Monthly Archives: July 2016

2016-07-18 Mint Distillation

 in Aromatherapy / Distillation / Gardening by
Mint. Grasshoppers are not included in the harvest!

Mint.
Grasshoppers are not included in the harvest!

We love mint! My children adore being able to pluck leaves whenever they want and we pick every day for pots of tea, hot and cold. Mint and tulsi cold tea is our favorite in the summer, and it’s hard to keep enough room in the refrigerator. Today my 8 year old asked if we could distill mint and try the hydrosol! What a great idea! Aromatic herbs generally have antibacterial properties so a hydrosol of mint would make a great addition to a natural cleanser (I am working on a yoga mat cleaner with no soap), or to a diffuser when you are sick or stuffed up.
REFRESHING is an understatement.
We love it.

2016-07-16 Butterflies and Hoverflies

 in Biodiversity by
Butterflies on hyssop

Butterflies on hyssop

We have so much biodiversity in our garden, and I am learning so much about life by watching the many creatures who pop up here and thrive.  I went out this morning to collect the hyssop and couldn’t bring myself to do it.  I have plenty of other herbs for cough: elecampane, sage, and tulsi to name a few.  I have some tincture of hyssop from years past and just don’t need to have more new dry hyssop on hand, not at the expense of taking habitat and food from at least 6 different species of insects this morning.

Hoverfly on hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)

Hoverfly on hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)

Hoverflies are an example of effective natural pest control. The larvae of many species eat aphids, thrips, and other herbivorous insects. Sweden is rich in hoverflies; here you can read about a Swedish naturalist who has identifed over 200 species on just one island in the Baltic Sea. I don’t know how many species live in our garden, but we are happy to have them.

2016-07-15 Morning wild harvest

 in Wild Harvest by
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) and Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) and Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

We have so many herbs growing around us here. This morning the kids and I set out in the morning to harvest meadowsweet for a planned yarrow/meadowsweet co-distillation, which is wonderful for scrapes and very nice for oily break-out-type skin. There was so much lovely red clover that we decided to collect a little of it too. Red clover is a great addition to tea blends for women.

2016-07-14 Roman Chamomile, Lavender, and Tulsi triple co-distillation

 in Aromatherapy / Distillation by

This is our first year growing Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile).  I have to sometimes go with the plants I can get locally and I got 2 plants from Ulriksdals Trädgård.  I generally have early seed starts for German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and have many in the garden because they do self seed and return most years. Chamomile is an important herb for the whole family (the hydrosol is a key component in the bedtime ritual).

Today I was out weeding these low growing and delicate plants, which have recently burst into bloom, and I felt a real connection to them, a real relationship with them.  This is why I do this, to benefit from what the plants can offer, to celebrate the life and the natural healing.  The depth of the aroma of Roman chamomile is multifaceted,  floral yet green and rich yet light and gentle.  I could feel my breath deepen upon inhalation.  It made the most sense to distill the small harvest and creativity guided me to include a little lavender and a bit of fresh tulsi.  The result is a completely unique triple co-distilled hydrosol which is exquisite, and about 1 ml of essential oil (triple sourced).

Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), July 13, 2016

Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), July 13, 2016

Roman chamomile, lavender and tulsi ready for distillation

Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), and Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) ready for distillation

2016-07-10 Calendula

 in Aromatherapy by

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is an annual where we live, but it self-seeds profusely and at this time of the summer it blooms all over our garden. We gently weed it and let it have space here and there, and in this way we always have a nice supply of flowers for making calendula-based preparations.

Calendula flowers

Calendula flowers, July 10, 2016

As an added bonus, calendula flowers glow with their own unique warmth in the sunlight, and brighten up the whole garden.

Calendula officinalis

Calendula officinalis in our garden, July 10, 2016