Spring and the Spruce tips it brings.....

Eat your trees

Spruce trees are medicinal gems and provide us with big spirit and robust steadfastness . They are majestic trees that comfort us and shield us. They are used for their aromatic pitch and gum to make salves, teas, poultices and tinctures. Spruce trees can live 150-600 years depending on the variety and environment it is found in.

I love picking spruce tips and nibbling on them, making spruce tip tea and even adding them to meals. Here are some suggestions to bring them into your life;

• Sprinkle on green or grain salads

• Add chopped spruce tips to homemade vinaigrettes

• Toss into your favourite drink

• Add to roasted vegetables, fish, or meat

• Make spruce tip syrup (recipes below) and add to sparkling water or cocktails

• Chop spruce tips and add to baked goods like shortbread or scones

• Spruce tip candy

• Spruce tip syrup or vinegar

• Tea for high vitamin c content, support respiratory functions and immune function.

Some considerations when deciding to bring Spruce into your life include;

-topically can be used for cuts, wounds, sore muscles, back aches and infections

-internal for ailments such as; digestive issues, laxative for constipation and healing medicine postpartum

-Colds, flu, coughs and sore throat

How to identify a Spruce tree

Like other conifers, spruce trees have needles for leaves and cones. The Spruce tree however, has needles that individually come out of the stem or woody peg known as the pulvinus.

The needles have a square cross section and it is short and stiff when rolled between your palms or fingers.

The Cones of the variety of Spruce trees are thin with soft scales. This makes the cone very flexible in your hand. They can differ in size and shape with the variety of Spruce trees.

The most popular varieties of Spruce trees are;

-Colorado Spruce (Picea pungens)

-Black Spruce (Picea Mariana)

-Red Spruce (Picea

-White Spruce (Picea

-Norway Spruce (Picea Abies)

-Sitka Spruce (Picea Sitchensis)

The Spruce tree prefers acidic soil that is well draining and not waterlogged. Some companion plants that appreciate or do well in acidic soil include; blueberries, cranberry bush, rosemary, thyme, strawberry plants, rhododendron, hosta, rose, yarrow, oregano, blue holly, hydrangea, Eastern redbud, kinnikinnick, periwinkle, lily of the valley, azaleas, ferns, lingonberries, wintergreen, partridge berry, red baneberry, white snakeroot, black cohosh, trillium and even Japanese fibre banana tree!

Spruce trees require a lot of nitrogen to thrive. Although they look incredibly big, they do not have invasive root systems and instead do a great job of gathering water from the surface. Things like compost tea and fresh compost assist Spruce trees in maintaining health.

Incorporating Spruce trees into your landscape and design doesn't have to be difficult, even in small spaces. Some small spruce trees include Fat Albert spruce trees, Dwarf Alberta spruce trees or the Weeping Colorado spruce are all easily fit into smaller properties. If you would like more information about how you can bring Spruce trees into your property, please reach out!