Useful Common Weeds

Many plants that are considered as common weeds are actually highly nutritious and even considered important for human survival. They can be used for food, medicine, or self care. Know these useful plants for your benefit! They are growing for you for free!
There are several strategies for dealing with these beneficial plants:

1. Leave them alone and allow them to flourish harvesting as needed.
2. Harvest them as part of the weeding process. Many can be eaten at the same time that one removes them in order to make room for other plants to grow.
3. Actively forage for them. In this case, make sure you harvest them from places where harmful chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides are not used.

Here is a list of common useful weeds (and related species):

(Please note this section is under construction)

1. Amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus) (plus 70 related species) (aka pigweed) - All parts are edible, including the roots, greens and seeds. Very nutritious the greens contain manganese, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, selenium, potassium, and vitamin E and B complex. The seeds have 15-18% protein, are high in lysine (lacking in most grains), flavanoids, squalene, and are gluten free. (Blair pp. 106-118)
2. Chickweed (Stellaria media) (plus Stellaria purbera, Cerastium vulgatum, S. dicholoma, S. alsine) (aka Starweed) - Small leaves grow in opposite pairs. Small flowers have 5 petals, deeply divided like "mouse ears". Stems, leaves, and seeds are good to eat, and good for the skin as well, healing minor injuries, blemishes, sunburns, sunspots, and cysts. Dried parts can be infused into oil for skin treatment. High in vitamins C, D, B complex, many minerals, and antioxidants. Mild and succulent. Seeds have 17% protein and 6% fat including GLA. (Blair pp. 124-132)
3. Clover
4. Dandelion
5. Dock
6. Grass
7. Knotweed
8. Lambsquarter
9. Mallow
10. Mustard
11. Plantain
12. Purslane
13. Thistle
14. Bindweed (Evoluvus alsinodes) (aka Field Morning Glory) (aka shankha pushpi in Ayurveda) - brain tonic used for increasing memory, concentration, intelligence and creativity. Also used in attention deficit disorder (ADD) in an Ayurvedic formula called sarasvata churna (Frawley and Lad, pp. 249-250). Very common invasive species in Colorado, with very deep roots. Notoriously difficult to control, and very aggressive, it is the focus of eradication efforts by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Eat it instead!
15. Goat's Head (Tribulus terrestris) (aka Puncture Vine) (aka Gokshura in Ayurveda) - medicinal for the kidneys, urinary tract system, useful in treating gout and rheumatism, strengthens the reproductive system in men, invigorating to postpartum women (Frawley and Lad, pp. 169-170).

References:

I highly recommend these books for much greater detail and information:

1. The Wild Wisdom of Weeds, Katrina Blair, Chelsea Green Publishing, 2014.
2. The Yoga of Herbs, Dr. David Frawley and Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, 2001.