Everyday Elderberry - by Leanne Allen (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Unlock the full potential of elderberry for your home apothecary, kitchen, and landscape

For centuries, elderberry has been valued as both food and medicine. Packed with antioxidants and a good source of vitamin C, elderberry (Sambucus) isn't just for cold and flu symptoms--it may also support gut health, regulate blood glucose, and calm inflammation. Everyday Elderberry is the perfect guide for anyone eager to grow or forage this amazing plant and make it a meaningful part of daily life through natural remedies and recipes.

With nearly a decade of hands-on experience growing and working with native American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), Leanne Allen of Ridge Road Farms teaches you how to cultivate, forage, preserve, and cook with the berries and flowers--blending practical know-how with creative inspiration. Whether you're hoping to grow your own income-generating crop, forage responsibly in the wild, or simply want a natural, flavorful way to support your health, elderberry will reward you for years to come.

Chapters cover:

• Sustainable practices for growing American elderberry
• Timing and techniques for harvesting elderflowers and elderberries
• Tips for identifying elderberry in its natural habitat
• Preservation techniques for year-round enjoyment
• Ideas for seasonal gatherings celebrating elderberry
• 60 recipes for syrups, tinctures, desserts, drinks, and more

Review Quotes

"The sheer luxury of devoting an entire book to one plant is swoonworthy! Sinking into the pages of Everyday Elderberry allowed me to leave the rest of the world behind. Leanne is a woman after my own heart. By diving deeply into the folklore, growing tips, seasonal activities, medicine, and recipes, she inspires not just seasoned herbalists like me but also everyone who opens these pages to grow a relationship with elderberry that will last a lifetime. What a treasure!"--Suzanne M. Tabert, Cedar Mountain Herb School; author of The Forager's Apothecary: Remedies and Recipes for 50 Common Wild Plants

About the Author

Leanne Allen resides on her family farm, nestled in a secluded valley of rural Sperry, Iowa, where four generations live, work, and play--with elderberry at the heart of it all. In 2020, her family established a ten-acre elderberry orchard, where Leanne has since been learning the ins and outs of growing, harvesting, and preserving this extraordinary plant. She and her husband own Ridge Road Farms, where they offer farm-to-family elderberry products and plants as well as host elderflower picnics each summer.

Guided by her passion for elderberry and a deepening appreciation for natural remedies, Leanne loves helping others discover the versatility and simple joys of this gift from nature, making the most of its abundant resources. Through her writing, she inspires readers to cultivate, celebrate, and savor elderberry the whole year through. When she's not tending to all things elderberry, you'll find her sipping coffee on the front porch, digging in the greenhouse, or spending time with family--especially her grandchildren, Ezzy, Ruthie, and Fern.