are delicious salad greens! I have a spot I let grow in my garden and then pull them all before the seeds come on. I find the dandelions in my yard (chemical free yard) are not bitter but peppery! YUM
Great video ViVi. I love wild things, lol. This year I am cultivating dandelions and chicory. If the ground is worked the roots will pull up easier. I'll be roasting the roots for a coffee replacement and making chai with them too. I saw Alys Fowler make a batter for pan frying the dandelion flowers. Also on my food list. I'm on the keto diet (low carb, moderate protein, high good fat) to reverse type 2 diabetes. I am limited in the veg, unfortunately, but seems that I can eat the weeds, lol. Actually, high fiber veggies are allowed. It's an adventure. So glad to see you moving ahead with your work in the garden and videos!
Thank you for your lovely comment.......and I wish you well on your own adventure finding yummy things to eat that will help your body - good luck! :-)
Hi Vivi. Fab video. I love your enthusiasm. Have you thought of drying the leaves in your cold frame? A sunny afternoon under glass can do a fab job of frying things... especially unwatered seedlings! Your leaves would be crisp in no time. : o)
Thank you so much for sharing this information with us and what all the health benefits are. Glad you've come across some free food Vivi ☺ will definitely be on the look out for dandelions when im on my plot next. Take care
hi viv ,in Greece, where i have a home, mountain or wild, greens are eaten all the time in the village often finding their way into local taverna menu's, dandelion leaves are a prized part of the dish cooked like spinach or other greens often with garlic swimming in olive oil and lemon juice, delicious! !!
I love foraging, this year I've had sweet cicely, wild fennel and blackberries 😋. Next year I'm going to try some wild garlic (Ransoms) stinging nettles and dandelions 🌿
I will never be so aggressive with the shears after watching this video. Very informative 👍🏻. You mentioned about being rich in potassium. Bananas are also rich in this. Do you think the yellow colour is a factor or is that just a coincidence? 🤔
Must try them b4 other half gets out mower! Funny how you freaked at nettle soup which I've been making for years, now I'm so unsure about dandelions, hmm ;) xx
dandelion is my favorite flower. i actually just went out, picked a leaf and took a nibble for the first time in my life! it was a little bitter but i can now say i at least tried it. 👍
You better don't drink it as coffee because if you want to see it as coffee you will be very disappointed ;-)See it more as a drink. At the moment 'very fashionable' and because of that very expensive in the health food shop.
Great video. I love dandelions and grew up eating them. My mom would boil them, put in a dash of vinegar and then add butter when they are done. With kidney failure I can no longer have them since they are a diruretic. Very big no-no. I hate that.
Hi Vivi, great video, I'm a little disappointed in the committee for wanting the dandelions removed, they are noted as some of the best and earliest food for bumble bees. I can understand them not wanting the seeds to spread, and I'm glad you benefited from the harvest. Hopefully there are plenty of rogue dandelions still lurking around the plot.
I'm going through all your older videos.. this one is especially interesting...we just planted dandilions... WHAT? All my neighbors are using pesticides to kill them off and we are planting... LOL... My Italian grandmother cooked dandilions and chickory all the time.. when did it become good to destroy food...
Another great update! I have used young dandelion leaves in a salad,the older ones tend to be too bitter,never tried tea tho,might try cooking with them have you ever tried chickweed? that's good with a salad.
Apologies to you vegetarians, BUT . . .the greens are great sautéed in a bit of bacon grease. A "mess" of these greens in the spring is one sign winter is over, and is among the first green things available when the snow melts.
Hi Vivi, more on the dandelions.....a number of people have told me that once the dandelions go to buds, and flowering, they are even more bitter. Any comment? Thanks, Sherry :)
That may actually be true Sherry, as the flowering of any plant, or tree will sap the rest of the plant of energy. Hard to say, could be many things, lack of water, the soil....just can't say for sure.
