Weed Appreciation Day is celebrated on March 28 every year. This day is designed to learn how herbs are actually beneficial to us and our ecosystem. We usually treat weeds as a nuisance, something that needs to be weeded and eradicated, but weeds also have a lot of value. The herbs have been used by humans as food and herbs for most of the documented history.
Many herbs have healing properties and have great nutritional value:
Nettle - Nettle can be found almost anywhere where weeds grow, even on your lawn. Nettle has prickly hairs at the bottom of the leaf that contain acids, which causes a strong burn if touched with exposed skin, so it is recommended to pick it with gloves. Nettle is rich in iron and therefore good to eat in cases of anemia, hair loss, skin and muscle problems. It also has a lot of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The nettle leaves are cooked, for example in nettle soup or a vegetable omelet with nettles.
Mallow - The mallow is also known as "Malva". You can pick it and eat it fresh and you can also put it in stews, omelets and pastries. It is rich in antioxidants and soluble fiber and good for digestive, respiratory and urinary diseases.
Rosemary - Rosemary can also be found in many public or private gardens, a free and wild plant. The medicinal rosemary is an evergreen perennial shrub with blue flowers. It is resistant to harsh conditions of climate and air pollution. It also contains antioxidants and antiseptic properties and is believed to help in cases of fatigue, headaches, migraines, vascular problems and more.
Oxalis- Who among us did not like to eat Oxalis when we were a child? The Oxalis also grow on the side of the road almost everywhere. It is fun to eat their fresh stems which are sour, but care should be taken not to eat too much, because their sour taste comes from the oxalic acid they contain, which in large quantities is harmful to the digestive system.
March 28 is also Black Forest Cake Day