Sand and gravel

Common Dandelion – Taraxacum Officinale: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the #1 Gateway Herb to Foraging Wild Plants

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Common Dandelion - Taraxacum Officinale

Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a widely recognizable edible and medicinal herb that is most common throughout the temperate regions of North America and Europe. Dandelion being easily identifiable is often the gateway plant to exploring foraging. It’s especially dandy for beginner foragers, being generally safe to eat and thanks to the entire plant being edible … [Read more…]

Horseweed – Conyza Canadensis: Edible & Medicinal Uses of Another Overlooked Pollinator Fav of Wild Plants

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Horseweed – Conyza Canadensis

Maybe it’s the name “weed”. Or maybe it’s the location; weedy parking lots and driveways. But I always assumed horseweed was a nonnative plant. Surprise! It’s actually native to Ontario and a powerhouse for small pollinators. Horseweed (Conyza canadensis syn. Erigeron canadensis) is fairly common around Haliburton county in sand flats, disturbed ground, and roadsides. … [Read more…]

Field Mustard – Brassica Rapa: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Mother Cruciferous of Wild Plants

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Field Mustard – Brassica Rapa

You’re unlikely to find the popular white or black mustards here in the wild. The only Brassica on iNat for Haliburton, Ontario is field mustard (Brassica rapa). It’s more of a wild cabbage or wild turnip. It’s the mother of many vegetables you’ll find in the grocery store, but not a “true mustard” renown for … [Read more…]

Ragweed – Ambrosia Artemisiifolia: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Sneeziest of Wild Plants

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Ragweed – Ambrosia Artemisiifolia

Oh, ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). This maligned plant while rare-ish in Haliburton and considered a “weed” in this part of Ontario is actually native to North America. It’s at least as valuable to a swath of wildlife as it is likely to cause a human to sneeze. You might find ragweed here along a roadside or … [Read more…]