Coastin Carl
National WEED Appreciation Day ORIGIN & HISTORY
Neither the founder nor the creative origin of this holiday has ever truly been established or why weeds got triumphed. We actually find them a nuisance, unpleasant, and definitely unwelcome on our lawns and gardens. But should we appreciate weeds because they’re actually more beneficial to us than we realize? We do know National WEED Appreciation Day is celebrates their importance and benefits to us on the 28th Day in March.
They provide food and a natural habitat for insects and microbes. They also help to keep a natural balance in our ecosystem. Certain weeds are also known for having a plethora of healthy nutrients and other properties in them. In fact, the University of Berkeley California did a study on weeds and found them to be very nutritious. Some even have the same or more nutrients than the beloved kale, superfood. A word to the wise learn about the properties of weeds before digging weeds up in the wild up and having a bowl of weedy salad.
When we think of a weed we think yucky undesirable thing. They choke out the fauna on pretty manicured lawns and grass. When they are less than a flower why would we ever want weeds? Besides containing good nutrients, they have also been used for a very long time for having herbal and preventive medical properties including anti-cancer agents.
Lawns and gardens actually benefit from weeds. Weeds draw moisture from rainfall and bring up minerals found in deeper soil. Weeds loosen hard packed and compaction, they deter erosion. When weeds go through the life cycle and die weeds decompose and also put nutrition back into the soil. Some people actually use weeds to determine diagnostic markers which are indicative of how fertile the soil of an area actually is. For these reasons, weeds aren’t as unpleasant as we have come to think.
HOW to Celebrate & Observe National WEED Appreciation Day?
Not sure how to LOVE the day? We’ve got a few interesting ideas to consider that may help get you started.
Here are some activities that you can do on National WEED Appreciation Day!
💙 EXPLORE the greenery around you
Go into your garden, walk your yard or lawn, stroll down the sidewalk. All those green things you were told were pesky can be explored. In fact, you were applying herbicide on your own lawn without ever knowing what it was you were trying to rid yourself of. You might find a cool & exciting new plant. Use an app on your phone or something like Google Lens to snapshot and identify any weeds you may find. And believe me, you’ll find some.
So embrace some of the new flowers that pop up. In fact, clover is considered a weed in many turfs or residential lawn grasses. But my father, Papi, likes clover coming up in his yard. In addition, it helps out the local honeybee population as well!
💙 PLANT something different
Create a weedy, wildflower, or native flora species plant bed. This can give you a unique perspective on lesser-known plant species and a chance to investigate.
💙 LEARN something helpful
Read up on any medicinal or even edible weeds in your area by using the Internet or weed identification guides from your local cooperative extension service.
💙 RAISE Social Awareness
Use social media posts with the hashtags #NationalWeedAppreciationDay, #WeedAppreciationDay, #WeedDay, #BenefitsofWeeds, #SpecialInterestHolidays, #MarchHolidays, #Holiday, #FindADayToLOVE, #iHEARTdays to support the importance of celebrating, promoting, and sharing with the world why you ❤️ National WEED Appreciation Day.
LEARN more about the benefits of WEEDS
GO ON – HAVE A WEEDY GARDEN
SEVEN Important Facts you never knew about National WEED Appreciation Day
- Chickweed is used to treat minor cuts, burns, eczema, and rashes. It also works as a mild diuretic.
- Weeds are tough and can survive in varied environments. Some weeds, like the common chickweed, can even survive being frozen solid and then thawed.
- Some weeds, like the stinging nettle, have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries.
- The scent of freshly cut grass is actually a defense mechanism that plants use to signal to other plants that they’re being attacked by predators. This defense mechanism is shared by many weeds as well.
- Some weeds, such as dandelions, have taproots that can reach up to 10 feet deep.
- Weeds can actually be edible and nutritious. For example, purslane is a common weed that’s high in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C.
- The tallest weed in the world is the Giant Hogweed, which can grow up to 15 feet tall.
Famous PEOPLE also born on March 28th
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Bill Gaither
American singer-songwriter of mostly Southern Gospel music and is best known for forming the Bill Gaither Trio, the Gaither Vocal Band, and the Gaither Homecoming. Born 1936.
BILL GAITHER Quote
“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone.”
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Bubba Smith
American football player who played for Michigan State and best known for turning to acting especially with friend Dick Butkus after going to the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl in 1971 with Baltimore. Born 1945.
BUBBA SMITH Quote
“The ninth grade. I went from 5’9′ to 6’8′.”
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Sian Proctor
American geology professor and space artist best known as the mission pilot of Inspiration4 in the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. She also gave a pretty good presentation at the IAAPA 2021 Kickoff event. Born 1970.
SIAN PROCTOR Quote
“The reason I love space so much is because I love Earth so much. Learning about space helps me appreciate what we have.”
Future DATES for National WEED Appreciation Day
| Year | Date | Day of the Week |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | March 28 | Tuesday |
| 2024 | March 28 | Thursday |
| 2025 | March 28 | Friday |
| 2026 | March 28 | Saturday |
| 2027 | March 28 | Sunday |
Garden Weeds FAQ
How can I know which weeds are BAD or GOOD?
- The USDA keeps a log of what types of weeds are noxiously called the Federal Noxious Weeds or for further information some states tell you what weeds are noxious.
Is there a LIST of common outdoor weeds and their health benefits
- You might be surprised to know that certain weeds offer up medicinal and/or nutritional value. For this very reason, iHEARTdays has put together a small list of some medically valuable & edible weeds.
- Chickweed stellaria media (common in North America & Europe) – This weed contains vitamins A, D, and C and minerals iron, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc. Used to treat minor cuts, burns, eczema, and rashes. It also works as a mild diuretic.
- Chicory cichorium intybus (native to Europe, now in North America, China & Australia) – Chicory is known as a toxin to parasites living in your gut. It also strengthens your appetite, acts as a mild diuretic. eases upset tummies, or constipation.
- Daisies bellis perennis (mostly temperate regions but as far north as the Faroe Islands) – Used in traditional Australian medicine to help with gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders. It also works as a mild anti-inflammatory.
- Dandelions taraxacum (native to Eurasia and introduced to North America) – Maybe one of the most popular or most odious. Next time you pull dandelions consider they have vitamins A, B, C, D and iron, potassium and Z I mean zinc. They’re great for your eyes as they have more beta carotene than carrots themselves. Dandelion root tea can help to strengthen and detoxify internal organs such as the gallbladder, stomach and symptoms of liver diseae. Traditional Chinese medicine uses it to treat heartburn and appendicitis. And its yellow flowers can be dried and ground up into a yellow pigment dye.
- Common Mallow malva (widespread throughout Asia, Africa & Europe) – Some species are invasive particularly in the Americas. Mallow doesn’t taste like a marshmallow. People in Austria use it for soothing the digestive tract, respiratory tract and skin conditions. Spain uses it to treat the numbing sting of the stinging nettle.
- Purslane portulaca oleracea (xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) – xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Red Clover trifolium pratense (xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) – xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Stinging Nettle urtica dioica (originally native to Europe, some of Asia, and North Africa; now worldwide including New Zealand & North America) – Be careful to wear gloves when picking this up. Herbal properties are used to treat allergies and hayfever, urination problems, kidney stones, joint problems and has mild diuretic properties. Nettles are rich in vitamins A, B2, C, D, K and minerals calcium, potassium, iodine, manganese. Stinging Nettle also contains antioxidants, amino acids found in protein and is high in iron.
