Lamb's Quarters

Lamb's quarters is an annual wild edible that from a distance, tends to always looks dusty; this is because there is a white powdery coating on the leaves. Lambs quarters is a purifying plant and helps to restore healthy nutrients to the soil if need be. However, if there is a large patch of lambas quarters, be sure that the soil is relatively good and not contaminated.

This unique plant tends to spread quickly in areas in which soil is contaminated in order to restore nutrients. This wild edible has an earthy, mineral rich taste; some say is close to chard. Itas difficult to describe, but if you enjoy leafy greens such as kale, collards, and spinach then chances are you will like lambs quarter. One lambas quarter plant can produce up to 75,000 seeds.

Lambsquarters is a leafy green vegetable which grows throughout much of north america but it is generally regarded as a weed. It is one of the most nutritious plant foods available yet gardeners routinely pull it up from their gardens as a "pest" and throw it in the compost.

The stems, leaves, and seeds of lambsquarter are all used as food. The goosefoot-shaped leaves of this abundant plant have long been used as a nourishing food during times of need. The leaves taste like spinach and are even more nutritious being rich in beta carotene, vitamin b2, niacin, calcium, iron, and phosphorus. Eat lambsquarter raw in salads, prepare like spinach. like spinach, lambsquarter contains oxalic acid; so be sure to get adequate calcium if youare ingesting a lot of this plant. Lambsquarter can be dried, frozen or canned for winter use and even fed to animals as fodder. Seeds of lambsquarters can be dried and sprouted or ground into flour for bread, pancakes, muffins, cakes, cookies or gruel. The seeds are also used as a seasoning and a coffee substitute.

Combine lambs quarter with other nutritious herbs in salads or as cooked greens to provide your body with nutrients it needs to maintain health.

Internally; lamb's quarter is eaten to relieve stomach aches and to prevent scurvy. A cold herbal tea made from the leaves can be taken to treat diarrhea.

Externally; lamb's quarter leaves can be used as a poultice to treat burns and swellings. It can also relieve itching.

Lamb's quarter is a rich source of vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, phosphorus and vitamins a, b2, c and niacin. These nutrients are easily assimilated by the body by eating this herb. It can be eaten raw in salads or cooked like spinach. Excess leaves can be frozen for later eating.