Should You Start Taking Elderberry Before Back-to-School Season?
- Benjamin Machlitt
- Aug 8
- 4 min read
This summer was a big one for our family.
We packed up one of our kids and dropped them off at college.
Like every parent, there was a mix of excitement, pride... and maybe just a little worrying. College means a new home, new friends, new routines, and a whole lot of people sharing classrooms, dorms, and just about everything else.
Of course, we made sure they left with plenty of clothes, a few comforts from home... and several bottles of our elderberry elixir.
Because one of the things that gave us peace of mind was knowing healthy habits were already in place. Taking elderberry had been part of their daily routine for years. We weren't asking them to start something new, we were simply making sure they had enough to continue a habit they'd already built.
That experience got me thinking about all the families getting ready for another school year.
Whether you're sending a child to kindergarten, middle school, high school, or college, back-to-school season always brings a fresh start, and a whole new season of busy schedules, shared spaces, and plenty of germs.
Why Start Before School Starts?
One of the questions we hear most often this time of year is:
"Should I wait until someone starts feeling under the weather, or should we start taking elderberry before school begins?"
Every family is different, and we can't tell you what's right for yours. But here's what we've observed after talking with thousands of families over the years.
Many people don't wait.
Instead, they choose to make elderberry part of their daily routine before the first day of school. Once classrooms, buses, sports, music lessons, and after-school activities are back in full swing, life gets busy in a hurry.
Rather than trying to create a new habit in the middle of all that, they prefer to have it already established, and their immunity already supported before the germs hit it.
For many families, taking elderberry simply becomes part of the morning, or evening, right alongside breakfast, brushing teeth, packing lunches, or winding down before bed.
What Our Customers Told Us
We asked our customers why they use elderberry and how it fits into their lives.
Many told us they simply take a spoonful every morning. Others stir it into smoothies, drizzle it over pancakes or yogurt, enjoy it in tea, or keep it as part of their evening routine before bed.
Heather, a mom with kids in school, shared:
"I fell in love with the elderberry syrup after trying it for 30 days. With kids in school and myself in a larger office each day, I truly feel this has reduced colds in our house! Great flavor, and the recurring shipping makes it easy to always have on hand and not run out. My family uses it at night before bed as a natural vitamin."
Mara described how elderberry naturally fits into her day:
"Elderberry syrup is part of my morning routine. I take it by the tablespoonful, put it in my smoothie, or on my pancake. The tea I use at night to relax. I have shared the syrup and dry berries with my grown children and their families."
Even the simplest responses said a lot. Monica wrote:
"I take one to two tablespoons of the elixir every morning."
Reading through the survey responses, it became clear that every family has their own routine, but the common thread is consistency.
The Best Routine Is the One You'll Stick With
People often ask us the best way to take elderberry.
Honestly, there's no single right answer.
The best routine is simply the one that fits naturally into your family's day.
For many families, that's a spoonful (or even a quick swig) from the bottle before heading out the door.
Others blend it into smoothies, stir it into tea, pour it over yogurt, or drizzle it over pancakes.
Our elderberry-infused honey has become another favorite. Spread it on toast, English muffins, or biscuits, or stir a spoonful into a warm cup of tea for an easy daily ritual.
The important part isn't exactly how you take it.
It's finding a routine you'll actually enjoy and stick with.
That's Also Why We Offer a Subscription
Healthy habits are easier when you don't have to think about them.
Life during the school year is busy enough.
Between homework, practices, concerts, meetings, and everything else on the calendar, remembering to reorder another bottle isn't always at the top of the list.
That's one of the reasons we offer subscriptions.
Heather mentioned that having recurring shipments "makes it easy to always have on hand and not run out."
We've heard similar comments from many of our customers over the years.
When another bottle simply shows up before you run out, it's one less thing to remember during an already busy season, and one more way to keep your family's routine consistent.
Why We Make It the Way We Do
When we started Popple Tree Creek Farms, our goal wasn't simply to make another elderberry syrup.
We wanted to create something we'd proudly serve our own family.
That starts with American elderberries grown right here on our Minnesota farm.
We harvest them ourselves, craft our products in small batches, and use simple ingredients you can recognize.
When something becomes part of your daily routine, those details matter.
Here's to a Healthy School Year
As another school year begins, we'll be out in the fields harvesting this year's elderberries while families across the country are packing backpacks and lunchboxes.
Whether you're sending a child off to kindergarten or dropping them off at college like we did this summer, every new school year is a reminder that healthy habits don't have to be complicated. Sometimes they're simply the small things you do consistently, day after day.
We're grateful that something grown here on our farm has become part of so many family routines.
From our family to yours, we wish you a wonderful school year.
Time to stock up!
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