tallpines
Pro Member
Posts: 298
Zone:: 4a
Favorite Vegetable:: This week, it’s Rhubarb
Joined: February 2019
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Post by tallpines on Aug 17, 2021 15:20:26 GMT -5
The pickings have been on the slim side the last few years ….
BUT TODAY ….. I hit the BONANZA!
One heavily laden shrub growing in a ditch amongst very tall weeds. Apparently the birds had not discovered them yet.
Managed to harvest 2 plastic grocery bags full before the two grandchildren grew inpatient. (Man, they sure aren’t able to handle a little bit of work like their Mom did at that age. Working out in the hay field in the hot sun and unloading several wagons of hay …. The grands would never survive. Oh, their Mom grumbled but she and her siblings still got the job done.)
Anyway ….. the elderberries …. Should have plenty to can some juice that will be ready for any winter maladies that may threaten our health.
Hope to go back to harvest a couple more bags full!
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Post by paulf on Aug 17, 2021 16:58:32 GMT -5
I remember back in the 60s my dad would harvest lots of elderberries and wild plums to make gallons of wine. Rural ditches and pastures were full of fruits of all kinds including raspberries and blackberries. No more. Most of the ditches get herbicided and farm fields planted fence to fence with all the trees and bushes ripped out.
I am not much of a wine drinker but I do remember the wine he made was pretty easy going down. Glad you were able to find some goodies.
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Post by brownrexx on Aug 17, 2021 17:17:05 GMT -5
I made Elderberry jelly many years ago with our elderly neighbor. He picked a big bag of berries and gave them to me and I made the jelly. It was really good.
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Post by spike on Aug 17, 2021 18:39:32 GMT -5
Elderberry pie or jam is my favorite!! Can't find them around here
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stone
Pro Member
Posts: 170
Zone:: 8
Favorite Vegetable:: Bambi
Joined: December 2011
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Post by stone on Sept 14, 2021 7:34:49 GMT -5
The birds are pretty efficient pickers at my house...
one year I made pancake syrup from the elderberries... it was tasty.
The year that I made elderberry wine.... it wasn't so good... apparently it takes a lot of aging...
I don't drink alcohol now... but if I still did? peach wine was about as good as it got.
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Post by paulf on Sept 14, 2021 11:16:46 GMT -5
My wife's cousin sent us some elderberry jelly last week. First time tasting it and I have a new favorite jelly on toast.
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Post by paquebot on Sept 14, 2021 12:53:06 GMT -5
Elderberry wine must be fermented in the dark and then into brown bottles If not, it is apt to turn brown and "go off". Mine always stayed purple by doing that.
Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
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stone
Pro Member
Posts: 170
Zone:: 8
Favorite Vegetable:: Bambi
Joined: December 2011
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Post by stone on Sept 19, 2021 16:52:27 GMT -5
It wasn't the colour... it was the harshness. As I said, aging for a year or longer is supposed to mellow the beverage.
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