Elderberries!!!!
Okay then!!!
Here on my EarthCastle Blog, I am ever pining away the time and dreaming of things that I can get my hands into, (dirt is always one of them) as soon as it is again delightfully warm outdoors. Maybe, during these colder months, when I can catch glimpses of time here and there, and when the ground isn't too frozen, I’ll even continue on doing this kind of work, (cob/earth building) if I can find a few helping hands, and a weekend or two here and there to spare, to “play in the cold mud.” (Remembering the past few winters here, it has been pretty warm overall. We are hoping for a few cold, hard freezes this year, and plenty of snow to play in, but meanwhile...) Now then. There is no reason to “waste” all of these perfectly good months out here doing nothing but dreaming, (although I’ll always be doing plenty of that) and thusly, I have decided that it is high time to get my hands into even more “dirt,” if you will, and share what I find along my journeys, with YOU. It will, (I promise!) be highly educational, delightful to read, and above all, F-U-N!
SO!
Not only am I going to post about my COB goings on here at the blog, but also, now, I am going to introduce those other kinds of things that we have been doing around here at Wolvenwold! This will include all of the homestead-y/permie-ee/organic-y/greenie types of things that make our mouths water, fill our spirits full of joy, and leave us with a sense of pride and accomplishment. Plus, it feels good doing things that are good for the EARTH, and good for our souls, minds, and bodies, too! Right? RIGHT!
So today, I woke with a tiny bit of a sore throat. My first reaction?
"No... NO... NONONO!!!
I don't have TIME to get sick right now!!! AARRGGHHH”
I have far too many things that I want to concentrate on, plan and activate, and just, well, get done this season. So, instead, (remembering my beloved Law of Attraction) I popped a couple of Echinacea throat drops, quickly shifted my focus, instead, to...
"WELLNESS!!! Radiant Health! Happiness!" YAY!!! ;-) ;-) ;-)
And, also, I should add, a bit of the old adage, kicking myself in the butt whist doing so...
“Witch, HEAL Thyself!!!”
(After all, for crying out loud, what good is being a witch, if you can’t at the very least, “heal yourself? Right??)
Hence, the “Elderberry Entry,” numero uno. (Homebrewing fun, and laundry soap making stuff, soon to follow, kids. Who knows where this shall lead.)
Ahem.
Okay, so Holly (my bestie) and I (and if you don’t know me all that well, or if you are just getting to know me, you’ll hear me mention her name a lot, or, possibly, the title “Boom Boom Valhalla,” when referring to her in my various mischievous exploits). We both used to purchase these little “Elderberry Syrup Cold & Flu Remedy” kits from Joy's shop in West Plains when it was still in existence. (Goddess rest her beautiful soul. Love you, Joy.) I am here to tell you, for cold and flu season, for my money, THIS STUFF WORKS. Better, I think than any other home remedy I have ever used.
The kit in question, that we would purchase yearly, contained; dried elderberries, a little set of instructions, (for other things to put it the concoction; cloves, cinnamon, honey, etc.) and finally, told you how to put it all together and how to boil it down to something that you could bottle and store in your fridge for the season. You take it a tablespoon or two at a time. I think, (and correct me if I’m wrong, here, HOllah) that that was, well... pretty much it! BTW... It sold for twelve dollars! And, we would happily shell out the cash for this, because, well, it worked! Well, guess what. Elderberries are free, cheap, AWESOME medicine that you can pretty much find on the side of any country road, if they aren’t already inconspicuously growing in your own backyard. They are fairly easy to spot and identify, if you aren’t already familiar with them (though you do need to be kinda careful, just be sure you aren’t getting Pokeweed (larger berries), Hemlock, (hollow stems, green lines on them) or red elderberries (obvious), but this is pretty dern easy once you are familiar with them, at all. If you don't know where to find them, you can always order them dried, and they work perfectly fine. (I am all for using fresh stuff though... if just to make myself feel better about it.)
So, in my search, this morning, for the very best recipes that I could find on the web, for both the Elderberry Syrup, much like the one we used to make from the little packets from Joy’s, and also, an equally important Elderberry TINCTURE, (even more potent medicine) I have read at least my allotted thirteen websites full of information, and found what I feel are the best of each. I have decided to share these links and wisdom with you, so that you, hopefully, can do the same, and keep yourself and your family well this season! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask, I’ve probably read about it somewhere, or might know where, at least, to find the info for you, if you can’t find it on your own. (I learned a lot about Elderberries this morning!)
If you don't have any luck, though, or just don't want to bother... my brothas and sistahs... fear not! There are several places online where you can buy this stuff, already made... (If you feel like shelling out the cash, not recommended) or, if you are really, really nice and sweet to us, we may even be able to sell you a bottle or two of our own, in six weeks or so.
I'm telling you... I implore you... if you haven’t already tried the sacred and amazing Elderberry for combating your worst cold season viruses, try this stuff. It is absolutely, positively, the very best medicine I have ever used in my life, for not only preventing (preferred!) but also conquering those pesky cold and flu bugs throughout the fall and winter months. Oh, and don’t forget, if you do plan to harvest some Elderberries, (or anything wild, for that matter) please be respectful to Mother Nature in doing so, and leave plenty behind to seed and propagate the same area for next year. In doing this, the birds, and other humans and earth creatures, can help re-seed, and eat, and benefit, as well, from all of its bounty. (Basically, just don’t take “all” you see of any one thing, please.) In fact, there is an old homesteading rule out there somewhere that I read today, that said, “For every ten plants you see, you should harvest only one, and leave the rest.” Use your own judgment, and what feels right to your own soul. Oh, and read up on the deity associated with the Elder, if you get the chance (I’ll be posting a bit about Her soon...), because she is worth getting to know, too.
Best of luck to you, and hope your hearth and home are filled with warmth, delicious scents, sights and sounds this season, and wellness, smiles and laughter, all year 'round!
Blessed Be, Bel
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Awesome Elderberry Links of the Day
Elderberry TINCTURE - How to make a tincture of
Elderberry for cold & Flu Season that will last for several years on your
shelf! (Though it’ll probably get used
up way before that, once you and your family see how good the stuff
works.) Any extra that you make can be
used for wonderful gifts, or even to sell!
This is best made with the fresh berry.
You’ll take about twenty drops of this tuff in a cup or so
of liquid of your choice. (Warm tea,
water, etc.)
Elderberry SYRUP – This is the stuff you can
make and use pretty much right away, if you are experiencing any cold/flu
symptoms currently, and it actually tastes
mighty good, too! (Yum.) It has a much less of shelf life, though, and
needs to be refrigerated, but it is very much worth making some and trying it
out, while you are waiting for your tincture to steep. (In case you get started a bit too late, like
I have, and have to wait for six weeks now before I’ll be able to use my
tincture!) Overall, it’ll last
throughout the season, at least, or until you need to make some more.
You can use fresh or dried berries for this, though most of
the recipes I’ve seen for this use the dried ones, for various reasons. You’ll take a tablespoon or so of this, daily,
to prevent getting sick, a bit more if you already are.
Try one or both, and best of health to you!
