Editor’s note: This commentary is by Scudder Parker, who was a state senator from Caledonia County in the 1980s. He has worked as a utility regulator, an energy policy leader, and an activist for the environment and human rights. He is now busy writing poetry.
It was probably the lawn-care ads promising a life of outdoor sophistication and enjoyment by applying new and better poisons to our yards that pushed me over to the other side … that is, the pro-dandelion team.
Not that I haven’t had my issues with them. They are so pushy, arrogant, persistent, adaptable — sort of like our own species. If they get in the strawberry patch it is near impossible to get them out. If you rototill them they say “thank you” and sprout from every chunk of root. And the seeds! Floating everywhere!
They are scrappy, invasive immigrants (again, like most of us). But I must say, I admire their lack of self-righteousness and jingoism now they’re here. They’re just determined; they go about their business without anger, hate, or accusation, and boy, do they go about their business!
So this year we’ve decided to treat them as a crop, not a weed. The spring soil in our gardens erupts with them. We know we have to dig them up before we plant — hopefully before they blossom. But now it’s a kind of early harvest. It’s more work, of course, but all the cutting washing (and soaking in salt water for the bitterness) seems worth it.
And then, they’re good for us! I won’t recite it here but one website makes them sound like the new wonder food. Nutrients, help with every ailment my wife and I could imagine! And the greens really are delicious (if you get the twigs and pine needles out.) Try them with garlic, walnuts, olive oil sundried tomatoes and hearty pasta.
Why would we spend money and effort trying to exterminate something we could use and admire? Isn’t this the opposite of what we should be doing in the time of economic, food, and climate crisis?
And one more thing — once you really get to know them (and this includes weeding and digging in some spots) they have something else to teach us. They’re not apologetic — I know, we already know that — but their confidence they belong has no shred of the doubt, anxiety, and defensiveness that leads us humans to turn on our neighbors, fearing and demonizing them.
This isn’t really about love, as we usually think of it, but about a kind of self acceptance that allows us to pause, look around, recognize our place, and be smarter than we are when we operate from fear.
So, let’s stand up for dandelions, stand up for our best selves, and let our neighborhoods blossom.
