Wild Edibles

MOST OF THESE SO-CALLED WEEDS ARE ACTUALLY MORE NUTRITIOUS THAN THE VEGETABLE GREENS GROWING IN MY GARDEN—EASIER TO GROW, ABUNDANT, FREE, AND THEY USUALLY TASTE PRETTY GOOD. SO WHY AREN’T WE ALL EATING THEM? A WEED BY ANY OTHER NAME COULD WELL BE LAUDED ON THE KITCHEN TABLE.

A couple of disclaimers before launching your foraging career: make sure you don’t eat anything that you cannot positively identify, and if you’re foraging in public parks be careful not to harvest from areas that have been sprayed (if you’re unsure, check with the local council).

So, let’s get picking! Here are eight of the most common ‘wild edible’ weeds in Australia.

Textbooks usually define a weed as a “plant which is growing where it is not wanted”. While some introduced ‘weeds’ are pests, it’s good to