For many of us, salve making is our introductory experience into crafting our own herbal medicine. It?s our entry into the alchemy of turning living plants into a medicine we can use to heal our bodies. It happened to me ? when I infused calendula, plantain, and comfrey into olive Read more…
As we approach the holidays and post-election season, it?s a good time to think about how to fold in some good self-care so we can enjoy (and even relax!) during the hectic holidays. My self-care focus this year: calming and nourishing the nervous system. Why the nervous system? Between a Read more…
Lip balms are one of the easiest herbal preps to make – the recipe is flexible, you can easily customize it with your favorite oils and herbs, and you can even give them color and shimmer without using any synthetic ingredients.? You can make lip balms just for color, or Read more…
Are your herbs growing like crazy in the garden? What do you do with them all?? Here are some tips to help you successfully dry them for use all year round. Why Bother to Dry Herbs? Even if you just have a small patch of calendula, chamomile or mint, you Read more…
I started making my own skin care over ten years ago, and I’ve never gone back, because it is so easy, it feels so much better, and I want to avoid the chemicals that are so common in commercial products. A study by the Environmental Working Group showed that the Read more…
About 10 years ago, I was inspired to start making my own body care products.? It was pretty easy to make my own my lotions, creams, lipbalms, and with some more practice I figured out how to make my own bug repellent and sunscreen.? Since then I’ve taught hundreds of Read more…
The madrone tree (Arbutus menziesii) is a treasured beauty of the Sierra Foothills.? It has a long history of use among the Native American, for both medicine and food, and has recently gained more attention here in the Sierra Foothills as a unique form of placed-based jewelry, often made into Read more…
While it hasn’t been a good year for rain and snow in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, its been a great year for collecting wild rose hips! Rose hips, the fruit of the rose flower, are high in vitamin C, antioxidants, and have a delicious sweet and tangy taste. They can Read more…
Wildcrafting, as my partner Matt and I practice and promote it, is making a commitment to deepen your connection to the natural landscape and take responsibility for its regeneration. It is learning about the plants around you, how they reproduce, where they live, and what they need to thrive. It’s Read more…
Fortunately for the home herbalist, most of the supplies needed for medicine making are likely in your kitchen.? In addition to the herbs themselves, here’s a list of what is helpful to have on hand: Basic supplies –Recycled glass jars or mason jars in a variety of sizes (4 oz, Read more…