I've made dandelion wine--as Vivi says, you have to remove the petals from the stems. The petals aren't bitter--and they give a great flavor to the wine.
Vivi will you continue to tell us how to use and co ok thinks off the flop. I have poor health but really e would like to use grown products I grow a lot myself but don't have knowledge so follow you xx
I love to look into natural remedies, most of the knowledge has been known for hundreds if not thousands of years. Most of it has been ignored in the belief that chemically produced drugs are better for us. While l agree some are l think it's worth looking at natural sources if you're not at deaths door.🌷
Hi Vivi im enjoying your channel thank you for letting us follow you on your journey iv followd you for years on the hort channel why dont you and shaun take on that plot please tell me if the dandilion leaves have any health benifits as i love that about you you let us know stuff like this atb Margaret
It's such a waste to let a plot go to weed. It seems like maybe the community could at least take care of an empty plot: cover any beds or at least keep them mulched and/or weeded. Or make it a mutual garden until someone particular comes along.
You are SO funny! Loving the folklore and being such an excited geek about the science part is EXACTLY why I took post-secondary for Herbal Medicine! I get a great thrill out of presenting people with all the new studies and clinical evidence that has been coming out in the 5+ yrs has been legitimizing all of the remedies that I have been suggesting to family, friends, clients for years! It does, however, bother me a bit when a physician sends someone to the Health Food Store (where I work) and suggests they get [blank] to help with their complaint and it is either completely inappropriate or contraindicates with a med they are already on. One lady came in (someone I went to high school with) and told me what her physician suggested to her, telling me the issue, and I was completely confused as to why he chose it. She said he "Googled it" on his iPad right in front of her in his office. He didn't actually have any idea what it was really for. Just took the first search item that came up! I got some more info from her about her symptoms and found something else that works much better for her. I LOVE when you do the vids where you are explaining why you are eating a certain or cooking a certain way or what properties something has! I sit with a smile on my face and nod my head! Don't worry about getting to technical, I LOVE it!!
Hi Vivi, I have tried Dandelions and they grow naturally in my own yard...BUT...I find them very very very bitter in taste! Is there anything I can do about that? Maybe my body and taste buds doesn't want them? Any suggestions? Thanks, Sherry :)
sherry1674w do you pick them as soon as they flower? I think the longer they are left the more bitter they are so maybe if you tried picking as soon as they flower? X
Great info, I didn't know dandys had so many benefits...I have them appear in my garden sometimes but don't really mind them except I always try to remove the flowers before they turn to seed or as soon as I see a seed head so they won't take over, I've never sprayed them as I think they're quite pretty. My main problem is with mares tail...must research and see if there are any benefits to my health and well being from that stuff...I think I'll have to "nuke" it to get completely rid..lol. Ann
It's only me I pull all the weeds i dont want - like mares tails, and keep the ones i want, like dandelion. I notice i have many more dandelion this year and almost no mares tail, even though when i moved here, it was almost all mares tails and thistle. Still have some thistle. I was trying to keep those, but they are too prickly for my little dogs,which is a shame. So now im down to mostly grasses, wild mustards and dandelions.
Yee Vita yeah, I've noticed how many more dandelions there are this year, perhaps it's due to having a milder winter. I pull my unwanted weeds too but mares tail just doesn't seem to give up, it started to rear its head again about ten days ago in my garden and no matter how much I pull it just comes back although it is contained to my patio area mainly (in-between the paving & around the edges) so it is kind of under control, I pulled, sprayed with various sprays and even tried burning it with a weed gun all last year, found the most effective thing was a homemade weed killer recipe I found here on TH-cam mainly comprising of white vinegar so will be making lots more this year, weed killers only seem to work once the mares tail is fully open though...anyway....happy weeding & growing to you wherever you are :)
You could also try making some dandelion wine out of it, it really is delicious!! I have made some just recently if you want a recipe video its on my page. I'm thinking of making a dandelion jelly next I collected all my dandelions from the allotment too. Nobody minds and they defo dont want them going to seed!!
