Elderberries & Elderberry Syrup

Elderberry - [Gouache & Pencil]

So if you've known me more than 15 minutes, you probably know how much I like plants, and herbal medicines, and yes, tinctures and ointments (so fun to say) and salves (also fun to say but more fun to make). Well, I'm learning all about ELDERBERRIES - and made my first batch of elderberry syrup last week.

And then I got to thinking - is this just a folk remedy thing? Don't get me wrong, I think folk remedies are awesome and I completely value the knowledge of those who have gone before me - but I was curious about recent studies done on the herb. Does elderberry really help with the flu and sinusitis and colds?

Turns out, several studies may show elderberry to be helpful with all these things! A small study in Norway found that those participants taking 15ml of elderberry extract 4 times a day had relieved symptoms an average of FOUR DAYS earlier as compared to those using placebo. Watch a short video about Elderberry by Tierana Low Dog, MD here.

Have you ever been sick? Do you remember wondering what it was like when you felt normal? Four days shorter!? That's like an eternity when you have a cold!

This summary from the University of Maryland says that elderberry probably reduces inflammation of the mucus membranes and also decreases nasal congestion while boosting your immune system. YES, sign me up. Now, read further in that summary as it mentions a couple of cautions: like if you're pregnant or taking immuno-suppressant drugs (in both of these cases the possible immune stimulating effects of elderberry would not be recommended). Always remember that plant compounds can interact with presciption drugs - so you really should check into that before you use herbal preparations.

However, the berries (cooked first and made into a syrup) have been used for a long time in Europe to treat colds and flu, so my family will continue to make use of this amazing berry!

Here's how I make my elderberry syrup. Super simple.

3 1/2 cups filtered water
1/2 cup elderberries (dried)
Bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes.

Cool a bit and then filter through whatever you use to filter things. (I use a muslin cloth.) Squeeze out the berries at the end to get the last of your 'tea'. I compost the spent berries or feed them to my chickens.

I put everything in a quart jar and sweeten to taste with raw honey. I use between 1/4 and 1/2 cup of honey.

I keep the concoction in the fridge and give my family about 2 tsp several times a day when they're sick.

And one of the best things about elderberry (syrup)? My kids LOVE the taste! One of them asked if she could even have it on her plain yogurt for breakfast!







And now, because I am not a doctor, my disclaimer!
The information presented on this web site is not intended to take the place of your personal physician’s advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  Discuss this information with your own physician or healthcare provider to determine what is right for you.  All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. I can not and do not give you medical advice. The information contained in this online site and emails is presented in summary form only and intended to provide broad consumer understanding and knowledge.  The information should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or advice of your physician or other health care provider.

getting in the garden groove

Last summer's tomatoes. Ink and colored pencil.

If you know me, you know I like to garden. It's really so much fun. Fun to get the kids digging in the dirt. [Our pediatrician recently reminded me that Baby was eating dirt last summer. Totally forgot about that.]

Fun to plant seeds and water and wonder and hope things will sprout. Rejoice over the weather. Haul compost. Drag rain water. Fret over the weather. [When the package says 'full sun', I don't think it means full high-desert sun.] Pray to the Lord for some zucchini. That sort of thing.

It's been a long road...

The year we first put in our raised garden beds, and filled them with wonderful composted truckloads of dirty loveliness, when everything was ready, anticipating the seeds...

I laid down in the gravel landscaping, with my hands over my face.

"What in the world are you doing?" says my surprised husband.

And I say, "I'm going to fail! I'm so overwhelmed! What if I can't grow ANYTHING!?"

And he says, "Um... you haven't even tried yet?"

And I'm like, "What does that have to do with anything?"

Me and Little Buddy in 2008. First Garden!

No, kidding. I got up out of the gravel and started planting. After I got over the drama of it all, I realized he was right. And I re-learned that my husband is very wise. And patient.

But I digress.

