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[PermieGing]

http://www.ediblewildfood.com/lambs-quarters.aspx

Lambsquarters, aka wild spinach, is a pseudo grain that has naturalized in many places around the world.
Many people, not knowing of its uses, consider it a weed.

Lambsquarters is in the same genus as quinoa, and is in the same family as spinach and many other commonly consumed greens.

All of the lambsquarter plant is edible, and one plant can produce as much as 75,000 quinoa-like seeds!
Apparently has quite the nutritional value!

It is also used as a biodynamic accumulator

3 Likes TBM, Sunshine and fairdinkumseeds like this.

[Sunshine]

Huh, very interesting. I thought that was just a weed. It grows all over the place around here. I'll have to collect some of the seeds to share. 

Would you mind explaining what a biodynamic accumulator is? 

[PermieGing]

A biodynamic accumulator is a plant that accumulates a certain array of nutrients and minerals that may be uncommon in a specific soil. For instance, some have super deep tap roots that bring up minerals to the top soil every time you cut off the leafs (or they fall off).

Comfrey, dandelion, and nettles are just a few.

[Sunshine]

Ah nice! So that means it would make a good cover crop eh?

[Auxin]

It can also provide mineral rich compost fodder in annoyingly dry areas of the yard.
My garden extends to under tall pine trees, I havent found anything that will grow there because of the bone dry soil... except lambs quarters.

The juice of the root is used in the treatment of bloody dysentery, one of those little factoids you hope you'll never need to know

2 Likes PermieGing and fairdinkumseeds like this.

[fairdinkumseeds]

I totally agree its great stuff.
Me and the Mrs eat heaps, along with the chooks and the guinea pigs.
Easier to grow than spinach and just as nutritious.

[prasada]

                   Me too I eat it everyday in spring.
     When it seeds, it can get bitter, but young it's better than spinach.
     I doubt you would have to plant it , its a  pernicious weed to most
      without knowledge of its charms.
    Also easy to Id ,  goosefoot  leaf.