Hi Robin, I think when a plant becomes invasive, if its not native, it should be removed, as they end up doing more harm than good. Otherwise, I think we should make every effort to use as much of the invasive plant as possible, even if that means controlling it by using it for firewood. Delia of the greenwood uses invasive kudzu for weaving, and she makes amazing stuff with it. If it is native, then it's just thriving in its natural habitat. But if its also taking over, then it might just be asking for a bit of human help. I find that here with the willow, and blackberry.
Maybe one day I'll get to walk with you across your landholding... it sounds idyllic! I get you re the sterile gardens. I shudder when I see fake grass being laid. Exactly this re the thoughtlessness of farmers... we think they are closer to the land than we are, and many are, but equally as many only see the dollar signs.
Here in Central Texas, elderberries can be quite invasive. Bart grows a patch, and I've been privy to the bounty. They were done by the end of spring. I made an elderberry syrup and added honey, but also brandy. With brandy, it doesn't have to be refrigerated, and I can keep it for many months.
I understand your angst regarding the unconscious cut-backs done on the land. Mother allowed the rancher next door to clear 20 acres of her land to rent and I cried. He wanted to graze cattle, but heavens, couldn't he leave some nice oaks for the cattle to get to shade in the heat of the summer? What an idiot.
Bart has 1/3 acre and he has planted a surprising number of natives. On the barren land out from San Marcos, I planted 10 native trees and 9 native bushes. I am hoping that the new owners watered them in summer heat. In Austin, there is much more consciousness around planting natives, but not so much for surrounding areas. It distresses me.
Adding alcohol is great for preservation, I think that makes it a tincture. I hope the new owners of your old house took care of the trees you planted. I remember how hard it was for you to plant them, the gound was baked hard like clay, you told me. Having trees there would add so much pleasure to their use of the garden, drawing up moisture from the deep with their roots and offering shade in the summer. 💕
Thanks for writing this, Ali. It's what I think too. We're guardians, custodians, not landowners. I'm lucky to live on what was once a smallholding, about five acres of ancient meadow, hedges and trees along a stream. The surrounding land is partly cultivated, partly uncultivated woods and wild land. And in theory, no more of the land can be built on. But the contrast with our old place and the new houses down the lane closer to town is stark. The manicured lawns, swimming pools, round-up and strimmers, useless ornamental shrubs and hedges of green cement. Nothing lives in these gardens, not even the owners who never set foot in them. They're a periurban desert. I know, we're surrounded by countryside which isn't intensely farmed, but the model of that 'garden' means death to all insect life, consequently there will be few birds, rodents, predators. Nothing except ride-on mowers. Just a patch of wild changes a lot. No, we change the course of geopolitics, but we can make out little bit of the world a kinder, friendlier place.
Oh and kudos to your dad... elderberry wine sounds amazing! I confess to adding the odd splash of elderberry syrup to my G&T, now and again! Although I mostly don't drink alcohol these days.
He used to get all four of us out with him, hauling great sacks of berries back through the fields. It’s a good thing the product was alcoholic, that’s all I can say. Killed all the bacteria that fermented in it!
Wonderful words and thoughts as ever, Ali. Thank you 🙏 I too have been asking how I can make a difference, staying still long enough to hear the whispers. I don't have land and the words that keep coming to me day and night are "start in the corner you find yourself"... real change happens at the grassroots level I believe, the ripples moving out into the world. We can only start where we are with hope. Loved your words this morning, so very grateful for them and for your beautiful heart. Together we can x
Thank you, Kelly. I love that you have also been asking how you can best show up to make a difference. Your experience sounds much like mine: a strong clear message, although the direction is vague. We are not being told what to do. The universe is trusting us to come to our senses and see for ourselves where that work can take place. I am here for those messages, for learning through experience not instructions. Thanks for reading and sharing your Imbas with us here, Kelly. 💕
Great article about the wild flowers. Couldn't agree more and leaving my sligo garden like that too. Love elder trees. They're traditionally seen as protector trees and you're indeed blessed if one plants itself near you. We have one that self seeded near the door in our tiny suburban garden. It's treated like a celebrity, by us. I just freeze the elder berries straight fro the tree, then put a handful in a sieve, mash with a fork, pour in boiling water and add honey, and that's my miracle cure. Loving the dark days. You take care, C
Lol…imagining you treating this Elder as a celebrity! I am in awe of all the plants that have seeded themselves into my garden, they are welcome here. Some of them are going a bit too far tbh, they need to learn the lesson of sharing space! Elder, sadly, is not one of them, and there aren't many of them in my area, which is why the row I found this spring really mattered to me, and why I am so devastated at how drastically they were chopped back. I'm sure yours is rewarding you with lots of blossom and fruit. I love that you freeze your berries for when you need them. I have now learned the hard way that I should have done the same. Also learned that I can't take nature's generosity for granted. Who knows if the Elder will be able to recover for next season… and maybe that's why I never noticed them before, because they were cut back so aggressively in the past. I also love the simplicity of your syrup recipe, it doesn't need to be any more than that. Why do some people have to over-complicate things, and fill up their recipes with junk, like a ton of sugar? Thanks for being here, and thanks for sharing your wisdom. 💕
I make elderberry juice and either make syrup or, this year, I used it in eldeberry kombucha! I'm lucky to live in Vermont where we have wild blackberries and elderberries, also apple trees gone wild. I was just talking today about how we need to live with our black bear neighbors - there's a mama and two cubs living in the woods - and as humans it's our responsibility to contain our smelly attractants to limit the bear visits. They were here first!
