Feast in the Meadow
- Laura Rogowska
- Apr 17
- 3 min read
In the face of the progressing climate catastrophe and the increasing number of armed conflicts around the world, which are the evidence of political instability, I decided to present you with 7 edible plants. Regardless of the reasons why you might need or want to consume them, these plants are safe and nothing will happen if you eat them. Some of them can also be used for medicinal purposes.
1. Common Hogweed
In past centuries, it was a highly valued plant. Its leaves and stems were fermented, resulting in something between sauerkraut and beer. It was a good substitute for sauerkraut and was also used as a soup.
2. Barberry
The main environment of barberry is dry soils and pine forests. It was primarily used for making jams and juices. There was also a practice of souring cabbage with barberry fruits.
3. Yarrow
Yarrow is classified as a medicinal plant. It was commonly used as a spice and as an addition to oat cakes.
4. Beech
Beech fruits were part of the peasant diet. Oil was pressed from them, they were baked, and also added to bread. However, one had to be careful when eating raw fruits because they contain an alkaloid, fagin, which, in large quantities, induces a state of intoxication.
5. Cornflower
Cornflower is a weed that grows among cereals. In the past century, its petals were collected and, with the addition of sugar and water, wine was prepared.
6. Dandelion
Its leaves are still used, for example in France, for salads. In Poland, it was more common to cook dandelion with milk and potatoes. Meanwhile, from its yellow inflorescences, syrup was prepared, used as honey.
7. Greater Burdock
Burdock is a roadside plant whose roots are eagerly used in Japanese and Chinese cuisine. In Poland, the stalks were consumed both cooked and pickled like cucumbers.
The key thing when collecting and eating such plants is their location. We should collect them from clean places and consume them only after washing. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY RULE SAYS, THAT IF WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT PLANT IT IS, WE DO NOT TAKE IT, because we may confuse it with some other potentially dangerous plant, which can have tragic consequences for us.
In my article, I have only covered the most basic, popular plants and herbs, but there are many more that are suitable for consumption. I sincerely invite you to expand your knowledge on this topic, as it is a skill that not only comes in handy in difficult times of war and hunger, but also in current times, when we would like to consume healthy and natural food.
Bibliography
Grandmont, Jean-Pol. “Fagus Sylvatica Purpurea (Beech Tree).” Wikimedia Commons, 6 Nov. 2007, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fagus_sylvatica_Purpurea_JPG4a.jpg. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Ludek, Leśny. “Dzikie Rośliny Jadalne - Od Czego Zacząć? Wiosna.” Lesnyludek.pl, 20 May 2021, www.lesnyludek.pl/2021/05/dzikie-rosliny-jadalne-od-czego-zaczac.html. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Łukasz Łuczaj. Dzikie Rośliny Jadalne Polski. Chemigrafia, 2002.
Porse, Sten. Berberis-Thunbergii (Burberry). 6 Nov. 2004, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Berberis-thunbergii.JPG. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Redakcja NATULI. “7 Dzikich Roślin Jadalnych - Natuli.” Natuli – Dzieci Są Ważne, 13 May 2015, dziecisawazne.pl/7-dzikich-roslin-jadalnych/. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Ryszawa, Pawel. “Greater Burdocks’ Field.” Wikimedia Commons, 24 May 2009, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lopian_pole.jpg. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Tuason, Thayne. “Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow) in the Wenatchee Foothills, Chelan County, Washington.” Wikimedia Commons, 5 Jan. 2017, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Achillea_millefolium_4.jpg. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
---. “Centaurea Cyanus (Introduced Species) near Peshastin, Chelan County Washington.” Wikimedia Commons, 17 June 2011, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Centaurea_cyanus_3.jpg. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Wikipedia Contributors. “Heracleum Sphondylium Berenklauw (Common Hogweed), Photo Taken at Palmerswaard Netherlands.” Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 May 2005, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Heracleum_sphondylium. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Zwittnig, Benjamin. “Dandelion in Toško Čelo, Slovenia.” Wikimedia Commons, 18 Apr. 2009, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Taraxacum_officinale_PID1200-1.jpg. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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