My childhood was riddled by springs and summers picking Goosegrass, aka Cleavers, out of my school jumper whenever fellow classmates decided to spend second period flicking the tiny ball bearing like Velcro covered projectiles across the classroom. My annoyance wasn’t helped by the rash I would get if the leaves ever touched my skin – a fact quickly picked up on by one particular classmate who proceeded to insert an entire thicket up the back of my jumper during lunch break rendering me sore and irritable for hours. A fact reflected in the detention I had managed to earn myself by the end of the day.

Velcro covered projectiles

More than just a source of mild annoyance, however, this plant is also edible. Perhaps not the most appetising or pleasant experience eaten raw due to the small hooks covering the plant, but boiled up it can be eaten like any leafy green vegetable.

As with most foods foraged in the wild, there are many theories that consuming this plant will cure most ails or cause you to reverse age and sprout wings, but I don’t tend to pay much attention to such claims. If it were to do such things then that’s a happy coincidence, but I don’t expect any miracles. What I do know, however, is that those tiny ball bearing like Velcro covered projectiles can be roasted and used as a substitute for coffee only with less caffeine than regular coffee.

A fresh cup of reduced caffeine coffee will cure any ailment I’m likely to get, of that I can be sure!

If you’re not 100% sure that what you’re picking is safe for human consumption, don’t pick it. If you’re prone to food allergies, or pregnant, always seek medical advice before consuming anything foraged in the wild.