Elderberry

 We remember stumbling upon an elderberry bush on our land...

We remember stumbling upon an elderberry bush on our land around the same time God had been showing us things in 2 Kings 4:1-7. God was showing us how to prepare for a blessing! Less than a week later, a big storm hit and a big tree fell on the one elderberry bush we knew of at the time and literally broke 90 percent of the canes off. We pressed in and pressed on, continuing to learn a great deal about this immune-supporting, sought-after powerhouse plant that thrived on our land. Apparently elderberry is one of the most commonly used medicinal plants in the world. We happened to have some spare time in 2020, so we cleared about a quarter of an acre, learned to propagate elderberry, planted rows of 70+ plants, experimented with rooting cuttings, and decided to make rooted cuttings available to friends and family in Spring 2021. We began to learn about the health benefits of both the elderberries and elder flowers as well. The plants produce clusters of tiny flowers with a lovely scent in the early spring. Elder flowers are edible and can be made into kombucha, vinegar, simple syrup, cordial, jam, and sorbet. Your options are endless! We have made elder flower cordial, which is a delicious addition to any hot or iced tea or seltzer, as well as used dried elderflowers and elderberries in a rich, immune-support tea. Elderberry syrup is also a favorite in our home and among the friends who buy our berries, and it is really easy to make!

 

First, you will need to gather the following ingredients:

 

– 5 lb. (16 cups) frozen elderberries
– 8 cups water
– 8 cups raw, local honey
– 8 teaspoons ground ginger
– 8 teaspoons ground cinnamon
– 4 teaspoons cloves

 

To make the syrup, start by combining the elderberries, water, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 30 minutes.

 

Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve, pressing the berries to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids and let the liquid cool to room temperature.

 

Once the liquid has cooled, stir in the honey until it is fully incorporated. Transfer the elderberry syrup to a glass jar or bottle and store it in the refrigerator. It can be kept for up to 2 months. It can also be canned and stored for up to a year.

 

Committing to seeing God in all the details of our life led us to discovering an elderberry plant on our land, which led us to finding many more and learning that they thrive in the soil on our land. For us, our “jar” in the story of 2 Kings 4:1-7 was merely our willingness to learn, and the “oil” is the provision God has given us through that.  Verse 7 is a reminder that God provides our needs and bestows overflow for our children. If you want to learn more about growing or propagating elderberry, go here. If you are interested in buying elderberries or elderflower, check out the shop. God has continued to multiply “the oil” with every passing year as we share what He has made with others! We praise Him for the gifts He gives!

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