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Local American Wild Blue Elderberry Syrup (Canned) - $60 (Port Townsend)
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Ingredients: Wild Harvested American Blue Elderberries, Purified Water, Organic Cane Sugar, and Organic Lemon Juice.
By donation: ($30 per half-pint, $60 per pint)
Hello Friends and Neighbors,
My name is Cheryl, and I make Local Wild American Blue Elderberry Syrup from fresh, frozen, wild elderberries that I gather myself. The syrup is organic, wild-crafted, and made simply with fresh (frozen) wild blue elderberries, purified water, organic cane sugar, and organic lemon juice.
This syrup is handcrafted in small batches from wild blue elderberries, long celebrated for their natural healing qualities and gentle wellness support.
After making the syrup, I can it in pint and half-pint jars, giving it a shelf life of up to two years. Once opened, it will keep in the refrigerator for about two months.
I offer the syrup by donation ($60 per pint, $30 per half-pint), mainly through word of mouth. The whole process is a labor of love, and though the cost of everything has gone up, I have not raised my prices.
I have been making this syrup for about 29 years. Each season, I travel to beautiful northeastern Washington to pick the berries. This past year, I gathered 230 pounds of exceptional-quality blue elderberries. Once picked, the berries are washed and frozen for use.
I’ve worked with herbs since I was 17 years old (I’m now 74). About 26 years ago, I attended the California School of Herbal Studies for several years. Herbalism is a lifelong journey—there is no degree or graduation—so I am always learning. I especially love the Elder Tree, which I fondly call The Medicine Tree. In addition to syrup, I also use its spring green leaves, blossoms, and unripe berries to make a soothing, healing salve.
American Blue Elder Trees grow wild, often near people’s homes, orchards, and gardens, where they seem to thrive on care and respect. More often than not, I ask permission from property owners to harvest berries, and I find the trees respond beautifully to love and attention.
Picking the berries is always an adventure. Some trees I visit year after year, and I’ve even given them names. At one property, six elder trees grow together—one by a small garden and the others along a bank. For years, the bank trees bore few berries. But last season, the woman who owns the land decided to water and care for them. The result was astonishing: the berries were so abundant that a branch broke under their weight! Because of Judy’s love and care, the harvest from those trees was abundant and especially potent.
Most of us are familiar with European Black Elderberries, often found in store-bought syrups, gummies, and lozenges. Much less research has been done on our native American Blue Elderberries, yet they share the same healing properties. In fact, there is a difference in antioxidant (anthocyanin) content: European Black Elderberry contains four anthocyanins, while our American Blue Elderberry contains seven (see my document, Local American Wild Blue Elderberry Syrup).
I am happy to send syrup by mail, with shipping costs paid in advance.
Warm regards,
Cheryl