weeds

those wild annuals we called 'weeds' are a secondary succession of plants that come to a wounded ecology to make it fertile enough for the next succession, which is grasses and brambles, usually.

the 'weeds', -such as plantain, dandelion, burdock, lamsquarters, pigweed, vetch, clover- help the soil by adding their tough fibre, pulling up nutrients from deep in the soil, and holding the soil tight together in protection from erosion and the harsh sun.

soil always wants a cover.

the toughest, most medicinal little plants come in and build the fertility of the soil. these plants are most often medicinal for humans too.

the soil condition -alkali, acid, fertile, etc.- can be infered by some observation of the weed guilds. Here are some indicators; (from Burbidge, Jean. "Reading Weeds on the Farm", Winter 2000, Eco-Farms and Gardens. pg13)

high soil fertility:
chickweed
chickory
groundsel
lambsquarters

acid soil:
hawkweed
dock
wild strawberry
mullein
knapweed

alkali soil:
bladder campion
wild carrot
black henbane
perrenial sowthistle

heavy clay soil:
buttercup
plantain
coltsfoot
dandelion
dock

low potassium:
eastern bracken
corn chamomile
yarrow

high potassium:
spotted water hemlock
red clover
knapweed

weeds can act as companion plants, significantly reducing insect damage.

cultivating certains weeds can as a cover crop or within your cover crop can be a free, super-nutritions, pest-controlling way of nourishing the soil.

i say 'can' because it is up to the gardener to listen to what combination and timing is going to create what ecosystem.

grasses compete with vegetable roots for nutrients: they are the next succession after weeds, and should be kept out of the garden.

nitrogen fixers:
clover
vetch
legumes
alfalfa