The Petite Plum

Well tics are out in full force! I absolutely refuse to use poison on my kids so every year I make our own natural bug repellent (yes for mosquitoes too!)
So I’m going to share my super easy recipe:
Take a 4 oz dark coloured spray bottle.
Fill 3/4 with organic apple cider vinegar
1/4 with distilled water
10 drops of each essential oil:
- geranium
- clove
- cedar wood
- citronella
- eucalyptus
- lemongrass
Shake before use and enjoy!

How much do you love Calendula 🧡

Calendula is easy to fall in love with.

For one, it’s absolutely beautiful and it’s easy to grow.

Calendula is also really versatile - there are so many gifts to this plant!

I was thrilled when this week’s podcast guest, Alex Crofoot, Black Locust Gardens , chose calendula as her plant for her interview. I loved hearing both new and familiar ways of working with this favorite (and very versatile!) plant.

This episode is full of tips to help you:
► Make infused oil with fresh calendula flowers (without spoilage due to moisture content)
► Make a full-spectrum calendula tincture (and why you might want to take the extra steps)
► Avoid problems with mold on your harvested calendula

For those of you who don’t already know Alex, she is the co-owner of Black Locust Gardens herb farm and plant nursery, and a coordinator for the Great Lakes Herb Faire.

This episode also shares a delectable recipe from Colleen Codekas - Grow Forage Cook Ferment !

Click the following link to listen in and get your free recipe download for Calendula Shortbread Cookies: https://bit.ly/42OBPt3

Botanical illustrations by Tatiana Rusakova

Wine out of dandelions? You bet! Making homemade dandelion wine is a longstanding family tradition. We don't make it every year, but I do like to keep a few bottles on hand for company.

The taste of this dandelion wine is rich, golden and warming – more like a good brandy than a wine. I've had friends who don't normally like wine comment that they do enjoy this “spring tonic”.

“Dandelion wine, believed to be of Celtic origin, is regarded as one of the fine country wines of Europe. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was not proper for ladies to drink alcohol. However, dandelion flower wine was considered so therapeutic to the kidneys and digestive system that it was deemed medicinal even for the ladies.“

Get the recipe here => https://commonsensehome.com/dandelion-wine-recipe/

This is one of my all time favorite tea blends. We’ve been drinking it nightly for the past several weeks. I’ve been enjoying it so much that I get excited for evening time so I can finally curl up with it!

🌿 1 Tablespoon dried oatstraw (Avena sativa)
🍵 2 teaspoons dried lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
🌹 1 teaspoon dried rose petals (Rosa spp.)
🍵 1 teaspoon dried chamomile (Chamomila matricaria)
🌿 pinch of dried lavender flowers (Lavandula angustifolia)
🍵 ½ teaspoon dried peppermint (Mentha x piperita)

Steep the herbs in 12 ounces of just boiled water, covered, for 10 minutes.

Strain. Add honey if desired.

Enjoy!

Illustration by

Making White Pine Tincture! I am using my dried needles but you can also use fresh. Fill a jar and cover with alcohol (I used everclear). Put the lid on and place in a warm place. Shake daily for 4-6 weeks. Strain, and bottle in dark dropper bottles!
Shelf life 5 years, add a 2 ml to glass of water, tea etc and drink 2-3 times a day.
It can be used as an expectorant for coughs and to help relieve chest congestion; it is also good for sore throats. It brings you clarity and mental clearness. It can help with depression, obesity, allergies and high blood pressure. Pine is used for upper and lower respiratory tract swelling (inflammation), stuffy nose, hoarseness, common cold, cough or bronchitis, fevers, tendency towards infection, and blood pressure problems. Some people apply pine directly to the skin for mild muscle pain and nerve pain.
This information is intended for educational purposes, please consult with your healthcare provider 🥰

With this darn chest cold, today I am making “Eucalyptus, pine and Thyme respiratory balm”.
Recipe: in a dbl boiler combine until well mixed:
5 Tbs of carrier oil (I chose to use a combination of the infused oils I made this summer… dandelion and calendula)
1 Tbs beeswax
1 Tbs cocoa butter
1 Tbs refined Shea butter
40 drops eucalyptus EO
40 drops scotch pine EO
20 drops thyme EO
15 drops ginger EO
Pour into glass jar and allow to cool 24 hrs and store at room temp.
Appl to neck, behind ears, chest, and soles of feet up to 4 times daily.

Final round of beeswax rendering!! 🐝🍯 all finished until fall! 💕🥰 🐝

Yum! Having a delightful cup of Blue Butterfly Pea Tea! Not as “blue” as I expected it’s more a green color but wonderful nonetheless 🥰💚💙

Little concoction this morning 🥰
Matcha green tea: Matcha is an excellent ingredient for the skin. Matcha is anti bacterial and contains incredibly high levels of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is helpful in reducing inflammation and to even skin tone. The antioxidants are also known for reducing acne and increasing skin elasticity. Matcha helps slow down the skin aging process by introducing collagen production and repairing damaged DNA.
Greek Yogurt: high in protein, helps in repairing skin tissues, making it more radiant and young-looking. By boosting your skin care routine with protein-rich Greek yogurt, you deliver the same benefits to your skin that protein delivers to your body—helping to nourish, strengthen and repair. Yogurt, whether the Greek or regular kind, also contains lactic acid, an organic compound that aids in diminishing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines by tightening and shrinking pores. It also has exfoliating properties that transform your skin from being dry and dull to lighter and softer. Rich in vitamin B, yogurt comes packed with 20 to 30 % of the daily-recommended value of riboflavin that keeps skin glowing and hydrated and aids in cell-growth and regeneration. Adding yogurt to your skin care regimen helps moisturize your skin and delay the signs of aging.