Spruce Tips Uses and Benefits

[@MichelleHotchkissArt]

Please be sure not to improperly or overharvest the tips. The rule here in Alaska is to always leave the most end tip on the tree, they tend to grow in sets of 3, pick the outer 2 and leave the middle otherwise over harvesting can weaken the tree’s growth. Another way to make the syrup is to place alternating layers of brown sugar and the tips inside a jar, set it in a sunny window and let the moisture, flavor and goodness from the tips melt into the sugar. It takes a few weeks but that is also what makes it special. In my part of Alaska, spruce is the most common and is an important source of many, many life sustaining things.

[@DutchAlaskagirl]

Hi I’m in Alaska as well. Right now the tips are everywhere! I thought I remembered that they can be used for different things. Then I found this video of Heidi’s💕 But I have a question: at the beginning of the video she shows a photo of the tips that look just like they do here. But in all the uses the photos are of the more bushy ones

[@malapoyo]

Heidi, you just saved generations of spruce trees. I always pluck them out of the ground when I see them cause I HATE getting poked by them! They're by far the most unpleasant trees to be around because of that. But if they make tasty things like you've shown, I'm reconsidering. 🤔

[@JohnWright-fy3hq]

We live in Alaska and use spruce tips for tea and syrup. The syrup taste like a sweet christmas tree. We love it. Blessing to you Heidi. Thank you for all your work in making these videos.

[@tinadedeaux788]

I remember being sick as a child and my Italian grandmother made it for me.I saw her boiling it on the sto e and it always stuck with me.Thanks for sharing.

[@frugalwendy]

Thanks for sharing all your spruce tip ideas. I finally remembered to collect spruce tips this year; I did tincture and tea, plus I have two gallon bags in the freezer so we can put spruce tips in our smoothies 🌲

[@ssstults999]

I love watching Hummingbird feed on the spruce tips, but I'm going to make this right now. Thanks as always, Heidi 💙 Ok I made the syrup plus I had some spruce tip tea with dehydrated apple while I cooked. The tea was pleasant. The syrup turned out great. I was surprised by the flavor of the cooked tips... lemony with a hint of vanilla. I'm thinking of using them in place of capers next time I make lemon chicken. I LOVE this!

[@TraciesLocalLearnings]

Thank you, the subscribe button finally worked ❤🙏

[@itatane]

The inveterate punster in me approves of the title of the video. Around here, White pine is a useful source of vitamin c in winter when cold and flu season is raging. The one conifer species I wish we had around here is true Balsam Fir. P. S. Certain pine species should be avoided due to toxicity : Lodgepole Pine, Monterey Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Norfolk Pine (Australian Pine), Loblolly Pine.

[@butch843]

Years ago was experiencing anxiety this energy healer prescribed blue spruce essential oil. Seemed to work.

[@Anakin_X]

I bet spruce tip syrup ice cream would taste really good.

[@justinwinn544]

Thank you for your videos!! Im learning so much 😊 I live in Jasper TN

[@Gracetarver]

Wow I never knew my pine needles were good for anything other than chicken boxes!! Great video!

[@marilynwalsh7957]

Never thought of that. Thanks

[@6140970]

Hi Grace, how do you use the pine needles in your chicken house, what is the benefits please?

[@Gracetarver]

@@6140970 i have several large pines near my chicken houses, when the pine needles fall off and dry up I use them like straw to place in chicken boxes for hens to lay on. Cheap version of straw.

[@sanchezjoshua4885]

Spruce is a beautiful thing to smell. I love the candles!

[@xzkt]

I learn so much from you Heidi. Thanks! Phil

[@terristalter]

Oh I am definitely trying this! Have lots of pine trees here in the Northeast...thanks so much 😊

[@kskorner74]

the place where i live, a neighbor had a huge spruce cut down, i went over and harvested tips, they are larger, but still so soft and bright green

[@Maddy_might]

As an aside, I had my first soda explosion. I was gone all day. I had just refreshed my starter right before filling my soda jar. I will remember to check my soda before I leave for the day, lol.

[@darleneschreiber9415]

A-HA!!! Found it! 😆 Will watch again! Thanks, Heidi! I remember hubby picking some from our bushes....he liked eating them! I thought they tasted AWFUL! LOL Guess it's an acquired taste.

[@trishthehomesteader9873]

Thank you Heidi! 🙂 I love how innovative you are and your research is always spot on and very appreciated!🤗 I often come away from your videos saying to myself, 'who'd a thunk ...'🤔😉 Love and blessings! 💜

[@fionabologna1768]

Heidi and these vids are great!

[@rough-hewnhomestead5737]

I love spruce tips! We have various pines here, but only spruce on our homestead, so that's what I use. I tincture some, and I freeze some for both teas and for making pine tip cookies at Christmastime. Yum! Very nice with wassail or another hot citrus drink. When we had the Virus, spruce tincture was one of the tinctures we used to weather it. Great video~~thanks!

