why dandelions are an excellent permaculture plant

[@Paullionman]

This is cool. I'm always blown away by how close some of these plants are together - dandelion and garlic. Garlic I always though shies away from other nutrient-heavy crops. I would love to see what those garlic bulbs look like. I am jumping into a masters of science, plant agriculture and have found some advisors that are willing to let me do research on edible forest gardening. Looking forward to adding some scientific evidence support to this great work! Thanks, Paul!

[@patrickboyle7067]

Fantastic! My garden in rural Ireland is full of Dandelions and I love them, they're so important for bees early in the year.

[@paulwheaton]

I found a place that sells dandelion seeds. Different varieties. I am going to plant lots of different kinds of dandelions. for me to eat. For my animals to eat. For wildlife to eat (because they love it so much). And by doing this, I reduce the amount of native plant habitat that is destroyed to produce food for me and my animals, etc. In fact, the only real problem I have is that grazing animals like it so much, they can easily wipe out all dandelion.

[@redoleary]

Great! I remember as a small child going out in the Spring with my grandmother back in Nebraska and gathering things for a Spring Tonic she called it. I don't know what else she put in it, but I do remember the Dandelions.

[@clangerbasher]

In the UK there is a traditional drink called "dandelion and burdock". Many here in the past thought me when I sung the praises of the dandelion.

[@jimsiefert898]

Sean, just pick a spot for a bed and make a little huglekultur bed, also called woody beds. It doesn't have to be three feet tall. Start with wood/branches, cover with soil & compost, plant whatever you want that grows in your area. Check with your local nursery for that info if you're not sure or better yet, head over to the permies.com forum.

[@rosecoveney634]

The best tasting dandelion are the very young before they grow a flower. Many years ago my Mom would pick them and make a salad out of them or, she would steam them and add beaten eggs. Delicious and healthy. Because the root grows so deep they pick up a lot of healthy minerals and if they are a little, that makes them even healthier.

[@whitecut]

But more importantly... If you blow all the seeds off in one breath you can make a wish!

[@TheRoninshaman]

I make dandelion wine with white raisins. Everyone who has tried it loves it.

[@Pepper5655]

I love learning more about plants, I've learned the importance of some plants that we have always thought of as a nuisance. I now desire and look for some of those plants I use to cuss and pull up and destroy them. Amazing the things we don't know sometimes, or was taught incorrectly at first. Thnx for sharing so more us can learn the wonders of nature.

[@paulwheaton]

Is your mind open or are you focused on self-justification? Dandelion is an excellent plant for polyculture. It is a soil builder. Not only is it edible, but it is a prefered food source for herbivores, both wildlife and domestic animals. I remain a powerful advocate of the joy that comes from blowing a dandelion puff ball. This plant is a superhero in nature and in permaculture. I fully intend to work with nature and embrace dandelions.

[@montanariches]

Thank you for this wonderful video! We too LOVE Dandelions and promote their growth in our organic garden. We enjoy using the whole plant (except stems) to make wine, jelly, syrup, tea, and raw/frozen greens all year! they are the most useful and abundant part of our garden that the honey bees love...and all for FREE, what a gift! :)

[@WildUtahEdibles]

The flavor will depend on where it grows and how fast. It is not a matter of the size or shape of the leaf but more about how long the leaf has been alive. In stressful, low water areas the bigger the more bitter.

[@paulwheaton]

If you wanna do something in your backyard, start with hugelkultur. As for a permaculture 101: there are several schools of thought on how to teach that. And when you ask for a video ... well .... there's a reason why a PDC lasts two weeks. I try to teach with the less popular technique of sharing hundreds of tidbits. I think my current videos are good at getting a person started. And the podcasts are more detailed/advanced.

[@ZacharyRodriguez]

Just gained a new appreciation for dandelions. Very informative! Thank you!

