Greetings, Kudzu Cultural Ambassadors! The time is ripe for picking kudzu blossoms at lower elevations, and early buds are emerging in the mountains of our home in Western North Carolina. Kudzu Culture is hosting two upcoming blossom events, and we encourage folks throughout the South to harvest, create, and share ~ tea, syrup, jelly, and other unique treats.

Why is it ecologically beneficial to harvest kudzu blossoms? Because the blossoms develop into seed pods! So not only are we harvesting delicious and fragrant buds, we are also preventing vectors of spread via seed. People are the crucial animal predator of kudzu!

For some more kudzu blossom creative inspiration, checkout Carolina Kudzu Crazy, founded by Daryl Wilson the Kudzu Jelly Man, who makes all sorts of kudzu blossom syrup, jelly, sauce, and tea: https://www.facebook.com/p/Carolina-Kudzu-Crazy-100063473593361/

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Upcoming Kudzu Blossom Harvest Events:

Kudzu Blossom Harvest and Jelly Making Gathering – CLAIRFIELD, TN
Saturday, August 12, 2023
10am – 1pm
Location:
Clearfork Community Institute
170 Y Hollow Rd, Clairfield, TN 37715, USA

Description:
Join Kudzu Culture, Woodland Community Land Trust and friends to learn how to identify and harvest kudzu blossoms. Together we will rinse and sort blossoms, and make jelly for use at future Woodland Community Land Trust events! We will also be available to answer questions about kudzu in general, and discuss kudzu fiber and root harvesting initiatives in Clairfield and surrounding communities.

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Community Through Kudzu: Kudzu Blossom Harvest – ASHEVILLE, NC
Saturday, August 19, 2023
10am – 1pm
Location:
The Botanical Gardens at Asheville (classroom and partly outside)
151 WT Weaver Blvd, Asheville, NC 28804

Description:
Join Kudzu Culture, Urban Forest Alliance, Montford Neighborhood Association, and the Botanical Gardens at Asheville for the summer installment of Community Through Kudzu! During this workshop we will learn about how to identify and harvest kudzu blossoms, and taste kudzu blossom tea. Participants are encouraged to spread their knowledge with friends and neighbors, and harvest kudzu blossoms along the Reed Creek Greenway, to prevent seedpod development and spread.