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Cleavers Cold Infusion

 




A new "first time" for us was to make a cold infusion with cleavers.  It is a bonus weed that we get this time of year when we weed the flower beds and the vegetable garden.  Heck, I see it growing in the asparagus, so I'll be pulling more of it this weekend (in between rainfalls).  If you harvest wild medicinal weeds/plants, I would love your feedback on this.  I believe I dehydrated it many years ago, but it's best when harvested fresh.  I have only one friend who also harvests this, but sadly, she does not live very close to me.

Side note: I made a face wash back in 2018 with cleavers, but never kept up with making it and using it over the years.

Rain returns starting tonight, and on and off all weekend.  Woke up to 49°F, and again we have not planted the vegetable garden yet. Still on time, but slightly late if we can get it done soon.  However, we were unable to obtain organic sweet potato starts, so no sweet potatoes will be planted (as of now).  Also, our potatoes, radishes, greens, should have been in the ground weeks ago.  Gardener struggles are normal.

Update on the honey I am infusing.  The color is looking just like the honey we purchased last year, so I'm hopeful it will taste just as good.

Crochet work has slowed down for a bit.  I have wandered upstairs for poly-fil for the project in hand, and thankfully I did not donate it to any cause yet.  While I was looking at what yarn I do have left, I visualized a few baby blankets. 

Cleavers Cold Infusion  ©  May 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart 


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Faith said…
I think I found some near the rain barrel. I did an id on it, and said it was Cleavers. I brewed fresh, and froze into cubes. I ordered some seeds to, which will not be sewn just yet. I should get more and dehydrate, but I’ve read fresh is best.🤔🧶❤️🍞🕯🧈🐑
May 22, 2026 at 10:20 AM
Anne in the kitchen said…
I think what you call cleavers is what we always called begger's lice. I have never done anything with it except get rid of it. I am going to have to do some investigation on its uses.
May 22, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Betsy said…
I have never heard of cleavers before. You have the most interesting posts. I'm still working on the same baby blanket I've had going most of the week. I've been distracted by other things a lot this week. I did order lots of yarn on the Premier website. It came with free shipping and a lot better prices than any I could find locally so I stocked up on colors that I use frequently. This should hold me for another year of charity blankets and shawls. Except baby yarn. I think I'll probably keep getting that at Walmart as I need it as they have the best price that I've found so far.
It's raining here again today too and I'm enjoying the sound. The only thing better would be sitting in the camper with a good book or yarn in hand. :-)
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy
May 22, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Pioneer Woman at Heart said…
Faith, I really felt it did my body some good, so I may brew more if we find more, and freeze the brewed version of it.
May 23, 2026 at 8:43 AM
Pioneer Woman at Heart said…
Anne in the kitchen, I have only made a face cleanser with it, but never kept doing it, but I dehydrated some one year. I later found out the fresh version is much better. I may be freezing some brewed if we find more of it. It only produces about this time of the year here.
May 23, 2026 at 8:44 AM
Pioneer Woman at Heart said…
Betsy, I dug out some 3 ply baby yarn try a new baby blanket pattern, and it was way too small. I may try to increase the pattern. I'll let you know. I need to finish my current project for someone first. Yes, I have always been interested in weeds that help our bodies. I really liked the cleavers, but it works like a diuretic, so you definitely don't want to go walk a long hike the same day. That was my only side effect of drinking the cold infusion, but I would not make a quart of it unless freezing some of it next time. It helps remove stagnate water in the body and gives it a lymphatic cleanse per what I am reading about it.
May 23, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Far Side of Fifty said…
Interesting that you are making something useful out of weeds:)
May 23, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Pioneer Woman at Heart said…
Far Side of Fifty, It works too! I am already brewing more to freeze for the rest of the year.
May 24, 2026 at 2:18 PM
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