For many years in Alberta, farmers would spend a great deal of time and money trying to rid their fields of 
all the dandelions. Eventually they realized that it was an utterly hopeless quest. So, following the advice of the old adage, they decided since they were unable to beat them, they would join them (in a manner of speaking). Farmers everywhere began to cultivate as many dandelions as they possibly could. But first, there was a huge campaign to create a market for the weed.
The Coalition of Dandelion Farmers in the Prairie Provinces of Canada (The CDFPPC) began a pervasive radio and television campaign to put the idea of dandelions as a useful herb into the minds of everyone in the country. Product placement in some of our favourite television shows ran rampant. On “The Beachcombers”, Molly was quite often brewing up dandelion tea. On “Street Legal” the lawyers once defended a man who was charged with illegally selling his home-made dandelion wine. “Mr. Dress-up” frequently used dandelions to make a variety of crafts. Bruno Gerussi also demonstrated many culinary applications for them on his show, “Celebrity Cooks”.
In just over a year dandelions went from one of the most hated weeds to the newest and hottest alternative medicine/salad green/wine ingredient/multi-purpose plant since the aloe-vera. The CDFPPC made millions.
Although the dandelions popularity has waned somewhat (mainly due to to the fact that The Caolition was unable to get Dr. Atkins to support them) you can still see vast fields of the plant all over Central Alberta every summer.
I wrote a post not too long ago about why dandelions exist – (So kids can pick them and make their mom happy!) Just this morning my son gave me one so I could “blow on it and make a wish”… so I like them, even if they are “weeds”
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Who knew dandelions were so useful? Except Canadians, of course.
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brilliant.
instead of seeing a pest and spending to get rid of it, they turned it into something they could profit from. good forward thinking.
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I’d warn Canada to be careful with this…
Next thing you know Brazil will be cutting down more of the Amazon rain forests to make room to grow dandelions. And of course, we know why this is bad. It will reduce the habitat of the elusive Amazon Goddess. We all remember where Wonder Woman came from, right?
~ Steve, noble UV minion, the trade show display guy, closet redneck, and dandelion-free Amazon advocate
Chelle: our kids bring us pretty dandelions all summer
Corrina: Just let us know when you start dancing!
kouji: try some dandelion salad someday
Steve: Those Amazons are already in trouble. Since the States is going to use a lot of the corn grown stateside for fuel, they are already cutting down rainforest to grow soybeans. Sadly, massive amounts of forest are being clearcut and that is no joke.
Hmmm… the only thing I can think of about dandelions is they really stain kids clothes.
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Hi Tim,
I was joking about growing dandelions in the Amazon, but I agree it’s no joke that the rain forests are being cut down. It makes little sense to me to heavily subsidize putting corn in our tanks instead of our mouths, especially when one stops and looks at the big picture. I think more people are starting to realize this though, and perhaps massive amounts of subsidized corn in the gas tank will be a passing fad.
Just my two cents.
~ Steve, aka the trade show display guy
Great way to use a simple “pesty” flower! I used to live in Canada and I remember when I used to make dandelion’s necklaces with my friends. I didn’t know people could make tea out of them, maybe I will give it a try.
This really bugs me after reading your post, which is better Dandelion or Oregano??
I find the story hard to believe,but a very creative solution. Wonder what will happen with used tires.
Use really young dandelion leaves to
make a great salad. Another plus point
this great little plan has.
Its unbelievable but so amazing from being considered as “pest” plants/weeds to “multi purpose plant” it nice how farmer find a good alternative from this plants.
Hello and thanks for the insight….never knew those facts about dandelions. As we all are aware there are weeds and then….there are weeds. There is an influx or legal ‘weed’ that is being sold online that attests to similar qualities as their illegal counterparts. Also, thanks for using the plugins…they are great and we need more people to utilize them.
Just my $0.02
Very funny example of a market being created out of nothingness. Thanks!
What benefits could we get from planting dandelions?I am curious because it stated here that it has waned.
Dandelions are wonderful plants.What are the benefits of this plants.I want to know.
You’re right “if you can’t beat them, join them”. Nice ideas for helping the farmers transform dandelions into herbal products.
I thought dandelions are just a bunch of weeds. So, there’s benefit coming from dandelions. Great info.
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The picture you show is not a dandelions field at all. It is a picture of a rape field full in bloom! In Germany you produce oil out of rapeseed as an alternative energy. Dandelions is weed but a legal one. But probably somebody comes up and find out that it can be addictive in some way and then you need a rehab.
My Uncle lives at Alberta and he never tell us about this plants could turn into herbal product.
Amazing! a plant that’s not important now could become herbal.Great article.
Crazy Stuff. I never knew Dandelions had herbal benefits. Seems kinda funny eating them in a salad too.
I shall not moan about the ones in my garden anymore
I think to sell dandelious is just the best way to earn easy money. But it is only a trend so I don’t know how long it will work.
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I’m really not into dandelions but how do you actually earn?
I went to school with a girl named Dandelion – Dandelion Poppyseed McClarin. Of course, her parents were hippies from the sixties.
She was a happy kid. Dandelions make me smile…