Wild flower food

[compostman]

I've got a small bit of garden that I would like to have as a "wildflower meadow" to encourage beneficial wild life. Have you any suggestions about plants that I could grow int there to eat or cook with. It might be a bit dry and sunny for stuff like wild garlic. all suggestions welcome.
Cheers
I

[snohare]

Chickweed, aka "Poor Man's Lettuce". Until lettuce growing took off in Victorian times London ate vast quantities of chickweed, harvested from Smithfield. It's high in Vitamin C, but needs to be eaten straight after harvesting - goes limp very quickly.
Sorrel - edible in small quantities, watch out if you have kidney problems. Fat Hen - eaten since the Bronze Age, if not earlier.
Brambles - dead easy to grow.... And paricularly good for the beasties.
That's all that springs to mind off the top of my head, but I'm sure there are lots of others. I just have a lousy memory !

[Lesley Jay]

Compostman there is more about Fat Hen on headburro's blog. www.wildburro.co.uk

[nick the grief]

Compostman there is more about Fat Hen on headburro's blog. www.wildburro.co.uk

If you want some Compostman I'll send you a couple of Bushels!!! It grows like a weed on my plot ....... hang on , It IS a weed

[Snadger]

If you want some Compostman I'll send you a couple of Bushels!!! It grows like a weed on my plot ....... hang on , It IS a weed

Is it not one of the weeds fabled to harbour clubroot? It is also reputed to show that the ground is in good health, is it not?

Wonder if it makes hens fat as well. Lol

[nick the grief]

Don't know where the name came from Snadger. It's the same family as Beetroot (chenapodiae) & I didn't have much trouble with it till last year & I've sure it has come in thru the Muck I got - Guess thats why it's not called Fat Cow

[Snadger]

Don't know where the name came from Snadger. It's the same family as Beetroot (chenapodiae) & I didn't have much trouble with it till last year & I've sure it has come in thru the Muck I got - Guess thats why it's not called Fat Cow

If it came with the muck the ground will be in good nick then..point proven

[compostman]

Chickweed, aka "Poor Man's Lettuce". Until lettuce growing took off in Victorian times London ate vast quantities of chickweed, harvested from Smithfield. It's high in Vitamin C, but needs to be eaten straight after harvesting - goes limp very quickly.
Sorrel - edible in small quantities, watch out if you have kidney problems. Fat Hen - eaten since the Bronze Age, if not earlier.
Brambles - dead easy to grow.... And paricularly good for the beasties.
That's all that springs to mind off the top of my head, but I'm sure there are lots of others. I just have a lousy memory !

Thanks Snohare but I think that the bramles can stay in the field over the back fence for now (along with dandelions and ragwort). I seem to remember Fat Hen being in one of the seed mixes I saw advertised, anone know what it tastes like? (I think I might wish I hadn't asked that)
Happy digging
Compo.