SPRING HARVEST SEASON

Winter buds of  Populus balsamifera

 Most people don't think of spring as harvest time but there are plenty of useful things to gather at this time of the year. The winter buds of Balsam Poplar are one of them. These buds contain a aromatic resin that is easy to extract and is a useful addition to salves. Also known as Balm of Gilead, it has several folk remedy uses. A little research on the internet will provide lots of info but they all miss what I like best about it. I has a very fresh woodsy scent. By the way, field guides all say it has sticky winter buds. I have found they are not sticky, until you crush them releasing the resin.

Here is another useful thing that I like to gather in spring. Sphagnum moss. Dry Sphagnum can hold up to 20 times it's weight in water. This makes it a great addition to potting mixes where it will help retain moisture. I also use it as mulch, especially around acid loving plants like blueberries. In early spring none of the other plants have started growing yet so it is easy to gather lots of it. I wring it out like a sponge as I stuff it in a bag so it is lighter to carry. I lay it out on screens in the greenhouse for a few days to dry.

Dry roots of Coptis groenlandica

While I am out in the bogs gathering Sphagnum I often come across another very  useful herbal medicine plant. This is Gold Thread which very accurately describes the part I am interested in, the roots. The tiny ,very bright gold or yellow roots contain berberine, which is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. It's other common name, Canker Root, indicates it's traditional use which is to treat canker sores and cold sores.  My experience indicates a strong tea applied topically is quite effective.

My garden gives up a few things in spring too. These Jerusalem Artichokes wintered over just fine in the ground. Also known as Sunchokes, it's a good idea to harvest as soon as the ground thaws since they will start sprouting once the soil warms up. I am going to increase my planting of these this year. They are a great low input crop to use as animal feed. My rabbits and hogs are ga-ga about the tubers and cattle and horses love the stalks and leaves. I also enjoy them occasionally and there are lots of recipes for them.

Well, I can't talk about spring harvest without talking about maple syrup. This has been a good year so far and the trees are still producing sap. I've made around 20 gallons of syrup so far this year. Since we make syrup every year and keep a lot of it for our own use, we have quite a bit stored from last year. I used some to make wine last year and might do that again this year.  Because of our surplus I am making sugar from most of this years crop. I have only sugared out about gallon and a half so far. I ended up with 10 1/2 pounds from that batch.

 I have about 12 gallons to sugar out today. That should yield somewhere around 95 pounds when done. This is darker syrup than my first batch so it will have a lot stronger flavor.

 It will be time for me to get all my seeds started next and lots of prep work to get the garden ready. Time for me to get to work.