Melissa Mango’s Take On Wild Greens!

MelissaMango Where the Wild things are BY Melissa Mango

Today there is more buzz about “re-wilding” and it is not just about stripping down to your free self and bounding through the Forrest. Although that is much needed! Adding more truly “wildly grown” foods into your daily meals will take your raw food meals to the next level. So how do we re-wild ourselves while in the city habitat? Well, here is what I did today and I am certain you can do the same.

I live just outside Santa Cruz in a small neighborhood and have a large untamed yard. Our space around our home was just dirt when we moved in nine months ago. We have not sprayed, dumped any yuck into the soil or used city water. Aside from planting our own garden beds, we let what wanted to grow just GROW for it! We had kamikaze tomato plants under the deck, wild roses springing up next to the kale and huge thistles the size of Christmas trees bushing out amongst the peppers. It was like a treasure hunt.

Wild greens are easy to find when you consciously look and notice they are everywhere for the grabbin’! Thing is, most people today pull up, burn or spray these nourishing plants because they don’t recognize them as food or even “pretty” for their landscape. It is a shame we have been programmed to snub our noises at these wild foods commonly referred to as pesky “weeds”. Wild edibles are free food! These amazing plants do not need to be cultivated in order to offer abounding health benefits. Unlike our average food supply that would not last in the wild, these “weeds” are far more superior when it come to nutrition.

Wild greens are packed, I mean super pumped with protein and other medicinal properties from the wild. This is great news for women and mother’s to be especially. Here are some examples of wild greens even you could find right this nano-second by rooting around in your back yard or un sprayed hiking trails.

Meet the Mighty Mulva: This “weed” grows like wildfire! The petals are all sizes and resemble a Lilly pad. Malva Leaf is said to help loosen and expel phlegm and congestion from the lungs. It aids the body in expelling excess fluid and mucus, and because of its soothing, demulcent qualities, it not only removes phlegm, it also acts to soothe and relieve inflammation of the larynx and tonsils, dry coughs, sore throat, hoarseness, lung catarrh, bronchitis, asthma, emphysema and irritation of respiratory passages.

Lovely Lambs quarter: Sometimes growing as high as waist high with thin branches, this very common walk way snack strengthens our immune system. The only weed that round up cannot kill is you guessed it! Lambs quarter! This tender leaf is high in Vit A and C and calcium.

King Daddy Dandylion: The leaves amongst this ever famous yellow flower use to be used to treat liver issues such as jaundice, gall stones. This thin bitter green works wonders for a congested lymphatic system, breast sores and swelling, and ulcers. Good news for breastfeeding mother’s! The dandylion can help with suppresses lactation, as well as come to the rescue with delayed menstruation.

With all the magic that awaited in these free greens, who can turn down a delicious wild green smoothie everyday to support your health?

Here is the recipe or the WILD smoothie I made today.

Wild thing smoothies Served 2 or 1 very hungry yard snacker

2 c tree ripened organic mangos

1/2 c local frozen strawberries

1/2 c organic blueberries

2 loose cups of back yard kale with stem

3 palm sized mulva leaves

2 c pure water

½ loose cup lambs quarter leaves only

1 TB truly raw honey (for optional sweetness)

Step 1: Place all ingredients into blender. Blend till smooth.