Harvesting and drying rose hips

Rose hip

• The rose hip, also known as rose haw or rose hep, is the fruit of the rose plant, that typically is red-to-orange, but ranges from dark purple to black in some species. Rose hips begin to form after successful pollination of flowers in spring or early summer, and ripen in late summer through autumn.

I picked the rose hips off our Rosa Rugosa bushes.  Truth is your supposed to wait until the first frost.  Rumor is that the frost makes them softer and sweeter.  Our rose hips were getting soft and some of them were starting to rot on the bush so I made a command decision and we picked them.

Bet you didn't know that picking them is the easy part, did you?  After you get them picked, you get to cut them open and take all the seeds out.  Did you know that rose hips have a TON of TINY seeds in them?  That little fact has been hammered home since it took FOREVER to de-seed them.  I was tempted to grumble but couldn't help but think of how high in vitamin C and how good they are in tea and how much I wanted to try out making rose hip seed oil.

What is the big deal you ask? Rose hip seed oil is full of vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids that are known to correct dark spots and hydrate dry, itchy skin, all while reducing scars and fine lines.

I want to make some to try in our Rose Creme among other things. The actual rose hip seed oil on the market comes from wild roses that grow in Chile.  I'm telling myself that our rose hip seeds are just as good.  If they aren't they have to be close, right?  Next time you see me and my skin is glowing you will know why ;-)

BTW, I put the seeds in a jar with grapeseed oil and placed them in the sun to infuse.

Do you have any experiences with harvesting rose hips or making rose hip seed oil?  Any tips?

All about Elderberry

Elderberry is good to have on the homestead and it is easy to grow, so it you have a spot and use elderberries or would like to, don't worry.  You can do it!

In my opinion elderberries and the flowers are good to have for flu season.  I try to have dried or frozen elderberries on hand at all times to make elderberry syrup with.  I prefer to use frozen elderberries, it seems like the syrup made from it has more elderberry flavor.  In my mind more flavor means more of the good stuff.

I have an older post on making Elderberry and Astragalus syrup here http://raf6.blogspot.com/2012/11/flu-season-and-elderberry-astragalus.html if you would like to make some for your family.  Elderberries are also used to make pie, jelly, and wine.

There are many types of Elderberries, some of them are for ornamental purposes.  If your goal is to produce berries you should stick with Adams, John's, Nova, or York.  Even though some shrubs are self-fruitful they do produce better when planted with another variety so always plant two different kinds.

This website "Edible Landscaping by Charlie Nardozzi" has good information on elderberries and their planting and care.  You can find the website here http://www.garden.org/ediblelandscaping/?page=july_elderberry.  The following is taken from that site.

 Types of Elderberries

• 'Adams' - This American variety grows 8 to 10 feet tall. The large, juicy, dark purple fruits ripen in August and are great for making pies. The strong branches hold the berries upright. Plant a pollinator variety such as 'Johns' for maximum fruiting. This variety is often sold as 'Adams No. 1' or 'Adams No. 2'. There is little difference between these two selections.
• 'Black Beauty' - This striking European variety features purple foliage and lemon-scented pink flowers. It grows 6 to 8 feet tall and wide and can be grown in perennial borders or as a foundation plant.
• 'Black Lace' - This eye-catching European selection looks like a Japanese maple with its dark purple, deeply cut foliage. Like 'Black Beauty', this variety also grows 6 to 8 feet tall and wide, producing pink flowers and dark purple fruits.
• Johns' - This early-producing American variety produces an abundance of berries that are especially good for making jelly. Growing 12 feet tall and wide, this variety is a good pollinator for 'Adams'.
• 'Nova' - This American variety can be self-fruitful, but does best with another American elderberry growing nearby. Large, sweet fruit are produced on compact, 6-foot shrub.
• Variegated' - This European variety has attractive green and white leaves and grows 6 to 8 feet tall and wide. The plant is less vigorous and productive than other elderberry varieties, but the foliage is attractive all season long.
• 'York' - This American variety produces the largest berries of all the elderberry selections. It matures in late August and only grows 6 feet tall and wide. It pollinates 'Nova' well.

 Our Adam's and York bushes will be three years old this fall and are producing more berries than our family will use this winter.  I have frozen over 2 gallons of berries so far and there are more to pick.  The York bush produces huge umbrells of big, juicy berries. The Adams produces smaller umbrells but is very prolific and is about 7 ft by 9 ft. (That is with me cutting it back this spring.) We let the shrub produce suckers but you can cut them back and shape the bush if you want.

If you plant bushes this fall you should be able to harvest a few come next summer.  Birds like them so you will have to beat the birds to them. One more thing about Elderberries, they are kind of brittle so if you are picking berries don't try to bend a limb down to get the berries or you will end up breaking it off.  We learned that the hard way. Happy planting, happy picking, happy syrup making.

Beet Kvass, healthy and easy to make

Beet Kvass is basically fermented beet juice that many believe has tonic and healing properties.  Don't get Beet Kvass mixed up with  Kvass which is traditionally made from stale sourdough rye bread. Kvass originated in Europe with many recipes coming from Russia.  It has been said that Russian soldiers used it on campaigns to help maintain health and prevent infections. Kvass has an earthy, salty, sour taste that I found pleasant after drinking a few times.  Now it is refreshing to have a glass in the morning or after working in the hot sun. Typical amount to drink for health benefits is 6-8 ounces every morning on an empty stomach.

Chemicals and Pesticides can leach into your Kvass so start with with naturally grown or organic beets, fresh is best. I use a half gallon mason jar, Sea salt, whey, and spring water

Clean your mason jar well, scrub the beets and chop about 3 cups worth.  Place in the mason jar.  Add 2 tsp salt, 1/4 cup whey, and top with spring water.

 Once filled I top the jars with coffee filters and a rubber band (sorry did not show this in the picture) and place the jars in a quiet corner of the kitchen to ferment for 2 days.  I actually let this batch go three days before straining it and placing it in the refrigerator. Once strained you can add more salt, whey, and water and ferment again.....the resulting kvass will not be as strong but will still be good. I will usually do this once then give the beets to the chickens and start over.

This is the resulting kvass.....there is condensation on the Jar and glass due to it being cold, the way I like to drink it.

Beet Kvass Recipe

3-6 beets (the more beets the stronger the resulting kvass)
2 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup whey
spring water
1/2 gallon jar

Hope you get a chance to try this wonderful drink!  Happy Kvassing.

Poison Ivy

Can you say Poison ivy?  We have it all around our fields and growing up our cedar trees in our pastures.  Until last June when we moved I had never seen Poison Ivy so huge.  I was amazed at the vines twisting around some of our posts that look like mini Poison Ivy Trees.  I haven't found any good uses for it yet and doubt I will. 

Until last year my kids didn't have a healthy respect for it..... you can't say I didn't warn them, I did.  Between having the itchy blisters on various limbs for weeks and my one son having to go to the Doctor because of it they have learned to avoid it like the plague. 

Unfortunately, we still have some out breaks here and there.  I suspect that our animals may be traipsing through the vines where they pick up some of the volatile oils on their fur.  We then pet them or pick them up and contract  the unwelcome little rash.

I recently read somewhere that the old fashioned "Zote" soap works wonders for getting the oils off your skin so it doesn't spread.  We will be trying that and hoping for the best.  I am just thankful that no one in the family is so sensitive to it that they break out just being close to it.