Oh yes I agree. I usually try to pay 50p-£1 each for demijohns at carboots. Sometimes more if its a dark one as they are rare to find. My dad had a load of stuff off the free cycle once and i have inherited some of it. Any food grade container is ok to use though or ask around if friends ever buy scrumpy cider as they some times come in 3 litre glass demo johns. you can use a baloon with a pierced whole in it to release the gas but protect it at the same time, in replacement of an airlock and you can often find these free on promo stands in shops ect
i know this video is quite old but as a not long new subscriber i am watching older ones the root is good aswell u can get dryed roots tea i had some to add to my soaps i make to add a little exfoliation :)
Absolutely! Such wonderful little plants that get over looked so often. ........and thank you for subscribing and watching the older vids. It's appreciated. :-)
Vivster..! Loving the dandelion wine idea. Gr8 vid, I'm co hosting an allotment based radio show on BBC radio Devon, Easter Saturday 3-6 , if u fancy a listen, u can tweet etc. It's called' diggin it with Andy and Cookie'
Hey Vivi, maybe you can volunteer yourself to cultivate that lonely plot for one season. Are you allowed to sell things you grow there? I'm not on mine, but I make trades for things like soap and and wine etc.
No selling, no trading. I offered to cultivate a disused plot last year but was turned down.........it's still disused. Breaks my heart......and makes me angry!!!!!!!
Vivi thank you for such wonderful info!!! Now, may I criticize something? I always watch ads to support the channels I follow but FIVE ads in a video is just a bit too much. This is only happening to me with yours and Sean's channels. It is really annoying to have the video being interrupted every five minutes or so. I don't how they are set up but may be you can look into that. I don't use ad blocks. I am saying this because people will start commenting that they don't see any. I don't use them so I can support the people I follow. Thank you!
That's what I thought. Maybe you were not aware and it has been happening for a while. People get pissed off by that and they end up installing ad blocks hence no support for those making the video!! I hope it was of help.
Ok, now I have to get my best friends, Italian grandmother"s, dandelion soup recipe. My best friend is the pickiest eater I know, and she loves it. So I'm sure it's well worth trying it. There is only one problem I see, and that is the "scientific" part. Remember here in the US they will do anything to keep us from going "natural" including labeling it either endangered, or poison. Those that use "natural" food kept quiet about it, and didn't always say much. Just recently it has become a huge topic here and people are finally sharing their secrets. The worry is, those tests are starting to develop trademarks and patents, so that the companies can take control. They hold the patent on thousands of "natures Best" it makes me sick. SO, many have done the underground thing, and pass on our recipes and keep quiet about the special ones. Can you imagine any country saying that they OWN a plant!!!!! and that you have no right to it?!!!! rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Well, I have tons of dandelion's growing in my yard, and I'm going out and pick them, before the idiots decide we can't use them anymore. Your dandelion's are gorgeous, and I bet they make the best tea, so I can't wait to try this. I will be using my dehydrator, I'm curious about how it will do for the leaves and the flowers. Bless, Sheila
Grrrrrrrrr to the companies that make a claim to ANY plant.......and even if they do I will say 'stuff them, I'll pick it and eat it anyway'!!!!!!! Hurrah to free food and tea!!!!!!!!!!!! :-) Go us!
Here in Ontario the dandelions are the first source of food for our pollinators. Lets learn to love these beneficial little plants !
Love, love LOVE them!!! :-)
I too love the folklore surrounding the "weeds" in our gardens. Last summer, shortly after I really got "in to" them , my daughter asked me about a queen anne's lace type plant in her yard...wild carrot....which to my horror wasn't wild carrot at all, but poison hemlock!!!! Boy am I glad that my eyes were open. Even just touching that plant can be fatal. The pioneers, coming to America brought dandelion's with them, that's how revered it was. ;-)
Argh to the hemlock!!!!!!!! Yay to the importing of dandelions! :-)
Such an education....... thank you!
side note, I remember at my grandparents house being paid 10 cents per brown paper grocery bag when on holiday there, for picking dandelion flowers, that they would use to make wine with....... happy memories from 40 years ago, thanks for digging up that memory!
