I have enjoyed spring thistles as a juice. Fresh clean leaves, packed into the blender with a pear or other fruit (and herbs) and water. Blend well, then strain thru a cloth and enjoy. Thank you for the other suggestions.
That sounds really refreshing. :) We did revisit thistles in this video if you want more ideas - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-pqPj7S-UhyA.htmlsi=59bQJ37_NJHCFA5U
Great video, oh and greetings from Ireland. I don't know if the common European Sow Thistle has invaded Canada & USA, Sonchus Oleraceus it is much more succulent and less spiny/spiky, if you thinly slice the roots along with thin slices of Burdock ( Arctium Lappa) and the same sliced Dandelion root ( Taraxacum Officinale) cook as you did your thistle root it makes for a good side dish with fish etc. Sow Thistle stems and de-spiked leaves are good too.
Good video! Just now found it. All aspects are appreciated. The knowledge, labor, honesty, humor, relaxing background music, bravery I will certainly munch on some young thistles this spring along with my violets, creeping Charlie, hen bit, dandelion, clovers, oh so bitter burdock, and other backyard monstrosities as well as garden experiments. It's really tough to get food that is tasty or caloric enough without some major cheating
Thank you! There is an amazing amount of edible food out there but it’s true that most of it is lower in calories. Nuts & seeds would be more helpful in that area. We’re hoping to experiment with some bur acorns soon!
We live in the Rocky Mountains. The county just sent us a weed warning. Yep. We have about an acre of Bee Balm with some thistle mixed with it. Then the occasional lone thistles that have blown. The letter stated that our county considers them noxious and that we have to kill them. I DONT SPRAT ANY CHEMICALS on my 8 acres. No way. I also have edibles and medicinals from my property....I have a glorious assortment! I am soooo angry about this letter! I actually believe they have misidentified my bee balm as thistle because they haven't actually walked up to the flowers. At any rate...the letter told us we will be fined and they will spray if we don't.
Oh that’s a real shame! I’m sorry to hear that. I don’t know where to find wild bee balm here (though it is native to the area) so I planted a small patch in my flower bed this year. I do hope you don’t have to resort to chemical sprays.
We have neighbors that have Japanese knot weed. They have been told the same thing that they have to spray it or the county will so I’m curious where you live. I’m in Northern Idaho. However, I looked up Japanese knot weed, it is very invasive, but all of it is very edible and full like loaded with natural resvaretrol (sp?)
You're welcome! :) We did revisit thistles in this video if you want more - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-pqPj7S-UhyA.htmlsi=59bQJ37_NJHCFA5U
@@DeepWoodsDietitian yes I do eat them. I carefully peel away the outer fibrous layers on the stem then chop the inner into short sections and add to a stew then cook for about 15 minutes. I'm presently on the hunt for a tool, something similar to an apple corer but with the blade on the inside so that I can cut the stems in two lengthwise then drag the adapted apple corer through the pith for eating.
Thanks! We did try a second video. (Thistle Feast - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-pqPj7S-UhyA.html) And I’m still experimenting a bit. 😊
I have thistle growing for the first time outside my house. Besides knowing now that I can eat them, I wanted to ask what is the best way to preserve some of the flowers while they are so colorful and beautiful? I've always loved how beautiful the flower look.
I agree they are pretty. I haven't tried drying them myself but perhaps I will try this year too. I would think you'd want to get them when they are in early bloom so that they don't turn to fluff on you. This method seems feasible - www.ehow.com/how_5649279_dry-thistle.html Good luck! I'd love to know how you make out. :)
Just seen a video from someone else, they peeled the outer skin off and then sliced like a cuke to remove the ‘vines’ I guess that’s in there. He also added salt and pepper to it. The pant was also bigger than the one you shown. It’s was almost 2 feet and the stalk was much bigger/thicker. A year ago. But hopefully you still get updates on new comments lol😅
I'm in tx. The thistle flowers here aren't fluffy. I sautee my greens or boil in a stew. I've only tried the leaves. Btw, why not make the leaves and stems into a pesto? Ud be using raw leaves and get more nutrients that way
@@DeepWoodsDietitian yeah, sometimes when I cook thistle it gets really bitter. I sautee with things like onion, sweet peppers, and carrots to try to cut that. That, and cook with things like cabbage and chard from my potted herb and beg garden. Btw, I foraged some purslain and some of the samples had nice roots attached so I replanred in my potted herb and veg garden as a easy resource and to double as a natural mulch to protect plants that the tx summer heat might kill. It's suprising what u can do with a bit of thinongboutside the box
@@missyleonis Nice! I keep a patch of lambs quarters in my garden but the ground cover is a great idea. No purslane in my yard but I did plant a few seeds in my garden tower to try it.
Cirsium arvense has been used traditionally as medicine for conditions ranging from hemorrhoids to Tuberculosis, but data is limited. It is thought to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Please make sure to consult your health professional team before adding wild medicines to your diet.
@@DeepWoodsDietitian ty for responding , I have tried three times now to make the wild lettuce pain salve and three times I have nothing left , I follow what they say to do but what a hoot sure don’t give me a black salve to put into a jar. Thought just slapped me , could this be happening cause we have very hard city water ? Your thoughts is greatly appreciated. I don’t have a quack , I trust my body to God to be healed by his medicines He has provided for us
I’ve made plantain salve and find it to be helpful, but I’ve never tried wild lettuce salve. Your water type may be a factor, you could try a batch with distilled water and compare. We have well water here so the minerals sometimes change the results of projects.
I can't speak from experience but I do know that many weeds are nutritious for chickens. Stinging nettle for example. www.raising-happy-chickens.com/identifying-weeds-for-chickens.html
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I just pulled all mine up. I hate to do it but I can't walk barefoot in my yard with these and that was my priority. I am sure the other edibles will take up the slack. Shame about the viciousness on my toes.
… I’m guessing this particular thistle doesn’t have medicinal benefits as does the Milk Thistle … ? … since you liked the purée, I would suggest making it into a pesto …
I haven’t done extensive reading on the medicinal properties but I do know Cirsium arvense has been traditionally used to treat a number of conditions including toothaches, worms, indigestion and tuberculosis. Thanks for the pesto suggestion!
