I walk down the aisles of the shops and it does not matter what shop I am in, they always offer the same thing: iceberg lettuce, a couple of sad-looking rocket leaves, and some kind of colorful salad leaves. Have we come so far in 2023 that the shops still do not offer a difference beyond the sameness we have cultivated?
Often, I tell people they can eat the things that grow in their garden which they love to label "weeds". For me, a weed is a plant that grows in the wrong space, so even a rose can become a weed. But once they know about the potential of food behind these plants, they always want to know more and learn about them.
Every year around April, chickweed (stellaria media) symbolizes the coming of winter. I love this time of the year as I love the winter leafy greens. They grow in true abundance when the first rains hit us. They cover the whole garden in their green mat growth, and I cannot wait to dig in.
I removed the grass and planted spinach. After the first winter rains, the chickweed and dandelions returned. Most people will remove them, I let them grow wild. Now, I pick from this green mat almost every day to make for myself salads. One cannot live from salad, but having this extra source of food in the backyard means that I will get a variety of foods that are not available to the public. Variety, as my old professor told me, is the spice of life.
Mustard greens, garlic chives, chickweeds, rocket leaves, dandelions, my fingers smell like the garden and I eat whilst I pick. I already think about the flavor combinations; lemon with a touch of sugar; mustard with a bit of olive oil.
Is true abundance not having the ability
to incorporate variety in one's culinary endeavors?
This idea of abundance is obviously a tad on the strange side, but think about it, having access to an abundance of resources allows one to have access to differences infinite times more than those who only have access for example to the store ingredients.
I also asked 
I picked a bunch of early winter leafy greens. I made a quick vinaigrette using lemons from the trees growing on the property. It is enough for four people. I did not even make a dent in the amount of greens still there. This is the more common meaning of abundance. I picked and I picked and it did not become less. I left so much still in the ground. For the birds, for the snails and slugs. Tomorrow I will pick again.
In any case, I hope you enjoyed these musings. Tonight we will feast on some leafy greens! Stay well and safe!
The musings are my own albeit inspired by these leafy greens. The photographs are also my own taken with my iPhone.