Dandelion Root Song
I wrote this short Dandelion Root song to celebrate the process of digging up dandelion roots and all the benefits of processing them, from digging to eating or drinking them. I quickly filmed this at the end of a winter's afternoon digging up roots, so please forgive this tired forager and singer!

What are the Dandelion Root song words?
Roots, roots I've got mud on my boots and under my finger nails, Roots, roots I've got mud on my boots and under my finger nails.
When my hands touch the ground there is no other sound... just the microbes that mingle with me.
They lift up my mood and provide me with food and belonging and comfort and tea.
Roots, roots I've got mud on my boots and under my finger nails, Roots, roots I've got mud on my boots and under my finger nails.


What do the words of the Dandelion Root song mean?
Ever since childhood I've loved mud and earth. I find such a simple joy from having my hands in the soil and simply being outside on the earth. It's physical work too, which feels rewarding and satisfying.
When my hands touch the ground, there's no other sound... There's something so meditative about digging, it is immersive and focusing and just good honest, practical work. In that moment, it feels like everything.
They lift up my mood. This is happy work with me, but also the microbes in the soil are literally a mood enhancer. It is often called the "antidepressant effect" of soil (van den Berg & Custers, 2011; Yao et al., 2021). Equally time in nature connecting with meditative actions can help alleviate stress and lower cortisol levels. Activities such as foraging can improve measures of heart rate variability and restorative outcomes (Bratman et al., 2015; Yao et al., 2021). While being outdoors in natural environments can contribute significantly to psychological restoration (Kaplan, 1995) fostering relaxation and reduce rumination (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989).

Provide me with food, belonging, comfort and tea. Dandelion roots are a fantastic ingredient for grating into salads, frittatas or fritters. For more ideas of how to use dandelion roots, look at the winter section of my book: Wild and Sweet - forage and make 101 seasonal desserts.
Evidence shows that connecting more deeply with nature can cultivate a sense of belonging (Zylstra et al., 2014; Giesting, 2020). Belonging is an important aspect of health and well-being. A feeling of connection to the natural world can play an essential role within this. Finally, I keep the dandelion leaves for making a herbal tea with. The leaves are supportive for the urinary tract and the liver, plus are full of vitamins and minerals.

References
Bratman, G. N., Daily, G. C., Levy, B. J., & Gross, J. J. (2015). The benefits of nature experience: Improved affect and cognition. Landscape and Urban Planning, 138, 41–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.02.005 and Yao, W., Zhang, X., & Gong, Q. (2020). The effect of exposure to the natural environment on stress reduction: A meta-analysis. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 48, Article 126932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126932
Giesting, Kristen, (thesis presented to the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (2016). Foraging for Meaning: Harvesting Wild Plants as the Basis for an Ecological Worldview
Kaplan, S. (1995). The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15(3), 169–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-4944(95)90001-2
Kaplan, R., & Kaplan, S. (1989). The experience of nature: A psychological perspective. Cambridge University Press.
Van den Berg, A. E., & Custers, M. H. G. (2011). Gardening promotes neuroendocrine and affective restoration from stress. Journal of Health Psychology, 16(1), 3–11. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105310365577
Yao, W., Zhang, X., & Gong, Q. (2020). The effect of exposure to the natural environment on stress reduction: A meta-analysis. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 48, Article 126932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126932
Zylstra, M. J. (2014). Exploring meaningful nature experience, connectedness with nature, and the revitalization of transformative education for sustainability (PhD thesis), Stellenbosch University.
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Tags: dandelions, eat dandelions, edible roots, edible weeds, Foraging, Taraxacum officinale, wild roots, winter foraging