Making Homemade Wildflower Jelly Canning Tips and Guide to Success

I've been experimenting with making and canning Jelly using wildflowers. Each year I watch our abundance of edible Spring flowers grow and fade in the yard not using any of the plant. Prior to any lawn mowing, typically in April in Virginia, the Violets and Dandelions first appear. Later in May after a few mows our Rosa Rugosa, climbing Roses, and Elderberry begin to bloom. Every Fall I harvest Rosehips from my Rosa Rugosa so I had a jar of dried hips in the refrigerator that I also infused and incorporated.

In past years I've attempted to can food from the garden and it was a very frustrating experience. All the equipment and boiling and preparation made me crazy. It's was a lot easier to just freeze fruit and veggies. At that time I decided to get rid of most of my canning jars for the exception of cute little jelly jars. It's taken me 15 years to unearthed the equipment and experiment with jelly making.

I find jelly or jam making with fruit much more intensive and frustrating. You have to boil down the fruit, decide to either strain or not strain and then hope and pray it sets. Splattering goo all over the kitchen. I've had a terrible time in the past making this work. After experimenting with petal Jelly making, I have found it easier and more likely to set. Jams are made with all fruit, Jellies with liquid extracts from petals or fruit.

Fortunately now you can purchase low to no sugar pectin so I used the pink box of Sure Gel. I halved the normal amount of sugar (which always seemed really gross to me) and supplemented with 3 teeny scoops of Trader Joes Stevia. The sweetness of the final product was spot on and possibly even a little bit too sugar infused for me. I will experiment next Spring with 1/2 a cup less sugar. Tweaking the sugar in the regular Sure Gel product is a big no no as it does not set up.

I engrossed myself in watching jelly canning videos and read numerous jelly making books to ensure success. All of this preparation still did not result in complete success. Jelly making is a true art to master and one simple mistake can ruin your batch, which is very infuriating and caused me to swear off canning 15 years ago!

My Violet Dandelion Jelly was fortunately not a complete let down. The flavor was fascinatingly delicious, light and beautiful. Sadly the set was my typical problem. Edible but somewhat runny. My disastrous attempt at making my beloved Black Raspberry Jelly 15 years ago runny like water (probably because I didn't add all the sugar required in a normal box of Sure Gel). 

Online instructions advised to cover petals with too hot and too much water, diluting it more than necessary. Petals are delicate so boiling water should sit for 10 minutes before being poured over the petals. Next year when the Violets appear I will also pick a cup more than I originally used to also boost the flavor.

My second attempt, after a month of getting over the first stressful attempt, I forced myself to get back on the horse and make Rose Rosehip Elderberry Jelly. Running out of Rose Jelly from Lidl, I was motivated to find a replacement. I noticed the delicate white Elderberry flowers were in bloom and needed to supplement my Rose petals (I didn't have near enough) so I also added them to the mix. I mainly had white petals which didn't add enough pink color to the finished product so I infused rosehips for 15 minutes in boiling water then strained, to bump up the flavor and color.

I took meticulous notes when making my first batch of Jelly so went back online to research it all again to perfect the second batch. I used a Jelly thermometer as instructions stated the liquid needed to hit 220 degrees for 1 minute on the final boil. My two different gauges never exceeded 200 degrees. So I don't know if my stove just can't get that hot or if their is an error in the temperature recommendation but 200 is all I could push out of my heat source. If you don't have a gauge or it never exceeds 200 degrees you will need to boil it strong for 2 minutes. If you have a gauge and can hit 220 degrees, a strong boil for 1 minute is what is advised online.

I also bumped up my lemon from 3 to 7 tsp, to encourage setting. Lemon is a natural source of pectin (a thickener). I also read to not stir during the final boil and during my first batch I stirred the entire time and never stopped. 

The resulting product of Rose Elderberry Jelly was much improved. I had a perfect set and I believe it was more due to letting it cook during the final boil for 2 minutes and not stirring. I'm not so sure the lemon was the factor in it setting up but I'll find out next Spring when I give it another go, reducing the lemon back down as it had a little too much of a citrus flavor for my taste. The Rose flavor could have been much more pronounced so I'll boost up the petals from 1 cup to at least 2. I didn't get much of a hint of elderberry but the fragrance was lovely so worth using again. I did put boiling water on the Elderberry petals and this was way too hot for the teeny delicate flowers and seemed to burn them! NOT GOOD. So next Spring I'll let the boiling water sit for 10 minutes before infusing.

Tips in conclusion: 1) Steep petals in minimum amount of off the boil water required to cover petals. 2) Follow pectin box instructions carefully. 3) Be sure to add 4 tsp lemon. 4) After your liquid poofs up for the final boil let it boil for 2 minutes. 5) Do not stir during the final boil, stir lightly after finished only to incorporate any gel from the bottom and sides of pan. 6) Take the time to skim off all foam and eat, it's a delicacy. 7) Keep flat seal tops in boiling water until ready to use. 8) Fill all jars with liquid and then add all seals as it does start gelling. 9) Do not overtighten the rings but secure as air needs to escape from the jar outward. 10) Can in a deep deep pan for 5 minutes. 11) Put crumpled aluminum foil in the bottom of the pan to elevate jars if you don't have a rack.