[@jamesprigioni]

I demand to meet Sepp Holzer before I die. He is such a character with literally infinite gardening and land management wisdom

[@auroraglacialis]

Yes - he says that the salad will grow in front of the door - and in front of the kitchen (probably his kitchen has a door to the garden, which makes sense). Myself - I am not so tolerant towards bitterness even though I am European, so I am not so much a fan of eating dandelion leafs. Sometimes they are also quite fibrous. There seem to be different subspecies, if one can get large, young leafs, they are good, small leafs are often fibrous and old leafs are bitter - thats my experience

[@jamesoliver5688]

The TRUTH Is beautiful ! They are full of wonderful life benefiting nutrients ! I love the blossoms in a salad and the roots ! OMG ! THANK YOU !

[@kauboi0]

I think I have to translate Sepp Holzers words (for his typical Austrian dialect is difficault to understand-even for native germans :) starting at 8:18 : 'So when these dandellion seeds land on that bare soil [bloooww...], you will have your dandellion salad right in front of the door-its a simple thing'

[@caveatemp]

Wow to Alexia for such a huge dandelion! What a great bunch of tree huggers. Dandelion has long been my totem plant. Growing up in Illinois they were always around in great numbers. Since moving to Tennessee I had to work hard at inviting them to my yard. Not great success but have since discovered chicory which grows big and beautiful here.

[@benjoseph8387]

Thank God for this People's Medicine!

[@Gunnarsguns]

I just made a dandelion,burdock root,garlic kimchi..doesnt taste bad at all.

[@BattyKellen]

I have had a long, tempestuous relationship with dandelions. I hated the little bastards and have killed fairly millions in my lifetime to "spruce up" the yard. Now I feel bad. Spring is well underway and I'll look out for them. Next seed puff I find will be blown to the four winds.

[@brooksiereinhard5339]

Just recently found your channel...I am LOVING your videos.

[@gfol70]

Awesome - I recently got my hands on a French cultivar from Richters in Ontario Canada. Selected for its tenderness and size. Still contains all the good stuff though.

[@MiWilderness]

I liked Samantha Lewis' remarks on the roasted dandelion root. :)

[@curiosity19]

I used to HATE dandelions in my yard, now I'm going to leave them alone, so I can gather their seeds and plant them in pots for consumption =)

[@hastingr]

Paul! I love this video. It was cute, entertaining and educational!

[@theflamingpearl]

the flowers are high in lecithin too! yum yum for the whole plant!

[@poodleoodle7689]

Love dandelions in the garden, attracts the bees!

[@psbjr]

Another use for dandelion is the early flowers. They're likely one of the first flowers you see in early spring. They also accumulate k, p, ca, cu, and fe, and their foliage shelters parasitoid wasps, which control many common pests.

[@shadfurman]

I planted salsify then I was talking to my neighbor and he confirmed, I already had salsify in my yard. He was incredulous I planted a "weed". I live in southern Wyoming. I asked him why everyone thought the few plants that grow well were considered weeds, especially when they're edible (dandelions, salsify, Russian olive, sage). He looked at me like I was speaking another language. I've noticed if the dandelions are in the shade the leaves grow bigger, I've heard people claim that in places with hot summers you can plant a lot of greens in the shade, and the leaves will grow bigger to get more sun. My pallet hasn't adjusted, I eat my dandelions (flower, stem, leaves, root) as a green smoothie, diluted with other veggies with lemon, ginger, turmeric, and pepper.

[@aviansoul]

Who knew?! Everyone but me, apparently... another informative video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge y'all!

[@RickLarsonPermacultureDesigner]

Worshiping the dandelion. Very nice.

[@jamiG4]

OMG, Paul!! This is Chock Full o' Information! I'm not even finished watching but I LOVE it!! Keep it up, friend.

[@ScalerWave]

Great video. Dandelions are an amazing plant. I'll have to read up more on the medicinal properties of the roots.

[@joecrablone286]

Dandelion 'coffee' is made from older roots, not younger.

