We are so happy to bring you another wonderful foraging blog from one of our talented members. In this post, Margaret Podger introduces us to some of the many gifts of the Elder tree, a common denizen of our Irish hedges, and shares a recipe for a healing Elder Leaf Cream.
Just back from a hill walk at the weekend, each season has its splendour, but the Autumn colour is hard to beat. The hedges are bejewelled with fruit and
still clothed with leaves. The elder caught my attention as it shimmered in the early sunlight, in my opinion a true marvel, it’s dressed for 2 seasons, early summer clad in white to display its flowers and September reflects a purple sheen as bunches of berries appear. I cannot pass this tree in the hedgerow without thinking of all it has to offer. Its leaves, flowers, and berries all carry medicinal value.
As I collected a few handfuls of leaves, my thoughts drifted to the many generations of our forebearers who have foraged perhaps from this very tree at this same time of year. The Elder has been a tree of high value for foraging in times past, referred to by the Egyptians …..as their medicine chest.
Our ancestors would have also relied on the medicinal values provided by nature in the absence of present-day pharmaceutical supplies.
Can I suggest that the next time you pass the elder tree in the hedgerow, you stop and bow to all the medicinal values it offers?
A pot of Elder leaf cream is a must for the first aid box usable for many of my garden ailments of the skin itching, bruising, strains.
Any summer evening is enhanced with a cup of fresh elder flower tea. I also dry the flowers so I can drink the comforting elder flower tea year-round. Try it to help reduce bronchial ailments and ease soreness of the throat.
The berries are full of vit c and provide a valuable winter tonic. I use this each year but unfortunately never have enough.
One teaspoon a day helps the flu stay away.
I have not made the flutes myself, but the Elder branches can easily be made hollow and so can provide musical instruments. By removing the soft green tissue in the stem, It is possible to create flutes and whistles. This YouTube video shows one technique!
I always leave the fallen or cut branches near the tree trunk. The hollow branches can act like an insect hotel, a refuge for hibernating during winter months.
Making Elder Leaf Cream
Elder leaf cream is so easy to make, I would love to know more people can embrace the enrichment this tree has to offer. I forage the elder leaves and make a very usable soothing skin cream. The cream is easily stored in small pots with sealed lids until ready for use.
I share with you this very easy to make hedgerow cream recipe, which I make and value each autumn. The foraged leaves are dried, soaked in oil and mixed with beeswax to produce an easy-to-use body cream, great for the first aid box.
This valuable hedgerow leaf cream relieves skin bruises, discolouration and itching.
Elder Leaf Cream Ingredients
Elder leaves – Few handfuls
Organic oil – Just enough to completely cover the leaves
(In past times, melted animal fat would have been used.)
Beeswax – ¼ of a stick (Be careful not to add too much beeswax)
Also needed:
Absorbent paper, jam jar with lid, small jars with lids, source of heat and saucepan
Day 1
A handful of leaves were easily collected from the hedgerows (preferably on a dry day).
I placed them on absorbent paper to reduce their moisture content. They were then placed on a sunny windowsill for one day.
Day 2
The dried looking leaves were packed into a 250g jar and covered with an organic oil. (Any organic oil is suitable) The jar with lid attached was placed on a shelf to infuse for 6 weeks.
After 6 weeks
Fast forward 6 weeks, in the beginning of November I will have elder infused oil (the medicinal value of the elder will have enriched the oil) The elder oil is suitable for use directly on skin but is more usable as a cream.
After standing the elder leaves in oil for 6 weeks, I strained off the oil and squeezed any remaining values from the leaves. The oil was then ready for use.
To solidify the oil for ease of application, I blended the oil with a very small amount of beeswax over a low heat. Too much beeswax can result in an over solid cream (not very skin friendly)
In September 2024, I made the cream (pictured below) The leaves were foraged in September 2024. The leaves were then infused in oil for 6 weeks and then mixed with beeswax. The result is a gentle, nourishing, spreadable skin cream.
Take care with the preparation. Use and enjoy the cream ……natures best.
About the author, Margaret Podger:
I would like to share with you the some of the rich foraging resources of the hedgerow.
My life is in horticulture; the numerous values of plants has always been an intrigue. Recently I researched the plants grown in 6th century Ireland. All plants grown at that time were functional used for clothing, construction, medicinal, culinary, warfare.
My research led to the construction of a Commemorative Brigid Garden which was awarded a bronze medal in Bloom 2024.
While we are not now dependent on plants for our culinary medicinal needs, the plants still have the same properties to offer us.
As part of a more sustainable future, we can forage great organic food from our own hedgerows.
Let’s work together.