RIDGE ROAD FARMS

We find this summary from The Complete Elderberry Tea Book, by Mary Ellen Ward to be helpful and informative: “Elderberries (and in slightly varying degrees elderflowers, too) are…very high in antioxidants/phenolic acids, bioflavonoids, and anthocyanins, most (often) looked to as the powerhouses of elderberries and elderflowers to provide cell support and repair, backed by their additional vitamin and mineral foundations…(They) are widely becoming accepted as a powerful food source that brings with it antiviral, antibacterial, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory benefits (among others). …Elderberry is most popularly used for its easy immune support and prevention and treatment of viruses, most specifically the common cold and innumerable strains of flu (though these are not the only viruses elderberry is believed to have an impact on). Promising research and reported personal testimonies indicate elderberry as capable of not only reducing viral infections through prevention, but also alleviating the respiratory symptoms, aches, and pains of viral illnesses, and also shortening the duration of such illnesses by half or more. It is noted to reduce inflammation, reduce phlegm, sooth irritation, calm coughs, and act as an expectorant, as it interrupts the replication of viruses within cells. It is suspected of working by blocking necessary proteins for viral replication, thereby inhibiting the viruses from attaching and entering host cells, therefore reducing infection levels and hence also limiting both the severity and duration of viruses, colds, and flus.” ​ *The statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Ridge Road Farms grows North American elderberry (Sambucus nigra canadensis), a relative of the European Elder (Sambucus nigra). Our varieties include Bob Gordon, Ranch, Adams, and Wyldewood.

Our Wellness Boost contains cold-pressed elderberry juice, cold pressed-aronia juice, raw honey, Ceylon cinnamon, ginger, elderflower, and cloves (with less than 1% by volume citric acid from cassava root to maintain freshness). We do not add water, sugar, artificial flavoring, or artificial preservatives. Just one teaspoon of Wellness Boost provides 2000 mg of elderberry and 2000 mg of aronia berry.

The vast majority of elderberry syrups available in the US are made from dried European berries. To create the "juice" that's the basis of these products, water is added and heat is applied. At this point, berries have already undergone two heat-applying processes (drying & reconstituting) which likely reduce nutrients. Many of these products contain more water than elderberry and therefore have a fraction of the nutritional content -- something that's lost on many buyers. ​ On the other hand, Ridge Road Farms' Wellness Boost begins with nutritious, cold-pressed juice. It's sweetened naturally with raw honey (not refined or processed sugars) and infused with organic spices and elderflower. Our elderberry syrup has absolutely NO water and no added fillers, thickeners, and/or flavorings. We've done the math and found that Wellness Boost syrup contains exponentially more pure elderberry/aronia than most of the products on the market today. We're also proud to say that... ​ ...in addition to elderberry, Wellness Boost utilizes the amazing health benefits of aronia -- a berry with even more immune boosting anthocyanins than elderberry. ...all our berries are 100% American, featuring elderberries grown on our own farm in Sperry, Iowa and aronia berries that are grown in Central Iowa. ​ ...because we harvest and process every elderberry ourselves, we know they are picked at the peak of ripeness, carefully sanitized, and quickly frozen to ensure freshness and safety -- all in less than 24 hours.​​ ​ ...we consistently invest in our rich, Iowa soil to produce elderberries that are naturally more nutrient-dense than wild European berries. ​ ...our berries undergo minimal processing, which translates into maximum nutritional benefit for our customers.​ ​ ...our syrup is significantly more economical than most brands when comparing grams of pure, immune-boosting elderberry and aronia per bottle.

We incorporate cold-pressed aronia juice into our recipe because research indicates that it contains an exceptionally high concentration of antioxidants and flavonoids, surpassing even the elderberry on the USDA ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) scale, which quantifies the TAC or total antioxidant capacity of a food.

