During Babies 101 class (nannying,) Jack and I walked around the block (it takes him approximately 20 minutes to walk around the block, because he is fifteen months old and hasn't lost his hunter/gatherer curiosity about plants yet that is slowly schooled out of us as whoever pulls on our hands and says stuff like "come on already, we've seen that plant!") So long story short, I try my best not to do that to him, because I know that curiosity and love of plants will come in handy for him in the future...
I also realized, while taking the 20 minute round the block walk with Jack, that my own knowledge of plants is not where I'd like it to be. Sure, most of the plants we saw today where domesticated to the point where they aren't very useful as food sources and are only cultivated for looks, but still, I am embarrassed to say I could only accurately name about ten or so of the plants Jack paused at and obviously wanted to know about. Two of the ten are edible to my knowledge; the dandelion and the Chicken in a Basket. So I've decided that on the days I nanny Jack, we are going to make our walks as educational as possible; we are going to start learning all the names and uses of the plants we encounter. I figure if we can learn all the plants on his block in six months or so, we'll be doing good. And since he seems as eager, if not moreso to learn about plants (it was so cute, he was actually petting flowers today!,) so I know he won't be bored if I bring a identification book with me on our walks and we stop to examine every little thing we come across.
So immediately after getting done nannying Jack (well, not immediately, I went to the post office to mail off taxes first..yuck, if I wasn't so scared of government retributions, I wouldn't even bother, even though I'm getting a refund this year,) anyway, I went to the library to get wildflower identification books. We are going to start by identifying all the wildflowers growing on his block, then move to trees and then domesticated flowers and shrubs. Then, when I got home, I thought to myself "it isn't raining, I should gather dandelions to make wine..."
Well I should have known that the wine-making project would morph into a thousand other projects, especially since I love every part of the dandelion! While gathering heads for wine, I grazed on the greens, then I started digging up roots to make a liver-cleansing tincture...and that lead me into digging up a section of my yard to start a garden! I'm kinda like one of those people who can't just have one alcoholic beverage; but with dirt and digging...once I get started, it is hard for me to stop!
Anyway, now I'm eating dinner and then, I'll actually get to making my dandelion wine!
Love ya,
Carrot
Mmmm...dandelions!!!
By carrot - Posted on April 15th, 2008
I've heard about dandelion wine. Heard of it, haven't tried it. You should share the experience with us...uh, less experienced folks!
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Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
This is so sweet. I would love to be in a nannying class. I'm so jealous. I try to offer to babysit my friends kids as much as possible, but it's so cool you have a nannying class.
I'm interested in that liver-cleansing tincture too...What's that about?
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
Oh it actually isn't a "nanny class" I just call it that because I'm looking at everything in my life as a potential learning experience! This is one of my jobs...and I love it, because little Jack is teaching me so much...I have almost nothing to offer compared with what he is teaching me.
As for the liver-cleansing tonic made with dandelion roots, I'd recommend reading Susun Weed's semi-famous book "Healing Wise" from her Wise Woman Series. Susun Weed is this amazing herbalist/teacher who believes in finding common, everyday plants to heal people because she wants to keep things simple and affordable for common people. So she has studied a lot of common N. American "weeds" including the dandelion for it's healing properties. She has found that the dandelion is especially good at pulling toxins out of the body (not just the body, soil as well, which is why you always see dandelions growing in abandoned lots and places with lots of toxins.) Therefore, you have to be careful where you harvest your dandelions from, because their roots can be full of toxins from the soil. Anyway, you dry the roots for a while, then you skin them and put them in 100-proof alcohol to make a tincture...and I don't remember what you do after that, I'll have to find the book again. Anyway, I highly recommend anything by Susun Weed, she's amazing!
Love ya,
Carrot
So, I get to have "nanny class" too when I take care of kids. I hadn't thought of it quite like that, but I know it is preparing me for the day that I have kids of my own.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
I remember even at the age of 4 that the idea of a dandelion salad was bizarre. But the groovy daycare my parents led me to in Montana taught us how to make it real tastylike.
Hopefully Jack feels the same way about his greens!
Every organism's heartbeat holds a universe of beauty at http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/green-underbelly
i just came to that realization myself today while walking through the park. i'm from california and i couldn't even identify a california black oak... nuts! i'm getting on the identification wagon now!