One person’s untidy backyard is another’s salad bar.

If you think everything in your yard that isn’t grass must be a nuisance, you’re missing out—on a free lunch. Those pesky weeds invading your lush green patch of paradise are actually valuable foods, loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and protein, sometimes even more nutritious than what you’ll find at the grocery store. Things like dandelions and clovers are commonly found in American lawns, and if you pick them early, you’ll get an incredibly sweet, nutritious addition to your next meal.

Here are some suggestions for finding free munchies in your backyard. Just remember to ID them with a credible source if you’re not plant-savvy—there’s even an app for that! If you’ve got a smart phone, download the Wild Edibles app created by Steve Brill, a botanist known for giving edible-plant tours of New York City’s Central Park. Also, wash your harvest thoroughly before consuming, and steer clear of areas that may have been treated with chemicals or pesticides.

(On just a quarter-acre of land, you can produce fresh, organic food for a family of four—year-round. Rodale’s The Backyard Homestead shows you how; get your copy today.)

Purslane
This plant has rounded, succulent, leaves and a reddish stem and grows everywhere, so it’s very likely that you’ll find a purslane plant somewhere in your neighborhood. Notoriously difficult to kill as a weed, purslane is probably better suited to your dinner plate anyway. It’s loaded with antioxidant vitamins like vitamins A and C, and also contains healthy omega-3 fatty acids. You can eat the stems and leaves fresh—try them in salads or sandwiches—or use them in soups or in recipes that call for spinach (they’re related and have a similar taste). You can also try them pickled!