Living on the Earth, March 10, 2000: Spring and Dandelions It wouldn't be spring without dandelions. But what is a welcome sight for some, is an enemy and profit opportunity for others. "The dandelion is one of the most useful and important herbs for treating cancer patients," according to a certified nutritionist and clinical master herbalist from Norwalk. Yet the lawn care industry maintains that we should dedicate ourselves to killing dandelions with 2,4-D or some other broadleaf plant killer. Unfortunately, 2,4-D has been shown in National Cancer Institute studies to increase lymphomas and other cancers in humans and has also been connected to cancer in dogs. It's a measure of our culture's rampant disconnection from nature that there's a full-scale attack on the dandelion (which might treat cancer) using an herbicide which causes cancer. I've known for a long time that dandelion leaves are a very tasty source of vitamin A, potassium and calcium. They're delicious as a snack, in a salad or sauteed in a stir-fry. Their flavor is best in the early spring before the beautiful yellow flowers appear. Those bright yellow flowers make a wonderful wine. We usually produce several gallons from the many blooms around our house. About one gallon of flowers makes a gallon of wine. Dandelion root is a diuretic. As such, it may be useful for premenstrual syndrome, high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. It is said to be good for the liver and to help prevent gallstones, too. Dandelions also provide important benefits to the ecosystem. Honeybees and at least 92 other insects collect its nectar and/or pollen. Birds are fond of its seeds. Its deep tap roots aerate the soil, bring up nutrients and are valuable to earthworms. Yet, even after several decades of defending the dandelion from ignorant and toxic attacks by lawn chemical producers, distributors, advertisers and applicators, my appreciation of this so-called "weed" is still growing. Just how and when did the dandelion become our dreaded enemy? Greed and ignorance are most likely to blame. Those who made fortunes providing the government with the chemical weapon Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, wanted to continue to profit from selling their poisons when the war ended. They converted their manufacturing facilities to civilian use, and the dandelion, a standout with its bright and cheery yellow flowers, seemed like a good target for 2,4-D, one half of Agent Orange. Unfortunately, in their push for profits, herbicide manufacturers and retailers have used simple-minded advertisements to brainwash a whole generation into believing that dandelions are the enemy. Meanwhile, drug companies comb the world's rainforests in search of some magic substance which they can isolate and duplicate in their laboratories, and then sell to cancer patients. In the long run, however, it's in our best interest to encourage understanding of local healing plants and knowledge of their use. This spring, reject industry brainwashing and "Just Say No" to herbicides! Learn about the beauties and benefits of weeds, particularly dandelions. If you'd like organic lawn care information, go to http://ct.nofa.org and select New NOFA Landcare Information, (directly via http://www.connix.com/~nofact/nofact-landcare.html). My dandelion wine recipe is at www.wshu.org/duesing. For a hard copy of both, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Dandelions, WSHU, 5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield, CT 06432. This is Bill Duesing, Living on the Earth (C) 2000, Bill Duesing, Solar Farm Education, Box 135, Stevenson, CT 06491 Bill and Suzanne Duesing operate the Old Solar Farm (raising NOFA/CT certified organic vegetables) and Solar Farm Education (working on urban agriculture projects in southern Connecticut and producing "Living on the Earth" radio programs). Their collection of essays "Living on the Earth: Eclectic Essays for a Sustainable and Joyful Future" is available from Bill Duesing, Box 135, Stevenson, CT 06491 for $10 postpaid or from Amazon.com. Now in its tenth year, "Living on the Earth" airs at 6:53 Friday mornings on WSHU, 91.1 FM Public Radio, serving Connecticut and Long Island. Essays from 1995 to the present, and an audio version of this week's essay are available at www.wshu.org/duesing. Distribution of these essays is encouraged. Reprinting rights available by request. If you are interested in receiving these weekly essays do nothing more. If you would like not to receive these mailings, please let me know.
