Help Hamilton Council preserve the integrity of the earth by urging them to
support a phase-out of the cosmetic use of pesticides; help right the wrongs
the Chemical companies have foisted upon their favourite villain: our much
beloved and much maligned composite plant of the Asteraceae family, the
dandelion.
Dandelion lovers of the world unite!
JOIN US FOR A DANDELION TEA & COFFEE PARTY
HAMILTON CITY HALL Lobby, 2nd floor outside council chambers,
12:30 pm, Wednesday, January 9, 2002.
Click here
to read the Hamilton Spectator report
The Ghost of CanLit giant Susanna Moodie (Roughing it in the Bush) will be
pouring out warm beverages made from Dandelions prior to hearings on Hamilton's
pesticide by-law. Moodie is offended that the Dandelion, so central to
the immigrant experience in Canada, has suffered the indignity of being
sprayed with poisonous chemicals and treated as a bad weed.
"Few of our colonists are acquainted with the many uses to which this
neglected but most valuable plant may be applied," explains Moodie.
During the fall of '35 (that's 1835) Moodie began to discover the many uses
of this "neglected but most valuable plant."
- The leaves used in salads are "quite equal to endive."
- The leaves when boiled can be used as a substitute for cabbage.
- The tops can be boiled and the liquor added to hops, fermented and made into beer "equal to the table-beer used at home."
- Coffee made from the dandelion root "proved excellent-- far superior to the common coffee we procured at the stores."
An excellent source of vitamin A, young leaves can be eaten raw or boiled for 5-10 minutes. Among many other culinary uses, the flowers can be dipped in batter and fried.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT BEATRICE EKWA EKOKO of the
TARAXACUM OFFICINALE PRESERVATION SOCIETY (TOPS) at 905.627.2696 or ap951@hwcn.org
(TOPS is a member of Hamilton Action for Social Change)
Click here to read the text of flyer handed out at city hall