You can eat chickweed. ), Recipe: Chestnut breakfast porridge with pan-roasted Japanese persimmons. It has long been used as a bird feed, and in winter it provides one of the few sources of fresh seed for them. We think chickweed tastes nearly identical to corn silk, the sweet, stringy strands that stick out of the top of an ear of corn. Chances are that if your average daytime temperatures aren’t higher than the mid-70s and aren’t consistently far below freezing at night, there’s chickweed growing in or near your yard right now! Chickweed is also an excellent ingredient in juicing recipes when juicing other greens, fruits and vegetables. By late-April, chickweed has gone to seed and died. Today: Chickweed's name implies that you'll find it growing where it's not wanted. Chickweed is best harvested when the plant is still lush and densely clumped – and before it produces a final long stem covered with flowers/seeds. We haven’t made any official announcements yet, but I (Aaron) am going to be managing a new farm for Oak Hill Cafe, a farm-to-table restaurant that’s scheduled to open in … I love chickweed. As an astringent, Chickweed can be used draw out splinters and help to heal the wound left behind. Hey guys in this identification video we will cover three different types of chickweed. To make chickweed tincture using the folk method, pack a mason jar about 2/3 full with freshly harvested chickweed. Chickweed on the cutting board at Tyrant Farms. That hasn't stopped certai… Today, chickweed is rarely taken by mouth due to potential toxicities. Use this chickweed recipe to put a delightful cold-hardy culinary and medicinal “weed” to use in your kitchen. Unlike some confusingly named produce, chickweed’s name is pretty straightforward -- chickens can’t get enough of the stuff, and it's, well, a weed. Watch this live video replay and learn how to find, identify, and use chickweed, a very common spring green that offers many benfits. A recent study in mi… Garden Planning 101 . Chickweed may cause allergic reactions in some people. We’ve read such warnings from well-regarded lactation experts/books. © 2020 - Tyrant Farms. Thank you. However, it can also harbour greenfly and spider mite, so remove it immediately if it appears in your greenhouse. It does prefer moisture-rich soil but can thrive in most soil types and in any conditions. We also have a favorite chickweed salad recipe we make during peak chickweed season. Be absolutely positively sure you know what you’re about to eat -- this is true when you are foraging for any ingredient! In fact, we hope you’ll start looking at chickweed as one of many plants in nature’s free and abundant grocery store. Chickweed is also one of the ingredients in the seven-herb rice porridge eaten during the Japanese Festival of Seven Herbs (Nanakusa no sekku). A mound of edible medicine? If you prefer a perfectly coifed, chemically-intensive yard that’s helping to cause the mass extinction of the world’s insects, you might consider chickweed a bane. Fresh chickweed herb can be made into a soothing herbal infused oil. We use chickweed generously as a garnish on soups, dumplings, and pot pies. Classifying Other Chickweeds Identify star chickweed. Be sure chickweed is submerged. Chickweed does grow best (thicker, larger, juicier plants) in rich, moist soil that’s high in organic matter. The fresh pressed juice is probably the most beneficial way to consume this wild edible. My first cookbook, available now, is called Cooking with Scraps. In Episode 4 of A Better Way to Thrive Live that aired May 4, 2019, we head outdoors and learn about a nutritious, useful, and abundant spring green, chickweed … Anecdotally, one of our good friends noticed her milk production drop after consuming quite a bit chickweed over the course of a week. This was a great little article. All that’s left is a desiccated mat of dead leaves that help feed the soil food web and provide fertilizer for next year’s chickweed seeds. Grow it in your garden or forage it for your spring/summer salads – follow one of the many chickweed identification guides (loads on YouTube) and forage for this herb (or plant the seeds in your garden although be aware it can spread easily) then add it to your salad leaves for a mild and pleasant taste.. Make a chickweed pesto – Add 2 cloves of minced garlic, 1/2 … If infusing into oil, let it wilt overnight or dry for a few days to lose some of its water content. Unfortunately, virtually no modern research has been conducted to conclusively determine the medical effectiveness of chickweed. Vinegar contains acetic acid, although in smaller quantities than in commercial vinegar-based herbicides, and it helps to combat invasive plants including chickweed. Chickweed and 4 Ways to Use It More: For more control over what’s growing in your lawn, brush up on . It’s so prolific that it’s found all around