Since I have explained empathy and logical sense for a long time, let’s talk about something different. Today, I will introduce edible wild plants in my area.
I want more vegetables!
I had a problem. I wanted to increase vegetables in my meals but didn’t want to raise my food expenses carelessly.
Solving problems with money is easy. We go to a shop and buy it. We don’t have to use any wisdom.
However, social resources like money are sometimes valuable to us. Even if it is something cheap and we can afford it, we want to choose a more efficient way if there is a better option.
In other words, we want to live as creatively as possible.
That is why I wanted another efficient way to increase vegetables.
Then, fortunately, I realized that this area is abundant in edible wild plants. They enriched my meals. Today, I will introduce them. Knowing that there is something edible will give you confidence in surviving.
Gathering wild vegetables
I usually gather wild vegetables in a nearby farm town. Its name is Aki Town. It is a vast rural area mainly producing wheat.
It is the place where I enjoy walking and cycling the most. There are few cars and a lot of nature. The view is open and pleasant. Since there are plenty of wild plants, no one will complain even if I gather them. That is why I collect wild vegetables here.
Let’s look at what edible plants are here.
Rapeseed blossoms
My favorite among edible wild vegetables is rapeseed blossoms. It is a relative of broccoli. We can eat these buds before the flower blooms.
It tastes like broccoli. Usually, wild vegetables taste bitter, but this one doesn’t. It is delicious and versatile in various dishes, like broccoli.
The shortcoming is that the period we can collect is short. We can gather them only for a few weeks.
Wild green onions
The next wild vegetable I like is wild green onions called nobiru (another name is Japanese garlic).
It tastes like leek and garlic. It doesn’t grow big, but the flavor is excellent. I was excited when I found several places where large individuals were growing big.
I wondered why many people don’t grow and sell it when I tasted it.
Perhaps it is because it doesn’t grow large. Larger vegetables are more efficient to harvest and distribute. That would be why leeks and onions are major while this smaller wild green onion is minor.
Wild bean sprouts
I also like these wild bean sprouts. It grows everywhere.
It used to be a famous vegetable over 50 years ago. However, no one eats anymore. I don’t know the exact reason, but it might be that this will not grow up big.
After I began gathering wild plants, I realized that commercially available vegetables are unnaturally huge. That would be fantastic in one aspect of values, but there are many things we can eat for free if we don’t mind the size.
Dandelion
Maybe you know this. It is edible.
It is usually a yellow flower, but in my area, it is white. I don’t know what causes this difference, but white dandelions are also cute.
By the way, I still have never eaten it. I will try it at some point.
Clover
Clover is also edible, although I have never eaten it.
It is one of the bean sprouts, so it doesn’t seem bitter.
Other edible plants
There are various other edible plants.
The following is a herb called yomogi. It is a relative of sage, mint, and chamomile. Its flavor is refreshing. It is a traditional Japanese herb. I like this.
The following is one kind of wild celery, which is called fuki. We eat the stem, not the leaves. It is the same as celery.
Some might look at the following plant like a monster, but I have heard it (tsukushi) is edible. Really? This would be the last resort when I have no food.
Conclusion
There can be many edible wild plants around us if we don’t mind the size.
Some are tasty.
Of course, there are also many toxic plants, so we must pick carefully. In addition, we also have to consider the possibility of pesticides and herbicides.
However, knowing the abundance of nature might make us confident and help us survive healthily.
Thank you for reading this article. I hope to see you in the next one.