What a lovely memory. :-)
I love your vids...thank you Vivi. I used to pick from hedgerows in the 70s with my nan and I have remembered some of the things she taught me .. I just wish I'd listened more because a lot of things she did back then seem to be making a comeback now and a lot of sense ... bless her. She would also make her own burgers always asked the butcher to mince the meat cut she chose. I sometimes thought it was over the top not using shop bought but now knowing about the additives etc in food I'm totally agreeing with the natural way.
I don't know if you have heard of a herbalist on a youtube channel called wisewomantradition she's got a vid up dandelion vinegar with Monica Jean and another on comfry leaf oil . Think you'll like this woman.
We are in our 2nd year at our allotment and totally love it up there it's amazing for the soul too. Thanks again for getting time to do these vids xxxx
I'll have to check her out. Thank you. :-)
Vivi thanks for handing down your knowledge to everyone. I've always thought the dandelion flower was pretty. To most they're just a weed. They're also very nice when a child picks you handful of them because they love you. ✌🏼️❤️& Happy Planting🌱🌱🌱
Absolutely. :-)
Vivi i love using dandelions for salad simple finely grated garlic olive oil and vinegar and italian bread
Yum! :-)
Loved this video. Looking forward to more videos that share your knowledge. Its going to be fun seeing how you use Calendula and such make personal care products. Have a beautiful day in the sun.
Thank you......you too. :-)
I make tea also along with a years supply of Dandelion Jelly with vanilla bean added. The vanilla bean is not needed. It is delish without it but I added a twist of vanilla bean after several years of making it plain. Enjoy your dandelions. p.s if anyone decides to make dandelion jelly for morning toast you can find tons of recipes online after googling it.
:-)
It’s a spring tradition here!
I'm down at the coast and there must be 2 or 3 thousand outside the house. I am needing some of that diuretic power in my tea today Vivi. 😖 Great video. Can't wait to see you making (then drinking 😉) the wine in future. Hope you get something on Freecycle. 💋
Cheers! :-)
What a great video. I've always loved dandelion greens, either steamed or sautéed or in a salad, but wasn't aware of all the specific benefits. Thanks so much for the info. Hadn't thought of tea, but maybe I'll give that a whirl. Our snow is going quickly now, YAY! But now we've got mud and muck and so far lots of cloudy drizzly, dreary weather. But the dandelions will grow quickly (like weeds, in fact😉) once the ground warms. And now I'll know that I can do something with the flowers too. Our grandparents with all their folklore were pretty wise. Whenever I read or hear that something my mother or grandfather told me has actual scientific validity, it makes me smile. Thanks for another enjoyable, interesting video. Happy gardening! BTW, I tried your lemon sesame dressing on my salad last night. It was yummy.
Hurrah for melting snow.......and the promise of things to come. So glad you tried and enjoyed the dressing. :-)
Loved this! I have been getting into herbal remedies and how our "weeds" can be medicinal. Anything else you can educate us on will very appreciated. It us great to hear a nurse talk about this too.
I'll try to keep being a nurse/nerd with the plants and the videos! :-) Thank you.
dandelion petals also make gorgeous fritters :P
They certainly do! :-)
going to try making dandelion tea, never tried it before
Love this vid. Such great information. Our forefathers were pretty smart people and science is now proving just how smart. Great job!
Yep! Trust the ones that have gone before. :-)
That was interesting to listen to, thanks for enlightening me. I will look at dandelions in a different way now!
