Permaculture Tips

You may be lucky enough to have a European elderberry (also called elderflower) plant in your garden or growing nearby, known botanically as . About this time of year, although it can vary according to where you are located, you may see the small berries ripening to dark purple. If so, get out there and harvest, as birds love them and may get there before you do – depriving you of the valuable berries but also most likely spreading them into surrounding areas where they can become weedy. If you grow them, it's best to protect the fruit clusters with mesh bags once they have set,