Our recommended dosage for adults is based on amounts of pure, immune-boosting elderberry and aronia found in our syrup. Just one teaspoon of Wellness Boost contains 2000 mg of elderberry plus 2000 mg of aronia, for 4000 total mg of pure, anthocyanin-rich juice (Note: elderberry contains significantly more anthocyanins than blackberries, cranberries, or blueberries, and aronia contains an amount greater still). ​ Compare this to the leading national brand whose dosage has been successfully used in clinical studies to treat viral infections; one adult dose (2 tsp) contains 3800 mg of elderberry. ​ Note that while elderberry is beneficial for supporting immune health, its components do not cling to tissues, so daily consumption is recommended for maintenance. For intensive use with onset of illness, take 1 to 2 teaspoons four times a day, which may minimize duration and severity of flu and common cold.

As with adult dose, our recommended dosage for children is based on the amounts of pure, immune-boosting elderberry and aronia found in our syrup and the recommended dose of the leading national brand, used in clinical studies to treat viral infections (see adult information). ​ For children, we recommend half of the adult dose, or 1/2 to 1 tsp (based on size of child) once daily for maintenance, or up to four times daily for intensive use with the onset of illness. ​ NOTE: This product is sweetened with honey and should not be given to babies less than 12 months old.

Once opened, Wellness Boost should be refrigerated, where it will safely keep for approximately two months. If you don't anticipate using the entire bottle in this time frame, consider freezing part of it in small containers or ice cube trays. ​

At Ridge Road Farms, we're committed to providing elderberry products and customer service experiences that reflect our high standards and values. We want you to be completely satisfied with our products, so we'll gladly refund and/or replace any items purchased on our website (cuttings excluded) that do not meet your expectations. All requests must be made within 30 days of purchase. Please email us at ridgeroadfarmsllc@gmail.com if you are not satisfied.

Elderberry powder begins with 100% pure elderberry juice! We grow the berries ourselves, hand-press the juice, then freeze-dry and crush it into a fine powder. It's all the goodness of pure juice; we've just removed the water!

The imported, thermally dried berries found in most kits have already lost up to 40% of their nutrients during the drying process; even more nutrients are lost when the berries are reconstituted using heat and water. Our elderberry powder — on the other hand — preserves the nutrients, providing nearly all of the goodness of freshly-squeezed juice in a powder form. This powder allows you to save money, make your own batch of syrup at home, and still enjoy all of the elderberry's immune-boosting benefits! We insist on real juice for our bottled syrup, so we insist on nothing less for our syrup kits!

It is not abnormal for these fine particles containing natural sugars to somewhat compress in the mylar bag. The powder will still dissolve easily; simply empty the contents into your warm water/spice mixture and stir gently until all particles are dissolved.

Orders will be processed in 1 to 3 business days then shipped via USPS or FedEx, whose stated delivery times are 2-3 business days. A confirmation email with tracking information (USPS Priority Mail and FedEx packages only) will be sent once your order has shipped.

Orders are carefully packed and inspected before leaving our facility, but occasionally a package may be damaged in transit. Upon receipt of your order, please inspect all products carefully and notify us immediately if any items have been harmed during shipment. Damage claims must be made within 48 hours and must be accompanied by photos of damaged products and packaging. Please email us at ridgeroadfarmsllc.com or call 319.759.4202 to initiate a claim.

Elderberries are able to set fruit without pollination across multiple cultivars; however, fruit set/yields can be improved when multiple cultivars are established in the same area.

Detailed instructions are included with every order of elderberry cuttings. You may also access a PDF version HERE.

All of our cuttings are from varieties of elderberries that grow in Zones 3-9, which includes the vast majority of the United States. You may wish to refer to a USDA plant hardiness map online for more detailed information.

Because we can't control every factor tied to the storage and planting of your cuttings, we don't guarantee success; however, we add an extra cutting to every bundle and share detailed instructions with every order. We also encourage you to look over your cuttings when they arrive and let us know right away if there's an issue. We’ll make it right if we’ve inadvertently sent you anything less than what we describe in our listings. Please email us at ridgeroadfarmsllc@gmail.com to share any concerns.