[@kskorner74]

a huge spruce tree was cut down across from me, so i spent about an hour and i have 6 qts of spruce tip tincture going with the larger ones, and a gallon bag in the freezer, because i ran out of vodka :)

[@venidamcdaniel1913]

Thank you

[@zaizen4359]

Just picked my first bunch!!! They have a very bright flavor, followed by a somewhat bitter taste (probably a little late in the season) but there’s this subtle delicious sweet nuance too. Thanks for sharing these tips!

[@bugil1216]

I'm trying the homemade soda recipe. Due to lack of fresh tips though I'm adding it to crushed pineapple

[@beltoftruth56]

This awesome won't be afraid of them anymore

[@lynettetucker544]

🌞Good Morning Heidi this is my first time hearing about spruce tips sounds very interesting and a lot of good things to make with it thanks again Heidi for sharing this information with us.

[@rebeccaharp3254]

I love the Rooster!

[@amberh4109]

I knew you could use pine, but I had no idea you could eat spruce! Thank you! :)

[@woodsie5796]

A lot of white pine where I live. I guess I'm gonna have to go for a ride, because spruce grows in Maine, just not my part of Maine. Gotta spend some gas money. I also hear pine pollen is excellent too so I gotta be prepared next year. Great video! Blessings 🥰

[@rosehavenfarm2969]

I made a note on my calendar for next year!

[@nora-_-]

Wished I knew about this earlier in the spring, got many here around me

[@TheSunRiseKid]

Another great video! Boy I have a lot of catching up to do! Well I found out that I need to get a total knee replacement! Took the doctor‘s long enough to figure that out!!! I have to wait all the way till November and I can barely walk. I got fitted for my brace yesterday. I’ll be catching up on some of your videos doing chores today, or trying to! Ha!🤦‍♀️😹 hope you and Mr. Rain are doing well! God bless🙏🥰

[@junecan6051]

Great video. I’m psyched!

[@annadiaconu868]

Thank you for sharing all resources and products . Very insightful and informative Great work !!! Keep going producing amazing creative things ❤️🙏

[@joycewedel9084]

Sooooo interesting! Ty! I bet pickled tips would be yummy.

[@annadreamsart9756]

wow, that's very inspiring! I had only seen them used for syrup. My tree has a lot atm. Good to know I can freeze them to use in muffins or bread later since we don't use much syrup. Thank you.

[@Lulu-he9dp]

We don't have spruce trees, but I find your videos so interesting and varied. There is so much to learn about natural remedies and all the uses of plants and herbs! Thankfully we can look back on your videos. It is so generous of you to share so much knowledge!! I am enjoying your skin cream very much. Do you use your fingertips to get out of tin or scoop it out with something? It smells heavenly! Thank you!!!

[@victoriajohnson3034]

Thank you for this video. I've been looking and there's not much on spruce and fir tips. We have tons and would love to use them!

[@seedsinsixtyseconds]

Thank you for covering the uses of spruce! Please consider doing one on birch, aspen/popular, pine, and maples. Inner bark and other edible parts.

[@RainCountryHomestead]

None of those trees are native to our area but as noted in the video, pine and fir can be used the same way as I talked about with the spruce.

[@justjenn9011]

We dont have alot of spruce, unless you choose to grow it yourself on your property, but we have a ton of pine here in south eastern ohio, i will have to try this with the pine if it works with it as well. Very helpful! Great info! Thank you!

[@blessedbloominghomestead9134]

We don't have spruce or fir in our area (as far as I know), but we do have pine. I'll have to look more into these because I am definitely intrigued. Thanks Heidi! Many Blessings!

[@maria_w311]

Hi Heidi 👋

[@alphastarcar]

I can’t wait to try this! I had no idea that it has so many possibilities. I’ll be researching and experimenting with this suggestion. Are you familiar with juniper berries and if so are they similar in taste? Thanks for another great and informative video!

[@RainCountryHomestead]

Our juniper does not get berries so I have yet to try them, I know they have benefits and are also used in making gin

[@alphastarcar]

@@RainCountryHomestead ❤️

[@ms.docileone]

i ate spruce tips often while in Alaska, one of the few trees that were plentiful there. had not tried it in syrup, will try next year with rhubarb - my favorite syrup, me thinks it will taste awesome! thanks for the ideas even though i'm not around much spruce now, will look for some!

[@chrismaryb.7409]

Thank you Heidi:)

[@MichaelR58]

Good informational video , thanks for sharing , God bless !

[@ceciliafuentes3299]

I will try it. Thank you for sharing.

