A deciduous shrub native to both Europe and North America with an enthusiastic growing habit and a rangy appearance, elderberry has graced our gardens and tables since ancient days. Most varieties are hardy to Zone 4, with a few being hardy to Zone 3. Cornell University offers this excellent information on the growing requirements of elderberries..
Disclaimer
The information and recipes contained on this site are presented for intellectual and historical interest only. If you are looking for medical advice, please consult with a licensed physician. If you choose to try any recipe for the sake of adventure or curiosity, you do so at your own risk.
Another Disclaimer
The wise person knows exactly what it is that they are putting in their mouth. If you are not an accomplished forager, go to the nearest Teacher of Wild Edibles and learn. Always have your field guides with you, even if you are an accomplished forager. Eat nothing for which you have not attained “negative recognition”. That’s the point at which, if I hold up a banana and tell you that it’s an apple, you automatically and decisively state “No, it isn’t!” and are able to defend your statement, even if I argue with you, by accurately recounting the positive field identification marks for a banana. That being said, I encourage you to learn to forage. The intangible benefits are as great as the tangible ones.
About Me
My interest in plants started young. While most of my friends were playing with Barbie or dreaming of horses, I was out in the fields of our farm creating imaginary villages and caching collected seeds, roots and herbs against winter need. When I discovered the library, field guides, and history books I realized that I had found my passion- how people thrived before industrial technology divorced us from our childhood friends and mentors – plants. While my caching habits have …