Oh my word, you have BEARS? We used to have bears in Ireland a long time ago. There is a cave called Aillwee in Co Clare where you can still see the depressions made in the dust where our native brown bears settled down to sleep between 10, 000 and 4,500 years ago! I can't imagine what it must be like to live so closely with such mighty creatures. They have such bad press. I'm sure I would be afraid. But at the end of the day, that Mama is just trying to feed and protect her babies. I love that you are doing everything you can to support that by not leaving any human stuff lying around that might attract bears. I'm sure it's not easy, though, but if everyone did the same, there would probably be fewer incidents. Easy for me to say, when I don't have to live near them, though. I also love your use of the Elderberry and other fruits growing wild in your area. I find there's something so satisfying in accepting nature's wild gifts snd working with nature for our own health and wellbeing, and that of the land. Thank you for reading and sharing your wisdom here! 💚
This is lovely, Ali. Thank you.
Hi Robin, I think when a plant becomes invasive, if its not native, it should be removed, as they end up doing more harm than good. Otherwise, I think we should make every effort to use as much of the invasive plant as possible, even if that means controlling it by using it for firewood. Delia of the greenwood uses invasive kudzu for weaving, and she makes amazing stuff with it. If it is native, then it's just thriving in its natural habitat. But if its also taking over, then it might just be asking for a bit of human help. I find that here with the willow, and blackberry.
Maybe one day I'll get to walk with you across your landholding... it sounds idyllic! I get you re the sterile gardens. I shudder when I see fake grass being laid. Exactly this re the thoughtlessness of farmers... we think they are closer to the land than we are, and many are, but equally as many only see the dollar signs.
Here in Central Texas, elderberries can be quite invasive. Bart grows a patch, and I've been privy to the bounty. They were done by the end of spring. I made an elderberry syrup and added honey, but also brandy. With brandy, it doesn't have to be refrigerated, and I can keep it for many months.
I understand your angst regarding the unconscious cut-backs done on the land. Mother allowed the rancher next door to clear 20 acres of her land to rent and I cried. He wanted to graze cattle, but heavens, couldn't he leave some nice oaks for the cattle to get to shade in the heat of the summer? What an idiot.
Bart has 1/3 acre and he has planted a surprising number of natives. On the barren land out from San Marcos, I planted 10 native trees and 9 native bushes. I am hoping that the new owners watered them in summer heat. In Austin, there is much more consciousness around planting natives, but not so much for surrounding areas. It distresses me.
Adding alcohol is great for preservation, I think that makes it a tincture. I hope the new owners of your old house took care of the trees you planted. I remember how hard it was for you to plant them, the gound was baked hard like clay, you told me. Having trees there would add so much pleasure to their use of the garden, drawing up moisture from the deep with their roots and offering shade in the summer. 💕
Thanks for writing this, Ali. It's what I think too. We're guardians, custodians, not landowners. I'm lucky to live on what was once a smallholding, about five acres of ancient meadow, hedges and trees along a stream. The surrounding land is partly cultivated, partly uncultivated woods and wild land. And in theory, no more of the land can be built on. But the contrast with our old place and the new houses down the lane closer to town is stark. The manicured lawns, swimming pools, round-up and strimmers, useless ornamental shrubs and hedges of green cement. Nothing lives in these gardens, not even the owners who never set foot in them. They're a periurban desert. I know, we're surrounded by countryside which isn't intensely farmed, but the model of that 'garden' means death to all insect life, consequently there will be few birds, rodents, predators. Nothing except ride-on mowers. Just a patch of wild changes a lot. No, we change the course of geopolitics, but we can make out little bit of the world a kinder, friendlier place.
