I posted this over on the CS board also as the folks over there were looking for weed control and some were looking for income ideas. The thread there is under income general. For those that might not lurk there, dandelion is used widely in herbals for urinary treatments. My plan is to grow them in a separate raised bed with a window screen mesh to control the puffballs. What I intend to do is dry the roots as I harvest them in my dehydrator for use as a urinary treatment and coffee additive to reduce kidney stone potential. Seems if you can harvest it and find a health food store interested, this could be a source of limited income and weeds are organic and easy to grow.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Answers

Jay Here in E KY there is an herb cooperative on marketing the medicinal herbs.U of K also has a new program looking into this.I don't know anything more.I've not taken the time to look into it more thoroughly yet as I don't have that part of the farm operational. But yes,there are markets that have emerged. Don't know abt.dandelion.Check around your state for any cooperatives and see what they are marketing.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

The natural foods groceries around here sell dandelion greens. Not sure what most folks use them for. I feed them to my birds. I think you can get large, gourmet cultivars of dandelion (the French developed them I think), Shepard's Seeds I think. Don't know how good their roots would be though.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

I've never actually made anything from Dandilion greens but I did have a salad once many years ago made of them---with a vinegar and oil dressing---hmmmm gooood!

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

The commercially sold dandelion greens are not really dandelion, I believe they are Chicory hybrids. The greens and roots are probably quite different to wild dandelion.

There is a small chapter on making money from Dandelions in "The Dandelion Celebration" by Peter Gail.

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2001

You are supposed to be able to make dandelion wine from the flowers. I'm supposed to have the recipe around here somewhere, but don't know if I'll find it again in this lifetime. I've saved all these wonderful resources for when I need them, and then can't find them when I do. Might be able to find it on the internet. Meanwhile, I'll keep my eyes open for the recipe.

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2001

Julie made dandelion wine MANY years ago. Don't know if she still has the recipe tho.

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2001

Jay -

Don't forget the leaves for salad and the petals for wine, jelly, muffins, etc etc.... Those are great products for the local farmer's markets!!

I'd try a little before going wild with the coffee idea... They aren't all that great for preventing kidney stones (its the caffeine more than the coffee and tannins), and it really doesn't taste all that great - but that's personal opinion on the taste part.

Otherwise - you've got a real winner of an idea there!!

BTW - the milky stuff from the stems makes a great glue when mixed with a little flour!! Also is a good poultice for poison ivy.

-- Anonymous, May 23, 2001