When I was a kid, most people didn't carry around bottles of water to quench their thirst on a hot summer day. We demanded ice cold pop instead.
Sure, our mothers probably tried to convince us to drink more water, and we probably choked down a glass or two when we had to, but generally speaking, no kid would voluntarily drink the stuff, let alone carry a bottle of it around with him.
Of course back then, clean, safe water was always as close as the nearest faucet. Where I lived, water was cheap and plentiful. And since we thought it would always be cheap and plentiful, we took it for granted.
Not any more.
Today, people are treating water with a lot more respect. We've started to recognize the value of potable water, and it's become the beverage of first choice for many of us, even when we have to pay for it.
These thoughts all occurred to me the other day when I was digging the dandelions out of my lawn, and throwing them in the trash.
Whoops.
Maybe my lapse was the product of decades of brainwashing or maybe I had just been out in the sun too long, but dandelion destruction was the only thing on my mind. I forgot that just because dandelions are abundant and cheap, it doesn't necessarily follow that dandelions have no value.
In fact, the dandelion may be one of the thriftiest plants around. Every part of it can be used. Dandelion greens are high in nutrients, and the often bitter taste can be masked with seasonings. The flowers can be used in jellies. The root can be used as a coffee substitute. Dandelion is used in vitamin and food supplements, herbal remedies, and can even be used to make wine and beer. People with blond hair can even make a hair rinse out of the stuff.
Fortunately, I'm pretty sure my dandelions will give me another chance, and thanks to some online resources, the next time I harvest my bumper crop, I'll be prepared:
At Healthwell.com, writer Catherine Monahan has an excellent article and even a recipe link to help you make the most of your dandelions, and Mountain Breeze also has recipes at their site.
At the very least, I'm going to try making some dandelion jelly. Maybe I'll even give some to my neighbors for Christmas -- especially those neighbors with the plush, dandelion-free lawns.
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