PS My dad made elderberry wine.
Oh and kudos to your dad... elderberry wine sounds amazing! I confess to adding the odd splash of elderberry syrup to my G&T, now and again! Although I mostly don't drink alcohol these days.
He used to get all four of us out with him, hauling great sacks of berries back through the fields. It’s a good thing the product was alcoholic, that’s all I can say. Killed all the bacteria that fermented in it!
Hahaha! That's my excuse for drinking alcohol!
I don’t think I need one :)
😂😂😂
Wonderful words and thoughts as ever, Ali. Thank you 🙏 I too have been asking how I can make a difference, staying still long enough to hear the whispers. I don't have land and the words that keep coming to me day and night are "start in the corner you find yourself"... real change happens at the grassroots level I believe, the ripples moving out into the world. We can only start where we are with hope. Loved your words this morning, so very grateful for them and for your beautiful heart. Together we can x
Thank you, Kelly. I love that you have also been asking how you can best show up to make a difference. Your experience sounds much like mine: a strong clear message, although the direction is vague. We are not being told what to do. The universe is trusting us to come to our senses and see for ourselves where that work can take place. I am here for those messages, for learning through experience not instructions. Thanks for reading and sharing your Imbas with us here, Kelly. 💕
Great article about the wild flowers. Couldn't agree more and leaving my sligo garden like that too. Love elder trees. They're traditionally seen as protector trees and you're indeed blessed if one plants itself near you. We have one that self seeded near the door in our tiny suburban garden. It's treated like a celebrity, by us. I just freeze the elder berries straight fro the tree, then put a handful in a sieve, mash with a fork, pour in boiling water and add honey, and that's my miracle cure. Loving the dark days. You take care, C
Lol…imagining you treating this Elder as a celebrity! I am in awe of all the plants that have seeded themselves into my garden, they are welcome here. Some of them are going a bit too far tbh, they need to learn the lesson of sharing space! Elder, sadly, is not one of them, and there aren't many of them in my area, which is why the row I found this spring really mattered to me, and why I am so devastated at how drastically they were chopped back. I'm sure yours is rewarding you with lots of blossom and fruit. I love that you freeze your berries for when you need them. I have now learned the hard way that I should have done the same. Also learned that I can't take nature's generosity for granted. Who knows if the Elder will be able to recover for next season… and maybe that's why I never noticed them before, because they were cut back so aggressively in the past. I also love the simplicity of your syrup recipe, it doesn't need to be any more than that. Why do some people have to over-complicate things, and fill up their recipes with junk, like a ton of sugar? Thanks for being here, and thanks for sharing your wisdom. 💕
I make elderberry juice and either make syrup or, this year, I used it in eldeberry kombucha! I'm lucky to live in Vermont where we have wild blackberries and elderberries, also apple trees gone wild. I was just talking today about how we need to live with our black bear neighbors - there's a mama and two cubs living in the woods - and as humans it's our responsibility to contain our smelly attractants to limit the bear visits. They were here first!
Oh my word, you have BEARS? We used to have bears in Ireland a long time ago. There is a cave called Aillwee in Co Clare where you can still see the depressions made in the dust where our native brown bears settled down to sleep between 10, 000 and 4,500 years ago! I can't imagine what it must be like to live so closely with such mighty creatures. They have such bad press. I'm sure I would be afraid. But at the end of the day, that Mama is just trying to feed and protect her babies. I love that you are doing everything you can to support that by not leaving any human stuff lying around that might attract bears. I'm sure it's not easy, though, but if everyone did the same, there would probably be fewer incidents. Easy for me to say, when I don't have to live near them, though. I also love your use of the Elderberry and other fruits growing wild in your area. I find there's something so satisfying in accepting nature's wild gifts snd working with nature for our own health and wellbeing, and that of the land. Thank you for reading and sharing your wisdom here! 💚