I have to apologize for my absence of late, September was a whirlwind. Settling kids into school routines, participating in the Hills Garlic Fest and Revelstoke’s newest festival “Axis Mundi”, the month was over before I had a chance to catch my breath.
One of my favourite fall routines is early morning walks with one of my best friends. The other morning while out on our route I happened upon a little surprise along a fence line, wild hops growing in the bushes and as far as twenty feet up a nearby tree. I’ve been interested in growing hops for some time now but never thought I’d find them growing wild, I recognized their cones immediately. Hops are a well known ingredient in beer and a primary ingredient in my favourite “sleepy time” tea, they also have anti-inflammatory properties. I have several plans for these little beauties, for starters a sleepy time tea blend and a shampoo soap bar for luscious shining locks.
The girls and I went out wild harvesting on Sunday afternoon and had a great time bringing in a huge basket of hops and a nice bucket of elderberries. I was out in my yard on Monday, pulling the hop cones from the vines when I heard a rustling on the tracks behind the house. Imagine my delight to find an old friend out there harvesting a large patch of stinging nettles! I didn’t even know it was there and I was certain I had missed my window for nettles this year. We spent a happy fifteen minutes together clipping away and I sent her home with a handful of hop cones in gratitude for sharing her find with me.
Last but certainly not least on my wild crafting list this fall will be rosehips. I see bushes loaded with bright orange hips everywhere I look lately, I just need a couple hours to go get them! Rosehips are loaded with vitamin C, they will be perfect in a nourishing herbal tea this winter and I’ve always meant to try my hand at rosehip syrup… and maybe a nice soap featuring rosehip infused oils?
For the first time in my life I’m actually looking forward to the winter months. I’ll finally have time to play with all the treasures we’ve put by and to experiment with their different scents, tastes, nourishing and healing properties. I feel so blessed to live in this valley.