Of the 2 flavor concoctions, I really liked the Violet Dandelion but there is hope for the Rose Elderberry if I bump up the number of fragrant rose petals next year. 

I hope you have success your first attempt after reading my tips! It's a challenge the first time but does get easier with each try :)

On a side note, make sure your lawn has not been sprayed, fertilized or the like. You only want to consume organic flowers not chemical poisons.

~ Rebecca

Keeping Chickens Entertained

Big Red and Iris enjoying a drink together

Chickens are constantly on a treasure hunt trying to find the best snack or perch. How do you keep chickens entertained and happy. I can't imagine caging up chickens without access to GRASS. Predators are always a concern but chickens are curious by nature and will thrive if allowed some roam time digging and running.

The following tips will keep chickens occupied. 

Kids playhouse on top of Subaru heading for chickens.

Haul in something for them to climb on. We found a kids playhouse on freecycle and strapped it to the top of our Subaru. They love perching on it after a rain to preen their feathers high off the wet ground. From time to time I bring in some shovels of dirt and toss in the floor of the house - all sorts of near invisible little snacks for them to dine on inside dirt!

Janie our biggest chicken and the leader.

Daily snacks. Each morning I juice oranges and share one half with seven chickens. Too much citrus can give them runny poo so don't overdo it. Also, it's been said crushed seeds and rind are not good for them, fortunately, when you juice, the seeds come out and they only want the interior fiber so all is good. I spear it so it doesn't turn upside down. Little ants and critters crawl in the cup, a chicken delight.

Forage for goodies on your property. Bring 'em some garden worms, cutworms, lettuce, dandelion leaves, raspberries, mulberries, blueberries, or strawberries (if they ignore berries, it's because they are too hard, so squish them and they will come running). They don't always have access to fresh greens in their run so I go and collect a little of this and that for them.

Leave some tall grass around the fence perimeter.

Tall grass & old roof panel, perfect for movable SHADE

One of our best predator defenses is the tall grass that has grown into the base of our fence. It is near impenetrable. We've spotted black Ratsnakes taking care of a mouse in the tall perimeter grass. Chickens love to jump up and eat the grass seed that has been allowed to mature. They also love to scratch and claw in the tall grass. We don't weed eat around our fence and trying to get the fence out is near impossible. We've never had anything more than a mouse tunnel its way in.

Make sure you have a soft dirt area in the shade where they can take dust baths. They like loose soil, leaves, or even wood chips. This is a chickens FAVORITE daily activity! Something as simple as digging a hole and mixing in wood chips or leaves will create a bath area that will be fought over!

Movable expansion pen, predator proof we hope.

Enclose a grassy area with a movable pen safe for them to patrol and hang out without fear of predators. My husband lets the chickens out of their coop at 7 am when he goes to work. I wanted them to safely have access to grass before I wake up several hours later. Coyote prowl until 9 am and Hawks are always out and about. I no longer sleep with one eye open from 7 - 9 am.

Old shutters provide light but tons of SHADE & dust bathing.

Section off fence areas and open them as the day progresses. My chickens are enclosed in their "safe zone" most of the day and when I am not home. Around 3 pm they are let out into the broader fenced area until they go up to roost. They love getting out where they can run and flap their wings, flying all about and enjoying breezes. Chickens tend to rest in the shade midday under the coop from 11 - 3 so there is no need for them to have free roam access as a predator could get them.

Provide them with shade zones. We hinged together two old shutters to create a place where they can dust bathe and hide out during the hot summers and even when it snows.

Pool noodles are not just for pools!

Perches, perches and more perches. I was looking for a low perch for my young chickens and decided a soft log might be the ticket. I stuck a bamboo rod through the center of a pool noodle. They LOVE it.
  
Your chickens will be safer, happier and you too will enjoy watching them have fun!

-Rebecca

Forsythia

Maple (foreground), Forsythia Hedge in back.

It's that time of year when the Forsythia is in full raging bloom. Shockingly yellow, this plant adds so much color to the Spring landscape. It's a plant that I would probably not seek out to plant but I acquired it when we moved into our house.

Because of all the Forsythia on our property, I named it appropriately Forsythia Hill. I can see Forsythia out of every window in our house!

New little sprinkling (foreground), established (background).

I have started a few new areas of Forsythia to add a backdrop to my shrub border. I'm creating a mass of shrubs beside our driveway to serve as a buffer to street noise and to provide cover for the birds. Various shrubs have been placed in a mass with a hedge row of native Red Cedar behind. Along side is a wavy sprinkling of Forsythia.  Shrubs include, native Viburnum, Dogwood, Crabapple, Clerodendrum, Lilac, Coralberry, and Carycarpis.

