Is this POISONOUS or Edible? | American Beautyberry (Callicarpa Americana) | Home Apothecary

#hiddenoakshomestead #homesteading
One of the things I enjoy most is going out into the forest and forage. I ran into a bright colored berry which screamed POISON to me. This is a rule of thumb I grew up with: If it is very pretty or colorful it's likely poisonous. I found out quickly, it was indeed an edible fruit, the American Beautyberry or Callicarpa Americana. I have been harvesting every year to make syrup and jelly, which my children absolutely love!
We're a small family farm in the Florida Panhandle. After relocating back home from the Middle East we wanted to build up the most self- sufficient lifestyle possible with our kids, in order to grow as much of our own food as possible. Through raising livestock, tending to a garden, preserving food through canning and fermenting, learning about local fauna for medicinals and wild edibles, we are hoping to encourage others to do as much as possible for themselves through re-learning some of the forgotten "old" skills.
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[@HiddenOaksHomestead]

Did you know this about pine needles?
ruclips.net/video/3X_XnpTsYKQ/видео.html

[@jeanburgin160]

Awesomely beautiful morning!!! Thanks for sharing and teaching more about foraging in the woods.

[@HiddenOaksHomestead]

I just love it in the woods

[@shaneott7660]

Wow thank you, me and my wife bought our homestead in 2018 in lake city Florida. I’ve wondered what those berry’s were 😊

[@jamesblanton3744]

Hi almost neighbor I live in Mayo grew up in Branford

[@shaneott7660]

@@jamesblanton3744 looking for like minded people in homesteading

[@HiddenOaksHomestead]

Yes! They're amazing. Make great jelly and syrup. Leaves are fantastic to keep mosquito away

[@rafaelrivera9508]

Fantastic views... I appreciate you sharing the knowledge ... I will say I could talk to you for hours, ur eyes... 😆 information is priceless... Gracia

[@HiddenOaksHomestead]

Thanks for your continued support Rafael

[@carolmiland9665]

Good to see you. Have a great weekend

[@HiddenOaksHomestead]

Thanks for your support Carol

[@joanolson1442]

Wow what great property you have! Thank you for a great video!

[@HiddenOaksHomestead]

We love it

[@marilynfdavis891]

I’ve never seen or heard of the beauty berries here in Nebraska. Very interesting! 💜

[@HiddenOaksHomestead]

They're gorgeous and have been used to beautify landscaping and add color for many years. However, absolutely edible and rich in antioxidants

[@Carolynfoodforest355]

My favorite is beauty berry. So many good things about it.

[@HiddenOaksHomestead]

Agree! It is such a beautiful shrub too

[@dieterkaraluz1859]

What did you use as a thickening agent? Inspired by you I collected some beauty berries growing wild next to my vegetable garden (that I didn’t know I had until a week ago) and made the syrup, saved some and with the rest I made beauty-berry lemonade!

[@HiddenOaksHomestead]

I used corn starch to thicken it

[@jamesblanton3744]

I love the wild blackberries but it’s hard to beat the wild critters to them

[@HiddenOaksHomestead]

Early Morning is your best bet

[@Carolynfoodforest355]

I like to rub the leaves after I crush them on my body to keep the mosquitoes and ticks off of me.

[@HiddenOaksHomestead]

Yes! It's crazy how much of a difference it makes

[@piousminion7822]

What is your accent if you don't mind me asking?

[@HiddenOaksHomestead]

I'm from Germany

[@willyredmann4444]

If this is the type of stuff your going to be posting I'll be unsubscribing. I must not be alone. I see at this time there are 454 views compared to over 15,000 views of a video that I just watched that was posted after yours. I'm sure there are people who want to watch this type of stuff. Create a separate channel for them.

[@HiddenOaksHomestead]

Hi Willy, what would you like to see more of?