you find yourself.
Personally, I love Japanese Knotweed. I love it's potential as a diverse food & drink resource, I'll delve deeper into that arena later, and I actually find it to be a striking and handsome plant.
I've read some very interesting academic and scientific literature, both mainstream and non, which raised many a question regarding Japanese Knotweed; how it's perceived professionally, and thus culturally, and how this determines and affects it's subsequent treatment by humans. I heartily recommend the book 'The New Wild' by Fred Pearce - a book all conservationists and environmentalists should read.Like so many of us, I too was previously led to believe that Fallopia japonica was a botanical nightmare; especially in relation to its negative impacts on our countryside, wildlife and urban dwellings, and eradication seemed the only and most sensible option. Time spent volunteering with a local council's parks and countrysides department did little to offer me, by way of alternative viewpoints regarding non-native and invasive species and the practical ways of dealing with them and, when you're in the company of qualified professionals, as someone wishing to learn more about a subject, you have less experience of than they, it's very difficult to see any other way. I'm not discrediting any of the lovely folk I worked alongside here, they too were affected by mainstream misinformation regarding appropriate dealing with non-native plants, and the rangers at that time were passionate about caring for our green spaces and the wider environment. Eventually though, I began to see and feel differently about non-native, invasive plants.
My change of heart began a few years ago when I first learnt of the edibility of Japanese Knotweed (actually, changes began long before then & foraging played a major role in that change). After spending more time in the presence of this plant, observing it, eating, drinking it and developing a deeper revulsion toward poisonous chemicals being employed in attempts to eradicate it, a practice I've disliked for many years, I started to feel that something wasn't quite right with our mainstream perceptions of and dealings with it. Discussions with various folk who had a more positive outlook; other foragers, medical herbalists and environmentalists, also played their part in facilitating my change of heart.
I hope this article and its content will go someway to facilitating a change of heart and our collective cultural perceptions.
I will provide a number of links at the end of this article for reference and further reading.
How Did It Get Here?
Fallopia japonica, aka Japanese Knotweed, was introduced to the UK by the Victorians and it was first housed at Kew Royal Botanical Gardens circa 1850. It was famed and desired for it's attractive flowers and how the stems resembled bamboo. It quickly became one of the eras must haves for budding gardeners and plant enthusiasts, a kind of Victorian 'keeping up with the Jones'' or more appropriately, in those days 'keeping up with the De Veres' darling!
Unknown at that time was the plants propensity to vigorously and rapidly grow, which it did.
A Misguided History
Left unchecked, this tough and adaptable plant can appear to run amok, choking sections of water systems, roadside verges, gardens and fields and due to this it quickly became arch-enemy number 1 of the plant kingdom. Modern economics played a major role in the vilification of this quite remarkable plant, particularly where the building industry is concerned - it's ironic and distasteful how the development of green spaces for housing and industry hardly raises so much as an eyebrow, yet the potential harm to those buildings, in monetary terms, creates hysteria. Banks, building societies and insurance companies, spurred on by misinformation and misunderstanding, also got their knickers in a twist. This in turn affected the general public, especially those refused mortgages. The all pervasive negativity surrounding Japanese Knotweed fuelled the need for a solution to the problem and, when humans and nature collide, nature suffers: the seeds of hatred are sown, they germinate and rampantly flourish. The human 'superiority over nature' complex further exacerbated negative views and practices, eradication via the use of poisonous chemicals became the norm and the war was on.
The Problem With Poisonous Chemicals
As I mentioned earlier I have a deep revulsion toward poisonous chemicals. Poisonous chemicals affect not only the plants/insects/fungi they are designed to eliminate but they affect wider human and environmental health and anyone that is under the disillusion that these chemicals merely vanish without a trace are indeed disillusioned. Toxins are washed and leached into the fresh water systems; this is basic science. They then work there way into the bodies and cells of living organisms and work their way up and through the food chain via those living organisms being consumed by other living organisms - again, basic science. Soil health too is compromised and I'm genuinely shocked at how unaware most humans are regarding soil: take a look around at the land and observe what grows from soil. Soil health should be taught as part of the national curriculum. Please don't be angry at what I'm writing, I too spent many years unaware or in ignorance of theses issues until my curiosity and consciousness was informed otherwise.
At this point some of you may be saying 'but chemicals are a part of the natural world' and this is true, there are a multitude of chemical processes at work daily in the natural world, ants spray formic acid to ward off predators, certain carnivorous plants give off chemicals to attract their prey, but those chemical processes are natural and limited in their wider effects. They are not man-made and they are not designed to be profited from at the expense of wide spread environmental damage, destruction and health. There has recently been a very interesting court case in the US involving a certain corporation; they have been found guilty of deceiving, lying and misinforming the world about one of their products called Roundup. Roundup is a frequently used weedkiller and it has been proven to cause cancer among other negative and health compromising issues. So, all you budding gardeners, outdoors council employees etc, currently using Roundup or other chemical nasties to treat Knotweed and other 'weeds', please put away your chemical weapons and start campaigning and searching for greener, non-polluting alternatives, the future health of your children and the environment depend on it.
