Rinse your organic strawberries, slice off the crowns and cut in half.

Place sliced strawberries, filtered water, and sweetener of choice in a medium pot, mix well and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to simmer for a full 10 minutes.

Remove the lid of the pot and mash the strawberries thoroughly in the pot. Return the pot to the heat and simmer for an additional 5 minutes uncovered.

Strain strawberry mixture using a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer. Return strained liquid to the pot and simmer for 5 minutes more to reduce and thicken the liquid. Watch the pot carefully to ensure it doesn't boil down too quickly and burn the syrup.

Remove pot from heat and stir in optional strawberry extract.

Cool. Refrigerate in a tightly sealed glass jar. Syrup will keep for several weeks refrigerated.