Wild plants: Harvesting and small pleasures
As you may know, Gen has escaped to the countryside! Since May 2020, she has been living in her garden in Estrie.
The harvests of her first year were – how to say? – rather meager, but she is slowly learning! Vegetables, fruits, flowers and especially medicinal plants for making Tonic herbal teas. It’s growing!
There are so many beautiful plants in Quebec that have interesting virtues. Native plants that can be found almost everywhere in our beautiful territory.
The most important thing when wild picking is to respect the golden rules:
- Pick what has been PERFECTLY identified (some plants can be toxic).
- Pick only what I really need. Never pick more than one tenth (1/10) of the plant to ensure the sustainability of the species!
- Never pick threatened or vulnerable wild plants. Here is a link to the list of these in Quebec .
- Harvesting with respect for nature. The ecosystems we venture into to harvest are fragile and we must leave as little trace as possible! Why not say a little “Thank you!” to Mother Nature as we pass by?
- Pick if it gives us pleasure! Because you know!
Right now, it's the goldenrod harvest! A (slightly invasive) plant that offers us magnificent bouquets of yellow flowers that are quite easy to dry. There are some in the brand new Allergies herbal tea!
And my favorite herbal tea: Rhube , even when I'm on fire! Made with balsam fir, catnip (or catnip), horsetail, sage and marshmallow (the sweet taste), it's a very Quebec herbal tea that instantly cheers me up.
To end the summer in style, you can still pick lots of truly extraordinary plants. August is the month of holy basil, elderberries, centaury and St. John's wort, among others.
If you need advice on drying and preserving plants, do not hesitate to contact us!
Happy picking!
Genevieve
