In three hours to the herbal fairy
On an autumnal Saturday morning, which turned out to be much sunnier and more beautiful than the weather forecast had promised, my path led me to Berlin area. During registration for the guided herb hike Under the direction of Denise Siebert, we were given a precise description of our meeting point. There was also a detailed flyer with lots of information about what we could expect during the three-hour “slow trip”. Full of anticipation, I drove together with my girlfriend to the “Mühle Lemke” in HennickendorfWe were able to park our car near this impressive building, which houses a large farm shop with many regional products for humans and animals, and take a look inside shortly before starting the hike.
time of fruits and seeds
Little by little, around ten more people arrived at the meeting point and Denise Siebert greeted us and introduced herself as a certified herbalist and natural farmer. As the sun was shining on us, but our hands were still a little cold, we were delighted when Denise conjured up a homemade, warm juice made from sea buckthorn and apple as well as numerous wild herbs such as ground elder and ground ivy from her basket. While we were enjoying the drink, we were introduced to the following autumn hike which will bring us closer to the treasures of the now colorful nature. While in spring and summer you concentrate on collecting leaves or bark, autumn is the time for fruits and seeds, explained Denise. The strength and health now retreats from the leaves back into the roots and wild fruits such as rose hips, elderberries, hawthorn or sloe ripen. Then it became poetic, because our first "object of demonstration" was the yarrow, whose delicate leaves are also known as the "eyebrow of Venus" and are considered a real miracle weapon for cramping women's problems in the abdomen. But since this plant actually belongs more in the summer and could only be found with a bit of luck, we then devoted ourselves to the classic autumn fruits and took on the rose hip. Dried and shredded, the powder can be stirred into yoghurt or smoothies. But you can also cover your daily requirement of vitamin C on the spot by simply squeezing the pulp of five soft rose hips.
Wild tasting with lake view
After these first interesting insights, we should get moving and headed towards the 66-Lakes hiking trail However, we didn't get very far, because Denise kept discovering plants and wild herbs along the way, about which she could tell us exciting things and information about Use in the kitchen or medicine cabinet We got to know mullein, goldenrod, spruce cones, ivy and Douglas fir, until we took a short break at a beautiful and idyllic bench on the banks of the Stienitzsee. To get to know the “wild taste”, which might take some getting used to, Denise had a small Snack prepared, which I and everyone else enjoyed very much.
Application example with the herbalist and natural farmer
As a small souvenir of our hike together, we then made a so-called “oxymel“: a mixture of honey and apple cider vinegar, to which we then added chopped rose hips. Filled into a screw-top jar, it stands on my windowsill in the kitchen, is shaken daily and reminds me of the inspiring hike. After three weeks, I can then treat myself to a sip of the healing drink every morning and thus strengthen my immune system. It was also important to Denise to emphasize that with her herbal medicine never wants to compete with conventional medicine and that everything has its right to exist. For my part, I was fascinated by the great variety of wild and medicinal herbs we in the Oder-Spree Lake District and I think it's a shame that this knowledge seems to be getting lost more and more and is rarely used or at least taken into account in doctors' offices. In times when the topic of sustainability is increasingly in focus, I think we should make greater use of the green resources on our doorsteps.
Conclusion
For me, the Journey into the exciting world of wild herbs in any case very enriching. Denise Siebert is involved with heart and passion, conveys her diverse knowledge in an interesting way and is really infectious with her enthusiasm for the regional wild and medicinal herbs. Of course, not everything that I learned and absorbed on the hike can be applied in everyday life. But it was also important to Denise to give us quick and easy-to-follow recipes. The rose hips have already been collected, are in the drying phase and will soon be enjoyed as powder and tea.
The herbal walk with Denise is a perfect all-round package, which I Time to slow down in the fresh air and at the same time gave me new knowledge and an expanded understanding of an area that was previously unfamiliar to me. I am grateful for this and am already planning another herb walk in the spring.