:-)
Dandelions are delicious salad greens! I have a spot I let grow in my garden and then pull them all before the seeds come on. I find the dandelions in my yard (chemical free yard) are not bitter but peppery! YUM
Perfect!
Great video ViVi. I love wild things, lol. This year I am cultivating dandelions and chicory. If the ground is worked the roots will pull up easier. I'll be roasting the roots for a coffee replacement and making chai with them too. I saw Alys Fowler make a batter for pan frying the dandelion flowers. Also on my food list.
I'm on the keto diet (low carb, moderate protein, high good fat) to reverse type 2 diabetes. I am limited in the veg, unfortunately, but seems that I can eat the weeds, lol. Actually, high fiber veggies are allowed. It's an adventure.
So glad to see you moving ahead with your work in the garden and videos!
Thank you for your lovely comment.......and I wish you well on your own adventure finding yummy things to eat that will help your body - good luck! :-)
dandelion wine is wonderful!
Hi Vivi. Fab video. I love your enthusiasm. Have you thought of drying the leaves in your cold frame? A sunny afternoon under glass can do a fab job of frying things... especially unwatered seedlings! Your leaves would be crisp in no time. : o)
Ahhhhhh.......great idea!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you! :-)
Thank you so much for sharing this information with us and what all the health benefits are. Glad you've come across some free food Vivi ☺ will definitely be on the look out for dandelions when im on my plot next. Take care
Cheers! :-)
hi viv ,in Greece, where i have a home, mountain or wild, greens are eaten all the time in the village often finding their way into local taverna menu's, dandelion leaves are a prized part of the dish cooked like spinach or other greens often with garlic swimming in olive oil and lemon juice, delicious! !!
I was in the Balkans during the war........I ate a LOT of wild mountain greens and mushrooms! I loved it! :-)
Thanks Vive , very informative episode, I have loads of dandelion on my plot , good to know I can use them.
Scoff away! :-)
I love foraging, this year I've had sweet cicely, wild fennel and blackberries 😋. Next year I'm going to try some wild garlic (Ransoms) stinging nettles and dandelions 🌿
Ooooh, I love nettle soup.......such a fantastic free meal! ;-)
I will never be so aggressive with the shears after watching this video. Very informative 👍🏻. You mentioned about being rich in potassium. Bananas are also rich in this. Do you think the yellow colour is a factor or is that just a coincidence? 🤔
Hmmmm....hadn't thought of that........got me wondering now! :-)
Dandelion tempora, make a simple beer batter and dip in chilli sauce ;)
Heck yes!!!! :-)
Must try them b4 other half gets out mower! Funny how you freaked at nettle soup which I've been making for years, now I'm so unsure about dandelions, hmm ;) xx
Hahhaha - freak swap!! ;-)
dandelion is my favorite flower. i actually just went out, picked a leaf and took a nibble for the first time in my life! it was a little bitter but i can now say i at least tried it. 👍
To eat raw try to pick the really little freshest leaves........they are still quite strong but in a salad are just yumtious! :-)
What Vivi did next thank you vivi :-)
Very good ;-) You can also use the roots of dandelions as a' coffee surrogate' Just as chicory
Absolutely......I personally haven't tried it as I don't drink coffee but it might be fun to have a go and give it to my coffee drinking friends......
You better don't drink it as coffee because if you want to see it as coffee you will be very disappointed ;-)See it more as a drink. At the moment 'very fashionable' and because of that very expensive in the health food shop.
another enjoyable and informative video, looking forward to the next one.
Cheers! :-)
Loving the foraging/wild food video!
And I love your excitement and obvious passion for growing your own.
Gotta love a bit of free food! :-)
Great video. I love dandelions and grew up eating them. My mom would boil them, put in a dash of vinegar and then add butter when they are done. With kidney failure I can no longer have them since they are a diruretic. Very big no-no. I hate that.
Oh, what a pity you can no longer enjoy them. Sorry to hear this. :-(
Loving going through all your older videos!
