I can't imagine myself living in an apartment, even though most of my friends and acquaintances live in high-rise buildings and don't stock up on winter supplies at all. "Why bother when you can buy everything?" they say. But for us, winter preparation is apparently in our blood.
With the arrival of autumn, we begin cleaning the garden and vegetable patch, and at the same time, we gather herbs, leaves, fruits, and berries—everything that's healthy and delicious. For example, today the kids and I picked currant and raspberry leaves. We dry the best, healthiest specimens in the shade and store them in cloth bags. The main thing is to prevent mold from getting to them! Therefore, they must be stored in a dry place.
The leaves make such a fragrant tea! Simply brew them separately or make a mixed infusion. During cold and flu season, it will bring relief, help manage fever, and boost your immunity.
Currant
Raspberry bush
On the neighboring abandoned plot there is a huge hawthorn tree growing, this year the fruits were especially large.
But we didn't have time to collect it—someone was quicker than us. We had to make do with the scraps. They may be small, but they're no less high-quality.
Hawthorn berries
But the rosehip harvest is anything but spectacular. The bushes usually grow so large that they have to be pruned, and the ground is littered with fruit. Leap year has made its own adjustments.
Hawthorn
At least a little, enough for a couple of decoctions, but we still prepared some fruits.
And soon our beautiful viburnum will ripen.
Viburnum bush
Its red clusters are usually cut after the first frost to allow them to develop color and vigor. A few clusters are left for birds. If the winter is mild, the viburnum can hang until spring, but in severe weather, birds quickly devour the berries.
Viburnum clusters
A decoction of cherry twigs is a delicious source of vitamins and minerals. They can be chopped and dried, but it's best to brew them fresh, straight from the tree. That's why we have several cherry trees growing on our property.
Add honey and homemade dried fruit to these supplies, and you won't need any pills! Why store-bought juices and candy when you can stock up on natural sweets and foods? Colds will be far away.
You know, I completely agree with you – how can you buy canned goods from the store when it's better to make them yourself? I haven't always lived in the village – only for the last couple of years. Before that, I lived in the city, but I always made my own preserves and tried to buy vegetables and fruits from the street, not from the store. That is, from grandmothers who grow everything themselves.
Now I also try to prepare all the useful things - berries, leaves, medicinal herbs)))) So, respect to you!