Every year around this time, I watch the same thing happen and it honestly pains my heart to see it happen.
School starts, Fall sports resume, co-ops reopen their doors; everyone is excited for a new year, and before long the first bug makes its way through the kiddos. That's usually when my inbox starts filling up with messages asking if we have extra elderberry available.
The hard part is that by the time those messages come in, you're already behind. Elderberry shines as a daily wellness habit, which is why I always encourage families to begin taking it before school starts, not after sickness has already made its way into the house.
One of the questions I'm asked most often is when families should begin taking elderberry. My answer has never changed: Start before you need it.
I like to compare it to nourishing your body with healthy food. You don't eat one salad after months of fast food and expect to instantly feel amazing. The same idea applies here. Those beneficial anthocyanins and polyphenols found naturally in elderberries build upon consistent use, which is why I encourage families to begin about a month before school starts.
Research has shown that elderberries contain natural compounds that may help interfere with certain viruses' ability to attach to and enter cells. While no food is a guarantee that you'll never get sick, I believe God designed our bodies to benefit from the incredible nutrients He placed in His creation, and elderberries are one of my favorite examples of that.
By the grace of God, our family hasn't had the flu in five years. We've been exposed to COVID, norovirus, hand, foot, and mouth disease, and plenty of other bugs that seem to make the rounds every year. Although we homeschool, my boys wrestle, play sports, spend plenty of time with neighborhood kids who are in school, and are certainly no strangers to germs. Through all of that, they've never even needed antibiotics.
I don't share that because I think we've done everything perfectly, and I'm certainly not suggesting elderberry is the only reason. I share it because I continue to be amazed by God's design and how faithfully He provides what our bodies need through the foods He created. Every time I look back on our family's health, my heart is simply full of gratitude. All the glory belongs to Him.
That's why this season means so much to me. My heart is to help keep you and your family healthy, well, and thriving all school year long, not scrambling once everyone around you starts getting sick.
Every year I watch families wait until the first bug comes home from school, sports or co-ops before adding fresh cold-pressed elderberry into their wellness routines. The rule of thumb I always share is to start taking elderberry about a month before you need it. Consistent use helps get those beneficial anthocyanins and polyphenols into the body in preparation for what lies ahead.
We also sell out every single back-to-school season.
Because we make our elderberry fresh in small batches, there are only so many jars we can produce each month. We refuse to sacrifice quality for quantity by making huge batches, outsourcing our production or using imported concentrate just to keep product on the shelf. Once our July inventory has been reserved (shipping August 3), our next batch won’t ship until August 31.
If your children head back to school in August, now is the time to reserve your jar. If you wait until everyone starts thinking about cold and flu season, there's a good chance we'll already be sold out.
Because prevention is so important to me, I only offer two sales a year ahead of peak Spring allergy season and ahead of back-to-school to help families prepare.
Use code BACKTOSCHOOL to save 10% ON ANY PURCHASE through July 29.
I'd love to help you get your family stocked up before the rush because we want you prepared, not scared.