Edible Flowers You Can Find In Your Garden

edible flowers

When we think about foods for
Spring, we often just think about the root, leaf, or stalk of the food. But
there’s a lot of nutritional and medicinal value being overlooked in many
varieties of edible flowers. Some flowers can be eaten, others can be mixed
in with the herb they are attached to, and then there are others that work
better as a tea or tonic.

This expands the argument for organic gardening. When you raise
your garden using GMO free, heritage, or heirloom seeds, and free from
chemical pesticides, you open up a whole new benefit from your typical flower
garden. Not only can you enjoy looking at your garden, but you can enjoy
eating and getting some nutrition form your flowers as well. Here is a list
of some edible flowers that you may not be aware are perfectly safe to eat,
along with some of their nutritional qualities.

Nutritious Edible
Flowers Sitting Right Under Your Nose

Nasturtium

Where I live in Southern California, nasturtiums grow wild and
sometimes occupy entire hillsides. Although foraging for wild edible flowers
can seem exciting, it’s best to only forage from private yards or remote
areas where you know for sure the flowers haven’t been contaminated by
pesticides, car Read More


Sprouted “Risotto” with Asparagus, Peas, Fennel, & Mint

This time of year, whenever I
start to see fresh English peas and asparagus at the market, and the
nasturtium flowers start to take over the garden, my cooking mind always
wanders to spring risotto with asparagus and peas. So, the other night I was
making a side dish of sprouted brown rice, and I noticed that the texture
would probably lend itself well to a risotto-style dish. Well that’s all I
needed to give this one a try…voila! A healthy, sprouted risotto that makes
a great vegan entree or side dish! Read More


Vegan Cashew Nasturtium Pesto

Are you a pesto-file? Always
looking at different ways to make pesto? Here is one you quite possibly have
not tried yet, and it is very versatile. A couple weeks ago, I taught a
workshop on edible common garden flowers at Fig
Earth Supply
, the edible nursery in my neighborhood. And, it got me
thinking of all the delightful, delicious ways we can get the most
nutritional bang from our outdoor spaces. Enter nasturtium
pesto!

Read More