Edible Weeds Workshop

A while back ago, I borrowed a book called The Weed Forager's Handbook from the library and it was an interesting read. We didn't think we would be able to identify the weeds just by matching them up with the photos in the book. Then Khiem noticed an ad for an Edible Weeds Workshop run by Bushcare in the council newsletter. We thought it would be fun to go for it, we would learn to better identify the weeds and Liem would learn something useful from it.

This is flatweed - which I had always thought was dandelion.


It's an easy mistake to make, but this is dandelion. The leaves have "lion's teeth". But it doesn't really matter, both are edible. Bitter but edible - dandelion is "nature's detox", good for eating in spring after having lots of rich food in winter.


This next one is amaranth - also edible.


Liem has a rest while we are looking at several different weeds.


This next one is pigweed.


This one is sow-thistle. We are not really told how to eat these except to "cook them and add salt".


This one is plantain - "bush bandaid". Not so good for eating but better for medicine. Leaves can be chewed and the paste used like a cream for cuts then another leave used to wrap the cut like a bandaid. The flower bit is actually where psyllium husk comes from.


Native violets - good when crystallised with sugar (everything is!).


Chickweed - this was quite yummy...


Scurvy weed - used by early settlers who were severely lacking in vitamin C. Pretty flower though...


A flower that Liem found - you can probably tell Liem is bored now and looking to entertain himself.


Radium weed or petty scourge which looks similar to chickweed but has a caustic sap which supposedly cures warts and sunspots.


Here's another flower from Liem.


And a dandelion flower which Liem helps to disperse.


And another flower.


Black nightshade - Khiem ate one berry, tastes like tomato, apparently. I'm waiting to see whether he has any after-effects...

Homemade glue

Liem has to make a hat for this year's Easter Hat Parade at school. This year they have to make their hat at home. We bought a party hat for him to decorate...he got out the hat, the decorating stuff...then, we realise we have no glue. The craft glue we used last year had dried up, the sticky tape didn't stick, the glue stick glue wasn't sticky enough...what to do, what to do...

Well, why don't we make our own glue! First go using cornflour and water - too runny and not sticky enough. Second go using tapioca flour and water - perfect!

Uncle Willie's 70th

We had a lovely lunch at a great location in Miller's Point for Uncle Willie's 70th birthday. We were terribly late due to Khiem getting becalmed in a sail boat that morning plus a car accident causing bad traffic into the city. Still, it was a wonderful occasion, certainly one to remember...

Lego Movie

A couple of months ago, Liem bought a Lego mini-figure. From feeling the pack, he thought he got the mini-figure Lord Business but when he opened the pack, it was actually of Emmet. He was really excited that he got Emmet. Emmet looks like an ordinary construction worker mini-figure.

Mummy: Who's Emmet?
Liem: Mummmmmeeee, Emmet is the hero of the Lego Movie!
Mummy: There's a Lego movie?
Daddy: Mummmmmeeee, don't you read the Lego magazine? It's all in there!

Well, obviously I haven't been keeping up with the latest literature. We watched the Lego Movie yesterday and Liem enjoyed it immensely. You could hear him giggling away at the funny bits. Khiem and I enjoyed it too. And we came away singing, "Everything is awesome..." Liem then wanted to buy more Lego....parents...beware!