I love foraging!
Gorgeous elder berries growing by the roadside
I am continually amazed at how much food is all around, that most of us don’t recognize. This is primarily because we haven’t been trained to recognize it!
Fresh and organic nuts and produce hang in trees all around us, and much of it falls to the ground to rot for the insects! What a waste. Further, what poor stewardship!
Fall is a wonderful time to forage! If you aren’t familiar with them, let me introduce you to the elder berry.
Sambucas Nigra
The European elder is a plant native to Europe, Northern Africa, and Western and Central Asia. It’s flowers and berries have a long history of use in traditional European medicine.
Elder berries have long been used for making preserves, wines, winter cordials and for adding flavor and color to other wines.
Native Americans used the flowers, berries and bark of elderberry trees to treat fevers and joint pain for hundreds of years, but elderberry’s real claim to fame is as a cure for the flu.
Israeli researchers have developed five formulas based on elderberry fruit that have been clinically proven to prevent and ameliorate all kinds of influenza.
What Parts of the Plant Can I Use?
Most commonly the flowers or berries. Dried fruits are less bitter than fresh. The branches and leaves are poisonous. The small stem which is sometimes left on the berry is safe. (Source)
Dr. Oz even recommends elder berry!
“Elderberry juice has been used for centuries. Elderberry will boost the immunity and works well for colds…elderberry juice is probably one of the biggest cold secrets known around. Works very well to get rid of that cold and flu.”
What Can Elder Berries be Used For??
Wine, jelly, syrup, chocolate and fudge, food coloring (perhaps yarn as well?), medicinal products, wildlife plantings and ornamental plantings.
I’ve got oooooodles of recipes that I will share in the next post, I want to respect your time to read and ingest information.
Awesome Elderberry recipes here!
Look around tomorrow when you’re out and see if you can spot some elderberry growing, leave a comment and tell us about it!
But, to wet your whistle, let me share a YouTube video put out by Mountain Rose Herbs about how to make Elderberry Syrup. I love Mountain Rose Herbs. Enjoy!
PDF 
About kmorris
Funny how different things come up att the right time. In my work in central Oregon I drive past many elderberry bushes on the road sides. Last year I didn’t realize what they were until almost to late but gathered what I could find. This year I took note of the blooms and noted locations but just haven’t had the motivation to stop and pick them but think I will tomorrow. Plus the pears on an old ranch homestead that no one uses anymore. Thanks for the inspiration.
I would LOVE to find elderberries to forage!! and know I wouldn’t get into trouble for it. I actually have on dd that wants to learn about medicinal herbs and I think foraging for this would be great!
I LOVED this post. Thank you. I just need to be taught how to forage in my area. I would love to find someone to barter for that knowledge and experience.
We are learning foraging as we go down here. Texas has some interesting plants that we did not have growing up in the north. Prickly Pear is one of them, they are everywhere. They are good when you pick them at the right time, but pick them too late…yuck! It truly is a learning experience. Thank you so much for this post!
Years ago I was hungry foe gooseberry pie and no gooseberries in Florida. So I went back into the swamp and picked green elderbessies and used them instead, it hit the spot!
I actually planted an elderberry bush in my backyard garden because I had never seen any growing around where I live. It is still young, so nothing on it yet, but I wait in anticipation of my first harvest. Hopefully next year.
Thanks for sharing the links.
I have been trying to find a good link to identify an elderberry bush can you help?
I want to learn to forage as well. I guess I’m just scared of picking the wrong berry! I do hope to go and see if I can find elderberries anyplace around here. I hear they’re great!
http://www.munchtalk.net
We LOVE elderberries too!! It’s been a while since I’ve been foraging and this post was exactly what I needed to begin again. Thanks for the inspiration!