Alternatives To Chemical Treatment
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| Knotweed Shoots & Old Woody Stems |
To date there is no conclusive evidence to prove either of the above, but they both make a lot of sense and a thorough, long-term, strategic experiment requires being carried out regarding them, complete with transparent, unbiased documenting and reporting being carried out. If these techniques were indeed proved to be correct, viable, sustainable, employment opportunities would be created via the annual harvesting, processing and sales of nutritious food and drink resources. I'm also pretty sure that the dried out, woody stems could be used as a biofuel or compostable packaging - Knotweed only regenerates via sections of root.
The best recipe for dealing with JK in my mind is one for Knotweed Ketchup, but more on that later.
Good News For Home Owners
Fortunately, thanks to new research, obtaining mortgages on properties with Japanese Knotweed in the nearby vicinity are being granted. It seems that JK's rumoured tendencies to smash down and through buildings like some bad tempered, hormonal and testosterone-fuelled, teenage Godzilla fighting it's way through wet tissue paper are pretty much hyperbole, as this recent research paper by Leeds University explores:
https://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/4262/japanese_knotweed-not_such_a_knotty_problem
Why Pick Japanese Knotweed?
More to the point why not? Japanese Knotweed is a member of the polygonaceae family, the exact same family as rhubarb and as such is as culinary versatile as rhubarb. Other family members include; common sorrel, bistort and dock, all of which are edible and tasty to varying degrees. JK is also classed as a non-native, invasive species and grows at a remarkable rate so, gathering for cooking purposes isn't an issue, it would only be an issue if it were a rare, at risk species. JK has been awarded the more pleasing name 'Asian Rhubarb', I also like to call it 'Wild Rhubarb'.
What Can You Make With It?
What can't you make with it? Well, you can't make it rain but that's not usually an issue in the UK.
More and more folk are tuning into this amazing plant, thanks to forward & progressive thinking environmentalists and culinary-creative foragers and chefs; once reviled, it is gradually becoming revered! The solution, or at least one solution, is to ensure we don't leave it unchecked; it's time to rescue it, the environment and public health from it's current misconceived reputation and toxic-eradication-shackles and put Japanese Knotweed firmly on the menu.
To date I've made no less than 17 different food and drink products from Japanese Knotweed and there's scope for more:
1. Japanese Knotweed Wine - works well with Sweet Cicely added.
2. Japanese Knotweed & Sweet Cicely Chutney.
3. Japanese Knotweed & Sweet Cicely Liqueur.
4. Japanese Knotweed & Star Anise Jelly.
5. Japanese Knotweed Ketchup - several variations, all excellent.
6. Japanese Knotweed Curd
7. Japanese Knotweed Ice Cream w/ Lime, Vanilla & Mixed Spice
8. Japanese Knotweed Fruit Leather
9. Japanese Knotweed & Birch Syrup Puree - great w/ vanilla yogurt & pepperkakor crumb
10. Japanese Knotweed Syrup
11. Sweet Pickled Japanese Knotweed Sections - several spice blend variations in the pickling liquor
12. Candied Knotweed
13. Japanese Knotweed Crumble
14. Fermented Knotweed.
15. Pure Juice - great added to cocktails to sour them
16. Japanese Knotweed Cordial
17. Japanese Knotweed & Sweet Woodruff Tarts
Not a bad repertoire for such a destructive weed. Oh, the hollow sections make great drinking straws.
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| Knotweed & Sweet Woodruff Tarts |
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| Knotweed Jelly w/ Star Anise |
For Japanese Knotweed Recipes: https://edible-leeds.blogspot.com/2019/04/japanese-knotweed-recipes.html
Medicinal & Health Benefits
Aside from food & drink, JK has numerous medicinal qualities. The roots provide a source of resveratrol and that is extremely effective at combating Lyme Disease. The following link lists some of the health benefits from eating Japanese Knotweed: https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/japanese-knotweed.html
Safety Tips For Foragers
If you are intending to go out and pick Japanese Knotweed you need to ensure that the site you're gathering from hasn't be treated with chemicals. Signs to look for are withered or damaged leaves on plants near where you are collecting. This isn't always an adequate safety precaution as chemicals may have been injected directly into the plants stem base, close to the root, despite the industry claiming this isn't a 100% sure fire way of killing the plant - so why bother? Look for dark blue liquid staining on the plants stems, again, great if it's been recently treated. You can contact your local council and ask where treatment of known Japanese Knotweed sites are, you can also contact them to complain about the administering of poisonous chemicals and the harm to human, aquatic and environmental health.
It is an offence to knowingly cause the further spread of Japanese Knotweed and you can be prosecuted if you do so. Knotweed will regenerate from sections of root but you will be harvesting the young stems, so shouldn't have any root attached.
If you have any leftover sections after preparing Japanese Knotweed ie leaves, stem sections, boil them for 10 minutes. Further advice recommends the drying and incinerating of the boiled sections. Personally I find this a bit overkill, try boiling a potato, planting it and see if any new potatoes grow from it. Following the advice provided regarding the discarding of unused parts is best adhered to, just to be on the safe side.
Nature isn't our enemy, it is our friend. A healthy environment will provide us with the necessary basics required for a happy and thriving existence and if it wasn't for nature, we wouldn't be here. It's time to restore our vital connection with the natural world.
Links to references and further reading:
https://usrtk.org/monsanto-roundup-trial-tracker-index/
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/10/monsanto-trial-cancer-dewayne-johnson-ruling
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