Fermented Pine Soda

Gretchen

Make your own bubbly “sprite” like beverage with foraged pine needles, honey and water! This quick fermented drink is great to make with kids after going on a hike to forage your needles. It has tons of vitamin C and is tasty and refreshing. Ingredients: White pine needles Raw honey or maple syrup Water (filtered preferred) Flip top bottles or pint mason jars Funnel if using flip top jars. For each flip top bottle or mason jar you will need around 1 cup of pine needles and 1 1/2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup. Lightly rinse pine needles and add to the jar. Add honey and water, close the container and shake to mix. There […]

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Fall Foraging with Family

Gretchen

Foraging as a family is a great way to get more outdoors time, learn about your local ecosystem and improve your health! Many foraged foods and medicines are readily available across the country in the fall and are easy to find even in your backyard. Here’s a few simple to find and easy to identify plants you can use for a variety of culinary and household applications. Make sure you only forage items that you are clearly able to identify and that are away from roadsides and any pesticide use or pet debris. Consider grabbing a beginners field guide for your region to help you correctly ID local plants and learn their uses Tree Nuts: Acorns, walnuts and hickory nuts […]

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Elderberry Syrup

Gretchen

Make your own elderberry syrup to support your families immune system! The antioxidant rich elderberry provides immune support while honey adds sweetness and is a natural preservative. Ingredients 2/3 cup dried organic elderberries (double amount if you forage fresh!) 3 cups water 2+ Tbsp fresh ginger 2 cinnamon sticks 2 tsp cloves 1 cup local raw honey Directions Add water, dried elderberries, fresh grated or diced ginger and cinnamon sticks to a pot and bring to a low simmer. Do not boil. Allow to simmer uncovered for 45-60 minutes until liquid has reduced by half Allow to cool and then squeeze through milk bag. Add local raw honey and mix well. Add to a 16 oz mason jar. Keep refrigerated. […]

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