Blog — immune boost

We didn’t have a blog scheduled to post this morning, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought that a spontaneous blog may be a nice way to start a Monday morning for me and maybe for you as well. So here I go just sharing a few thoughts that I honestly don’t even know what they are as I type them (yikes). 

The whole reason I (accidentally) started this business was because I wanted to help other parents feel empowered to help their families stay healthy. For me, my first child was constantly going to the doctor the first year of his life with sniffles that turned into ear infections and prescribed antibiotics. As a new mom at the time, I hated that cycle and I was left feeling like there wasn’t anything I could do to help my child feel better. It was at that point that I found elderberry syrup. I made it for my family and immediately saw the benefits it had to offer in supporting our immune systems and keeping us healthy and active. I knew there were other moms out there that felt the same way I did and wanted a way to help their kids. So I posted on Facebook offering samples, with no intention AT ALL of starting a business. Now, four years later, my elderberry syrup is in households across the country and my mission to empower families is happening every day. Families are staying healthy and active as they experience the incredible benefits and power of elderberry, a simple plant that grows everywhere. Words can’t even begin to describe how grateful I am for my journey.

I love The Elderberry Co more than I can even describe. And not just the products that we make, but the community it has brought to me and my family. What started as a one-woman-show in my home kitchen is now a WONDERFUL team of 12 people…the absolute best people in the world. Some of you guys see part of our team on social media doing crazy tik toks, some of you see our team at the register at our cute little shop in downtown New Albany, Indiana. We have the hardest working, fun-loving, deeply compassionate people on our team and I could not have built this business without each and every one of them. 

Our story is far from over. We have some incredibly exciting new products coming in 2022 that we think you will LOVE! Our mission will stay the same, we exist to empower you with a natural and effective way to support your immune system. If you are new to The Elderberry Co, we hope you check us out and try out some of our products (I personally recommend the elderberry syrup over everything else). Go see the silly tik toks on Instagram, read some of our past blogs and if you have any questions, our sweet team members are ready for you. Comment below or email us at info@theelderberryco.com. 

Thank you for journeying with us!

Are you a family who has had experience in the NICU? Whether you have or you have walked alongside a family in the NICU, you know that it can be a scary place to be, especially during months where sickness and germs are spreading easily. You desperately need to keep your friends and family healthy as you care for your little one, even in the days after you come home. For the past couple years, we have offered our Elderberry Syrup free to NICU families, as a simple way to support them during a difficult season. We have countless stories from our NICU customers about the courage, strength and miracles their families have experienced. It’s a blessing to hear the stories and to be a small part of it!

We are excited to announce that we are relaunching our NICU Family Program! This is a way that NICU families can receive our products FREE in the first year of their baby’s life. Here’s how you can participate:

1. Email us at info@theelderberryco.com with the subject “NICU Family Program”. In the email, tell us a little about your story, including your first name, last name, email, phone number and the date your baby was born.
2. We will send you a gift card for $100 to use throughout the first year of your baby’s life on any of our products in store or online at theelderberryco.com. You can choose from our best selling Elderberry Syrup, Elderberry Gummies, Wellness Tea and more! These products aren’t for baby, but can be used by your immediate family and friends to keep them healthy for lots of baby snuggles. 

Community is so important when you are going through a difficult season and while we may not be in your inner circles to walk with you through your NICU experience, we are blessed to be able to support you through Elderberry Syrup! The peace of mind it gives me as a mom in keeping my family healthy is why I started this small business and why we have our NICU Family Program. We hope it blesses you and your family!

Please share our NICU Family Program with anyone you know who could benefit from it! If you have any questions, please email us at info@theelderberryco.com.

Merry Christmas from The Elderberry Co Team!

All my life, the month of November has usually been a pretty uneventful month. No birthdays or big events, just Thanksgiving and the anticipation of Christmas. But that all changed when, on November 8, 2017, I posted on Facebook and that one post changed my life. Now, every November, my family and my team celebrate all that God has blessed us with through a small business called The Elderberry Co...that all started with a simple Facebook post.

