A hunting we will go.....for beneficial "weeds".

I've been thinking lately, uh-oh, about what grows in our yards.  How a plant is named a weed just cause someone decided not to grow it in a garden.  How many beneficial plants grow in your yard that you don't know about? Or along the roadside.

I'm starting to explore wildcrafting.  What is wildcrafting you ask?  Well, "Wildcrafting is the practice of harvesting plants from their natural, or "wild" habitat, for food or medicinal purposes.", Wikipedia.  Wildcrafting does not automatically mean just plants in the wild, it is just uncultivated plants.  You do have to be careful and follow state and federal laws.  Most parks won't let you harvest from them and you should always ask before you go onto someone else's property to make sure it's okay to harvest on their property.  Also, harvesting endangered plants is a big no-no.

Now, right now I'm not to worried about harvesting on state or federal property, heck not even worried about my neighbors yards.  I'm starting out by basically wandering around my yard and seeing what I have growing here.

I know I have plantain weed, dandelion, lamb quarters, chicory, queen annes lace, catnip and I think purslane.  But I have some weeds here too that I'm not sure about, like pigs' ear for example.  Can one do anything with it?  Actually, I'm not sure what the correct name is, it's just the name I know it from since childhood. 

I think today when I go to the library I am going to have to see if they have anything on the subject.  I'm interested in learning how to use them for a variety of reasons.  But a big chunk of my reasoning is because I just want to be able to say "Hey! That's such-an-such and you can use it for ____".  And the looks on peoples faces when you explain these facts to them is priceless. 

Wisdom

This will probably evolve and change some as my dp studies continue but it is a start.

From the Merriam-Webster.com

1  a : accumulated philosophic or scientific learning 

    b : ability to discern inner qualities and relationships 

   c : good sense 

   d : generally accepted belief <challenges what has become accepted wisdom among many historians — Robert Darnton>

2

   : a wise attitude, belief, or course of action

3

   : the teachings of the ancient wise men

Many people put a lot of emphasis on book learning, thinking that having several degrees and mounds of books obviously makes them a wise person.  According to the first definition of the word, it does, but to me that is only the beginning and really only a small portion of what the word really means.  I have known people that are certified geniuses but have not an ounce of common sense in them. 

I believe the most important part of this virtue is having the knowledge of what is right and wrong and acting on it.  All the book knowledge does no one any good if they don’t know how to use that knowledge. 

A person’s attitude makes a big difference.  I have known people who know a lot of stuff, have all kinds of knowledge, yet their attitude is awful.  They look down on people, talk down to them.  They think they are truly wise and are blessing others with their wisdom.  This is not the actions of a wise person.  A wise person shares their knowledge, listens to others and acts to benefit themselves or others.  This is what I am striving for, to have the knowledge, to know when to use it, when to listen to others and when to do nothing.