Blurry view of a field through a rain soaked screen

The first harvest of 2023

Leo Edmiston-Cyr

I am super happy that I somehow took the herb dryer from idea to a real, working prototype in just a few days.  It needs some refinement to really dry plants to completion for packaging.  However, it is complete enough for a test.  It was time to go spend some time with my favorite part of herbalism -- the plants and the outdoors.  Yup, that red clover and american plantain are still ready to be harvested.

I should add that in our part of central Maine this June we have been plagued with almost constant rain.  We have been lucky to have water (not a drought) and not have too much flooding.  However, it really puts a dent in outside activities.  And what else???  Ohh, DRYING herbs!  However, there was a few day break in the rain in the middle of June that was sunny and dry -- perfect to get some experience harvesting and drying!

So I went out into this glorious space

lots of red clover in the field

And Collected some clover

Red clover flower top in a pan

And some more

Lots of red clover in a pan and more to pick with an elderberry in the background

Here's the plantain

A bunch of american plantain growing in a compacted area

And some more

American plantain leaves in a pan

Here is how all those flowers and leaves look on their shelves to dry

Red clover tops and american plantain leaves in the newly constructed herb dryer

And when they were MOSTLY dry (I need to add and enclosure, dehumidifier, and heat source to achieve a truly dry result for sharing with others.  Maybe I've got something up my sleeve there?  Stay tuned!)

Clover and plantain; mostly finished drying for testing purposes presented in pans.

 

 

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