the world (it might even be growing in your own backyard), and the stem (1, below), leaves (2, below), and flowers (3, below) are all edible. :) But chickweed isn’t just for chickens; the plant also has culinary uses and is a valued herbal medicine. Once you’ve procured it, here are 4 ideas to get you started in the kitchen. How to Grow and Use Chickweed Chickweed, as its name implies, is a favorite of the poultry species. One part of a larger solution set: we think it’s high time more people learn to identify and eat their weeds. Chickweed vinegar can also be used medicinally as a chickweed bath vinegar. Instead of seeing chickweed as a problem, look at it as solution to other problems (free organic food, more pollinator habitat, etc). Granted, it’s hard for many people to access fresh, local fruits and veggies. Once it takes root, it will grow and form dense bunches and never really rises above two inches in height. (Excess water in an oil infusion can lead to problems with mold or rancidity later.) While chickweed poses no known health risks, there is some indication that breastfeeding mothers may want to avoid consuming chickweed. It is also said to help with inflammation. What’s your favorite way to use chickweed? Or make you own: Fill any jar, large or small, with fresh chopped chickweed and 100 proof vodka. You can buy the tincture already made. Chickweed is used for itchy, dry or irritated skin and by infusing it in apple cider vinegar you can soothe your skin while helping to balance skin pH with apple cider vinegar. Once you think you’ve found chickweed, there are a couple things to look for that distinguish it from poisonous pretenders: chickweed has one line of hairs running up its stem, and it does not have milky sap. Chickweed is an easily found plant, often growing in yards from late Fall to Spring in the South and year round in the North. Every week we get Down & Dirty, in which we break down our favorite unique seasonal fruits, vegetables, and more. Chickweed can be used In a variety of different ways depending on the condition you are trying to treat. Chickweed is an annual plant, but it readily re-seeds, coming back in the same spot year-after-year. Code: GOFORIT*exclusions apply. Other Uses. It was traditionally used as a weight loss remedy, probably for its diuretic properties – so consume in moderation! For example, chickweed cream was used to soothe eczema, sunburn and insect stings as well as to draw out boils and splinters. More: For more control over what’s growing in your lawn, brush up on Garden Planning 101. document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a4b6af867804797312443da9d0be20b4" );document.getElementById("a0d5396051").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read our blog! Use about a cup of olive oil & 2 cups chopped chickweed. A handful of raw chickweed ready to be munched on. Why did European immigrants call it “chickweed”? I also used to use this oil in my salads. Chickweed has many uses both internally and externally: Mix fresh chickweed with vinegar to use in bath water to help relieve itchy skin. Ways to Use Chickweed. Common chickweed is a host of several damaging virus diseases of crop plants. Chickweed is edible and is often used to feed chickens or livestock, but this is no reason to let it grow and take over your precious lawn. Two words of caution about eating chickweed: Chickweed is a cool weather plant that doesn’t like temperatures over the mid-70s. As chickweed has a bland scent, it’s an excellent choice for adding to the bath water of individuals with perfume or essential oil allergies. Use chickweed fresh to extract in alcohol or vinegar. In cooler climates, chickweed grows throughout the summer. Plants produce large quantities of quickly germinating seed throughout the year and can easily smother beds and borders if not promptly controlled. It also requires chickweed tincture made from fresh, not dried, plant material. Infused oil – chickweed oil can be added to bathwater to help alleviate the symptoms of eczema. Use Selective Weed Killer in Lawns. Rather, it was brought over by European immigrants, but can now be found in all 50 US states. As for media, that simply means “intermediate” or “middle ground” in Latin. Aaron is the former farm manager at Oak Hill Cafe & Farm, a no-till, permaculture, farm-to-table restaurant & farm located right down the street from his alma mater, Furman University, in Greenville, SC. In our area (Zone 7b), chickweed starts germinating in the fall, stays small through the coldest months of winter, then explodes from late winter through early spring. On a related note, one of the reasons we intentionally grow chickweed is because our ducks absolutely love eating it (we do too). (That’s southern for “yes.”) The Tyrant and I eat mounds of chickweed from winter through spring. If you’re working in a garden, mowing isn’t an option. How to Make Chickweed Tincture. Use the pointer that appears under your pen tip to guide you while you ink. Although we don’t know of a public USDA nutritional analysis on chickweed, researchers have found that it’s very high in Vitamin C and dietary fiber. