A Resplendent Red Clover Harvest

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With the abundance of precipitation that we have had this year, all of the vegetation around the farm is just beyond resplendent, and one cultivar in particular is truly have a showcase of a bloom, the red clover.

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Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) grows all over our farm. I have fond memories of running around the Cascade foothills between Mt Rainer, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens where I spent the first decade of my life as a child, plucking red clover flowers and sucking the nectar out of each petal as I ran through the woods.

I know some view it as a weed, but how can you not adore a legume that fixes nitrogen into the soil and has the most glorious colored flowers? I mean every animal on the place loves red clover, the cows demolish it, the cats and dogs love to roll on the plant for some reason, and the bees are all abuzz over the plant.

Not to mention there is some interesting research going on regarding the plant. It's full of isoflavones, a compound that mimics estrogen in mammals, a phytoestrogen. Some cultures eat tons of phytoestrogens and are known for living healthy, long lives, so I am excited to see what the research on red clover will yield in the coming years.

Now, here's my thoughts on scientific research, especially regarding herbs/organic compounds. I love reading studies and their results, but I also know that it's important to keep in mind the controls of that study, who financed it, the context of the findings in regard to the overall scope of what is being asserted, etc. Just because something is observed means just that, it was observed and should be studied more, not that it is definitive in absolutely every applicable case.


But I digress.


Anyway, there's loads of research about red clover being perhaps useful for menopausal women due to its phytoestrogenic effects, that it may be good for skin and hair health, that it may battle cancer, that it is a cleanser of mucus, the list goes on. As with all things one takes in, it's up to us as individuals to do the research on what we ingest. Me, I just like red clover tea, but I also don't overdo it, because even though I believe in the healing power of plants, I also adhere to the glorious principle of moderation in all things.

That said, here's some links about red clover and it's potential benefits, possible side effects, etc:

American Botanical Council
Healthline
Mount Sinai


Now, back to the harvest!


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I got out my colander and a pair of scissors and went meandering around the farm. We don't use any pesticides or herbicides round here, so other than where the cars are parked, any red clover I came across was fair game.

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I snipped the flowers right below the flower head and first leaf cluster and happily chucked them into my colander. Whenever I harvest flowers and herbs for drying, I tend to do it first thing in the morning, when there is still a bit of dew. I also don't massacre the plant, bees and pollinators gotta eat too!

It used to drive me bananas when I was a kid and people would come up in the mountains where we lived to harvest mushrooms, bear grass, and huckleberries and they would basically just strip mine the forest. Um, no. I always leave at least half of the plant's bounty, it's called being polite dangit!

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Anyway, after I clipped a respectable amount of clover flowers, I brought them in and spread them out in the trays of my super inexpensive dehydrator I picked up from Cabelas on sale quite a few years ago. Old Trusty works so well to dry herbs on. I usually just do small batches on it, and I skip every other tray, only using the top two or so.

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After plugging in the beast, I set my timer on my phone for four hours and went out to weedeat and mow for a spell. A lot of time I just dry herbs on screens in a shady area, but thanks to the strange, rainy, cold spring, EVERYTHING is ripening and blooming all at once, so I have to speed some stuff up a bit.

In four hours time, the clover flowers dried perfectly. You don't want any moisture lurking, lest you will experience the dreaded M word...MOLD!

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A lot of the time I store my dried herbs in paper lunch sacks or canning jars, whatever I grab really. I truly admire all those people out there who are so orderly and picture perfect in their habitats, that is definitely not me. My motto truly is Good and done is better than perfect and unfinished.

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And now that I have a batch of red clover dried for future tea purposes, let's just say that I am excited to move on to the next wildcrafting harvest selections, Nootka roses, yarrow, plantain, and mullein.


It's gonna be a busy weekend 😉



And as most of the time, all of the images in this post were taken on the author's probably sick of harvested wild plants pictures already iPhone


Explanatory Addendum: I am not a medical professional. Nothing I write is supposed to be construed as health advice, far from it, rather I am sharing what I do because I love learning and I hope it inspires you to go out and discover what works best for you too!



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24 comments
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Hi there, interesting to hear about red clover, I've not seen it in the UK, mainly creamy-white here. How many flower heads would you use for a cup of tea (say 200ml)?

Came through Listnerds :)

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Good morning! I usually use one, I kinda smash it up/ break it apart a bit, so about 1-2 tsps per 8 ounces of water (just a bit more than 200 ml).

Thanks so much for stopping by!

!CTP

!PIZZA

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Thanks, I'll look out for it, they may have the flowers in the wholefood shop.

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Great work! I usually am drinking fruit teas but often mostly ginger and different variations of it. I bet this home made will be great. You are so right about moderation. I have tested nearly all herbal medicines on myself and thought put the maximum dosage as i was so trusting and that was a bad idea!!

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Oh I so love ginger tea, especially when I am feeling a bit meh, it's wonderful!

Moderation is definitely awesome, I hear horror stories of people who thing if it must be good I should take tons of it EEE!!!

Hope you are having a great weekend!

!CTP

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Cool post about the red clover. The biggest block to good research on herbals is the fact that there is no money in it so no one wants to put up the studies. The majority of information on herbs is anecdotal. My biggest concern with any herb that my patients may be taking is whether or not it can cause harm. If it does not then I give them a green light.

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You are so right about the lack of money research motivator, which is sad, but I get it. I love learning about all the historical lore when it comes to the usage of botanicals in different cultures, and you are so right about it being anecdotal, that's why I disclaimer any herb/plant posts so hard. There are so many variables to consider when it comes to what we put in our bodies, medication interactions, our own biological makeup, the list goes on. Caution and prudence (and consulting those who know a thing or two about the human body) is always a good thing!

Hope you are having a glorious weekend!

!CTP

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I never got to look for the clover this year. I don't think I'll be dehydrating as much as I usually do. Maybe next, especially if I have chickens.

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Oh!? Are you planning on getting a flock of chickens? I am intrigued!

!PIZZA

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I would like to at least resume raising chickens, but not this year. I'm planning ahead, in case I can make it happen.

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I remember as a kid doing the same thing. Plucking each purple pedal out and sucking on it.

Then in day I looked down and there were this little black insects that were almost the same shape but smaller.

Yukkkkkkk. Lol 😆 🤣 😂

Have not touched one since, except for with the lawn mower.

!BBH

!ALIVE

!CTP

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LOL! Bit squeamish are ya?

I'd write more but for some reason I can't quit laughing🤣

Hope you are having the best weekend good sir!

!CTP

!PIZZA

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Hahahahaha Hahahahaha Hahahahaha 🤣 😂

Use to be.

Thanks for the smile and belly laughs.

!BBH

!ALIVE

!CTP

You have a great weekend also my friend 😀

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I am not familiar with clover tea, you have enlightened me on its health benefits and your moderate use of it, thanks.

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Well, thank you so much for the wonderful comment, I always enjoy it when you stop by!😊

!CTP

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Buen aporte no sabia sobre estas flores.

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¡Muchas gracias!

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

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I don't think I've ever tried red clover tea. Sounds as interesting as lilac tea!

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I enjoy a good legume sipper on occasion lol!

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Send me some! I paid a small fortune for some seed to plant for my chickens....maybe if you blow hard enough it will seed all over my homestead?

Yay for the dehydrator. Love it for preserving the excess

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