Thank you so much, glad you're enjoying them......and you're giving me a trip down memory lane too! 😊
Have you ever tried fig leaf tea? I love it and it has great benefits. I have never tried dandelion tea, but I may now.
No........now on the hunt!!!! :-)
I have had A LOT of wine not (dandelion) lol , I love that you know all these things,......hope I remember tomorrow :)
Hahahahahahaha! ;-)
Hi Vivi, great video, I'm a little disappointed in the committee for wanting the dandelions removed, they are noted as some of the best and earliest food for bumble bees. I can understand them not wanting the seeds to spread, and I'm glad you benefited from the harvest. Hopefully there are plenty of rogue dandelions still lurking around the plot.
There are plenty to go around! ;-)
I'm going through all your older videos.. this one is especially interesting...we just planted dandilions... WHAT? All my neighbors are using pesticides to kill them off and we are planting... LOL...
My Italian grandmother cooked dandilions and chickory all the time.. when did it become good to destroy food...
I know...it seems crazy to blast them with horrid chemicals.......don't blast them, eat them! :-)
Another great update! I have used young dandelion leaves in a salad,the older ones tend to be too bitter,never tried tea tho,might try cooking with them have you ever tried chickweed? that's good with a salad.
Yep.......I'll try/have tried anything!
Great video. Do you think the fresh yellow petals would be safe in a salad? So pretty.
Yes. :-)
I love Dandelion tea, please make a video on how to make your own!! i'd love to see :)
Put the leaves in a pot, stew for 5 mins, drink! :-)
Thanks Vivi ! Very interesting again. I love listening to you and I can imagine you as an actress quite easily.
Thank you lovely. :-)
Apologies to you vegetarians, BUT . . .the greens are great sautéed in a bit of bacon grease. A "mess" of these greens in the spring is one sign winter is over, and is among the first green things available when the snow melts.
Apology accepted! Lol. For the veggies they can to the same but with some butter.........and even better with a blob of blue cheese melted in! :-)
Hi Vivi, more on the dandelions.....a number of people have told me that once the dandelions go to buds, and flowering, they are even more bitter.
Any comment?
Thanks,
Sherry :)
That may actually be true Sherry, as the flowering of any plant, or tree will sap the rest of the plant of energy. Hard to say, could be many things, lack of water, the soil....just can't say for sure.
I've made dandelion wine--as Vivi says, you have to remove the petals from the stems. The petals aren't bitter--and they give a great flavor to the wine.
I'm not sure as I only pick and eat when young and tender.......I can imagine it would be the case though.
Vivi will you continue to tell us how to use and co ok thinks off the flop. I have poor health but really e
would like to use grown products I grow a lot myself but don't have knowledge so follow you xx
Of course. :-)
Amazing that something they preach being a "weed" Is actually so beneficial to have.
Exactly! :-)
I love to look into natural remedies, most of the knowledge has been known for hundreds if not thousands of years. Most of it has been ignored in the belief that chemically produced drugs are better for us. While l agree some are l think it's worth looking at natural sources if you're not at deaths door.🌷
Definitely! :-)
Hi Vivi im enjoying your channel thank you for letting us follow you on your journey iv followd you for years on the hort channel why dont you and shaun take on that plot please tell me if the dandilion leaves have any health benifits as i love that about you you let us know stuff like this atb Margaret
We're not allowed to have more than one plot on our site......such a pity!
It's such a waste to let a plot go to weed. It seems like maybe the community could at least take care of an empty plot: cover any beds or at least keep them mulched and/or weeded. Or make it a mutual garden until someone particular comes along.
