More Harvesting and Self Care with the Plants

This morning's forage included currents, cherries, elderflower and rose.

I continue to be immersed in my world of plants: today...trees, bushes and berries. Each year, I harvest the currents and pie-cherries, leaving lots for the birds as well. The elderflower is dried or tinctured right away—or used as a part of a bathing ritual. According to Anne MacIntyre (The Complete Floral Healer), Elder is "the flower of fairyland" with a "long history of use as a relaxant, soothing nerves, allaying anxiety and lifting depression." I also use elderflower tincture in my immune boosting/supportive herbal blends. The rose petals I harvested because I'd read in Didi Emmons "Wild Flavors" that you can dust them with lemon juice and freeze them for use in recipes (Raspberry/Rose Shake, Rose & Basil Ice Cream or Sorbet)—I wanted to give it a try. I also add fresh or refrigerated petals to my salads. Rose is high in Vitamin, can calm the nerves and raise spirits (not all varieties are medicinal). The scent, alone, is healing.