DIY Life

Dandelions don't have to be just an annoying weed in your perfect (or less than perfect, in our case) lawn. They can also be dinner. They're tasty in salads, soups, wine, even coffee, and the heads and stems are also edible. Dandelions are just one of several weeds you can have for lunch, according to Gomestic (who will explain exactly how to prepare each one). I'll share the others with you after the break.

Dandelions can be eaten in many ways, from leafy greens to fried flowers to drinking wine; I almost imagine them as lettuce gone wild. Making coffee from dandelions isn't new, but trying this unusual drink is an interesting way to spend a few hours -- and, if you haven't sprayed them with herbicide in the past, an organic way to get rid of those dandelions in the yard.

Tools and supplies include: a weed popper, knife, cookie sheet, oven, coffee grinder, and of course a coffee machine. Follow along in the gallery to get a better idea. Instructions are after the break!

Not many people really like to weed, although I must admit that I am one of the few who finds it oddly relaxing. There is something about the instant gratification of pulling the weeds and seeing a fresh garden that is extremely satisfying.

Aside from visiting the gallery to to see my weeding in action, you can put these tips to work for you and discover how weeding can be a job you'll look forward to:

• Use a hand rake. I like to use the rake in my right hand to loosen the roots of the weeds, then pull them out with my left. It really does make the weeding go twice as fast.
• Weed early. The roots of the weeds will be less established and much easier to pull out. Just be careful not to weed your growing perennials, like I have been known to do!
• Weed often. It won't seem like a monumental task if you pluck a few weeds here and there, as opposed to spending a marathon weeding session once a month. Your gardens will look better too.
• Weed with a partner. If you can pull and a partner cleans up, it makes the job go faster, and you can gab with your companion.
• Use gardening gloves to protect your hands... unless, of course, your partner is a three-year-old who hides them from you.

There are not many tasks that provide the instantaneous results of weeding, so dig in!

You may not know it, but there could be a tea garden growing in your very own yard. Many weeds make excellent herbal tea, and they are medicinal to boot.

In my yard, I have a variety of chocolate mint that is my favorite tea, but I also have rosemary and sage that come up every year. Oh, and the plethora of dandelions, but I suppose I shouldn't admit that.

Country Living has some fresh plant blending ideas that you can use to make your own herbal teas. They include weeds, herbs and even edible flowers. They also include an extensive list of edible -- and drinkable -- plants, some of which may surprise you. I've never thought of steeping young birch leaves or pine needles, but according to Country Living, they'd make some great tea.

So, whether for medicinal or culinary purposes, fresh plants can make delicious tea. Now, who is baking the cookies to go with this delicious fresh tea?

(via Lifehacker)

Weeds, every lawn has them. Our blogger, Dan Chilton examined some alternative strategies for killing weeds without resorting to the use of expensive lawn care chemicals. Based on Dan's inspiration, I thought I'd give you a look at one of my "stay green" strategies for dealing with the nastiest weeds that pop up repeatedly in the middle of your yard. The trick to permanently eliminating your toughest weeds is to make sure that any root which remains in the ground cannot regenerate.