sown & uprooted

… he/she loves me, he/she loves me not, he/she loves me, he/she loves me not, he/she loves me… on and on until all petals of the daisy flower have been pulled off and the flower‘s wisdom will be imparted on you. Who hasn’t played that little innocent game as a kid and youngster or knows other numerous childhood songs and rhymes? Maybe you have used those flowers to produce braids for yourself and friends on numerous occasions?

I associate the daisy with gratitude, ease and happiness as well as fresh mornings. It’s one of the few flowers that spring up everywhere with the first signs of spring and are amongst the last ones standing when a new winter cycle begins. Interestingly, the daisy flower is a long-standing symbol for innocence, new beginnings, joy and cheerfulness.

In some folk lore daisies are also associated with fertility, childbirth and the loss of young children as a symbol by the gods to comfort mourning parents.

But let’s focus back on its meaning of new beginnings. Not only is the little flower pleasing to the eye, it’s also a very common plant that can be found in every park and garden. Of course – I would not be talking about this plant on this blog, if it wouldn’t be edible too or at least have some superpowers we can make use of!

Used externally on your skin it’s fabulous when applied on small cuts, bruises, sprains and contortions. It’s juices are said to promote wound healing, are anti-inflammatory, relieve pain and itching.

Used internally they are known to encourage your metabolism, stimulate digestion, have blood purification properties and benefits liver, bile and an upset stomach and can support your detox efforts by stimulating lymph flow. They are rich in minerals and vitamins.

Picked in early spring they have a mild flavour. Later in the year they become more tangy, like chives, in taste and have an underlying nutty, almost bitter, flavour.

You can eat the daisy like a snack, munching away while being out and about (though make sure not to pick them close to the road, or the common dog pee ground, or anywhere were pesticides and fertilisers are used to protect the crop). Also, as with all things in life don’t eat too much – or they may cause an upset stomach and too much of them may have a poisonous effect. As a rule of thumb, a grown up person shouldn’t eat more than 10 leaves and 4 flower heads in one setting, children less.

You can decorate your salad with them or add them to a nice slice of buttered bread with cheese.

Or use them in the soup – just like in the recipe below.

A Spring Soup Recipe with Daisies

For 4 portions:

• 1 onion, diced
• 1 Tbs butter
• 2-3 carrots or potatoes, chopped
• 1 l of vegetable stock
• 100 ml cream
• 1 small hand full of each: daisies, dandelion, nettle, yaw, yarrows, wild garlic, sorrel, coldsfoot, lady’s mantle herb
• Some lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Fry the diced onions in butter. Add the chopped herbs and carrots or potatoes and sauté for a few minutes. Add vegetable fond and let simmer until carrots/potatoes are done. Feel free to add creme and purée your soup. Season to taste with a drizzle of lemon juice, salt and pepper. Bon Appetit!

– with love –

– Corina –

sown & uprooted

https://for-a-better-living.com

Please note: As with all things in life, some things will have ripple effects and the amounts make the difference. So please don’t overdose on foods either. It’s always advisable to observe how your body reacts to natural remedies. Especially if you are on medication, suffer a medical condition, or are prone to allergic reactions and during pregnancy, it’s recommended to seek medical advice before starting any self-medication.