Learn how to identify and forage for jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), then how to use it to make a soothing poison ivy salve, and a jewelweed itch remedy with apple cider vinegar. Jewelweed’s always a fun plant to go hunting for! Loved by children for the explosion of seeds that burst forth at the gentlest contact…
Learn how to forage for Self Heal (Prunella vulgaris), plus how to use it, including tincture, tea, and salve recipes! Self Heal (Prunella vulgaris), also called “heal all”, is a common weed found growing on lawns, field edges, and creek banks all throughout North America and other parts of the world. Besides being a great…
This oven roasted tomato sauce is so flavorful and super simple to make! It’s pretty much the easiest homemade tomato sauce you’ll ever make! No boiling, peeling, or canning involved! You can use any type of tomato, from cherry, to roma, to beefsteak, or a mixture of all kinds. We’ve been enjoying this sauce using…
Make good use of invasive kudzu & turn the blossoms into jelly. Kudzu flower jelly tastes lightly of grape and is delicious! This is a small half-batch recipe. Feel free to double amounts for a regular sized batch, but don’t triple or above since that will affect outcome. Get Ready To make everything easier for…
Learn how to harvest, store, freeze, and dry elderberries, then how to turn them into healthy syrup, tea, vinegar, oxymel, and more! July 2023 update: I’ve also made a free printable “cheat sheet” of Elderberry Remedies & Recipes that you can grab below. (No signup required!) Have a bounty of elderberries and not quite sure…
Learn how to grow, harvest, and dry bee balm (wild bergamot), plus 8 creative ways to use it, including recipes for bee balm salve, tea, infused honey, and more! Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa, M. spp.) also called wild bergamot, is an excellent plant to put in a pollinator garden! Beloved by bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds,…
Wineberry, also called Japanese raspberry, or wine raspberry, is an invasive (but very delicious!) species that can be found growing wild in the Eastern parts of North America. Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius) has no poisonous look-a-likes in the U.S., making it a good option for beginner foragers to explore. Around here (growing zone 7 USA), the…
Yarrow and Queen Anne’s Lace have overlapping bloom times so it can be easy to mix them up, but these tips about their differences will help you tell them apart! What’s Yarrow? Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a perennial flowering plant with feathery leaves. You’ll often find it growing in sunny meadows, at the edges of…
This delicious freezer jam features fresh strawberries and rose petals. It’s quick and easy to make – no canning required! Ingredients: Preparing the Roses: Collect your rose petals off of unsprayed roses, packing them fairly tightly into the measuring cup as you go. Give them a quick rinse and pat them gently dry once back…
In this article, you’ll learn how to forage for mullein flowers, leaves, and roots, then how to harvest and preserve them! Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a favorite summer plant to forage! It has a unique look and lots of healthy benefits. Once you learn about mullein and the things you can make from it,…
Use some foraged early spring greens to make a lovely little lip balm! Violet leaves, purple deadnettle, and chickweed combine with sweet almond, tamanu, and castor oil to create a soothing balm for chapped lips. Infused Oil First, you’ll want to make an infused oil to use in the lip balm. You will need: 1…
Learn how to make naturally pink lemonade using redbud flowers, lemons, and your sweetener of choice. It’s that time of year around here where the sweet pink mist of redbud flowers is visible around the edge of the woods, and it won’t be too much longer until they’re gone! So while they’re still here, why…