Put your summer NTFP finds to good use this fall!

The summer is coming to an end, and the seasonal Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP's) are nearly finished producing, but don't let that fool you...there are still plenty of NTFP's left in the forest! You can also make your summer NTFP finds go the extra mile by preserving or drying them.

With the crisp early-fall air looming, now is the perfect time to head into the forest and pick berries, berry leaves, fireweed, wild mint leaves, and sweet gale to dry out for your winter supply of tea. If you don't know what to do with all those berries you have been picking throughout the summer months...dry them out to make fruit leather, preserve them in jams, or freeze them and make delicious wild-berry muffins to keep you cozy all winter long.

Believe it or not, the holiday season is fast approaching, and wreathes will be in high demand as families begin to decorate their homes. With fall fairs just around the corner, it is the perfect time to show your crafty side and make wreathes and swags from balsam fir or even plain old twigs.

In late summer, mushrooms are in their final growing stages...now is the time to go hunting! From Chanterelles, Morels, Pine Mushrooms, and Boletes, there is a mushroom waiting on our forest floor to suit every taste bud. Always remember that although most mushrooms seem appealing to the naked eye, you should be vigilant when picking them to ensure you don't accidentally choose poisonous ones. To help you decipher the good from the bad, use a mushroom handbook such as Mushrooms of Ontario and Eastern Canada written by George Barron.

Another NTFP found in our region is Birch products such as Birch Sap and Syrup. If you have a sweet tooth...these sticky treats present a great reward! In Europe and Asia, Birch Sap is highly sought after and is used in wine, candy, on desserts, and as a health tonic in the early spring. Currently, there are very few producers of Birch Sap in Canada, so this could be a great opportunity for anyone looking to start a business in the NTFP sector.

For more information on production and harvesting of NTFP's please visit or website www.nsfc.ca and look for the NTFP Opportunity Assessment document in our library. Beginning in the spring of 2011, we will post a list outlining NTFP's that are 'in demand' on our website, and will update this list each spring.