Drought defense

So your garden is lagging and your lawn is dead—welcome to drought farming! One hardy plant that continues to thrive is the dandelion. Your only defense is to eat them. Gather the sunny blooms and ferment some dandelion wine like your granny did. Or look for huge bunches of the greens at the farmers market. They're even healthier than kale and have been used medicinally for centuries. The leaves and roots are prized as a blood cleanser, digestive aid and liver tonic. Young, tender leaves are less bitter, so eat them raw in salads or on sandwiches. Older leaves can be steamed or sautéed.