The story of The Elderberry Co. is nothing short of God’s grace and provision, a beautiful journey of how a small idea founded in kindness has grown into a nation-wide movement empowering families toward healthy lifestyles. You see, on November 8, 2017, I simply asked on Facebook, “Making a batch of elderberry syrup. It is how our family stays healthy, especially through the winter months! Message me if you would like to try a sample!” I wanted to share with my friends and family a solution that I had found to keep my family healthy. From that post, I had a handful of friends who asked for samples. And from there, it slowly gained popularity in my community and I started selling jars out of my home kitchen. 

In 2018, I had grown big enough that I needed a bigger kitchen, and I wanted to increase my influence to more than just my local community so I made a BIG move into a commercial kitchen and got certified to sell online (which is where most of you know me from!).

Selling online was CRAZY successful. I needed more hands to help so I started hiring help. And I just have to say, our small team here at The Elderberry Co. is full of the hardest-working and best people in the world. I can’t say enough about how much I appreciate working alongside each of them.

Since our online launch in 2018, we have continued to grow and our customer base reaches all 50 states! There are so many stories I could share about my journey: the balance of motherhood with business owning, learning all the FDA regulations, managing and leading a team. It has been a wild ride! But regardless of all of the bad days, this journey has given my family and me so much joy and fulfillment. The idea that I’ve been able to help empower families across the country with a solution to keep their families healthy is an absolute DREAM. Thank you for coming alongside us and our small business! We hope you can celebrate with us this month as we celebrate FOUR years of this beautiful small business!

The immune system...it’s a hot topic these days, right? Everyone is talking about staying healthy and safe, especially as we enter the colder months of the year. Our families are the most important things to us, and while we can’t necessarily “see” our immune system, we need to care for it as one of our highest priorities when we think about caring for our family. Don’t let your life get so busy that you forget these 5 easy and natural ways to keep your family healthy this winter:

1. Let them sleep! Aim to give your kiddos, at minimum, 8 hours of sleep...10 is even better. That means to turn off screens at least 1 hour prior to bed and set consistent bedtime and wake up routines. 
2. Limit sugar. I know, this isn’t a popular one. My kids ask for a “special treat” every night and are shocked when I tell them they can’t have one (what makes it special if you get one every day??). But sugar is the enemy to our immune systems. Cutting back on soda, sweets, candy, baked goods and processed foods in general will put your family at a significant advantage when it comes to strong immune systems. Raw honey is a GREAT alternative (in moderation of course). Here’s our entire line of raw and infused flavored honey. They are so so good.
3. Put a whole food on every plate. Ok, I’m not the best at eating 100% whole foods but I guarantee you can’t afford NOT to eat whole this winter, as our bodies need these vital nutrients from plants. So as a busy mom, I make it my daily goal to get at least one whole food on everyone’s plate. Our go-to foods? Apples, bananas, bell peppers (red ones are the best!), carrots, broccoli and strawberries. For an amazing smoothie recipe, check out our blog here. 
4. Take elderberry daily. Ok, I know this may seem like a shameless plug for my own product, but I’m so serious. Taking elderberry syrup or gummies daily can give your family the support their immune systems need, especially when they may be exposed to illness around them. My kids love both our syrup and gummies, but I try my best to keep them taking the syrup because it contains raw honey that contains natural enzymes to help their bodies fight infection. Just 1 teaspoon or 1 gummy daily for kids, 1 tablespoon or 2-3 gummies daily for adults. It’s so easy and so delicious.
5. Get outside and get moving. Our Vitamin D levels tank in the winter so getting at least 30 minutes of direct sunlight can help. Also, a goal to get at least 30 minutes of exercise 3x weekly can significantly support your body’s overall health and wellness. For your kiddos, that means a walk to the park, a game of tag in the front yard...get creative! One of my good friends has an amazing woman-owned small business called OKO Weekly where you can get videos of workouts designed specifically for kids age 3-5 years old. For those cold winter months, it’s the perfect way to make sure your kids are getting regular exercise!

I’m a BIG proponent of not overloading our schedules and responsibilities with unnecessary busy-work, so I hope these 5 natural ways to build strong immune systems don’t feel like extra work, but empowering ideas to help your family to experience a healthy winter. As always, feel free to comment below with any other tips you use to keep your family healthy. Happy fall everyone!

Jello is always a fun snack to have for the kids so why not add some Elderberry in there to add some health to the fun. We have found the perfect recipe to enjoy Elderberry Jello snacks for both in the house and on your way out of the house. 

Ingredients

Instructions