Bigfoot's Friend

Growing up in America, we were all told that dandelions are an invasive weed that is good for nothing but ruining the beautiful pure-grass lawn that your parents worked so hard to achieve. We were told not to spread the seeds, and to pull them from yards and garden beds to be thrown away.

The secret truth about dandelions is that they were specifically brought to America from Europe for a few highly beneficial reasons that have been lost throughout the generations.

Today we’re going to discuss the truth about dandelions and the ideas that were pushed on us to defeat the true purpose of this incredible plant!

Dandelions Native Home

Given how plentiful dandelions are in America, you’d think they were native to this land, but that is not the case.

Today you can find dandelions all over the world, but back in the early 1600’s this plant was really only found in European and Asian countries.

Dandelions are believed to have been brought to American on the Mayflower in 1620. These plants were brought specifically for the benefits of food and medicine because this flower is so easy-going and capable of growing in any soil type and many different environmental conditions.

Why Dandelions Are Important

Dandelions have become an important part of our ecosystems and lives. From medicine and food, to the impacts they have on the environment and wildlife, dandelions play an important role in our lives.

Bees Rely On Dandelions

Since dandelions have been a major contributor in our ecosystems for well over 100 years, the native plants, animals, and insects here in America have grown to rely on them for a variety of environmental factors; one of the most important being pollen for bees and butterflies.

We all know that many species of bees have been fighting extinction for a while now, and the death of the dandelion is absolutely a contributing factor. Help the bees by growing some dandelions in your yard this year!

Health Benefits & Medicinal Uses of Dandelion

Dandelions are rich in a variety of important vitamins and minerals, including:

• A, C, K, and E vitamins.
• Folate
• Iron
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Potassium

As well as holding properties which can be used as remedies for ailments such as:

• Blood Pressure – Dandelions are rich in potassium, which is a mineral known to assist in decreasing high-blood pressure levels.
• Inflammation – Dandelions contain polyphenols which are a group of plant-based compounds that directly assists in reducing inflammation due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Constipation – Dandelions have properties that support the growth of necessary gut bacteria in the digestive system to help with digestive health.
• Blood Sugar Levels – Some studies have been done that show active compounds which can improve blood-sugar levels and increase insulin secretion!
• Heart Disease – Cholesterol decreasing compounds have been found in dandelions which could directly improve heart health.
• Immune Health – Research has found dandelion extracts to slow the spread of viruses, and protect against bacteria, making dandelions a helpful immunity booster.

_{*I am not a doctor and all medical advice should be given by a doctor; do not make medical decisions based off strangers on the internet, always check with your doctor first. Read more at the bottom of the page.}

How To Eat Dandelions

Dandelions can be enjoyed in many forms, the most popular ways are:

• Teas – The entire dandelion (roots, leaves, and flower) can all be dried and crushed to be used in delicious herbal teas.
• Salads – Dandelion leaves make a perfect salad base, and you can even throw in the flowers to add a pop of color!
• Fried – Fried dandelions are a wild delicacy, simply bread and fry your dandelion flowers for a yummy snack or side dish.
• Tinctures – Many people make tinctures from dandelions to extract the medicinal properties for home-made medicine.

Why We Were Lied To

Humanity was once grateful to have as such a prolific resource, whereas these days, not only are we not being educated about the importance of this plant, but we are being actively encouraged to destroy its species.

Which begs the question: Why?

Discouraging Self Sustainability

Well, in today’s society where profits matter more than nearly anything else for most companies, HOA’s, and even some individuals – there are inconspicuous moves being made every day to encourage us to be more reliant on big-box companies rather than our local lands, and to drive us to spend more money instead of learning practices to self-sustain and feed or heal ourselves without the high costs of modern medicine and grocery stores.

Modern Lawns Are Killing Dandelions

Back in the late 1800’s with the start of the Industrial Revolution, America adopted the societal practice from Europe of having neatly manicured lawns as a status-symbol, which eventually evolved into the simple image of the American dream.

Having a lawn meant that you had enough money and land that you had the means to maintain developed land for no purpose other than to look nice, during a time where most people were using as much of their land as they could for gardens, crops, and livestock to keep their families sustained.

This idea that having a manicured lawn makes you appear more well-off than having vegetables or “weeds” in front of your home has only compounded throughout the generations. Today there are people struggling to feed their families, while still being required to spend money on lawn care to comply with HOA and rental agreements, and many individuals who rent are simply not allowed to plant gardens on land they don’t own.

Weed Killer Is More Profitable Than Free Seeds

From landscaping companies and weed-control products to home owners associations and rental companies, money is being made off the destruction of the dandelion, whether the people profiting from it realize that or not.

The downfall of the dandelion was not necessarily planned by any singular company or individual, but it is part of a greater societal scheme to keep us reliant on cash instead of real items of value like food, medicine, and individual freedoms.

One of the best things you can do to fight this propaganda and reverse the societal strains which are being placed upon us, is to let the weeds grow! Make a wish on a dandelion, and let your yard become a sea of yellow!

Let The Dandelions Grow!

Overall, dandelions have been an important piece of the environmental puzzle for many years. With education on self sustainability becoming more popular, I believe our generation can bring back the relevance of the dandelion and regain the full potential that they offer.

So next time you see dandelions popping up in your yard, instead of heading to the store for more pesticides and weed-killer, try letting them grow, feed some bees, and then feed yourself – for free!

Relying on the land and on ourselves is the best way to save money, take our independence back, and to stop conforming to the money-hungry culture that we live in.

Thanks for reading, happy foraging!

-Jessica C.