Rose hips

[Frosted Rabbits]

Okay-- lots of multiflora along the property borders, some wild blackberry plants as well--

For the multi flora hips--how do I go about preserving/drying them-- just dehydrate like in a food dryer? Or, collect and freeze? (Not like I keep a lot of ME food in the freezer!)

 

[MaggieJ]

I would think dehydrating would be preferable to freezing. Certainly one can buy dried rose hips, so it must be a good method of preservation for them. The leaves can be dried too... most rabbits enjoy them.

 

[akane]

That's one thing I've always seen preserved dry. I use them for tea a lot and they don't seem to lose much drying.

 

[Anntann]

Gather the hips and just spread out on a newspaper or cookie sheet and let them dry someplace out of the way for a couple of weeks. You can do them in a dehydrator, or just out in the sun (remember to cover them at night or the dew will settle) If you gather them when they're new and full of juicy goodness, you'll get them at their best.

http://www.eatweeds.co.uk/how-to-dry-st ... osa-canina has a picture blog about how she does it, and then grinds them for tea. (other types of gathering weeds on her site, too)

 

[Iggysbabysitter]

I make rose hip jelly sometimes. It is high in vitamin C, and is good for arthritis and gout. The jellies that don't set right are used as a hot drink syrup. I love rose hips
I never considered them for rabbit food, but it may make a nice treat. I'll have to gather some to dry for them.