The Elderberry Farm

09/26/2026

Common question- How do you pick the elderberries? and then - You hand pick ALL of that!?

Yes, yes we do. Elderberries don’t all ripen at the same time so there is no way to mechanically harvest them

On a single plant, you can have green, pink, purple and fully ripe berries all at once. That uneven ripening is a completely normal part of growing elderberries, but it makes harvesting a slow, hands-on job.

There’s also a bit of a balancing act when deciding *when to pick.* We want the berries to ripen deeply on the plant, allowing their natural sugars to develop. But leave them too long and we risk inviting one of our least favourite visitors: the spotted wing drosophila. These tiny fruit flies can lay eggs in ripening fruit, and can cause serious crop losses.

So we spend many weeks working through the field, coming back again and again to pick berries at the right stage. Ripe enough to have the desired brix (sugar) content, but also before they become overripe and vulnerable.

And once they’re picked, we don’t have time to waste. Elderberries have a very short shelf life after harvest and can deteriorate quickly. That means we need to get them cleaned and frozen right away to preserve them at their peak while we work through the harvest.

So that means:
→ pick the berry clusters
→ de-stem
→ wash
→ freeze
All in a single day.

The frozen elderberries are then cold pressed into pure elderberry juice, which becomes our premium Elderberry Syrup.

And here’s something you might not realize: because we don't use any water in our recipe- every single bottle of our syrup contains the pure juice from more than ½ lb of elderberries. 

So when you see our purple-stained hands, bins of berries and weeks of harvesting, you’re seeing the work that goes into every bottle.

From berry to bottle, it’s a whole lot more than just picking berries.

A huge thank you to Cindy Konkle for capturing these beautiful photos. They help to tell the story of what elderberry farming really looks like. Thank you for capturing the beauty in the work.

09/24/2026

Some people have hobbies. I hand-feed pears to cows with my bare hands.

The pears were free.

The slobber was complimentary.

09/19/2026

Step back in time at Pioneer Day! Lincoln Museum/Cultural Centre

We love this event because it’s not just about dressing the part—it’s a chance to experience authentic pioneer-era skills, traditions, food, and farm life while learning how people lived and worked.

We’ll be there with our farm-grown elderberry syrup & tea, ready for you to sample! 🌿✨

And yes… we’ll have make your own BUG hotels using elderberry sticks too. 🐝

Come say hi, have a sample, and learn a little something along the way!

Town of Lincoln

09/12/2026

Mingle Hill Farm — St. Ann’s

You can find our elderberry syrup at Mingle Hill Farm & Apothecary - Niagara
A Certified Organic farm growing over 100 plants and transforming them into incredible handcrafted skincare, tea blends, spice mixes, hot sauces and more—all made right on the farm. Their beautiful store is filled with the incredible scent of herbs and flowers, a down-to-earth atmosphere and so much love for what they do. Truly a bucket-list apothecary.

09/07/2026

🎒 Are you ready for back to school?

The kids: “YES!” 😃
(Immediately takes elderberry syrup.) 🫐
😂😂😂

Meanwhile, parents everywhere are preparing for:

✏️ New teachers
🚌 Bus schedules
🍎 Lunch boxes
😴 Early mornings
🦠 And the inevitable “there’s something going around” text from the other parents…

So let’s add a little elderberry goodness! A simple addition to the daily routine as we head into a new school year and all the adventures, activities and germ-sharing that come with it.

Our elderberry syrup is packed with naturally occurring antioxidants and is a tasty way to boost the body’s immune function as everyone heads back into the classroom.

Made with 3 simple ingredients. No water added. Pure, potent and kid approved.

Because apparently sending them to school with a backpack, lunch and a water bottle isn’t enough. 😂

Back to school? Bring it on. 🙌🫐

(Kids posted with parental consent.)

09/05/2026

The last few weeks have been BUSY around the farm!

We’ve been in the thick of harvest season. Which means picking ripe elderberries, destemming berries, washing berries, pressing berries, bottling berries and turning those beautiful berries into our delicious, premium elderberry syrup.

And then… loading cases of syrup into the car and restocking stores! Just in time for fall wellness season.

From fresh berry to finished bottle, every step happens right here on our farm. We’re so grateful to see our syrup on the shelves of some of our favourite local shops. And of course, you can always find us online too.

Thank you for keeping us busy doing what we love!
Littlefoot Farm
Substrata Farm
Lake Land Meats & Farm Market
Cloudberry Health and Wellness
Heritage Gift Shop - Jordan Village
The Watering Can Flower Market
bougie hippie

From berry to bottle. Fresh from the field. Hand harvested. Farm-crafted. Ready for your shelf.

08/21/2026

Meet the newest member of The Elderberry Farm family… Scotch. 🐴

Have you ever wondered what happens to racehorses after they retire from racing?

We adopted Scotch through New Start Standardbreds, an incredible organization dedicated to giving retired Standardbred racehorses a second chance. They help horses transition from the track through rehabilitation when needed, retraining for life beyond racing and finding loving forever homes.

Scotch has been settling into farm life beautifully. He’s enjoying light rides (or more accurately, patiently tolerating me while I learn to ride 😂), as well as leisurely walks through the elderberry orchard. He’s even found an unlikely best friend—a goat named Tuba, who insists on sleeping beside him every night. 🐐❤️

We’re taking things one day at a time, building trust and falling more in love with this incredible creature every day.

Thank you, New Start Standardbreds for making stories like Scotch’s possible. Every horse deserves a New Start.

07/28/2026

I was walking through the elderberry rows this morning when I spotted this incredible visitor… a North American Luna Moth.

These moths are one of the most beautiful insects in North America, but seeing one is a real treat because they’re only adults for about one week.

A few fun facts:
🦋 They don’t have a mouth, so they can’t eat. They live entirely on the energy they stored as caterpillars.
🌙 They’re named after the moon (“luna”) because of their pale green, moonlit colour.
🌿 Their long, graceful tails help confuse bats, making it harder for predators to catch them.
🌳 Their caterpillars feed on native trees like walnut, hickory, birch, maple and sweet gum without causing significant damage, making them a natural part of healthy ecosystems.
🦉 Luna moths are an important food source for birds, bats, small mammals, spiders and other insects, helping support a diverse food web.
🌎 Because they’re sensitive to habitat loss, pesticides and artificial light at night, seeing a Luna Moth is often a sign that the surrounding environment is supporting native wildlife.

Moments like this are one of my favourite parts of farming. It’s a reminder that our orchard isn’t just a place where elderberries grow—it’s home to countless species, each playing a role in a healthy ecosystem.

Have you ever been lucky enough to spot a Luna Moth in the wild?

07/16/2026

Sometimes it's hard to believe this is our office.

An elderberry orchard in full bloom is truly a beautiful sight. For a fleeting few weeks each year, the rows are covered in delicate white blossoms, buzzing with bees and filled with the promise of another harvest.

These photos capture that magical moment and we're so excited to share it with you.

Which photo is your favourite?

📸 Thank you to .ca for beautifully capturing our farm during peak bloom. Your talent and attention to detail have given us memories we'll treasure for years to come.

06/27/2026