Biggest clump, home to the Mockingbird.

I try to incorporate fruiting natives into my landscape every chance I get. Forsythia is not native to the US, the the vast majority of varieties are native to Asia. It does not provide fruit for the birds but it does create a lot of excitement in the Spring. There is always a Mockingbird trying to defend its Forsythia hedge and plenty of wildlife such as a Fox, Frog, or Ratsnake finding cover.

Viburnum blossom

My personal favorite shrub is Viburnum. Currently, I have planted Hobble Bush, Maple-leaf, and Arrowwood varieties but am always looking to incorporate more. It's a wonderful plant providing color, fragrance, and food and cover for wildlife.

My one tip about Forsythia is to keep it natural and do not clip it into a rigid square box hedge. It will destroy the light sprinkling effect and kill the drama and "messy hair day" flow of this wild shrub. Give it lots of room to romp and it will be appreciated, otherwise it can be a nuisance as the ends "root tip" and wander.

A good ex of how to use Forsythia, on a slope in mass.

Yellow is starting to fade and is being replaced by pinks and reds! The pink Dogwood and Maples have been beautiful this year.

Get out and enjoy SPRING! There is so much to see.

-Rebecca 

USPS Mailing Tips

My packages awaiting pickup.

It's that magical time of year when often people show their worst side while standing in the dreaded Post Office line. In Charlottesville, you are guaranteed a long wait at any of the three main offices. Some of the best post offices to go to during the Holiday season are the small rural stations. My personal favorite is in Ivy. A teeny post office conveniently attached to a cute garden center out of a scene from Dr. Zhivago or It's a Wonderful Life.

If I had to go to the USPS 365 days a year.

After years of selling online, I have acquired many tips from my mail carrier. Last year I set the goal to sell one item each day and I actually exceeded this goal. Driving to the post office 365 days a year would not only be insane but time consuming! I would have shut my business down or gone postal if I had not changed my shipping habits. Standing in line is one of my least favorite things to do (inherited from my Grandmother English who was a notorious butt in liner). The only thing I miss about not going to the Cville Central Post Office is that I no longer run into Charlottesville's finest. On several trips, I wished I had taken my camera. I never figured out why the lady with the pink curlers was in the line to get a passport photo!

My vintage mailbox, an old door knob as the pull handle.

If you mail a lot of packages your first step is to upgrade to a bigger mailbox. I found our jumbo box at the Habitat Restore. When stuffing in the packages, arrange it so they all can be seen or attach a note with the package quantity (a substitute carrier missed one of my packages that was hiding in the back dark corner).

Debbie my exceptional mail carrier with my packages.

My mail carrier is what I will call a "full service carrier". I complained to her that I had to go to the post office and stand in line to get stamps. She looked at me and said, why did you do that, you know I have you covered! I never knew that stamps and other postal products can be ordered directly from your mail carrier! She handed me an orange envelop that can be filled out and placed my box along with a check. You can even request specific types of stamps, I think we often forget that behind the mailbox is a person that can make your life easier. In a pinch, you can also get a first class (.49 cent stamp), at the grocery store.

Gazing over Forsythia Hill instead of driving to the USPS.

Even with a big mailbox, often packages are too large to fit. After complaining AGAIN to my mail carrier about the long lines and wait, she told me to just pop the flag up and slip a piece of paper in my box saying there was a package at my door and she would drive up and get it. She always says, we want your business! Prearrange this process with your carrier, it's been working smoothly for 2 years for me on Forsythia Hill.

My organized shipping supply closet.

In four years of online selling, I have never purchased boxes, bubble wrap, wrapping paper, or peanuts. I have a strong commitment to reusing shipping materials. It not only saves money but it's environmentally responsible. Materials can be found on freecycle and from local businesses. My mother picks up boxes from a local optical shop in Roanoke and they are happy to unload them. My father has dementia and removing the labels is a way for him to participate in my business venture and he looks forward to it!

Sylvie my Shipping Manager oversees the action.

Because I recycle so many boxes, I asked my carrier what would happen if I mailed a package First Class but the box had a Priority Mail sticker left on it. She said the postal carrier would have to collect the extra postage on the other end! So if you are recycling boxes, make sure you remove all the old stickers!

My biggest dilemma was how to ship golf clubs. One day when browsing through the FREE USPS mailing boxes. I stumbled upon a FREE box that holds such a thing! EUREKA! Some items are what they classify as flat rate which means there is a set mailing price regardless of the package weight (if it fits it ships for that flat price), others are just priority boxes and you will be charged a varying priority rate based on the weight.

Don't be a chicken - just ask!

You can print mailing labels from your home in paypal. There are also online companies that you can buy insurance from, often cheaper than the postal rate and less of a hassle if you have to file a loss. Instead of buying expensive sticky labels, I print directly on a regular piece of paper and use shipping tape to completely cover and adhere it on to the package.

Don't be afraid to talk to your mail carrier. It can be a game changer and make your life so much easier!

-Rebecca