Wild Squirrel Acres

  When the fragrant lilacs are in bloom, do you ever want to bottle up that aroma? Try this simple lilac syrup for a unique and fresh way to sweeten up your day. You can also freeze this syrup to use later, so you can enjoy fresh lilacs year-round.     Ingredients: 2 cups lilac florets 1 cup sugar 1 cup water 3 blueberries (for color) 1 lemon wedge or 1 tsp bottled lemon juice     Instructions: 1. Add sugar and water to small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring frequently, until sugar is dissolved. 2. R emove from heat. Add blueberries and squeeze lemon juice into the syrup. 3. Pour mixture over the lilac florets. 4. Cool in fridge several hours. 5. S train out the florets and blueberries. 6. S tore in a glass jar in the fridge.   To make a simple springtime “soda,”, simply add 3 tablespoons (more or less to taste) to about 8 oz of sparkling or mineral water. Alternatively, add some vodka and make it a happy hour!   This recipe was based on a beautiful video

Big box stores sell a small jar of synthetic rooting hormone for only a few dollars, but many people want to avoid exposing themselves to this. A DIY alternative is willow water. Have you ever tried to cut down a willow tree, only to find a few months later that it is sprouting everywhere? This tree just wants to grow and roots so easily. You can take advantage of this natural tendency for rooting by making willow water. The magic behind this phenomenon is in 2 compounds that are found in willow trees: salicylic acid (the stuff in aspirin that helps with resistance to pathogens) and IBA (indolebutyric acid, which stimulates root growth).  First, find a willow tree...any variety of willow will work here. Willows love water, so check by ponds, rivers, and streams. The best time to collect would be early spring or summer. If you're collecting in the summer, you'll need to remove the leaves. Focus on getting the new growth - the ends of the branches that are thin and pliable.  Next

My daughter learned to identify stinging nettle when she was only 2 years old. We were out for a walk in the woods, when she started screaming, staring at her hand in confusion. She had grabbed a stinging nettle plant. 😥 After the sting died down via lots of mommy kisses, we looked carefully (with our eyes only!) at the plants around us, learning how to identify the pointy mint-like leaves and the prickly hairs on the stems of stinging nettle.  "Is this one stinging nettle?" I asked, pointing at some garlic mustard.  "No!"  "Is this one stinging nettle?" I asked, pointing at some nettle. "Yes...owie!" Nettle is best eaten in the spring, when the leaves are young and tender. I wear thick gloves and use scissors to harvest, dropping them into a plastic shopping bag. I wear long pants or boots to prevent my legs from brushing inadvertently against the plant. You can collect nettles at any time during the growing season for tea.  Nettles are typical

These dandelion poppers are a great appetizer. When battered and baked in the oven, they are crispy on the outside and tender and oh-so-fresh on the inside.  When harvesting dandelion flowers, make sure you have chosen a site that has not been treated/chemically sprayed.  Harvest dandelion flowers during full sun, otherwise flowers tend to close up. Leave some flowers for the pollinators! Honey bees love these. You can just pick the flowers, if you are only making dandelion poppers. Or, pick the entire stem from the base of the plant and eat the stems. Or, bring a shovel and dig up the entire plant...the entire plant is edible! My favorite recipes, from the top of the plant to the bottom, include: Dandelion poppers (flowers) Dandelion "noodles" (stem) Wild harvested salad with mustard vinaigrette (leaves) Roasted dandelion root tea (roots) Ingredients: Dandelion flowers Egg Milk Bread crumbs (half Panko, half regular) Salt & pepper Instructions: 1. Heat oven to 350 degree

Got a tear in the knee of your pants? Skip the sewing and just glue on a patch with fabric glue!  I have definitely sewn the tear in the past, but I find that the fabric tears again just above or below where it is sewn! I've also sewn on patches, but working in the narrow leg of toddler's pants gets a little tricky.  I found this glue called Tear Mender on Amazon a few years ago and decided to give it a try: Since using this method, I don't even bother sewing anymore. The glue is very simple and very strong. It dries in about 3 minutes and doesn't have a strong odor. The patches have withstood countless washings. First, cut out a patch that is a similar color to your pants. Make sure the patch is larger than the torn area, and round the edges. Then, turn the pants inside out and place a old rag inside the leg of the pants. If you don't, you risk gluing the pant leg to itself! Trust me....😉 Next, apply glue to the patch and a little to the inside of the pants. Make

This simple, healthy vinaigrette is delicious on almost any type of salad! It's great to make up a big batch in a shaker cup or quart-sized mason jar so you always have a quick, healthy solution and don't reach for that store-bought dressing with hydrogenated oils and corn syrup.  I like to mix store-bought greens with foraged greens, like chickweed, dandelion greens, garlic mustard, etc, for extra nutrition and a taste that you can't buy at the store. I find that when I chop them into small pieces, the kids are more apt to eat it....have you ever  noticed this? The extra virgin olive oil delivers heart-healthy fats, while the honey provides antioxidants, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins.  I've tried both yellow and dijon mustards, and definitely prefer the yellow mustard, but feel free to substitute as you like! The vinegar is also versatile, and is delicious with balsamic, white balsamic, and apple cider vinegar. Don't skip the garlic, and don't skimp on th