## 3 Results and Discussion
### Home Gardens as Sources for Food  
Figure 5 shows that in the Taurage study, out of 100 recorded plant species, 49 were used for food. Respectively, in the archival data, from 76 species, 35 were used for food. All plant species recorded in the study served a medicinal purpose, but medicinal uses very often intertwined with food. For example, cultivated garlic was, indeed, used for food by each applicant, but its \"superpower\" indications, such as \"kill tuberculosis, diphthe bacteria\" and \"improve blood circulation, relieve colds\", are in line with the EMA assessment Table S1 (Supplementary Materials). Preparation methods often used fresh plants, which were closely related to the plants being consumed simply as functional foods, or an infusion with vodka or honey and vinegar was made. This method of preparation was intended for longer storage and possible extraction of the active substances. The term \"edible medicines\", coined by [PERSON] and adopted by other researchers [1], accurately reflects the consumption of garden plants for food which also have a healing function. Another example could be dandelion, which was recorded in the Taurage study as the most commonly used plant for medicinal purposes. On the other hand, dandelions also have nutritional properties. It is suggested to collect dandelion early in spring, when they are just beginning to germinate, cut down to the roots and make a salad or eat about ten dandelion stems per day. To reduce the bitterness, dandelion stems should be picked together with the flowers, washed and only then should the flowers be picked. One grandmother shared her dandelion syrup recipe: washed dandelion flowers (about two full double handfuls) are slowly heated on a low heat until boiling, then placed in a cool room and left overnight. The next day, strain and add 1 kg of sugar or as much as you want. Heat again on a low heat to evaporate the water but not the vitamins. Neither too thick nor too liquid of a syrup must be obtained, which can then be eaten alone or smeared on bread. The COVID-19 pandemic is also changing people's attitudes towards food, creating a need to grow food for themselves. Increased seed sales have been observed in Lithuania, and homegrown food crops are, indeed, experiencing a renaissance. Information was collected during the first wave (spring 2020), which was low in Lithuania; therefore, no COVID-19 situation-related consumption was recorded. The group that was exclusively targeted were applicants abundantly and permanently growing medicinal/food plants for their own use. It was difficult to distinguish if it was only for food or only for medicine, especially if the term \"for immunity, for health, to be healthy\" was used. A large-scale study was performed on homemade plant foods and beverages used during COVID-19 for preventing infection and/or treating symptoms [1]. During the study, the attitude of the Lithuanian population was also assessed. Compared to Poland and Belarus, the most diverse patterns of using food as medicine were documented in Lithuania. It was found that in pandemic news discussion forums, people mostly shared methods on how to boost the immune system. Plant-based homegrown teas, other beverages and foods \"of the past\" represent the initial community health response in times of uncertainty and when public health services are under pressure. They actively promoted the use of plants and honeybee products for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19 [1]. The use of honeybee products in archival sources is still widely reviewed, and these products for strengthening immunity are still popular in Lithuania [33]. Honey is used not only as a main substance but also as an excipient in the preparation of pharmaceutical forms Tables S1 and S2 (Supplementary Materials). It is suitable for sweetening medicines not only for children but also for adults, e.g., to hide the bitterness of medicinal plant raw materials. Secondly, it is a preservative that allows the prepared forms to be stored for a longer period of time [33].