Free to forage now...
ELDERFLOWERS... Sambucus nigra usefull throughout the year...
giving tender bark, leaves, flowers and berries to use...
To make Cordial...
Fizz perhaps... But only pick your flowers on a dry sunny day most of the yeast is in the pollen...
But personally I just collect and dry hundreds of flower heads then store them... hanging them up high in the dark.
A valuable medicinal herb use in the summer to help with hayfever symptoms.
Good for all catarrhal inflammation of the upper respiratory tract so try it with sinusitis and catarrhal deafness too...
Make a simple Infusion (tea)
1 cup boiling water
2 tsp dried herb
leave for 10 mins
x3 daily drink it hot...
Dried Elder flowers are great to treat colds and fevers, add to a herb tea mix with yarrow, Thyme, hyssop or peppermint
You could make an ointment with the flowers to treat burns but I use my Aloe Vera plant for that myself
Later pick the berries, very high in vit C, add them to jams and jellies... make wine, cordial syrup or just dry them and eat a few daily.
* the berries have diuretic and laxative properties so don't be too indulgent.. a few will work a treat...
I'll post this now and add photos and recipes later when I have more time...
Get out there and forage nature is so generous...
If you have a recipe do share it here too let us all be generous with our knowledge...
Look what I found this week too in a charity shop...
A lovely yellow Dru Cast Iron Pan, with a pretty enamel lid...
Till next time
Smiles Cass x
