DIY Wild Green Powder
DIY Wild Green Powder is the easiest way to add Wild Edible Plants to your diet!
During the last 2 summers, I have been slowly learning about wild edible plants. I decided the easiest way to incorporate them into my diet was DIY Wild Green Powder.
Green powder is already part of my daily return so I figured it would be an easy way to preserve and consume daily wild plants.
CAUTION Before we go any further, I am NOT a wild plant expert! Please do your own research, and make sure you know the plants you are eating are safe!
Want to Make Your Own DIY Wild Green Powder?
I started to post about my morning foraging sessions and DIY Wild Green Powder on Instagram and people seem to be really interested, so here is how and why I make DIY Wild Green Powder. The best part is, anyone can do this and there are probably more edible wild plants in your backyard than you realize.
Note: Always be mindful to pick wild plants that have not been exposed to fertilizer, pesticide, or other pollutants.
The Flaw with Multivitamin
“I’ve always believed that it’s preferable to get the nutrients we need from whole foods, as they’re found in nature, rather than from isolated, synthetic sources”
Like many health-conscious people, I have taken a multivitamin most of my life, but now I am starting to think they are a waste of time. The brilliant Chris Kresser shares my option and I recommend you read his post Throw Away Your Multivitamins and Antioxidants. While there is a time and place for quality supplements, here are the reasons I have stopped taking a multi.
Nutrients work synergistically, so when they are consumed isolated they tend to not work as well or at all.
Many times multivitamins contain synthetic versions of micronutrients that the body does not recognize at all.
Ans to top it off all off, taking nutrients in values way higher than fo8/*und in foods, can be dangerous.!
Like I said there is a time and place for QUALITY supplements, but I have started consuming a green powder daily along with other whole food supplements, in place of a multivitamin.
I think adding DIY Wild Green Powder to my diet has been good for my overall health, and has really improved my skin!
Why Consume Wild Plants
Wild plants have been consumed by humans since, well, since there were humans. The knowledge of their food and medicinal properties used to be common. Knowledgeable people can still be found, but are less common. Luckily today you can find the information in great books and the internet.
Wild Plants are true superfoods. Because they grow in the wild, undepleted soil, and have to work so hard to survive they contain more nutrients. It is also so fun and relaxing to go pick your own foon in your yard or wild space.
I think is also possible that the probiotics found in solid remain on these wild plants if you do not cook them. It is my (educated) guess that dehydrating Wild Plants will not destroy these organisms.
Another reason to consume wild plants is more superficial but still worth mentioning. When your body has the proper nutrients and is in pretty good health it shows in your skin! High-quality products, like Beautycounter, can make a huge difference in your skin, but can’t make up for the lack of good health. If you want to learn more about why I love Beautycounter check out this post, but a diet high in nutrients is the most impactful thing you can do for your skin.
The Plants I Included
Dandelion (roots and leaves)
Yarrow (leaves and flower)
Fireweed (leaves and flowers)
Wild Strawberries (leaves)
Plantain (leaves)
Clover (leaves and flowers)
Like I already said I am NOT an expert. To keep from overwhelming myself I have just tried to learn a couple of new plants a year. I loke sharing what little knowledge I have with my kids, and they seem to enjoy helping out.
My hope is by the time my kids move out, all three of use will have a decent understanding of edible wild plants and how to use them.
Dandelions
Dandelions greens are one of the most studied edible wild plants with many micronutrients and help benefits. They have high levels of vitamins A, C, and K as well as a little calcium and potassium (source). They are also a great source of prebiotic fiber inulin.
For more information check out this great Dr. Axe post.
Dandelion roots are a little trick to pull up because the plant usually breaks right where it meets the root when pulling. It is possible to pull some root up when the soil is moist and you are able to dig slightly down with your fingertips. Chopping the roots into smaller pieces will speed up the dehydration time.
How to Make DIY Wild Green Powder
- Pick your wild plants. Please be safe and only pick plants you know are edible and clean.
- Wash your wild plants. In a large bowl soak you plants in plenty of water. I add a splash of vinegar. Gently massage them and swish them around. Let them soak for about 10 minutes.
- Drain and rinse wild plants.
- Place on a dehydrator tray. Make sure the layers are not too thick because this will greatly decrease dehydrated time.
- Dehydrate. I dehydrated every batch at a different temperature. As you cook food (plants, veggies, meat) some nutrients are destroyed while others become more bioavailable. I figured if I dehydrated the plants at a range from the lowest setting to the highest setting I might get a more complete range of the nutrients they have to offer, but I have nothing to back this up, but it doesn’t hurt.
- In small batches pulverize your dehydrated plants to a powder with either a blender or food processor.
- Store in an airtight container.
Because I am making years worth of DIY Wild Green Powder, I store a majority of the powder in the freeze and about a month’s worth in the fridge to help preserve the fragile nutrients.
Things I add to my DIY Wild Green Powder
To round out my Green Powder I add a couple of other things that would otherwise not be in my diet.
- Mushroom Powder
- Seaweed
- Spirulina
- Sea Vegetable
Sea Vegetables contain nutrients that many of us are deficient in such as iodine. I’m not great as good about eating them as my kids, so I ordered this sea vegetable blend (already dehydrated), blended them up, and added them to my DIY WIld Green Powder. Technically they are wild, right?
How To Consume DIY Wild Green Powder
Most afternoon, when the afternoon energy drop happens is a great time to take your Green Powder.
DIY Wild Green Powder taste, well healthy. I usually mix a scoop with just enough water to swallow like a shoot. I then drink a little kombucha, because I remember reading somewhere the probiotics help your body absorb more nutrients when you take a multivitamin and I love kombucha.
Sometimes right after I take my green shot, I take desiccated liver tablets and fish oil. The fat helps your body absorb the fat-soluble nutrients found in plants.
To save time you can put a scoop of DIY Wild Green Powder in a small jar with your other supplement. A tiny piece of Beeswax wrap is a great reusable way to separate the tables and powder.
You can also add DIY Wild Green Powder to smoothies, shacks, yogurt, whatever!
Start Foraging
Hope this inspires you to add more Edible Wild Plants to your diet!
Have fun with it!
If I can do it, so can you!!
Happy foraging!
About Gina
Gina Shively is a Personal Health Cook and American Council on Exercise (ACE) certified Health Coach located in Anchorage Alaska. Her background includes a Bachelor’s of Science in Physiology from the University of Wyoming. For the past six years, she has lived in Alaska, where she can’t get enough of the active Alaskan lifestyle that for her includes hunting, fishing, hiking, and the occasional weekend race. She loves to cook for people and enjoys the challenge of making healthy food taste delicious. Her family includes two young boys, two packgoats, and a rambunctious Weimaraner, as well as a very patient husband.