Foraging for elderberries (s. nigra) in Ohio

OldFashionedMama · 06-21-2009, 05:02 PM

I want to make some elderberry jam this year, but I haven't found a plentiful source yet. I saw several large plants in the Lake Milton area (rt 534 heading into Craig Beach), but they're all so scattered I think it might be too time-consuming to find all the owners of the lands they sit on.(Yes I'm nice about it and ask permission first.) I know most if not all elderberry hunters would be willing to reveal their harvesting locations, but if anyone is so kind to point me in the right direction I'd sure appreciate it!

The_Blob · 06-21-2009, 07:34 PM

sorry, Mama, I only go after blackberries, which are plentiful here

Canadian · 06-22-2009, 02:49 AM

I don't have any elderberry know how. In Ontario we like blackberries, blueberries, etc. Never heard of anyone going after elderberries.

OldFashionedMama · 06-22-2009, 02:30 PM

Well, elderberries can be used for food or medicine. A tincture of the flowers can be used to treat the flu, fevers. The berries can be made into jam, syrup, or wine. Elderberry juice is a powerful antioxidant and also an immunity booster. I purchase a product called Sambucol at the health food store and give it to the kids during the school year. Its rather expensive though, and I think the same effect or even better effect can be achieved if I just make my own elderberry things. The berries must be cooked or otherwise processed and never eaten raw, and the leaves and other parts of the plant are poisonous. You also have to make sure its the black elderberry you are using and not the red variety (which can sometimes be hard to distinguish from the black)

Magi · 06-22-2009, 03:32 PM

Im not old enough to hunt for "Elder" berries.

Not even sure what they look like. Do you know if they grow in Michigan?

NaeKid · 06-22-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magi

Im not old enough to hunt for "Elder" berries.

Not even sure what they look like. Do you know if they grow in Michigan?

You will want to take a peak at the wikipedia page that lists the locations where you can find / harvest elderberry.

It is a similar plant to blue berry and saskatoon berry by being a plant that grows naturally without requiring cultivation. You can plant / take care of the berry plants if you want to grow them in your backyard (if you have sufficient room).

sailaway · 06-22-2009, 06:51 PM

You must first get by the knights who say "nee". They will probably demand a shrubberry!

OldFashionedMama · 06-23-2009, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailaway

You must first get by the knights who say "nee". They will probably demand a shrubberry!

ROFL!!!!! I think the French knight mentions something about "your grandmother smells like elderberries!" or something to that effect in that movie!!! Oh man I need to see that again....

OldFashionedMama · 06-23-2009, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magi

Im not old enough to hunt for "Elder" berries.

Not even sure what they look like. Do you know if they grow in Michigan?

I'm sure they do. They are in bloom right now in Ohio-hard to miss! They have big clusters of cream-white flowers, and some plants can get very large. Just look for a bushy tree with lots of white clusters...not too much else blooming right now that looks like that.

The_Blob · 06-23-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldFashionedMama

ROFL!!!!! I think the French knight mentions something about "your grandmother smells like elderberries!" or something to that effect in that movie!!! Oh man I need to see that again....

"your mother was a hamster, and your father smelled of elderberries!"

"I fart in your general direction"