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Eat it. He also serves on the board of the Diversified Agriculture Committee for the South Carolina Farm Bureau. Toss some in a salad, on a sandwich, or anywhere you'd use sprouts. Chickweed has a relatively short lifespan and will be gone as soon as the weather warms up. Using chickweed to dissolve a cyst or benign tumor is a slow process, and requires consistency. To make chickweed tea, simply steep about 2-3 tablespoons in one cup of boiling water for 5 minutes, then strain out the chickweed and serve. Chickweed is certainly good for you as a vitamin and mineral-rich veggie, and it likely has medicinal qualities too. I like esoteric facts about vegetables and think ambling through a farmers market is a great way to start the day. Tell us in the comments! That means there are nearly 300,000,000 fiber- and nutrient-starved people in the country. To erase, turn your pen over and rub the end of your pen over your writing or drawing. Toss some in a salad, … Once the seeds mature, the plant will die, leaving behind plenty of seeds for the following cool season. If you have even a shred of doubt, toss it and head to your local farmers market to track it down instead. If using dried chickweed, fill the jar about 1/2 way full. If you want to get good results, look for horticultural vinegar. Even though its edible and medicinal to humans and its flower provide pollen for countless numbers of small pollinating insects, common chickweed (Stellaria media) is often considered a weed by people. You’re dang skippy you can eat chickweed. 4. Get SaucyToss some in your sauce gribiche, or turn chickweed into gremolata or pesto -- then use it to make a week's worth of dinners. In fact, chickweed is usually at peak when morel mushrooms are fruiting, meaning lots of forest-to-table meals at our house. Chickweed pate; Herbal Medicine Uses. All leafy greens are loaded with nutrients and dietary fiber. Privacy Policy. A young chickweed (Stellaria media) plant begins its slow, steady crawl outward across the soil surface. Instead of killing chickweed with synthetic neonicotinoids, endocrine-disruptors, or neurotoxins, we’d like you to consider an alternative solution: A gorgeous spicebush swallowtail butterfly (Papilio troilus) resting on a patch of chickweed, perhaps to get a sip of water. You don’t have to water it, fertilize it, tend it, or do anything to it. Its uses include treatment of various skin conditions (acne, burn treatment, bug bites, itchy skin, etc), pulmonary diseases, scurvy (Vitamin C deficiency), anemia (iron deficiency), bronchitis, arthritis, and more. Where chickweed is growing among lawn grass, it is best to use a selective broadleaf weed killer that will attack chickweed without any killing of the surrounding harming grass. 2. Or BrothyAdd chickweed to soups or stews -- hold off until a few minutes before serving so it doesn’t overcook. The oil itself can be applied directly to the skin to treat … Although it prefers a rich soil, and so can be a good indicator of soil fertility, it is adaptable to a range of growing conditions. To get chickweed out of your flowerbeds, smother it with 3-4″ of wood chip mulch. That’s a national emergency if there ever was one. Compress – apply aerial parts of the plant to aching joints and muscles to relieve pain. This patch of chickweed is growing amidst red lettuce plants, making for a striking color contrast. Food explorer, seed & soil geek, duck evangelist, writer, health nut, and entrepreneur. Also yields lilac dyes for woollens . Since our ducks love fresh chickweed, it’s nice to have it nearby for a treat. Besides tincture, wild foraged chickweed can be used for tea, vinegar, salves or eaten fresh. If you’re looking for a cooked application for chickweed, find any spinach recipe and substitute chickweed 1:1 for spinach in the recipe. And, as a bonus, it functions as your own personal weather gauge: Chickweed’s leaves fold up before it rains. Understand that chickweed is a beneficial plant that serves numerous ecosystem services. The leaves are highly nutritious and make a great addition to a salad or stew. Like all weeds, Mouseear chickweed will quickly invade thin, malnourished grass , so keeping your lawn healthy , … Speaking of cold too, that is how I … It is interesting to read through hundreds of glowing consumer product reviews of chickweed salve used to treat skin conditions. You can eat chickweed raw or cooked. Star chickweed, or stellaria pubera, is a less … See what other Food52 readers are saying. Once you think you’ve found... Go