Herbal Medicine Series: Episode 2–Foraging Herbs

In this conversation, Suzanne Shires shares her knowledge of foraging edible plants and herbs. She discusses various plants that are available for foraging during the summer, including white pine, persimmon leaves, bee balm, milkweed, and elderberry. Suzanne explains how to harvest and use these plants for their nutritional and medicinal benefits. She also emphasizes the importance of proper identification and preparation when foraging for wild food. In this conversation, Suzanne Shires discusses various edible plants including European elderberry, American elderberry, crabapple, and autumn olive. She provides information on how to identify these plants and shares tips on foraging and using them in recipes. Suzanne also emphasizes the importance of proper identification and caution when foraging, as well as the potential health benefits and precautions associated with consuming these plants.

Disclaimer: The Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as personal medical or legal advice.

Keywordsforaging, edible plants, herbs, summer, white pine, persimmon leaves, bee balm, milkweed, elderberry, nutritional benefits, medicinal benefits, identification, preparation, foraging, edible plants, European elderberry, American elderberry, crabapple, autumn olive, identification, recipes, caution, health benefits

Takeaways

There are many edible plants and herbs that can be foraged during the summer, including white pine, persimmon leaves, bee balm, milkweed, and elderberry. Proper identification is crucial when foraging for wild food to ensure safety. Harvesting and preparing wild plants requires knowledge and care, such as parboiling milkweed and drying bee balm leaves. Foraged plants can be used for their nutritional benefits, such as vitamin C from white pine needles and elderberries, as well as their medicinal properties, like bee balm for colds and flus. European elderberry and American elderberry are two different varieties of elderberry, with the former having black berries and the latter having deep dark red berries. Stems and leaves of elderberry can be included in elderberry syrup as the toxic constituents are water soluble and boiling removes them. Green elderberries can be used to make capers, and elderflower can be used to make syrup, fritters, and wine. Crabapples are often overlooked but can be harvested and used in various recipes, including ketchup and fruit leathers. Autumn olive berries are highly nutritious and can be used in fruit leathers, jams, and other dishes. Proper identification is crucial when foraging, and it is recommended to use reliable identification books rather than relying solely on apps. Tools such as a Hori Hori digger, clippers, and a backpack shovel can be useful for foraging. Suzanne offers a Granny Mentor Program where she deep dives into one plant per week and shares in-depth knowledge and information.

Titles Discover the Abundance of Wild Food in Your Area Foraging Edible Plants and Herbs: A Guide for Summer Proper Identification and Tools for Successful Foraging Join the Granny Mentor Program for In-Depth Plant Knowledge Sound Bites "One of my favorite is a white pine, the needles of a white pine." "Milkweed can be used as a very good respiratory medicine." "Bee Balm is wonderful for flus, colds, and sinus issues." "The native elderberry, the American elderberry is Sambucus canadensis." "The constituents in the stems that are toxic are water soluble. That means you boil it away." "You can make capers from green berries, and that's just a pickled caper."