FORAGING: Harvesting Spruce Tips

Learn how to identify, harvest and use spruce tips!
The new spring growth on spruce trees can be enjoyed in the kitchen, brewery and apothecary. Ben shows us just how easy it can be to enjoy this beneficial herb all year long!
Learn more about Small House Farm and browse a selection of wildcrafted, small batch, herbal wellness products at:
www.smallhousefarm.com
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[@traveler320ak7]

Thank you!

[@SmallHouseFarm]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@amyremington381]

How have I never learned this before!? Thank you Ben! Can't wait to harvest some spruce tips!!!

[@SmallHouseFarm]

Wonderful! Happy Foraging!

[@TwoFamilyHomestead]

Never heard of this but I think I'm going to go out and check out our trees !!

[@SmallHouseFarm]

I hope you find some spruce to enjoy! :)

[@kathryngilbery696]

Great video! I was wondering, literally this morning about spruce identification and you answered all my questions

[@SmallHouseFarm]

That's awesome! I'm glad the video was useful Kathryn :) Enjoy those spruce tips!!

[@mixturebeatz]

Great video! What area and what time of year are you foraging these in?

[@SmallHouseFarm]

Thanks! We're in Central Michigan and we harvest spruce tips in the early spring!

[@RhiSoundsLikeRye]

I just want to know what to look for when harvesting. Are any of them that are bright green and tender good? Or do they need to be just coming out with the needles still tight together? Should I soak them in water before use to clean them?

[@SmallHouseFarm]

Yes, the brightly green colored, tender new growth is what you're looking for! I like to gather them when they're tight little buds, but they're still just as tasty once they've started to open up too! You can soak them in water or rinse them off if you'd like, but I typically don't.. you can leave them on a screen for a while to let any crawly insect friends have time to escape tho! :)

[@RhiSoundsLikeRye]

@@SmallHouseFarm thank you sooooooo much!! It's still basically spring in Alaska so I still have time to get some, as well as some black spruce young pine cones for mugolio! 😁

[@SmallHouseFarm]

@@RhiSoundsLikeRye awesome!!! pine cone syrup!?! I haven't had it but it sounds amazing!!

[@maximusprime7799]

Is it safe to forage spruce tips from spruce trees found in like developments; like ones you can tell were planted there that have mulch around them? I'm mostly worried about pesticides/etc. Can I just soak or wash them?

[@SmallHouseFarm]

This is a great question! I did some looking and it seems that Carbaryl is the most common pesticide used on spruce.. which can effectively be washed off of the spruce tips using simply water or by soaking them in a baking soda water solution.