There's nothing better than an early walk, with my mug of coffee, outside looking at the plants, counting the new tomatoes, squashing my arch-nemeses (squash bugs), and burning the breakfast eggs to a carmelized crisp as I was only going to be outside for a few minutes.

This year, my new challenge to tackle is sprouting seeds indoors. I have no place with good sun. Someone was thinking, when they built this house, about keeping too much sun out. Good for the air conditioning bills in the summer. Bad for seed sprouting. And honestly, for someone who loves to garden so much, you'd think I could sprout seeds inside!

Seriously - It weighed over a pound!

So, what's a girl to do? Growing lamp. It's big time over here now people! But then the question is, should I just go buy one (or a used one) or go the DIY route, build it myself, and spend just as much money?!

Time to get on it... need to get some of the best tasting heirloom 'Grandma Wolfe PA Super Sweet Tomatoes' planted!

[Let me know if you'd like some seeds!]

Simplifying. Ish.

My journey to a simpler life.

Here are some of the things I've tried and/or am doing to simplify my life. Only, they don't really make life more 'simple' (I think to myself as I walk out to investigate why the chickens are squawking up a storm at 5:30 am). But, I do think that doing many of these things give me a lot of satisfaction. They seem to slow down life a little bit... I think about Life when I hang my clothes to dry and get to enjoy the sun on my face whilst doing it. I contemplate Chemistry, Herbalism, and Making Something Myself as I mix the lye, fat, herbs and water (to make soap). I know what's in the foods I give my kiddos when I make them myself (and don't have to wonder if I missed some ingredient that they are allergic to.) All in all, I'm realizing more and more that I like my life...even if some people think it's crazy.

Homemade Bread
Gluten Free baking/cooking
Solar Drying Clothes (do you have a solar dryer?!)
Solar Tea
Natural Childbirth
Cloth Diapers
Breastfeeding
Homemade Baby Food
Homemade Bar Soap
Collect and use Rain Water and Grey Water in the garden
Gardening & Edible Landscaping
More Organic Foods
Community Supported Agriculture
Vermicomposting
Composting
Canning & Drying Foods
Making Water Kefir
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Herbal Treatments for colds, ear infections, sinus infection, etc.
Chickens for Eggs
Homeschooling
Meal Swapping
Sprouting
Homemade Yogurt

Worm Bin Alive and Kicking

So, don't remember if I told you, but I took a look in my worm bin the other day. I'd decided to leave the little dudes alone for awhile, as I felt I was taxing their patience with my over-attentiveness. I took a look and found a whopping 5 adult worms! What happened!? No wonder the kitchen veggie scraps I'd been putting in the bin weren't getting eaten as fast as I thought they would.

I'm trying to resist just ordering more worms. For one thing, worms propagate. I just have to be patient. For another thing, who wants to pay $10 for a styro cup full of worms? And for a last thing, I did see a bunch of baby wormlets who will soon be eating their weight in kitchen scraps daily!

Did notice a few other interesting things growing in there though. A mushroom, tall and skinny. Some very furry and light looking mold on the damp shredded newspaper bedding.

What a saga! Having a worm bin is like having my own personal soap opera.

Up 2.

Been up to a lot lately. It mostly involves feeling dehydrated, dusty, and tired. Yup. You guessed it. More landscaping! Thankfully, the butt-load of chicken poo in our driveway has shrunk quite a bit. We're putting the rest under our to-be-delivered-Friday-sod.

I've found that if I get outside everyday to putz around in the yards, I feel so much better about life!

Here's my composter! *Which has got some sweet-o aromas, bug populations, and homemade dirt! Next to it you will see the tree-with-the-red-leaves, which-I-thought-was-dead. I'm glad I didn't just chop it down. I tend to do stuff like that.









This is a Century Plant, also known as Agave. These babies get really big and there's no telling when they'll bloom. But when they do, you can't miss it! They send up a huge spike (like 15+ feet) with these funky flowers on the top. Then the plant dies.

Since I just invested in four of these, I hope they don't bloom anytime soon.