Elderberry Syrup on the First Day of February

I love it when happenings in everyday life inspire me to write a blog. This blog’s inception came about due to the freezing weather, which caused me to clean out my freezer…

Launch Gallery

I eff it when happenings in everyday life instigate me to publish a web log . This web log ’s inception come about due to the freezing weather , which make me to make clean out my deep freezer ( which has n’t been done in way too long ! ) . So you are intend – she ’s not really going to blog about cleaning out the freezer – is she ? Well just for another prison term or two … It is about 15 degrees F today ( in the individual digit at night ) , so it is thoroughgoing for holding a mint of frozen things while the freezer thaws . Right now there are four laundry baskets and one large cardboard cartonful full of frozen food on the cover backporch . And they are all softly covered with a dusting from this morning ’s snowfall .

It is awful how much can fit into a deep-freeze – and as I emptied it out – I separated a passel of hooey that was steer for the compost . Right now the bird and other wildlife are feasting on old blueberry bush , morose cherry tree and elderberry pulp and seed . And the compost pile has a whole new bed of organic matter .

I was well-chosen to find oneself a six - cupful bag of frigid elderberries . I recall putting them in the deep freezer with the thought that when I had more time , I would make something with them . During the elderberry crop season , I make shrub . Once the berry are glean , picked over and stem ( which is trade union movement intensive ) , I unremarkably make shrub , which is one of my favourite herbal remedies and ways to use elderberries . I put them into organic apple cider vinegar and permit them waste for 4 to 6 weeks before straining and impart love .

Recently , my daughter Lucie was at home and she got a filthy cold . I had her taking elderberry shrub as well as fire cyder vinegar ( /item/16506 / fire - cider - vinegar)throughout the mean solar day and the rest of us also took it – and knock wood – we all void the cootie thus far . We did use up most of the shrub so I was entranced to find the Chuck Berry ; just in the nick of time for the winter inhuman and influenza season .

Berries should be wangle before eating . I immobilize and dry some of the berry , so I have them to expend in recipes in winter months when we really need their protective virtues for fighting flu and cold . Besides being anti - viral , other healing property are anti - cancer , anti - inflammatory , antimicrobic , releasing , diuretic , laxative , stimulating and diaphoretic . elderberry are nutritious , high-pitched in vitamins A and hundred and antioxidants , they also hold vitamin B , calcium , smoothing iron , niacin and thiamine , and even some protein .

I settle to make an elderberry syrup because the Charles Edward Berry were frozen and I experience that they require cook . So these berries were pretty well picked over and stemmed . I let them thaw overnight in a large , noncorrodible corporation and today I heated them , contribute them to a simmer and cooked them for about 5 minutes until softened . Next I filter them through a food James Mill to remove the seeds . ( I saved the pulp and seminal fluid to take outdoors and scatter under the bird feeder . ) Next step is to strain the elderberry liquid through a moistened muslin material or cheesemakers ’ cheesecloth ( not the sparse , flimsy form ) into a value cup to remove any declamatory pieces . Generally , I make my herbal syrups with local honey . Ratios of beloved to centre fruit juice vary – some use adequate measure ( which makes a really sweet sirup ) and others habituate about 2 parts yield succus to 1 part love – which is what I did . Stir the honey into the affectionate yield juice with a whisk broom to dissolve . When coolheaded , pour into a dark glass bottle , recording label and engagement . I keep this in the refrigerator .

I just had a shot Methedrine full of the newly prepared syrup as the C fall out of doors on this first day of February and the celebration of Imbolc . In Ireland , Imbolc is also called the feast day of Saint Brigid , which is a traditional , historic festival mark the beginning of spring . The festival fall on the first of February , which is about midway between the wintertime solstice and the springiness equinox ; it is one of the four Gaelic seasonal jubilation .

I am glad that the twenty-four hours are lengthening and we are about halfway through the winter weather here in Maryland ; I might add that we have had distasteful cold weather and plenty of snow and rain . I am grateful for the fruit of the earth and the herbs that nourish and mend us . I especially revalue the stout and majestic trees that surround this land , stand adorned with snow while life is burgeoning in and beneath them – providing us with atomic number 8 , shelter and warmth . The wildlife and bird are thankful for the berry and seeds to keep them warm through these frigid nights .

No matter if Punxsutawney Phil get a line his phantom or not tomorrow on Groundhog Day , I await forward to the brightening and lightening – outpouring is just around the corner !

ok Gardening Recommended Products

Razor - Back Potato / Refuse Hook

Fine horticulture receives a commission for items buy through links on this site , including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising program .

Gardener ’s Log Book from NYBG

Chapin International 10509 Upside - Down Trigger Sprayer

Get our latest backsheesh , how - to article , and instructional picture institutionalise to your inbox .

Signing you up …

Elderberry and Fire Cider Elixir

Fire Cider!

Fire Cider Vinegar

Fall: Time for the Gardener to be Grateful

connect hunky-dory Gardening for a detached charter live webinar have Dr. Janna Beckerman , a far-famed plant diagnostician as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamental technical manager …

When I descry a special sand dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few month ago , I cognise I was in trouble . With a delightful colour pattern …

When we only prioritise plants we need over plants our landscape needs , each time of year is occupy with a never - ending list of chores : pruning , pinching , watering , treating , amend , and fertilizing , with …

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enrol the backyard of garden couturier Jeff Epping — not because you ’re probable to trip out on something , but because you might be dive - bombard by a pair …

4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder’s Garden

Episode 181: Plants You Can’t Kill

Episode 180: Plants with Big, Bold Foliage

4 Steps to Remove Invasive Plants in Your Yard

All Access members get more

signalise up for afree trialand get access to ALL our regional content , plus the balance of the penis - only content library .

startle Free Trial

Stirring honey into elderberry juice with a whisk to make elderberry syrup! Click on other pix to enlarge and read captions.Photo/Illustration: tomas

Get unadulterated land site access to expert advice , regional depicted object , and more , plus the print magazine .

jump your FREE trial

Already a member?enter