Who decides what's a weed, anyway? These bastards are a lot hardier than my turf grass and I say it's about time we found a use for 'em. Sure, we use some, but not enough.

The government, in conjunction with representatives from several major corporations (from various industries), should form a research institute to identify more potential uses for (currently) undesireable plants.
-- phoenix, Aug 24 2001

Dandelion Tea http://www.sbherbals.com/0497HotM.html
One use for a weed, but can it make me rich? [phoenix, Aug 24 2001, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Weed Council http://www.infomagi...ouncil/weedhome.htm
We don't make this stuff up. [The Military, Aug 24 2001, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Does anyone have anything good to say about weeds? http://ndwild.psych...s/weeds/weeds2.html
Good things weeds do. [NHstud1216, Aug 24 2001, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Another use for a weed. http://wine.about.c...es/bl_dandelion.htm
And it can get you drunk. [angel, Aug 24 2001, last modified Oct 21 2004]

... as in the classic Bradbury novel http://www.amazon.c...102-2199695-3199305
Bradbury at his most nostalgic and least sciffy. [Guy Fox, Aug 24 2001, last modified Oct 21 2004]

The Weed Council decides what's a weed. It also says they are useless.
-- The Military, Aug 24 2001


My front lawn is about 95% weed. It's weed, but it's green. Green looks better down dirt, which is brown, and my grass, which is yellow.
-- NHstud1216, Aug 24 2001


I don't care about weeds covering and devouring my lawn, just not my parent's garden and flowers.
-- NHstud1216, Aug 24 2001


Weeds aren't totally bad. Check my link.
-- NHstud1216, Aug 24 2001


Mephista: Me neither. And I like clover, sour dock, chickweed, and bitter cress, all of which are 'weeds'. Don't like brambles, Scotch broom, poison oak, or thistles, though. Being of a skeptical, iconoclastic bent, I will graciously allow the Weed Council to judge the plants in their own lawns but not mine. Like Rods Tiger, I shall have a Republic of My Lawn.
-- Dog Ed, Aug 24 2001


The trouble with those 'wonderful fluffy seed puffs that you blow' is that they tend to land in the gardens of people who are somewhat less dandelion-tolerant than [Meph] or [Dog Ed].
-- angel, Aug 24 2001


What would childhood be without brambles to pick and eat (and get nasty stomach bugs), thistles and nettles to be stung by, dock leaves to rub on the stings, dandelions to puff on (anybody else know these as "pee-the-beds"?), daisies to make daisy-chains, crab-apples to throw at your friends, sticky-willies to cover your clothes with, buttercups to hold under your chin, poisonous toadstools to be warned against by your mum, etc., etc.? "Weeds" seems a pretty arbitrary term to me - at least when it comes to these native species. The invaders are another story.
-- Guy Fox, Aug 24 2001


It's been a dream of mine for some years now to have a garden filled with carefully arranged, well-tended sets of weeds. Not a big dream, but it's all I have...
-- -alx, Aug 24 2001


ummm, herb.
-- po, May 27 2002


Dandelion flowers are good to eat. Dredge them in flour with a little salt and pepper, and quick fry them in a skillet. Americans ate them in Colonial times. They taste like brussels sprouts to me.
-- Mogo, Aug 22 2003


My tortoise loves dandelions. As a result we have none in our yard. Problem is, it's always felt a bit rude to go over to a friend's house and complement them on their great dandelion crop, then ask to take some home.
-- Worldgineer, Aug 22 2003



random, halfbakery