As human beings, we are unfortunately ungrateful for what nature provides us. I cannot say this for everyone, but most of us are like that. We either remain silent, provide them with those opportunities, or become one of them against those who slaughter nature regardless of what it provides us.
However, nature has the unique ability and beauty to meet many of our needs, including shelter. All we need to do is to recognize it and protect it for sustainability. This is not only a responsibility for today, but also for future generations.
Nature has countless amounts of magnificent gifts to offer us. Each of these gifts is worthy of special protection. In order to benefit from some of them, a few hours of walking in nature and knowing some plants may be enough. Depending on where you live, the plants that are nature's gift to humans will vary in every geography, but what does not change is the existence of useful plants that nature has grown spontaneously.
As someone living in the Aegean region of Turkey, I can count hundreds of plants that grow spontaneously in nature. With a little bit of research and a little bit of memory, I can count thousands of them. I collect most of them when it is time for them to grow, by going to the places where they can be found in nature.
Thyme, bay leaves, nettles, wild garlic, wild strawberries, wild strawberries, blackberries, stone leeks (which grow between stones and rocks), asparagus, various mushrooms, some greens used in salads and pies, wild cabbage, mountain lettuce and dozens of others I cannot think of, my environment is like a pasture where natural products grow.
Of course, the growing seasons and uses of each are different. Thyme is collected in May and after it is dried, the old method is used as thyme juice and thyme oil obtained by the drip water method. After drying and grinding, it is used as a spice and adds a unique flavor to meat dishes.
Nowadays, it is possible to find nettles, ebe gömeci and asparagus. Nature itself is a source of richness, as it is possible to find enough to feed hundreds of people in a few hours of walking.
Nettle is mostly used in pies, but I like to eat it raw. Nettle salad is one of my favorites. The dressing made with a mixture of lemon, pomegranate juice, olive oil and vinegar adds to the flavor. And you should definitely chop onion because it takes the slightly bitter taste from the nettles.
Ebe görmeci is a local name, after it is picked and cleaned; it is cut into small pieces and roasted with onions for 8-10 minutes and then it is ready to be eaten. It can also be roasted with leeks, this is completely optional.
The reason why the picture is smoky is because I was in a hurry and didn't check the picture I took. The steam from the food fooled the lens of the phone and made it look foggy, which I realized after I ate the food. Lol
And asparagus, one of the favorite foods of the spring season, is a plant that is even fun to pick. The other product I enjoy picking the most is mushrooms. I roast asparagus with onions and cook it plain or add eggs. You can also cook it long chopped, but that's not my preference!
I know that these products have many benefits for our health, but I think everyone should do their own research on this subject, as excessive consumption of some of them can cause organ failure (such as mushroom varieties). I don't want to mislead anyone.
In every nature there are useful plants that grow spontaneously and plants that can be harmful. It is enough to be a little careful and inquisitive to see them. It is just as important to know and use the useful ones as it is to know about the harmful ones. Each of them is a natural storehouse of vitamins that our body lacks and most importantly, it is an important blessing offered to us by nature.