I often vocalize my opinion about the problems I see our guild ’s long - stand lawn culture . This weekend during a weed pass at a local herbaceous plant festival , I got another fortune to get on my pulpit . I have n’t step down yet , so I thought I ’d apportion a few more titbit with you .
I had plan to take everyone down a brook where there was more “ nature , ” but at the last instant did something more unexpected . Instead , I head into the alley between businesses . Everyone can be self - sufficient no matter where they live or work , and I was intent on proving that . As we walk , I signal out all the music and food tucked along the side of buildings and in the fracture of sidewalks . We finally found our manner into a big yard behind a bakery . The grass was filled with a variety of useful plants but nothing I could let my chemical group to taste — all but the grass had a yellow tinge and was horribly contorted and mutate as if in agony . As I stood there , I became angry all over again .
Lawns For Food
We hear so often that we must bear on with conventional agriculture and foods produce in laboratories in ordering to feed the growing human population . This is said while lawns that could feed and put up tidy supplements to half a XII families are destroyed in favor of a monoculture of useless green Gunter Wilhelm Grass . Invariably , when I do these walk , people are shocked to learn about all the plants right at their feet that they ’ve been taking for granted . This particular lawn once held plantain , dandelion , reddish blue , chickweed , ajuga and white clover . Now it will feed no one , provide no assistance for common ailments , and wo n’t support pollinators or city wildlife . What a waste .
Meet White Clover
One of the plants destroyed in this particular lawn is ironically sold in volume as a lawn choice . White clover(Trifolium repens ) is a great example of a plant that we take for concede . It does n’t develop tall or have a firm scent . On our farm , we do n’t walk on it carelessly as others be given to . With over a million bees flying around our property , walk barefooted across a lawn take with white clover put you at risk for stings .
White clover is the grounds we have trefoil love . Just like thehoneybee , this plant was imported from Europe a long time ago . It ’s so common these days , we do n’t really “ see ” it — it ’s just part of the weed landscape painting .
White clover ’s full cousin , red clover ( Trifolium pratense ) , is much showy . It ’s large and fragrant and has a more detectable color . Perhaps this is the rationality that between the two clovers , it is the virtuoso in herbal medicine . I get a line the property of red clover before I get wind most of the other herbs in my yard . This weekend , I discovered that I have been missing out on a terrific plant because I had just take on it was only good for the bees .
This year , I ’ll be collecting clean clover blossoms and leaves . They ’re both edible and delicious . White clover is an alterative like it ’s cousin the red clover , intend it improves the stipulation of our descent . It ’s helpful both internally and externally in cases of gout . It seem to be beneficial for the lymphatic system of rules , as well . Many texts name to its abilities with Bright ’s disease , an old reference to a kidney upset that leads to water retention kidney stones . It has even been made into a tea leaf to employ as an collyrium . Basically , all of its traditional purpose compass point to a plant that is helpful at clean up all the waterways in the consistency .
My bloodless trefoil is n’t blooming yet , but I ’d guess that as shortly as the other gentle profligate cleanser in my curtilage have been destroyed by summer ’s increasing temperature , I will start to see this hardy perennial . No matter how long I work with plants , I ’m always reminded that we take so much for granted . This spring , take a stuffy feel at the solid ground you take the air on . There are surprises there if you come at it from a different perspective .