[@ediemurray1692]

Ty

[@mhpjii]

_This_ is what a real woman, wife, and mother is supposed to be. צוֹפִיָּה הֲלִיכוֹת בֵּיתָהּ וְלֶחֶם עַצְלוּת לֹא תֹאכֵֽל׃ She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. (Proverbs 31:27)

[@RainCountryHomestead]

I truly appreciate this as it is exactly what I strive to be to please my Lord and my husband

[@yesican2012]

Some tips from Nancy Lieder in the event gardens fail. "While the refugees from the New Madrid adjustment settle in, will they get their vitamins? The Vitamin bottle will likely get lost in the chaos and fresh fruits in short supply. No need to wait until bleeding gums and spinal bifida appear. Vitamins and essential minerals are found in nature in weeds and bugs. Just go shopping as the price is right! A lack of Vitamin C will cause Scurvy - painful and deadly. Eating salt pork and biscuits, the early explorers were devastated by Scurvy. Vasco de Gama lost 116 out of 170 men in 1499, and in 1520, Magellan lost 208 out of 230. Little known is that Cabbage and Kale and Potatoes have more Vitamin C than Orange Juice, as do weeds such as Sheep Sorrel, Scurvy Grass, and Dandelion. The Eskimo get their Vitamin C from eating seal skin, meat, and liver - raw. Heat kills Vitamin C. The abundance of B vitamins in bugs is significantly higher than in beef or whole grain breads. Pellagra is a deficiency in B3, causing diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia and finally death. Earthworms are high in B3, as is fish oil. Earthworms have omega-3 as their essential oil and are 82% protein. A folic acid (B9) deficiency can be very serious, especially in a pregnant woman. B9 is involved in the development of the fetal brain and spinal cord. Birth defects such as spina bifida can result. Folate has the same root as the word foliage, and folic acid is found liberally in greens such as spinach and turnip greens. If you don’t have a garden, for heaven’s sake don’t overlook the weeds! Folate is found in all leafy greens. Wild greens, such as dandelion, lamb’s quarter, amaranth, and stinging nettle are especially rich in folate. Vitamin A deficiency is most notable for its effect on the eyes. According to the World Health Organization, a lack of vitamin A is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children - conjunctivitis, eye infections, and a damaged cornea young in life. It also expresses as hyperkeratosis, excessive skin growth. Unlike Vitamin C and the B Vitamins, which the body flushes if in excess of what one needs, one can get too much Vitamin A from liver or vitamin pills. Many weeds, such as Plantain, are rich in Vitamin A, and once again bugs come to the rescue, being likewise high in Vitamin A." - Nancy Lieder - newsletter July 17, 2022

[@tinam5330]

I have a blue spruce will that work? About a week ago I tried to find information. Thank God you tell so much information. Thank You.

[@RainCountryHomestead]

Yes, any variety of spruce

[@s.elizabeth1753]

I wonder if it kills parasites

[@deborahstrickland9845]

🌲💚

[@andrewheynig2721]

Making ginger fermented soda can you just start adding ginger to a fermented starter like raisins instead of making ginger bug

[@RainCountryHomestead]

Yes but you do not want to use up all of your starter in that way so you add SOME of the starter to water, sugar, ginger and whatever other herbs or fruits you want to use to make a soda: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnnTe4uhhLOhf9k

[@s.elizabeth1753]

What kind of soda? Like Perrier?

[@andrewheynig2721]

Are these the Stages fermented soda, alcohol and then vinegar if exposed to oxygen.

[@RainCountryHomestead]

That would be correct

[@Barosunflower]

How do you make the soda? Thanks again for all you do.

[@RainCountryHomestead]

Please refer to the link in the description box that I had mentioned in the video

[@sharonmcgillivray2119]

Can one harvest the pine needles any time of the year?

[@RainCountryHomestead]

You can harvest spruce needles anytime for making tea but the young tips are tender enough to use as a vegetable. I would assume pine would be the same

[@opalezell2166]

Does it taste like pine tree?

[@vickipeterson8679]

Can you use Blue Spruce? So interesting.

[@RainCountryHomestead]

Yes, any spruce

[@vickipeterson8679]

@@RainCountryHomestead Thanks so much!

[@opalezell2166]

Do you sale any.

[@dalegaa4094]

Now I need to find a spruce tree.

[@31myomma]

Hi Friend, Is there anything I can do with mature spruce tips?

[@RainCountryHomestead]

Tea and vinegar are the two main things that come to mind. You could also make a natural soda but the flavor will be different

[@doris5625]

What would happen if you just poured some raw honey over them

[@RainCountryHomestead]

I guess it depends one what outcome you are looking for. To answer the question simply, you would have spruce tips with raw honey on them. If you let them sit and ferment for a time, you would have a spruce tip infused honey and could eat the spruce tips like you would garlic from honey infused garlic

[@victoriajohnson3034]

How could i store these without fridge/freezer?

[@RainCountryHomestead]

I am not sure if dehydrating them is the best option as they may lose flavor but it is one way

[@corteltube]

Does it matter which spruce…we have a large blue spruce.

[@RainCountryHomestead]

No, it should not matter

[@audreychamberlain]

My spruce tips are longer. Can i still use them?

[@RainCountryHomestead]

At least for syrup and tea you can

[@audreychamberlain]

@@RainCountryHomestead thanks

[@mandyg888]

Don't have spruce here around me so tried Cypress vinegar.... 🤢. Didn't turn out right. It made a horrible smell... 🤷🏻‍♀️