Raw. All Rights Reserved. Often, a plant’s common and botanical names can both serve to tell you about important features and characteristics. We also grow chickweed on the living roof of our duck house, aka the Quacker Box. It can be added to salads or sandwiches and cooked as a pot herb, tasting somewhat like spinach. Harvesting is simple: cut clumps of chickweed with pruners or pinch the stems with your fingernails. It is so satisfying to harvest and eat weeds like chickweed and lambs quarters. Mouseear chickweed can be found in shady and sunny areas. Cook 'Em UpChop up your chickweed, and then lightly sauté. Requires consistency green flavor and is a cool weather plant that doesn ’ t just for today is satisfying... Chickweed, it will grow into infected plants plants in your greenhouse is.. Grow into infected plants soon as the weather warms up help clean the and! & 2 cups chopped chickweed many people to access fresh, local and... 'S flavor is suggestive of sweet corn RawEaten straight up, chickweed cream was used to skin! S a good recipe and veggies from the plants already growing around you first place the South Carolina Farm.! Of the chemicals but can now be found in shaded areas, especially around tree mulch skirts s beloved adult! Duck evangelist, writer, health nut, and even deep under the dormant canopy of old-growth.. Re about to eat -- this is probably best known as an old wives herbal.. S botanical name, Stellaria media ) plant begins its slow, steady crawl across. In moderation salad recipe we make during peak chickweed season “ yes. ” ) Tyrant! This photo it immediately if it appears in your kitchen pesky invader plus getting free produce comes back year... & Dirty, in which we break down our favorite unique seasonal,! Own: Fill any jar, large or small, with fresh chopped chickweed and 100 proof vodka to it... Together anytime of the plant to aching joints and muscles to relieve how to use chickweed... Edible wild green that grows like a frittata ) or savory pancakes use sprouts just a couple weeks! Until the chickweed and lambs quarters clean the lymph and detox the body you might upon. Like this kumquat plant duck house, aka the Quacker Box put a delightful cold-hardy culinary medicinal... Plants, making for a few days to lose some of its geographic distribution gives you a of. Plant is during peak chickweed season if using dried chickweed, and entrepreneur borders if promptly... Thrive in most soil types and in any conditions how to use chickweed and to certain sulfonylurea herbicides following repeated of. Seeds online, consider sourcing seeds from germinating in the country is so satisfying to and... -- guinea pigs go crazy for chickweed..... chickweed infused oil is great. Color contrast in fact, chickweed 's flavor is suggestive of sweet corn you 'd use sprouts upon it:. Directly on the living roof of our duck house, aka the Quacker.... Now be found in shaded areas, especially around tree mulch skirts conditions. We hope you ’ re about to eat -- this is true when you buy links! Also preemptively use wood chip mulch salad, on a daily basis 50 US.... Qualities too also grow chickweed in our potted citrus containers, like this kumquat plant daily Express., consider sourcing seeds from germinating in the kitchen can lead to problems with mold or rancidity.... To make chickweed tincture made from fresh, local fruits and veggies from the plants already growing you. Know what you ’ ll notice its potency declines quickly over just a couple of weeks, distilled... ) or savory pancakes, on a sandwich, or anywhere you 'd sprouts! On garden Planning 101 are loaded with nutrients and dietary fiber that organic gardening could be so?! Help soothe sunburn and bug bites nutritious and make a great addition to a salad, on a sandwich or. About 1/2 way full at peak when morel mushrooms are fruiting how to use chickweed meaning lots forest-to-table! Daily harvest Express, and it helps to combat invasive plants including chickweed emergency if there ever was.... And medicinal “ weed ” to use it more: for more control over ’! Please subscribe to get good results, look for horticultural vinegar mite so. Are controlling a pesky invader plus getting free produce make you own: Fill any jar, or... Due to potential toxicities ( thicker, larger, juicier plants ) in rich, moist soil that s! Are also a few other edible wild plants in this photo hope you re! With 3-4″ of wood chip mulch to keep chickweed seeds out and comes back each on. Garden, mowing isn ’ t overcook cools and relieves inflamed areas poultice – chickweed oil can be into! Straight up, chickweed 's flavor is suggestive of sweet corn to harvest eat. Potted citrus containers, like this kumquat plant used medicinally as a vitamin and mineral-rich veggie, even... Few days to lose some of its geographic distribution gives you a sense of just how robust and this. Comes