You are SO funny! Loving the folklore and being such an excited geek about the science part is EXACTLY why I took post-secondary for Herbal Medicine! I get a great thrill out of presenting people with all the new studies and clinical evidence that has been coming out in the 5+ yrs has been legitimizing all of the remedies that I have been suggesting to family, friends, clients for years! It does, however, bother me a bit when a physician sends someone to the Health Food Store (where I work) and suggests they get [blank] to help with their complaint and it is either completely inappropriate or contraindicates with a med they are already on. One lady came in (someone I went to high school with) and told me what her physician suggested to her, telling me the issue, and I was completely confused as to why he chose it. She said he "Googled it" on his iPad right in front of her in his office. He didn't actually have any idea what it was really for. Just took the first search item that came up! I got some more info from her about her symptoms and found something else that works much better for her. I LOVE when you do the vids where you are explaining why you are eating a certain or cooking a certain way or what properties something has! I sit with a smile on my face and nod my head! Don't worry about getting to technical, I LOVE it!!
Yay to us being the geeks and nerds!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)
Hi Vivi, I have a big patch of dandelions but I don't know if they are edible is there anyway to identify which ones are safe to eat?
Ask a fellow plotter......find someone who knows.....there'll always be someone around who can help you identify. Have fun. :-)
Hi Vivi, I have tried Dandelions and they grow naturally in my own yard...BUT...I find them very very very bitter in taste! Is there anything I can do about that? Maybe my body and taste buds doesn't want them?
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Sherry :)
Erm.......I don't think so.......perhaps they're just not for you. :-(
sherry1674w do you pick them as soon as they flower? I think the longer they are left the more bitter they are so maybe if you tried picking as soon as they flower? X
I have been told to pick them before they even bud....otherwise they will be quite bitter. SOOOOOO....I guess I have lots to learn about them.
I must be immune to the bitterness! ;-)
Great info, I didn't know dandys had so many benefits...I have them appear in my garden sometimes but don't really mind them except I always try to remove the flowers before they turn to seed or as soon as I see a seed head so they won't take over, I've never sprayed them as I think they're quite pretty. My main problem is with mares tail...must research and see if there are any benefits to my health and well being from that stuff...I think I'll have to "nuke" it to get completely rid..lol. Ann
Mare's Tail is a mare!! I thank my lucky stars I don't have it. Good luck.......
It's only me I pull all the weeds i dont want - like mares tails, and keep the ones i want, like dandelion. I notice i have many more dandelion this year and almost no mares tail, even though when i moved here, it was almost all mares tails and thistle. Still have some thistle. I was trying to keep those, but they are too prickly for my little dogs,which is a shame. So now im down to mostly grasses, wild mustards and dandelions.
Yee Vita yeah, I've noticed how many more dandelions there are this year, perhaps it's due to having a milder winter. I pull my unwanted weeds too but mares tail just doesn't seem to give up, it started to rear its head again about ten days ago in my garden and no matter how much I pull it just comes back although it is contained to my patio area mainly (in-between the paving & around the edges) so it is kind of under control, I pulled, sprayed with various sprays and even tried burning it with a weed gun all last year, found the most effective thing was a homemade weed killer recipe I found here on TH-cam mainly comprising of white vinegar so will be making lots more this year, weed killers only seem to work once the mares tail is fully open though...anyway....happy weeding & growing to you wherever you are :)
You could also try making some dandelion wine out of it, it really is delicious!! I have made some just recently if you want a recipe video its on my page. I'm thinking of making a dandelion jelly next I collected all my dandelions from the allotment too. Nobody minds and they defo dont want them going to seed!!
