In Alsace, and particularly in the Villé Valley, edible and medicinal wild plants abound. Learning to recognize and use them, whether for medicinal purposes or in cooking, requires a basic understanding. In this article, I invite you to discover six easy-to-identify plants that can be observed during walks in the valley.
An ancestral tradition
For millennia, humans lived by gathering. This practice, far from being marginal, persisted until the Middle Ages, complementing agriculture. Long rudimentary, agriculture yielded modest harvests, insufficient to guarantee food security. Poor harvests, due to adverse weather or pillaging, were frequent. In these times, wild herbs played a crucial role: they allowed people to survive until the next harvest.
From rejection to rediscovery
From the 19th century onwards, wild plants fell out of favor. Considered poor and archaic, they were relegated to the background, eclipsed by agricultural products, perceived as noble and deserved. After the Second World War, the rise of mechanized, chemical, and intensive industrial agriculture marked a radical break with nature.
It will take several decades and the observation of the ecological consequences (water pollution, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, etc.) before a return to nature emerges. Today, there is a growing interest in natural resources, and wild plants are gradually regaining their place in our diets and remedies.
Wealth within reach, but not without caution
This renewed interest is accompanied by a necessity: the need to know what you are foraging for. For while nature abounds with treasures, it also harbors poisons. Some plants can be toxic, even deadly. Learning about these plants, staying informed, and ideally being accompanied by experts during your first forays is essential.
How to properly store your harvest
Once harvested, wild plants can be dried, ground into powder, frozen, pickled in vinegar, or lacto-fermented. To preserve their freshness, simply wrap them in a damp cloth and place them in an airtight container. They will keep for about a week in the refrigerator.
Marigold
Also known as calendula, pot marigold is a rare annual plant in Alsace, but it can be spotted in meadows if you look carefully. Edible and medicinal, its flower is renowned for its regenerative properties on the skin and mucous membranes.
Main virtues: anti-inflammatory, healing, soothing.
Usage : making a soothing balm for irritations, stings, chapped skin or cracks.
Calendula balm recipe:
- 100g of dried flowers
- 20 g of beeswax
Melt the wax in a double boiler, let it cool slightly (below 40°C), then add the flowers. Pour into a clean jar. Seal once cooled.
briar
Known by many names: hedge rose, wild rose, "itchy hair" or "itchy bum", the dog rose is ubiquitous in Eastern France. It blooms between May and June.
Main virtues: Tonic, digestive, diuretic, anti-inflammatory.
Usage : Berries in decoction or powder, flowers in infusion.
Rosehips, which are very rich in vitamin C, are recommended to support the immune system and relieve joint pain. The tannins they contain help treat urinary and digestive disorders.
Wild blueberry
Very common in the valley, especially on the wooded slopes, the blueberry is a small sweet and tangy berry, low in calories but very rich in nutrients.
Main virtues: antioxidant, vision protectant, digestive.
Usage : for direct consumption, juice, compote, or dried.
A 150g serving provides nearly a quarter of the daily requirement for vitamin C. The flavonoids it contains strengthen the retina and improve blood circulation. It is also a natural remedy for digestive problems (anti-diarrheal tannins, irritable bowel syndrome).
Vosges Arnica
A cousin of the daisy, arnica grows at high altitudes. It is emblematic of the Vosges mountains and highly valued for external use.
Main virtues : anti-inflammatory, healing, photoprotective.
Usage : in oil form (oil macerate) to soothe muscle pain, sprains, blows, hematomas.
Arnica oil is an essential item in any athlete's kit, for massage after exercise. It is also effective against sunburn (apply several times a day for two days).
Please note: The harvesting of arnica is strictly regulated in the Vosges.
black elderberry
This large shrub is widespread in Alsace. It flowers in spring and produces very dark berries in summer.
Main virtues: antioxidant, expectorant, antitussive, immunostimulant.
Usage : Flowers in syrup, herbal tea or wine; berries in jelly or jam (after cooking).
Elderberry is very rich in antioxidants (just behind goji berries) and its flowers are traditionally used against winter infections (colds, coughs, fever).
Caution: Raw berries are slightly toxic. Always cook them before eating.