[@FightUni09]

I like the roots stir fried too. Great Vid

[@BornRandy62]

there is a plant called Cat's Ear that is often misidentified as dandelion. the roadside dandelion used as the example was actually cat's ear. it has adapted to lay flat on the ground to avoid machinery. well probably some other reason but that is the apparent cause. probably to avoid grazing animals.

[@stumblinglaughing]

One of new favorites from you! Thanks Paul!

[@neapedoff]

Another great one, Paul- way to go!

[@how0she0sparkles]

Great information, and nicely edited too. You've made me rethink my position on yet another "weed."

[@wendyjomendy]

Gosh why can't I be little again and blow dandelions all day? An office employee brought in the most magnificent salad I ever had but when I bit a dandelion I went into shock at the bitterness but once the nurses in the office told me how good they are for you I was sold and finished my salad. This salad was the best it had tangerines poppy seed dressing lemon chicken and all kinds of leaves and lettuce. On the side we had toasted lemon butter french bread mmm mmm good!

[@Hannahcode1]

Thanks for posting this, we personally enjoy several 'weeds'. We give thanks to the Lord and creator for many,many natural healers!

[@paulpellicci]

I used to eat the flowers fresh picked, but, I looked at the flower real close and saw several very tiny yellow bugs........but I got over it...

[@The_Gallowglass]

Yeah, never eat the stems. They have a natural liquid rubber that doesn't sit well in your stomach. You can, however, use it for skin abrasions and warts and other things.

[@garyv2498]

I already "liked" this video before the reference to Sam Thayer, that was nice! (love his book) I'm also not normally a big softy, but that kid blowing on the Dandelion is cut as hell.

[@woosddotcom]

Sounds like a plan. Thanks Jim

[@jamiG4]

Yes, Jamie, that was a good video.

[@skagol]

This was great. Thank you. I will never see dandelions the same way again. Also - really appreciate your mix of kindness whilst not hesitating to laugh in people's faces. PAHAHAHAHAHA

[@SavageNorthGarden]

Gonna have to try dandelions- after all I do like to drink! Tea sounds doable too...

[@daimyo5]

Great video! Please keep them coming. I have to agree with Kauboi0, that Sepp Holzers dialect is difficult to understand. I should comment that dandelions have increased my stomach acid production. If I have a lot of stress, from modern society, dandelions will give me acid reflux.

[@fire7side]

I boil them with plantain and have them all summer. I mow my yard in pieces so there are always some to pick.

[@CutestHeidi]

wow I am learning so much! loving the videos

[@coven5803]

Thanks Paul Great Video!

[@jamesprigioni]

beautiful Paul! I may do a video response to this one lol

[@klarastern5597]

I will eat some this summer for the 1st time... :)

[@1timothydillon]

They are not the first bee food of the season, my crocus' have come and gone before dandelions start to flower. Bees can also collect from tree tops weeks to months before dandelions emerge.

[@SlashHappyOgre]

I love these things.

[@BonnieBlue2A]

I've noticed that while I have plenty of dandelion and plantain growing in the yard, that out in the pasture they are lacking. Is this because fescue will choke it out or is it something else? I'll try to distribute some dandelion seed out in the pastures and see if they have any success.

[@asecondisahiccup]

That was a good video.

[@paulwheaton]

You need to watch the video I have with Toby Hemenway talking about native plants.

[@KentuckyFarmstead]

ahubbard 205 He's a wildcrafter/cultivator/seller of all kinds of herbs/natural medicines and I think he sells the root in dry form along with all of the other things he supplies. I remember seeing him in one of Lord Wheaton's other videos talking about the $900 profit. Paul, thanks for the upload. I took a "eat the weeds" class at our local library last summer and I've been eating them in salads ever since. Your video gave me more ideas to try (I never knew you could eat the whole plant)

[@Jwmultimedia]

Bitter vegetables are very important for the liver and big part of Indian Cuisine! Get used to it!

[@ingeleonora-denouden6222]

I'm going to pick some dandelion leaves and eat them. Right now. See you later.

