Homegrown superfoods part 1
It's on everyone's lips: superfoods. But critics are right to raise their voices about this trend; enormous amounts of superfoods are used to transport superfoods like goji berries and avocados to Europe. So, their ecological footprint is zero. So we thought: Why not simply grow superfoods on our own doorstep? We looked for local superfoods and found them. Superfoods are everywhere and are incredibly easy to grow yourself. Here are a few examples of homegrown superfoods.
wild garlic
I am: hot and spicy
This is my superpower: I contain a lot of vitamin C, essential oils (that's why I'm so spicy), potassium, and calcium. My anti-inflammatory properties make me a natural antibiotic.
Here's how you can enjoy me: I'm delicious in pesto or eaten raw as individual leaves in a salad . But be careful when collecting! I look very similar to the lily of the valley, for example.
fennel
I am: intense, you have to like me ;-)
This is my superpower: I've been popular as a medicinal plant for a loooong time because I contain so many vitamins A, K, E, minerals, and essential oils. My tea can be very soothing for gastrointestinal disorders.
How to enjoy me: I'm well-known and popular as a tea in many places. But you can also eat my tuber – raw or cooked. As a spice, I make gassy foods more digestible.
kale
I am: who I am. Some compare me to savoy cabbage, but I actually taste like kale ;)
This is my superpower: I have many beneficial properties: minerals, magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, and vitamins A and E. I am also alkaline and a rich source of protein.
How to enjoy me: Best cooked in all sorts of dishes. Some people also eat me raw in a mixed salad . However, I would definitely recommend chopping me up properly first, as I can be quite tough to chew.
Raspberry/Blackberry
I am: super cute
That's my superpower: I'm packed full of iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, and lots and lots of vitamin C. Long before your time, I was popular among monks as a medicinal plant.
Here's how you can enjoy me: You can snack on my berries straight from the bush or make jam, porridge, or juice. You can also make delicious tea from my leaves. Gargling with the tea is soothing for sore mouths, and it can also help with mild diarrhea.
elder
I am: fruity
This is my superpower: I'm a delight both in spring and winter, because there's always something to harvest from me (see below). I'm rich in vitamin C, but that's not all. I also contain vitamins B1 and B6, as well as potassium, iron, and flavonoids. As a juice, I warm you up when you have a cold and strengthen your immune system.
Here's how you can enjoy me: Please only eat the berries cooked; I'm poisonous raw. I taste great cooked as jam or jelly, or in hot elderberry punch in the winter. You can also brew my leaves and enjoy them as tea. In spring, my blossoms are a true feast for the eyes and refresh some cold drinks in the form of elderflower syrup.
nasturtium
I am: slightly spicy
This is my superpower: 2013 proved: I'm the medicine of the year! Thanks to the mustard oils I contain, I have a natural antibacterial effect.
This is how you can enjoy me: My leaves and flowers are edible and taste good in salads or as edible decoration. 
Garlic
I am: hot and spicy
This is my superpower: They call me the miracle tuber. Why? Because I deserve it ;-) I'm packed with really good active ingredients like vitamin C, B vitamins, potassium, selenium, and so on, and they have a positive effect on your cholesterol level. I also strengthen the liver, help with stomach and intestinal problems, and have antibacterial properties.
Here's how you can enjoy me: My tubers taste great in almost any savory dish! :-)
Celeriac
I am: spicy aromatic
This is my superpower: I am rich in vitamins C, B1, B2, and B6, and contain many essential oils. In summary, you could say I am a medicinal plant. Even the Egyptians used me as a medicine.
Here's how you can enjoy me: if you don't like me raw, you can steam me or chop me up in a smoothie. Many people know me as a soup additive, because I add a savory touch to almost any concoction! ;-)
pumpkin
I am: sweet, savory
This is my superpower: I am also a super food full of vitamins A, C, E, potassium, zinc and rich in fiber.
Here's how you can enjoy me: Despite my fatness, I'm fairly low in calories. You can eat my flesh or dry and nibble on my seeds.
chard
I am: a bit like spinach , but somehow different ;-) Maybe a bit more bitter in taste.
That's my superpower: vitamins, vitamins, vitamins. I contain the capital C and the capital A, as well as important minerals and various fatty acids. My detoxifying effect helps with digestive problems, improves your eyesight, and strengthens your immune system. I'm quite a powerhouse, aren't I?
Here's how you can enjoy me: You can use my leaves like spinach , for example, sautéing them in a pan. My stems require a bit longer to cook. I can also be eaten raw, for example, blended into a smoothie, though not for everyone, as I contain a lot of oxalic acid.
Do you want to grow even more superfoods?
Then continue here to part 2 of "Homegrown Superfood ".
