 Late spring in Michigan can provide abundant dandelion flowers Dandelion jelly, it's sort of reminisant of honey and deliciouse on toast! Sounts good doesnt it? During spring take advantage of these sunny yellow blossoms but please, be sure to use blossoms only from areas that have not been sprayed with toxic herbacids or pesticides. The recipe follows. Enjoy!
Ingredients: 4 Cups of dandelion petals packed loosley or 2 cups packed petals 4 Cups of sugar (organic cane sugar ) 2 Tbsp. lemon juice (or 2 tsp. citric acid) 1 box (1.75 0z.) Sure-Jell Fruit Pectin Boiling Water Instructions: 1. Harvest roughtly 8 cups of dandelion flower heads. Carefully remove just the yellow petals. You will then have about 4 cups of flower petals (not packed). 2. Make a dendelion petal tea by pouring 4 cups of boiling water over the cleaned flower petals. Allow to seep from 1 to 24 hours. 3. Strain the liquid from the petals. Press all liquid from the petals. You should than have 3 3/4 to 4 cups of tea. 4. Pour the dandelion tea into a havey bottomed saucepan. Add the lemon juice and pectin. DO NOT ADD THE SUGAR Bring this mixture to a boil. 5. Once the mixture is rapidly boiling, add the sugar, stir well to combine, allowing to return to a hard boil, and boil for 1 to 2 minutes. 6. Remove from heat 7 Pour the jelly into prpared jars, seal and allow the jelly to cool and set for at least 12 hours. 8. Store in the refridgerator If you like you can also seal in jars, using the hot water bath method. 
This crab-apple tree is loaded with fruit!
It's Autumn in Michigan, however, it's looking more like winter! It isn't uncommon to receive an early snow cover here in Michigan and so a tree such as this crab-apple tree is a wonderful addition to your back yard to aid in biodiversity and a food source (both fruit and insects), for our feathered friends. It is a common site to see several partridge perched on this very same tree year after year. When planting trees in and around your yard or in your woodlot it is very important to plant native species. Native species are specific in what they offer our native insects and wildlife.
Sweet wild violets, growing on the edge of a Michigan woodlot.
Did you know your pretty little wild violets are editable? (Viola) It's true! In fact, violets contain more vitamin C by weight than oranges. They are also rich in vitamin A as well as containing other vitamins and minerals. You can toss both flowers and leaves, to impart a sweet flavor into salads! You can use the flowers to decorate a cake! You can make violet jelly, violet tea, violet syrup, and candid flowers! I enjoy dropping some flowers in an ice-cube tray when making ice ! It makes that ice water or lemon-aid look so special! Violets and medicinal Uses Violets are said to stimulate your lymphatic glands, helping your body to eliminate toxins. They are also known to stimulate the immune system and reduce inflammation. Violet tea may help ease sinus infections, colds, and other respiratory issues. The native Americans used them in a poultice and salves.  It's May in Michigan and the dandelions are plenty!
This is What You Need to Know About Glyphosate!
Glyphosate is a herbicide that is applied to the leaves of plants to kill weeds. You have probably seen it sitting on the shelves of your local hardware store. The odor it dispels is disgustingly horrendous. It was introduced to the consumer market via Roundup in the early 1970s, it’s now in more than 750 products sold in the U.S.! In 2015, the cancer-research arm of the World Health Organization announced that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic in humans.” Health problems, such as miscarriage and birth defects, might be linked to glyphosate! Not only is glyphoste used to kill weeds, it is also used as a desiccant, or drying agent, this allows food to be harvested, dried quickly and sent to the market, but in turn, increases the likelihood that consumers will be directly exposed to the pesticide through the foods they eat, even after processing. Originally used only on genetically modified (GMO) crops, Roundup is now sprayed on conventional crops such as wheat, grains and oats, to speed up the harvesting process. This relatively new process is the focus of the EWG’s petition to the EPA. What Can You Do? Educate yourself on glyphoste and, as always, consider the sources. A good place to start is EWG and IRT. Also, there are some real steps you can take to minimize your and your family’s exposure to glyphosate.
Gitty Goat Soaps and Lotions and more!
We are excited to share this with you! In our quest to use non-toxic products we discovered Gitty Goat Soap, where they make handmade goat's milk soap using non-GMO, organic ingredients and essential oils (volatile aroma compounds from plants)! They sell an array of absolutely wonderful, all natural products, that we are sure you will truly enjoy with each and every use. Visit Gitty Goat Soap Here!
Gitty Goat Soap sells wonderful, clean, goat's milk soaps and lotions and other personal products, all made in Michigan! You can visit their website here |
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David and Valerie Zimmer, owners of Greater Michigan Timber Management, a forest, timber and woodlot management company in northern lower Michigan. Archives
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For all your timber and woodlot management needs, contact us, at Greater Michigan Timber Management! (989) 473-3791 (989) 390-0705  |
