Eastern red cedar berries are a traditional Native American flavoring and medicine. (more...), Stella Matutina Farm is a Biodynamic farm located in beautiful Grass Lake, Waterloo Township. The wood is easy to work with and has good rot resistance. The ‘flowers’ of these conifer trees are called cones, and male cones are tiny and very inconspicuous. Scientific Name: Juniperus virginiana; Parts Used: Berries (female cones), branches, leaves, bark; Actions: Anti-inflammatory, Diaphoretic, Expectorant, Astringent, Antimicrobial, Diuretic, Antiasthmatic, Antifungal; The uses of Eastern Red Cedar branch out into many. These berries can be somewhat difficult to find, but you should look for places where the environment is clean. The berries are mild without the turpentine notes and bitterness of common juniper. Eastern red cedar berries look very similar to other juniper berries and are not a good identification feature. Another thing worth noting is that the berries take 3 years to mature and are a dark blue when finally ready to pick. Lemongrass: When life gives you lemongrass make tea! Note: pregnant women should avoid ingesting juniper berries. The ‘flowers’ of these conifer trees are called cones, and male cones are tiny and very inconspicuous. If correctly prepared, excellent English longbows, flatbows, and Native American sinew-backed bowscan be made from it. Our products are grown and produced in the country, miles from any urban center. It is known for its very uniform upright shape, and it gets taller than many other juniper species. It can grow to a height of 40-50 ft with a spread of 8-20 feet at maturity. They are almost sweet with a woodsy/pine flavor. Eastern Red Cedar has Blue Berries. Eastern Red Cedar is a common tree in New England and other parts of the Eastern United States. Gather red cedar berries in autumn after they ripen to a solid purplish-blue color with a grayish cast. Eastern Red Cedar is considered a non-toxic species of Juniper, though it does contain some level of toxins. We sell vegetables thru our CSA program and at the Ann Arbor Pittsfield Township Farmers Market. The Berries were also added as seasoning to many roasted meats. The Eastern Red Cedar berries are an underappreciated food. Most Juniper species are not significantly toxic, and no Native American species are. Eastern red cedar berries and other non-toxic junipers have been used in a number of ways. Native Americans often added juniper berries to food dishes and grains like flour for a hint of flavor. Eastern Red Cedar berries are related to common juniper berries but are superior in flavor. Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a very common native plant in Eastern North America. The berries were used for ceremonial rites, medicine, and consumption. Note that cedar and juniper berries become black when they dry out and can easily be mistaken for peppercorns. The wood, berries, and leaves are used for medicine. The bark is red-brown in color, exfoliating in long, fibrous strips, often ashy gray where exposed. This plant is actually a juniper, as its botanical name (Juniperus virginiana) indicates.True cedars belong to the Cedrus genus and are not native to this country. The berries can be eaten dried, fresh, chopped or powdered. Moths avoid the aromatic wood, and therefore it is in demand as lining for clothes chests and closets, which are often denominated "cedar closets" and "cedar chests". Some Native American cultures referred to the Eastern Red Cedar as " The Tree of Life". Current Issues. Chewing the berries may help with mouth soars. They were prepared different ways by different tribes but some of the preparation methods include drying, soaking, mashing, or just eating them raw. Juniper berries have been used for centuries as both food and medicine. Small, light blue-green clusters of flowers mature in late winter or early spring. We follow the same ecologically sound practices implemented by Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms in Virginia. The young leafy twigs of the Eastern Red Cedar were listed in the US Pharmacopoeia from 1820-1894 for their health benefits.