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Rose Hip fruit has been utilized for centuries by native peoples. It has more vitamin C than most of our cultivated food crops, including citrus. Used dried, fresh, for soups, teas, jams and jellies, also in baking. Keeps well, and may be harvested in the winter. There are many seeds in the fruits to propagate for your own homegrown vitamin C. Definitely worth growing and saving the seeds.

Offered by Toni.

Re the conundrum of getting enough vitamin C, rose bushes are very useful in several ways.

  1. Selecting old fashioned very thorny climbing ones and rooting them in front of windows and other points on a dwelling that needs defense deters predators, human and otherwise.
  2. The fragrance and flowers will lend valuable luxury to an otherwise spartan existence.
  3. If the flowers are left uncut, the base will develop into rose hips, the classical source of Vitamin. C. Leave on the plant until deep red. They have a hard hull, so keep very well in a cellar, and can be simmered for rose hip conserve or eaten tender like artichoke hearts.

Offered by Jenny.

I have wild rose bushes growing everywhere. If any plant will survive the pole shift it will be the wild rose. I have tried for 10 years to keep them under control to no avail. Cut them back and they come back in 100 different areas from underground.

Offered by Mary.

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