Dandelion Root, Kefir, and More
Yet another busy day of gardening and more. Decided it was time to thin out my dandelions to allow more room for my carrot, beet, and rutabaga seedlings to really start to take off. Always tough for me to try to decide which ones should stay and which should go as I find the dandelion to be a huge benefit to the garden. The leaves cover the soil and prevent it from drying out while the long tap roots feed valuable nutrients to the surrounding plants. Plus, I constantly harvest the leaves and flowers for use in many things from salads to stir fries, homemade soaps, even my homemade tortillas.
Today, however, it is about the roots. Chopping and drying for use in teas and medicinal tinctures.
My water kefir was ready for adding some blackberries picked back in 2014 that I pulled out of the freezer. Here it is all mixed. I put a lid on it and will let it ferment for another day to get good and bubbly.
Also shown in the first photo is a jar of garden borage leaves I just finished drying and will be added to medicinal tinctures, soaps, and my mixed greens blend, a jar of organic pinto beans soaking in filtered rain water and homemade peach vinegar to be cooked up tomorrow with cornbread (Tar Heel style), and my recent batch of veggies fermenting, mostly red cabbage and onion with a bit of carrots, red pepper, and garlic.
Well, I had better get back to work, so much more to be done today.
Thanks for taking the time!
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Looks wonderful!
:) <3
Hi, this is Samantha @avalon woodworks. I followed you over here and signed up with Steemit today. I'm very excited to learn as fast as I can. I have been thinking about actually making some videos of my own on youtube, but keep putting it off... Maybe this is what I've been looking for! It's all a little confusing, but thanks to your resteemed posts I'm learning as I go. Thanks, raincountry.
Also, great video on what to do with dandelion roots! I've been waiting for my neighbor's field of them bloom so I could make some dandelion jelly also (with the f!owers). He mowed it today, I was so disappointed😞. Guess I can still dig up the roots, so all is good.
O good! So glad you are here! Yes, it is confusing, especially when you first get started, but there are so many wonderful and helpful posts by the more experienced here that have helped me greatly. Any of those you see me resteem, check them out and make sure to follow those people too. I have learned SO much from them!
I guess you know now, after watching your video on water kifer, I am going to have to try it.
Wonderful!
I love the herbs/gifts from our creator to heal our bodies! Another awesome posting Rain!
They are so wonderful, and He is so good! Thank you weetree!
Your kefir looks so refreshing! Right now I'm addicted to picking and eating dandelion blooms haha super sweet!
So many wonderful health benefits in the whole plant! Too bad so many still see it as an obnoxious weed!
I have had the root in tincture but never in coffee have you?
I just make as a tea, not really a coffee. Personally not crazy for the flavor so I always add cinnamon, cloves, and dried orange peel when I do that.
I quit drinking coffee a couple of years ago but I still make it for my family and it's so tempting haha I'm always in search of an alternative, I guess I'll stick to tea ☕️
I do have an alternative to coffee that I find quite good that involves cacao powder, ashwaganda root powder, maca root powder, and spices. We mix with water and milk, sometimes just water. It is a matter of taste. I will be posting the recipe sometime soon. It gives me TONS of energy that lasts all day :D
I can't wait to read your post! I use aswaganda on an almost daily basis in my post yoga tea!
Wonderful stuff! I love lacto-fermentation and dandelions are so awesome and helpful. I also make kefir and kombucha, etc. Great post, fellow homesteader!
Wonderful! Thank you!
I would hope you would follow me too, as I am sure you will enjoy many of my upcoming posts
Yep! Already have :D
There is lots of evidence pointing to the importance of fermented vegetables being critical to good health.
http://articles.mercola.com/fermented-foods.aspx
In one of the many articles about fermented foods, Mercola talks about using probiotic "starters", it may be worth reading up on to see if your kefir grains can be used that way to supercharge your veggies.
Be proud of how resourceful you are.
Thank you blindsquirl! I actually make my own fermentation starter out of berries, grapes, or whatever. Here is my post (with video) about how I do it, I was going to link it in the post but forgot to:
https://steemit.com/fermentation/@raincountry/make-your-own-fermentation-starter