Have you considered the versatile dandelion as part of your emergency preparedness?

Dandelions are the bane of many gardeners’ existence. But if you think this is going to be a column about how to get rid of them; think again. Because dandelions are quite useful. Even in an emergency.

Hikingware.com encourages you to think about having a supply of dandelions on hand in case of a disaster. They are edible . . . and, as dandelion wine, even drinkable! (But always drink in moderation, especially during an emergency!)

In the spring they provide one of the most abundant early sources of pollen for honeybees, ladybugs and many other beneficial insects beginning to lay their eggs. The pollen provides a much needed source of protein to feed new larvae. Honeybees are very happy with acres of early dandelions. And honey from hives or from the wild is an excellent all-around food for children and adults. 

The lowly dandelion has been used as a food and medicinal plant for millennia. The word itself comes from the Greek, then French “dent de lion” or lion’s tooth for its deeply lobed green leaves. Young dandelion leaves can be served in a salad mix while the flower bud can be fried in butter and end up tasting like mushrooms. The dried root makes a reasonable coffee substitute.

There are even culinary dandelion varieties available in a few seed catalogs that can be grown in a vegetable garden, producing larger leaves than those found in your lawn. If you pick the leaves, do it before the plant goes to flower, as they become bitter.

Dandelions can be made into wine and beer. For wine, you will need a quart of fresh, unsprayed, well-washed flowers. Pour a gallon of boiling water over them and let stand for four minutes. Remove the flowers and cool to 90 degrees before adding yeast, sugar and sliced lemons and limes. Place in a fermenter. The wine will be ready in about three weeks. It can be a valuable item of barter for you if regular sources of income are unavailable after a disaster or emergency. But please remember you have to either barter it for something or else give it away. DON'T try to sell it for cash -- that becomes a Federal offense.

Lastly, dandelions have many medicinal uses. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, dandelion plants were boiled by Native Americans and then used to treat a variety of illnesses including kidney disease, swelling, skin problems, heartburn and upset stomach. The Chinese used it in traditional medicine to treat stomach issues, appendicitis and inflammation and lack of milk flow in breasts. Europeans used it to treat fever, boils, eye problems, diabetes, and diarrhea. 

So, if you have an unused patch of poor ground, why not try a dandelion patch? As anyone with a lawn knows, they're nearly impossible to kill and will reseed themselves at the drop of a hat. Or you can pick them in the wild, since they're everywhere.