Did you know there are more than 250 species of dandelions? Apparently they give botanists the cold sweats when trying to identify them. (I love knowing this. It triples my admiration for these flowers.)

Personally, I've come to appreciate dandelions as an early food source for bees, and also cordage. If you're familiar with Alice Fox's work, you've been introduced to cordage. She has a great mini-series on how to make cordage on Instagram. I was first introduced to it last year on Caroline Ross's course. It is surprisingly addictive.

Last year I plucked all the flowers and popped them on the compost heap, where they proceeded to go to seed anyway. Sigh. This year I got smart, and made colour from them instead! Dandelions produce a soft yellow ink.

You can also use the same recipe to make gorse ink. The gorse petals produce a stronger colour, but you need to pick more of them. (At least 1 cup / 250ml packed.) Gorse plants also have thorns, and they aren't as common as dandelions.

Dandelion - Taraxacum officinale

Not only fun to make, but also helps reduce the "weeds" that your neighbours may prefer not to look at. Hilariously, though, picking only the flowers makes the plant more resilient. If you want to prevent them from growing back, you'll need to uproot the plant.

Ink Recipe

This recipe is kitchen-safe.

1. Collect at least 100 dandelion flower heads for a small batch of ink. If you'd like to make cordage, collect the stem as well. The (bitter) leaves can be eaten raw as salad.
2. Put the flower heads in a pot, and cover with water. If you have some, add 1tsp of alum. Otherwise, a splash of vinegar might help.
3. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Strain the flower heads out of the pot.
5. Return the liquid to the saucepan, and simmer until the liquid is reduced by at least two thirds, or the liquid is "dark enough" when a test strip of paper is dipped into the pot.
6. Transfer to small jars, and add gum Arabic to suit. I prefer viscose ink and add at 10:1 spruce bark water to gum Arabic (or more). Stir well.

If you wish to reduce your energy consumption: instead of cooking the flower heads (steps 2-5) leave them in water on the windowsill to soak until the colour has leached out. You may still need to reduce the liquid before adding gum Arabic. A splash of vinegar or salt may help prevent mould growth.

To use the ink: Apply to paper with a dip pen, a brush, or even a small twig.

I would love to see what you make with this recipe. Send me a picture if you give it a try.