dave-- about sassafrass

Dave, you mentioned earlier in the year the sassafrass on your property. Well now is the time to gather some leaves while they're small,(2") to dry for file ( say fee-lay) powder. Use it to thicken soups (after you grind in a mortar and pestle) To gather, you just break off the whole branch tip, (it smells like a mix of vanilla and citrus), then dry in the shade. Grind only the leaves. Cutting off the tip makes a bushier re-growth, thus more tips! Best to do this on small plants about chest high, no bending or reaching! The root bark is, of course the part used to boil for tea....Ivey

This message was edited Saturday, May 5th 2:13 PM