Early spring gives me a chance to do some urban foraging. I was inspired by an excellent blog writer from an Eastern state to discover the health benefits of noxious weeds and early spring plants. At the same time as I explore, I find that I am having an explosive episode of eczema. For the first time in more than fifty years, my face is overrun with red inflammation and papery flaking. This happens on the day of the wedding of wonderful friends who I traveled over fourteen hundred miles to see.
But back to the noxious weeds component. I've been making meals using the famous garlic mustard that is popping up along roadsides and in dark places behind garages and barns. I create various pestos, using the garlic mustard with watercress or lettuce or arugula. It seems healthy and a great idea. But a question is buried inside that wonders about what kinds of toxins were dumped in the habitat of the garlic mustard? Do those toxins enter into the plant and then into the people who eat the plant? Or have the toxins been transformed through photosynthesis and other actions of the sprites and faires?
I am grateful for the transformation of a toxic atmosphere and earth, to a nurturing planet by the grace of the plants.
This is somewhat disjointed, but I write and post while doing a cazillion things prior to attending the wedding.
That's a good question about toxins - one must be careful about this when foraging I think. Is that the pesto over chickpeas? This inspires me to try it over cannellini beans, my favorite...
ReplyDeletethere's plenty more growing in the (decidedly non-toxic) yard...
In my last comment I forgot to say something important, thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy the mystery of another human being and the learning of another.
Blessings.
Thank you for your comments to my blog.
ReplyDeleteSecret Notebooks is an inspiration for me to write about things that I know nothing about, but am called to write in the face of unknown territory.
I think any fresh green pesto will sparkle like jewels on cannellini beans.
I feel like I am in the company of magical women. Thank you for your blogs and your presence here.