A good forager can find something all times of year, and I do know some roots and things that I harvest in the winter and early spring, but I love this time of year mainly for the fresh fruits and flowers that can be found just everywhere. As I’m newly learning this particular bit of property I have been slow to start foraging but yesterday, with a burst of energy I started up again. My first find was a large patch of Saint John’s Wort in full bloom. So of course I had to run to town and buy some overly expensive vodka to make tinctures with. Saint John’s Wort has a lot of uses and I know someone who wants and needs it as a tincture. So I will make plenty to keep on hand. I am also going to dry some, for future use. It can be used as a dye as well which could be fun to experiment with.
It will be ready to strain in 4-6 weeks.
Being that it is berry season (A bit late for the salmon berries that are past their prime now) I needed a little berry basket for foraging, as I explained in a previous post. So I took a look around the various types of plants in my close yard. I chose some osaberry twigs and hedge bindweed (a major weed here) to attempt weaving a little berry basket for my needs this morning. This was completely experimental as I’ve only ever made two tiny little baskets under the tutelage of a storyteller last year with cedar strips and raffia. So it’s very rustic but it should do the trick and I took it for a little spin when I finished, finding a few of the little native creeping blackberries and some thimble berries. Not enough to really do anything with except to eat on the spot.
While I was wandering, I found some patches of self-heal, which will be the next herb I collect. This I will be drying for a cold infusion type of tea. It too has many uses.
Climate Wary Homesteader 