Before the snow: Rose hips

These rose hips live along the ditch between the RV park and the highway...Probably rich in pesticide and led residue as well, but good to know what they look like just in case.

Rose hips

Dec 13th, finally we are about to get some snow, maybe…

I thought I would take the opportunity to stroll in the dry grass by one of the irrigation ditches before it gets slick as snot. Fortunately there are plenty of rose bushes to soften the fall. It's hard to believe, but even around this time of year nature's bounty still provides us with a fresh and perfect source of vitamin C.

It is said to best gather the rose hips (see picture) after the first snowfall or as late fall as possible. For a nutritional break down:

100 grams contain 5 mg. of Vitamin A, 47 mg. of Vitamin E, 100 U of Vitamin D, 500-600 mg. of Vitamin C, 10 mg. of Vitamin B1 .007 mg. of Vitamin B2 and 240-680 U of Vitamin D.

Growing up in Switzerland, we used to drink a lot of rose hip tea (and at carnival or on ski excursions, when you're of legal drinking age at 16, you get to have a shot of plum schnapps in a tall glass of rose hip tea; mind you, to get your driver's license as early as 18 for approximately $ 2000-3000 worth of lessons, you still don't own a car yet) I realize that this model does not apply here, and although picking the hairy seed pockets to make a little itch powder for you sibling's clothes is a fine art and useful occupation for children of all ages, there is a legal, easier and also very palatable way to prepare the rose hips to for the purpose of enjoying its nutritional contents.

From LeArta Moulton, Nature's Medicine Chest

Gather rose hips, be sure to chill. Remove blossom end, stem and leaves. Wash quickly. For each cup of rose hips, bring to boil 11/2 cups water. Add rose hips, cover utensil (do not use copper or aluminum). Simmer 15 minutes. Let stand 24 hours. Strain off extract. Bring to rolling boil; add 2 tablespoons lemon juice for each pint. Pour into jars and seal. Two teaspoons of this extract should supply adult's daily need for Vitamin C. Refrigerate after opening.