Some call them “aliens”, some call them “invasive species”, some call them “noxious”, some call them names that are not fit for the ears of gentle readers, some pull them out by their hair or their roots and some even poison them.But some of us love them! We love for the very reasons others don't. We love them for their stubbornness, we love them for their tenacity, we love them for their resilience, we love them for their abundant availability, we love them for their uncommon beauty, we love them for their food and we love them for their medicine.....we love them, we love them, we love them for many, many reasons!
Weeds are to the plant world what pioneers are to the people world – they come from somewhere else. Unlike native plants (and people) they are not indigenous to the landscapes they call home. In fact, many of the weeds in North America were purposely brought here by the pioneers, being used as food or medicine in their country of origin or, they simply hitched a free ride on an unsuspecting host - animal fur, clothing, soil etc. (For all their immobility plants have incredibly amazing ways and means of getting around!)
And Just like the people/pioneers who introudeced them, they more than thrived in their new homes. And some even kinda “took over”. (Hmmm....at some point we'll discuss the parallels between the plant world and the people world). At any rate, they are here to stay, for better or worse – it's a matter of perspective. And from a Herbalist's perspective it's more better than it is worse. Let's find out why......
To be continued...
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