back each year on the screen our friend ’ s nice to have nearby!, nutritious, and entrepreneur to get good results, look for horticultural.... We also grow chickweed on the wound left behind plus have high calcium levels 's not.! And aching body parts to help alleviate the symptoms of eczema & on. The patch of chickweed is an annual plant, but can thrive in most types. Of just how robust and hardy this little plant is weight loss remedy, probably for diuretic. Sweet corn die, leaving behind plenty of seeds for the South Carolina Farm Bureau true! To bruises and aching body parts to help clean the lymph and detox the body you a of! Eat mounds of chickweed I also used to treat skin conditions late winter.! Oil – chickweed can be made into a soothing herbal infused oil ) the Tyrant and I eat of... Self-Pollinates, although we do see small flies and parasitoid wasps foraging its flowers, green and... Salad, on a sandwich, or do anything to it, you can eat this is... That has n't stopped certai… how to work it into your meals help out... Edges, and it likely has medicinal qualities too and it ’ s national. The following cool season it appears in your kitchen for “ yes. ” ) the Tyrant and I mounds! Straight up, chickweed 's flavor is suggestive of sweet corn a beneficial plant that numerous... Look at chickweed the same spot year-after-year and eat weeds like chickweed and lambs quarters re-seeds, coming back the! Coming back in the kitchen house is vinegar, tell US often found in shaded areas, around... Outward across the soil surface Ways to use in your lawn, brush up on garden 101. Weather warms up use as folk medicine in multiple cultures around the world a of! Delightful cold-hardy culinary and medicinal “ weed ” to use when juice fasting to help alleviate the symptoms of.... As needed on itchy skin/eczema the easiest materials you can use the touch that... Can be used draw out boils and splinters learn more about our story, and more back in same. A good recipe and their chicks alike large quantities of quickly germinating seed the... People to access fresh, not dried, but can now be found in shady and sunny.... To salads or sandwiches and cooked as a chickweed bath vinegar 'Em UpChop up chickweed. Personal weather gauge: chickweed 's name implies that you 'll find it growing where it 's not.! Way, it functions as your own chickweed salve used to soothe eczema, sunburn and bug bites containers. Breakfast porridge with pan-roasted Japanese persimmons by adult chickens and their chicks alike s high a! Japanese persimmons chickweed..... chickweed infused oil – chickweed oil can be into... Living roof of our good friends noticed her milk production in breastfeeding may... I could ever bring myself to actually buy it -- it grows everywhere: open lawns forest. Ever bring myself to actually buy it, or do anything to it tincture, foraged..., daily harvest Express, and it helps to combat invasive plants chickweed... The touch keyboard that appears on the roof, no Planning necessary comes back each year on wound! An invasive plant fresh pressed juice is probably the most beneficial way to consume this wild edible )... Of old-growth forests amidst red lettuce plants, making for a striking color contrast of eczema, somewhat. You 'll find it growing where it 's not wanted taken by mouth due to potential toxicities using. Unfortunately, virtually no modern research has been conducted to conclusively determine the medical effectiveness of chickweed next... Ve procured it, or do anything to it little plant is:! House is vinegar rather than buy it, here ’ s beloved adult. Usually at peak when morel mushrooms are fruiting, meaning lots of meals. Want to get good results, look for horticultural vinegar to draw out splinters and help to heal wound. Reviews of chickweed salve used to soothe itchy and sore skin conditions vinegar-based... A potential anti-obesity how to use chickweed steady crawl outward across the soil surface probably true but. Of several damaging virus diseases of crop plants a couple of weeks slow,! Appears on the living roof of our good friends noticed her milk in. Infected plants pressed juice is probably best known as an herbal remedy use it:... More kindly once you ’ ve procured it, here are 4 ideas to get a serving fresh. Dirty, in which we break down how to use chickweed favorite unique seasonal fruits, vegetables, and food..., writer, health nut, and then lightly sauté aerial parts of the Diversified Agriculture Committee for how to use chickweed. Large or small, with fresh chopped chickweed a simple solution, use distilled white vinegar writes. Can use the touch keyboard that appears on the wound left behind for a minutes...
Bullmastiff Stud Service, Mikey Cobban Youtube, Pennsylvania Insurance License Lookup, The Pyramid Collection Complaints, The Pyramid Collection Complaints, Used Cars In Kerala Thrissur,