Embracing Autumn’s Bounty: From Forest to Table with Elderberries and Rose Hips
- bloomfieldbotanica
- Sep 14
- 4 min read
As the crisp autumn air settles in and the days grow shorter, there’s no better time to talk about nature’s most powerful allies for cold and flu season. I’ve been spending my days foraging elderberries and wild rose hips in the forest, discovering new recipes that celebrate these incredible gifts from nature.
The Magic of Foraging
The advantages of foraging go far beyond simply gathering ingredients. Being in nature has an enormous impact on our wellbeing – there’s something deeply grounding about connecting with the land, learning to identify wild foods, and understanding the seasonal rhythms that sustain us. Every foraging expedition is a meditation, a chance to slow down and appreciate the abundance that surrounds us.
From Organic Farms to Wild Spaces
While I treasure my wild finds, I also work with organic elderberries from a trusted local farm. This combination of foraged and cultivated ingredients allows me to create consistent, high-quality products while maintaining that wild, authentic flavor profile that makes each batch special.
Autumn’s Signature Creations
My enhanced elderberry tincture remains the most popular choice among customers – and for good reason. It’s potent, convenient, and perfect for keeping in your pocket for those first signs of seasonal sniffles. Following close behind is my spiced elderberry syrup, now made with raw wildflower honey from Stroud that adds layers of local terroir to every spoonful.
This season, I’m particularly excited about a new collaboration with Fussels Cold Pressed Virgin Oil Company. Together, we’ve created an elderberry vinaigrette using my organic elderberry fire cider. The result? A delicious dressing that’s still full of summer’s delight, bringing brightness to autumn salads and roasted vegetables.
But perhaps my favorite creation is the elderflower vinaigrette – a delicate, floral dressing that captures the essence of early summer meadows. It’s been such a success that I can hardly keep up with demand!
Health Benefits of Cold-Pressed Rapeseed Oil
Liver Health Benefits:
Yes, cold-pressed rapeseed oil can indeed be beneficial for liver health! Research suggests that consuming omega-3s may help decrease the amount of fat in your liver according to Healthline, and omega-3 supplementation reduced the risk of incident liver disease according to PubMed Central. The omega-3 fatty acids in rapeseed oil can increase fatty acid oxidation by mitochondria (PubMed Central), which supports healthy liver function.
Rich Nutritional Profile:
Rapeseed oil is well-known for its high content of unsaturated fatty acids, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids, which make it of great nutritional value by PubMed Central. Cold pressed rapeseed oil offers fantastic health benefits, including low saturated fat, omega 3 and omega 9, plant sterols and vitamin E (Hill Farm).
Antioxidant Properties:
High phenolic compounds, tocopherols, phytosterols, and carotenoids contents in the cold-pressed rapeseed oil offer health benefits like regulating blood lipid profile, insulin sensitivity, and glycemic control, as well as offer antioxidant and cytotoxic activity by PubMed.
Why Cold-Pressed Matters:
The cold-pressing process is crucial for preserving these beneficial compounds. Cold pressed rapeseed oil is the healthy choice by Yorkshire rapeseed oil because the gentle extraction method retains more of the oil’s natural nutrients compared to heat-processed alternatives.
Heart Health Benefits:
The omega fatty acids in rapeseed oil support cardiovascular health by helping to maintain healthy cholesterol levels and providing anti-inflammatory properties.
Perfect for Vinaigrettes:
Cold-pressed rapeseed oil’s mild, nutty flavor makes it an excellent choice for salad dressings like my elderberry vinaigrette, while delivering these impressive health benefits in a delicious, everyday format.
Gifts from the Heart
This year, I’m preparing special gift sets for friends and family: three beautiful bottles containing elderberry syrup, vinaigrette, and oxymel. These little collections represent months of foraging, fermenting, and careful crafting – each bottle a story of seasons and connection to the land.
Preparing for the Season Ahead
The autumn and winter months are always full of preparations for markets and fairs. It means organizing myself so that products are ready when people need them most. After spending two wonderful weeks in Greece and returning to the dark, wet reality of a UK autumn, I’m reminded how much we all need that warming comfort of spiced elderberry syrup – especially our children heading back to school.
There’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of porridge drizzled with elderberry syrup to keep little ones satisfied until lunch break. And for adults? The tinctures are invaluable to have on hand, ready for use at the first hint of seasonal symptoms.
Where to Find My Products
Order Online for Convenience
Can’t make it to the markets or local shops? No problem! All my elderberry products are available for online ordering through my website. It’s the perfect way to:
• Stock up on your seasonal wellness essentials
• Send thoughtful, health-focused gifts to family and friends
• Access the full range of products from anywhere in the UK
• Never run out of your favorite tinctures and syrups during cold season
Local Stockists
I’m incredibly proud to be a supplier to Harvest in Bath and Cafe Garden in Frome – two establishments that truly understand the value of locally-made, seasonal products. You’ll find my full range there, carefully curated and lovingly displayed.
Meet Me at the Markets
Of course, nothing beats the personal touch! The best way to experience these products is to meet me at the markets. There’s something special about sharing the stories behind each bottle, discussing the foraging adventures that made them possible, and connecting with fellow lovers of natural remedies.
See You at the Market
As we settle into this season of preparation and preservation, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share these gifts from nature with my community. Each bottle represents not just ingredients and recipes, but a philosophy of living in harmony with the seasons, supporting local ecosystems, and nurturing our bodies with the foods that grow right here in our landscape.
See you at the market – I’ll be the one with elderberry-stained fingers and stories of morning foraging adventures to share!
Order online through my website for convenient delivery across the UK, visit Harvest in Bath and Cafe Garden in Frome, or catch me at local markets throughout the autumn and winter season.
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