Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
I thought I’d made some headway in the garden, but I came back just a few days later to find the sow thistle had returned in full force, fresh and defiant as ever. In the last video, I’d called it cow thistle and said it had purple flowers — turns out I was wrong on both counts. It’s sow thistle, yellow-flowered and deeply rooted in more ways than one. This stuff has taproots that can go ten feet down, with horizontal roots that run wild beneath the soil. I tried pulling it all, carefully and thoroughly, but I suppose you don’t win battles like this with care alone.
After some research, I found that it’s more than just a nuisance. It’s packed with vitamins and minerals, good for teas, tinctures, and even dinner if you're brave enough — though I’ll admit the raw taste nearly changed my mind about that. Still, it has its uses. It attracts aphids, which in turn bring in the good bugs. It enriches the soil and reminds me that sometimes the thing you’re fighting might also be trying to help.
So I’m changing my approach. Instead of just pulling and muttering, I’m freeze drying the young leaves and trying to work with what I’ve got. Maybe that’s the lesson. Not everything in the garden is here by mistake. Some of it might be a gift I just didn’t recognize at first. I’ll keep weeding — of course I will — but I’m also learning to see the purpose in what grows uninvited. Maybe you’ll find something in here that helps with your own patch of stubborn ground.
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---------------
Mailing Address:
That 1870's Homestead
P.O. Box 179
Newport, MI 48166
---------------
✅ Connect with Us 🐐
YouTube: youtube.com/@1870s
Facebook: facebook.com/1870sHomestead
Instagram: instagram.com/that_1870s_homestead
Pinterest: pinterest.com/that1870s
EMAIL: that1870shomestead@gmail.com
---------------
Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links - at no additional cost to you. We will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase, after clicking through the links. ♥ Todd & Rachel
---------------
00:00 Introduction and Feeling Defeated
00:33 Correcting the Weed Misidentification
00:56 Sow Thistle Research and Root Depth
01:57 Weeding After Rainfall
02:36 Young Sprouts and Taproot Challenges
03:17 Nutritional Benefits of Sow Thistle
03:58 Raw Taste Test and Caution
04:46 Herbal Uses and Freeze Drying Plan
05:15 Permaculture Benefits and Aphid Control
06:11 Fertilizer Potential and Mindset Shift
06:54 Seeing Purpose in the Struggle
07:34 Facing the Scope of the Invasion
08:03 Raised Bed Idea and Reality Check
09:36 Weeding Paths and Soil Health
10:33 Considering Solutions and Hope
11:24 Pulling Weeds and Staying Motivated
12:31 Battling the Garden Pathways
13:17 Reflections and Earthworm Discovery
13:51 Soil Positives and Airation Benefits
14:23 Recognizing the Inevitable Battle
14:57 Finding Gratitude
15:36 Progress Update and Physical Toll
16:18 Emotional Honesty and Encouragement
16:48 Life Lessons from the Weeds
17:27 Outro and Back to Work
I thought I’d made some headway in the garden, but I came back just a few days later to find the sow thistle had returned in full force, fresh and defiant as ever. In the last video, I’d called it cow thistle and said it had purple flowers — turns out I was wrong on both counts. It’s sow thistle, yellow-flowered and deeply rooted in more ways than one. This stuff has taproots that can go ten feet down, with horizontal roots that run wild beneath the soil. I tried pulling it all, carefully and thoroughly, but I suppose you don’t win battles like this with care alone.
After some research, I found that it’s more than just a nuisance. It’s packed with vitamins and minerals, good for teas, tinctures, and even dinner if you're brave enough — though I’ll admit the raw taste nearly changed my mind about that. Still, it has its uses. It attracts aphids, which in turn bring in the good bugs. It enriches the soil and reminds me that sometimes the thing you’re fighting might also be trying to help.
So I’m changing my approach. Instead of just pulling and muttering, I’m freeze drying the young leaves and trying to work with what I’ve got. Maybe that’s the lesson. Not everything in the garden is here by mistake. Some of it might be a gift I just didn’t recognize at first. I’ll keep weeding — of course I will — but I’m also learning to see the purpose in what grows uninvited. Maybe you’ll find something in here that helps with your own patch of stubborn ground.
---------------
👕 Shop Our Merch: bonfire.com/store/1870smerch
🌻 HOSS Garden Tools & Seeds: shrsl.com/33ehp (Promo Code SHOP1870 for free seeds!)
🌱 MIGardener: migardener.com/1870
🌺 GREENSTALK Vertical Gardens: greenstalkgarden.com/?rstr=SHOP1870 (Promo Code SHOP1870 for $10 off!)
🥫 FORJARS Canning Lids: forjars.co/?sca_ref=1911228.45BY9FFxdg (Promo Code SHOP1870 to get 10% off)
🍃 HARVEST Right Freeze Dryers: affiliates.harvestright.com/1182.html
🔦 OLIGHT Flashlights: bit.ly/3z6daku (Promo Code SHOP1870 for 10% off!)
🛒 Our Favorite AMAZON Finds: amzn.to/3ihSgZP
---------------
Mailing Address:
That 1870's Homestead
P.O. Box 179
Newport, MI 48166
---------------
✅ Connect with Us 🐐
YouTube: youtube.com/@1870s
Facebook: facebook.com/1870sHomestead
Instagram: instagram.com/that_1870s_homestead
Pinterest: pinterest.com/that1870s
EMAIL: that1870shomestead@gmail.com
---------------
Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links - at no additional cost to you. We will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase, after clicking through the links. ♥ Todd & Rachel
---------------
00:00 Introduction and Feeling Defeated
00:33 Correcting the Weed Misidentification
00:56 Sow Thistle Research and Root Depth
01:57 Weeding After Rainfall
02:36 Young Sprouts and Taproot Challenges
03:17 Nutritional Benefits of Sow Thistle
03:58 Raw Taste Test and Caution
04:46 Herbal Uses and Freeze Drying Plan
05:15 Permaculture Benefits and Aphid Control
06:11 Fertilizer Potential and Mindset Shift
06:54 Seeing Purpose in the Struggle
07:34 Facing the Scope of the Invasion
08:03 Raised Bed Idea and Reality Check
09:36 Weeding Paths and Soil Health
10:33 Considering Solutions and Hope
11:24 Pulling Weeds and Staying Motivated
12:31 Battling the Garden Pathways
13:17 Reflections and Earthworm Discovery
13:51 Soil Positives and Airation Benefits
14:23 Recognizing the Inevitable Battle
14:57 Finding Gratitude
15:36 Progress Update and Physical Toll
16:18 Emotional Honesty and Encouragement
16:48 Life Lessons from the Weeds
17:27 Outro and Back to Work
