Sunday, August 28, 2016

Holy Basil

Today I am harvesting the holy basil (Tulsi basil) buds to save the seed.
The fragrance in the basil bed is just so amazing, I wish I could bottle that smell.
WAIT, I can!

I will be making basil infused oil this year. What a calming and still feeling this aroma imparts. . . .



Here is a little video of how a field of this plant looks, and how it is harvested.

Saturday, August 20, 2016

We have soap!


So the soap making has started full force, and my studio is filled with the heavenly smell of vervain, calendula, shea butter, and lemon.

This is my favorite ritual of late Summer/early Fall, which gives the soap plenty of time to cure before I start selling it for the holidays. I am cutting the bars a bit thicker this year.

I am still using the end cuttings from last years' batch. Maybe I should be making them thinner!

But I just like the chunky feel of the larger bars in the hand. Keep a look out for when they are in my Etsy shop.

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Calendula!

I have harvested this year's crop of calendula, petals from the flowers are very antiseptic and healing, used for millenia for medicinal and ceremonial purposes.

and aren't they beautiful?



I will be making my vervain soap this season with added calendula petals.

Calendula has tonic and antispasmodic properties, but it is mainly used for skin care and treatment. It has great anti-inflammatory action, making it helpful with stubborn wounds, acne, ulcers, bed sores, varicose veins, rashes, eczema, and related conditions, helping soothe sore, inflamed, and itchy skin conditions.

Combining the skin healing properties of calendula with soothing vervain - the perfect combination!

Look for this season's soaps starting the beginning of November.