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Dual Duty

April 26th, 2016

This time of year one of the only weeds growing in the gardens are dandelions. Now they’re not technically weeds, I let them grow everywhere but in the cultivated areas of the gardens. I go around during the spring and dig out a bucket full each day.
dandelions 2
I love this chore because not only does it clear the garden of perennial weeds, it feeds the chickens as well. Part of my flock is in a woodland area and they don’t have access to much greenery. They go crazy when I give them a bucketful of dandelions each day.
dandelions 1
Dandelions are particularly good for them, essentially they’re vitamin capsules (as most vegetables are). The chickens find them especially delectable. I like to eat them as well, but I like eggs every more than I like dandelions greens. It’s also nice knowing that a garden chores is making the chicken happier and healthier, as well as making their eggs more nutritious for me and my egg customers.

Do you eat dandelion greens?

3 Comments to “Dual Duty”
  1. Sara on April 26, 2016 at 9:07 am

    Early in the year when I’m short on salad greens I will throw a few in my colander. My spouse makes dandelion wine though!

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  2. Jennifer Fisk on April 26, 2016 at 10:07 am

    I dig 1-2 five gallon buckets of dandelions every spring. Because it is tedious to clean them I probably only eat 1 bucket’s worth and the chickens get the rest.
    I cook some lean salt pork in a pot and add peeled halved or quartered potatoes to cook. When the potatoes are almost done, I stuff in the dandelions. They don’t take long at all and then you can get your spring tonic. This is much better after sitting a day. Just a wonderful meal to welcome spring.

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  3. Sacha on April 27, 2016 at 12:05 am

    Thanks for this tip! I have 5-wk old chicks. After reading your blog, I gave them a few dandelions in the evening. They went crazy!!! I had given them some kale that was flowering in my garden, and radishes and turnips that had become infested with root maggots. They ate them. But they went gaga for the dandelions greens. Now that’s some weeding that I can feel good about.

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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