Uses for Sunflowers

Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. )
They are annuals that grow to 9ft at a fast rate. Bloom Color: Orange, Red, Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early fall, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.

Time of year: Depends on the breed the flowers start to bloom between mid summer to late fall.

Location:  All of North America

Click Here for map  If it does not grow in your area do a search to see what kind does

Nutritional

Protein, Carbs, Calcium Phosphorus Iron, Vitamins A, B1, B2, Niacin

Uses

 Flowers, Oil, Seeds, Stem 

Edible

• Of course the seeds are edible, raw, cooked, in salads, the list is long.

• You can ground the seeds into powder and make sunflower butter out of it.

• You can germinate the seeds to add to your salads

• Young flower bud can be eaten as an artichoke sub.

• And of course cooking oil. CLICK HERE for how to make it

Medical

• Teas from the leaves helps with water retention

• Teas from the leaves are also helpful with fevers

• Crush the leave into a mash and it helps reduce swelling  from snake and spider bites

• The leaves can be dried and saved for later use

• The roots are used as a wash for joint and muscle pains

• Stem from the flower helps with breathing issues.

Other uses

• The oil can be converted into fuel

• The stalk is used for high quality paper

• Dried stem makes great fuel

• The ash of the plant is a great potassium source

• Yellow dye from the flower

• Dark purple or black dye from the seeds

• You can make cloth from the fiber of the stem 

  

Uses for Curly Dock Plant

Curly Dock  ( Rumex crispus L.)

Leaves with curled edges and  course texture. They Grow 2 to 4 feet tall. The  taproot is sout with a pale yellow interior. Small green flowers bloom in summer. Dark brown winged seeds distributed by wind or water, can remain viable in the ground for 50 years!!

Time of Year Flower from June to Oct, the seeds ripen from July to Oct.

Location:  All of North America

Click Here for map  If it does not grow in your area do a search to see what kind does

Nutrient Content

Vitamins A and C, Iron, high in beta-carotene, Zinc, Potassium and the seeds are rich in Calcium and fiber

Uses

Leaves, seeds and roots

Edibles

• You can eat the leaves raw or cooked best to use young shoots less bitter

• Great in salads

• Cook as a standalone veggy (add garlic or mustard garlic for a better taste)

• The stems can be cooked to, great to add to soups (but they are best peeled first)

• Seeds can be ground into flour and used for breads

• You can roast the seeds and they make a great coffee substitute

Medical

• Can be used as a gentle laxative

• Grind up the plant and use on your skin to clean.

• Or you can dry and use the powder on wounds, rashes, sores and ulcers

• It can be turned into a tonic or tea to help with blood issues and it even helps with lung issues because it helps with poor circulation   

• It is a fantastic tea for colds

• Astringent leaves can be used topically to reduce swelling from irritations

Other Uses

• Yellow, dark green to brown and dark grey dyes can be obtained from the roots

• And to your compost heap in order to speed up bacterial activity

Uses for White Mustard

White Mustard (Sinapis alba)  
White mustard is an annual, growing to 70 cm high with stalkless pinnate leaves.

The yellow flowers of the plant produce hairy seed pods, with each pod containing roughly a half dozen seeds. It is a fast growing plant.
PS it is called white mustard because of the seeds it produces not the flowers :)

Time of Year: Flower June to Aug.--seeds ripen July to Sept.

Location: Mostof North America

Click Here for map  If it does not grow in your area do a search to see what kind does

Nutrient Content

Protein, Carbs, Calcium,  Iron, Phosphorus, Vitamins A, B1, B2 and the pressed oil from the seeds has 60% monounsaturated fatty acids

Uses

Leaves Oil Seeds

Edibles

• Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked

• It has a hot pungent flavor when eaten raw which makes a nice addition to salads when leaves are young

• Older leave use in cooking

• Seeds make an excellent sprout

• Or you can ground the seeds to a powder and use them as a spice.

Medical

• Making a tea out of the plant or the powdered seeds help with coughs and phlegm

• Rub a past of it on your chest if you have bronchitis

• A poultice made from the seeds help with arthritic joints, skin issues

• A bath with the plant or a steam helps with respiratory issues.

• Tea help with water retention by increasing urine flow

• This plant help fight infection because it is an antibacterial plant

• You can use the a tonic as a mouthwash to help with Swelling of the mouth and throat

• This plant can help increase your appetite if you are ill

 

Other Uses

• Pressed oil from the seeds can be used as fuel for lighting you home

• The oil is also used in homemade cosmetics 

• The oil is used in message to help the circulation 

• Boil the plant and or seeds and make a spray for your garden that will  repel cats and dogs...I am sure it works with other animals to.