Growing

One very real reason we’d love to move to the Pacific Northwest is because things grow there.  When we were driving in town Jeremy noticed a sign that said “Weed and Blackberry Removal, Call . . . ”

Seriously?  Food is considered a weed?!

I get it, I really do–you can’t have your whole property overrun by the huge thorny canes, but still. . .

Huge patches of wild free food.  You can go and fill your freezer full to use throughout the year.

We did end up finding another mulberry tree this spring, closer to home that we were able to harvest from, but the masses of blackberry canes in Washington were impressive.

Hiking on a nature preserve trail, I kept noticing these flowers.  They seemed so familiar. . .

And they were growing so large and profusely along the trail.

Then it dawned on me–Chamomile!

Yes, the little plants that I have been babying all spring, trying to get a single bud on.

There it is–my first chamomile blossom, a single one on a single stem, right before we left on vacation. I’ll be lucky if I get enough blossoms for one full cup of tea to enjoy this fall.  It was thoroughly discouraging to see how profusely the wild chamomile was growing in Washington.

I’m just ready to live somewhere where I don’t have to fight quite so hard to try and get anything to grow.  That’s why it is my dream. The Pacific Northwest is my dream.

Driving around we saw yard after yard with garden beds, and chicken coops, and signs for farm stands and places to u-pick.  We want that.  These are the things that are important to us, and I really hope that when we’ve completed our time here that the Pacific Northwest is in our future.

Elderflower Cordial

We made a big batch of elderflower cordial from the elderflower heads we foraged.  We’d never had elderflower cordial before, but apparently it’s a soft drink dating back to the roman empire, and has been traditionally very popular in northwestern Europe where it has a strong Victorian heritage.  We have a soft spot for things Victorian around here so we were even more determined to try it.

We cobbled together a recipe from a few we saw online, and in the end I’m still not quite sure what constitutes “one large head” of elderflowers, so I’m sure (like with most things) variation is acceptable.  It has a pleasant unique flavor, that really doesn’t taste like anything else.  We’ve been mixing it about 1 part to 8 parts sparkling water, but that’s all up to personal taste.  Some people even mix it with “still water”, it would still have a pleasant zing from the lemon and acid.

Elderflower Cordial Recipe

• 25 large elderflower heads
• 2 pints water
• 2 lbs sugar
• 2 oz tartaric acid (cream of tartar) or citric acid
• 2 lemons, juiced

Dissolve sugar in water over low heat.  Add tartaric or citric acid and lemon juice.  (Zest of lemons can be added as well.)  Mix well.  Add elderflowers.  Steep 24 hours.  Strain into jars.  Store in the refrigerator or freezer–just to be safe.

Mix with sparkling water to drink, or substitute for any flavored syrup in recipes.

 

Five Rules for Beginning Wildcrafting — Elderflowers

This weekend we went wildcrafting, or wild foraging, for elderflowers.  I’ve been meaning to for a few weeks now, and barely squeaked in a harvest before the blooms were all gone.  Wildcrafting is a lot of fun–especially with kids–but there are a few pointers or rules for a good wildcrafting experience.

#1- Positively identify plant.  Have a good book or an experienced guide that can make sure you identify your plants correctly.

Shrubs 5-plus feet tall.  In sunny areas.  Leaves in pairs up the stem.  Uneven number of leaves (one extra on the end).  Greenish younger bark.  Large clusters of star-shaped (five petal)  flowers.  Never harvest from a plant unless you are completely sure of its identity. 

#2 Know which part to harvest.  Elder flowers and elderberries are fit to harvest, the leaves and stems can be toxic.

#3 Harvest responsibly.  Never strip an entire plant or area.  (These stems have already blossomed and will now grow in to elderberries which will ripen in the fall.)  Always leave some behind so the plants can continue on in their natural life cycles, so the birds and animals can still have access to the plants, and so other wildcrafters might have the opportunity to harvest as well.

Along with this harvesting responsibly is to make sure the location is fit to harvest from.  Many people won’t harvest by roadsides for example, because of the possibility of pollution’s effect on the plants.

#4 Obey the law.  Follow all posted warnings or no trespassing signs.  “Jeremy, I said. . . oh never mind!”

#5 Follow all outdoor safety rules.  You know them:  Take water to stay hydrated.  Go in groups or tell someone exactly where you will be going and when to expect you back.  All that good stuff.

Wildcrafting is a lot of fun.  It’s a hobby that I’ve been able to get into without experience, but just learning a little more and more at a time.  Then I look back and realize that I know quite a bit now.  (It kind of sounds like how my guitar lessons are going.)  Our elderflowers are now in a pot on the way to becoming elderflower cordial.  We can’t wait!

Late Spring Walk

We visited this hike for the first time since winter.  I really love seeing the same area in different seasons.

Last time the vegetation was all but dead.  This time

We had mallows,

Prairie roses (we’ll come back in the fall to harvest rose hips),

Along with more mulberries for wild foraging, and plenty of poison ivy for avoiding.  The water level was higher, and we’ve discovered that the map indicates there is another loop to the trail that we haven’t been able to locate yet–next time we’ll be on the lookout.