Shopping for greens in the backyard

I started the day in a foul mood, but scrounging around for free food in the backyard with the sun beating gently on my back somehow made those yucky feelings melt away. I had one of those giant mixed organic salad green plastic containers that was almost empty, so I grabbed it and begin filling it with scavenged goodies.

These gorgeous flowers started to pop up in our small stretch of back lawn the other day. I thought they might be violets because of their heart-shaped leaves, and the shape of the flowers, but I wasn't sure since they were mostly white, with hints of blues and purples. After willing them to be violets for a day or two, and some internet research, it turns out they are a type of blue violet. On the herbal intensive recordings I've been listening to Jim went on and on about how important eating bitters is, and he gave violets as a tasty and nutritive example. He also talked about how bitters might be good to help clear funks. Did I make that up? Either way, my funk was cleared. It's so exciting to be able to listen to what Jim says on the recordings, and have it finally seem to make sense. Not that it didn't make sense before, but I feel more connected now. To the material, to the world around me--things are just in place.

In with the violet flowers and leaves went hefty amounts of dandelion greens, which although they flowers aren't popping up in my yard yet, I did notice some full yellow heads next door at Carl and Mariuca's. For good measure, I put in a smattering of purple deadnettle and chickweed as I came across it. Also, grabbed some kale that is now looking quite tasty after making it through the winter. The bottom leaves are still covered in aphids and gnats, but the top growth seems to be free of pests. This salad, accompanied with roasted carrots and beets, was the perfect reward after spending the afternoon prepping and planting gardens at Amit's house. Dig in!