Yes.....looking forward to making my own wine again......once I can lay my hands on some kit for free! ;-)
Oh yes I agree. I usually try to pay 50p-£1 each for demijohns at carboots. Sometimes more if its a dark one as they are rare to find. My dad had a load of stuff off the free cycle once and i have inherited some of it. Any food grade container is ok to use though or ask around if friends ever buy scrumpy cider as they some times come in 3 litre glass demo johns. you can use a baloon with a pierced whole in it to release the gas but protect it at the same time, in replacement of an airlock and you can often find these free on promo stands in shops ect
Great tip - thank you.
i know this video is quite old but as a not long new subscriber i am watching older ones the root is good aswell u can get dryed roots tea i had some to add to my soaps i make to add a little exfoliation :)
Absolutely! Such wonderful little plants that get over looked so often. ........and thank you for subscribing and watching the older vids. It's appreciated. :-)
What Vivi did next no problem :)
Vivster..! Loving the dandelion wine idea. Gr8 vid, I'm co hosting an allotment based radio show on BBC radio Devon, Easter Saturday 3-6 , if u fancy a listen, u can tweet etc. It's called' diggin it with Andy and Cookie'
Excellent! What is the tuning for that station?
103.4, but it's only local. I use an app called 'tunein' radio it's free and then you just type 'BBC radio devon' in the search box.
Hahahahaha - that sounds a bit technical to me......may see if I can have a go.....
Hey Vivi, maybe you can volunteer yourself to cultivate that lonely plot for one season. Are you allowed to sell things you grow there? I'm not on mine, but I make trades for things like soap and and wine etc.
No selling, no trading. I offered to cultivate a disused plot last year but was turned down.........it's still disused. Breaks my heart......and makes me angry!!!!!!!
Vivi thank you for such wonderful info!!! Now, may I criticize something? I always watch ads to support the channels I follow but FIVE ads in a video is just a bit too much. This is only happening to me with yours and Sean's channels. It is really annoying to have the video being interrupted every five minutes or so. I don't how they are set up but may be you can look into that. I don't use ad blocks. I am saying this because people will start commenting that they don't see any. I don't use them so I can support the people I follow. Thank you!
Thank you for letting me know.........I have NO idea why there where 5 ads......WAY too many!!!!! Sorry for that. I'll look into it/get help.
That's what I thought. Maybe you were not aware and it has been happening for a while. People get pissed off by that and they end up installing ad blocks hence no support for those making the video!! I hope it was of help.
Yes.....thank you. :-)
Actually i think i am seeing an ad every 3 minutes, which actually is becoming very annoying. Especially if i stop then come back to yet another ad.
Ok, now I have to get my best friends, Italian grandmother"s, dandelion soup recipe. My best friend is the pickiest eater I know, and she loves it. So I'm sure it's well worth trying it. There is only one problem I see, and that is the "scientific" part. Remember here in the US they will do anything to keep us from going "natural" including labeling it either endangered, or poison. Those that use "natural" food kept quiet about it, and didn't always say much. Just recently it has become a huge topic here and people are finally sharing their secrets. The worry is, those tests are starting to develop trademarks and patents, so that the companies can take control. They hold the patent on thousands of "natures Best" it makes me sick. SO, many have done the underground thing, and pass on our recipes and keep quiet about the special ones. Can you imagine any country saying that they OWN a plant!!!!! and that you have no right to it?!!!! rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Well, I have tons of dandelion's growing in my yard, and I'm going out and pick them, before the idiots decide we can't use them anymore. Your dandelion's are gorgeous, and I bet they make the best tea, so I can't wait to try this. I will be using my dehydrator, I'm curious about how it will do for the leaves and the flowers. Bless, Sheila
Grrrrrrrrr to the companies that make a claim to ANY plant.......and even if they do I will say 'stuff them, I'll pick it and eat it anyway'!!!!!!! Hurrah to free food and tea!!!!!!!!!!!! :-) Go us!
Amen!!!!
I feed them to my hens
Lucky girls! :-)
Vivi,
Have you considered Patreon?
Not at the moment. :-)
It is very bitter to me. Wish it wasn't.
That's a pity. :-(
What Vivi did next. It is. but I have a lot of minors lettuce growing everywhere and I really enjoy that. Can't wait to see your garden this summer.
Pick the baby leaves which are less bitter or blanch the larger leaves for a minute before using them to lessen the bitterness. :)