Why We Need Weeds
NOTE: If you read my previous blog on “Why Messy Gardens are the Best Gardens,” you already know I promised to follow up “On the Benefits of Weeds.” Please note the title of this particular blog is “Why We Need Weeds” to keep my promise to my readers.
Farmers and gardeners alike have been told and over-told that weeds are evil and must be eradicated, and that one must make every effort possible to get rid of them. “No matter what it takes.”
One can walk into any garden center, farm supply store, big box catch-all store, or even certain “super” markets, to purchase chemicals of all kinds: fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, pesticides, or other horrifying products for lawn and garden “care,” and weed and pest “control.”
I call this the “take a pill” sales pitch. All you have to do is bring it home and spray it, sprinkle it, seed it, pour it, or swallow it, and all will be well in your tiny ecosystem. NOT.
Whether it’s an employee touting the supposed benefits of using these hideous products or the flashy packaging and prose selling these products for the ‘quick fix’ you are looking for, I assure you it’s ALL WRONG. These products are just among many, many products they want you to buy to make a few, or a lot of bucks.
So, let’s talk about weeds and why we actually need them. (I will try not to get too geeky here.)
The roots of weeds (that folks are always trying to rip out) actually absorb nutrients and help move those nutrients to the soil’s surface where other plants can more easily access them. There are also carbon-creating weeds that increase water retention, nutrient levels and organic matter in the soil when they die. So, why do folks rip them out by the roots and then buy materials like dyed mulches and other bagged products to cover the gardens? Beats me.
Remember how I wrote in the last blog that “if you don’t cover the soil, Nature’s going to do it for you?” Well, that’s yet another reason we need weeds! By growing over exposed or eroded soils, weeds are protecting the soil and even providing habitat for beneficial organisms whose presence is absolutely essential to the natural, biological control of pests in the garden. No chemicals required. Go figure!
Still not convinced? Read on.
There are plenty of weeds with benefits, too. I have always found it interesting that they seem to grow right where they are needed and offer us plenty of ways to use them to our benefit. I’ll list and describe a few that grow around here to prove it to you:
Plantain: You can find these just about everywhere. They are an excellent antiseptic, naturally antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and also an astringent. Very nutritious, too. We use the fresh leaves for insect stings, bites, cuts, scrapes, and more. The cows love to eat it, too!
Comfrey: Wonderful for lung (as an expectorant), and intestinal support, and also for healing wounds. We use the leaves and roots. Also worth noting, comfrey leaves are great for compost-making, too!
Dandelion: It makes a wonderful tonic to detox the liver, assists the urinary tract system, helps maintain clear skin, and so many other things. Dandelion is loaded with magnesium and zinc!
Lemon Balm: These gorgeous lime colored and lemon scented leaves are antibacterial and antiviral, all while attracting the pollinators! This weed aids in digestion, can be used to induce perspiration, and reduces fevers. It’s good for the heart and the liver, and is also a mood-balancer. We make teas using this lovely weed that always makes our favorites list!
Chicory: Aside from being an attractive composite flower, its most popular use is as an alternative to coffee, or the roots are ground to be added to coffee. The leaves are also eaten in parts of Europe. We use the flowers to decorate salads, baked goods, and more!
Miner’s Lettuce: A most delicious crunchy weed for salads and it is loaded with vitamins A and C, and is a good source of iron. We enjoy it alone or as an addition to our salads for texture and interest. YUM!
I could keep going, but I think you all get the idea. Weeds are among the most interesting plants, but yet they get a bad rap. Each plant has a purpose and Nature is incredibly deft at placement. Nothing is random in Nature. And the wildlife knows it as they too are huge beneficiaries.
Since weeds produce an abundance of flowers and seeds, they are a vital part of the farm ecosystem, and along with agricultural crops, provide forage to over 350 species of insects, birds and animals. In addition, weeds increase the biodiversity of the overall farm ecosystem, which is integral to maintaining healthy populations of beneficial soil microorganisms (MO). In turn, these MOs build amazing soil and feed crop plants for the farmers! And we are grateful every day!
In the next blog, as we lean toward Spring, I will share some helpful garden planning ideas and provide resources to inspire you all the way into the growing season.