[@woosddotcom]

Thanks for the vids Paul. I think I've watched most of them. Do you have any vids on permaculture 101 for us newbies? I'd love to start doing something in my backyard but don't quite know where to start. Thanks!

[@cuddlypets]

This is great. Thank you

[@SimpleUnhookedLiving]

Great show and thanks or not swinging the camera all around this time, lol.

[@nereidapr1]

I didn't know that you can eat dandelions. That's great. see if I try it.

[@xdrfox]

The leaves are huge, ..how long have they been growing to that size ?

[@vention4wh]

I like dandelions but I hate the false dandelions that bloom later in the season. They have very rubbery looking leaves. I have a nice weeder but I'm waiting till late summer for when the false dandelions start blooming. Then they're outa here!. I've got lambs quarters and wild onions growing in my yard too.

[@macplastering]

great vid guys

[@paulwheaton]

The translators were all laughing and thought he said something really funny. He did say something about a kitchen, right?

[@EricvdPlank]

So i have a plant witg an iron dificiency; can I chop and drop a dandelion near that plan to provide it with the needed iron?

[@Travos69]

Yes, young man. It was a good video. : )

[@WilliamAlanPhoto]

I thought this video was too long... until the last part... then it was too short! hahaha... Where and to whom do you sell $900 worth of dandelions to!? Kidding aside... I enjoyed this video. I've eaten the leaves, but haven't tried other parts yet.

[@RefuseForced2Link]

Not suspicious at all. It's easy to find your answer...go to any organic herb web shop and look up things like dandelion root or corn silk. Seems even things we normally throw away like corn silk has some value to it. I have a catalog from mountainroseherbs that sells organic corn silk for $11 a pound.

[@dennislabbe2538]

Love it.

[@Haloskeeper1]

Interesting!

[@paulwheaton]

Anonymous ... no uploads ... cannot be bothered to look it up on google ... Suspicious.

[@The_Gallowglass]

My yard back in Chicago used to be literally covered in dandelions, years ago. The roots were 6 inches or longer and the leaves were full and healthy. That is until my father paid some guy to spray chemicals all over the garden to get rid of them. :|

[@garraper]

Thanks Paul,,my yard is always full of dandees.time to eat them..

[@Shades781]

Many deny there importance, like a main character is denied of importance by side characters.

[@LaissezFaire09]

Some of the comments on this video are being removed or censored by other users as spam. What's going on? Let people share their views whether they be positive, negative, or irreverent of The Cause, like mine which was removed "2-4-D anyone?". Just a joke, I love permaculture and PW videos!

[@scott98390]

Brilliant video - but can I hear more about SELLING dandelions?

[@kauboi0]

Yes...he says '...you'll have your dandellion salad right in front of your door or kitchen...

[@hayman122]

all edible plants the younger the less bitter or the more sweeter

[@ryanronchak401]

Is that Taraxacum officinale!?

[@sbaker3232]

Dandelion don't tell no lies Dandelion will make you wise

[@paulwheaton]

Dandelions are an excellent food for wildlife. Candace is wrong.

[@davidnietfeld4188]

Great,

[@carmalishiss]

Love the vid... I grew up lovin' the dandelion, a great shame it's so demonized.

[@jrinker64]

nice

[@renawheat]

We have the same last name!!!

[@andseraf8544]

This is my tribe ..

[@AlusaBird2]

I am pretty sure docks are edible you just have to boil the leaves, look it up though dont quote me on that. I have docks in my yard too, I just feed it to the rabbits.

[@ulaB]

I heard about eating the leaves and the bloom, but always thought the stem was poisonous. Guess I heard wrong :)

[@lilsavage1606]

Balu the stem is where the pain killer is they are Ms leading u eat the whole thing

[@BeastHive]

Doesn't everything get every where eventually..?

[@Warbeast911]

perfekt to understand fr german,

[@LivingHistorySchool]

french: dent de lion, tooth of lion