Products

2017-10-26 Spruce Distillation

 in Aromatherapy / Distillation / Markets / Products / Wild Harvest by

When we lived in Sweden we regularly distilled Norway Spruce (Picea abies). Since we moved to Canada, we have been learning about the native conifers in our region of Ontario. Right outside our home we find Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea), White Spruce (Picea glauca), and Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis).
Another resident of our forest neighbourhood is our old friend Norway Spruce, and today we distilled our first batch in North America. The hydrosol is quite lovely, and I will have some available at tomorrow’s Almonte Farmer’s Market Harvest Market. I hope to see you there!

Norway Spruce (Picea abies)

Spruce Distillation

Marshmallow, Calendula, & Tea Tree Salve

 in Gardening / Healing Herbs / Natural Skin Care / Products by

This salve is inspired by this post on marshmallow by Rosalee de la Foret.
I love marshmallow; it’s a moon herb, and helpful in so many ways. It makes the absolute best lip salves too, that will be coming up soon!  It has been so wonderful to learn the different ways to utilize the healing potentials of the plants and to learn this method of infusing the properties of marshmallow into oil.

I have 3 first season Althaea officinalis plants and one is very crowded so I decided to use it.  First I dug up the root, then scrubbed it clean, and shredded it.  Then patience and attention, just what I need.

grated and chopped into the oil over a double burner, on low for 2 hours.

first year marshmallow root

Cooling

cleaning it up to be chopped and grated, then partially dried before infusing it into oil.

After the first hour of simmering I added 1/3 ratio of warm infused plantain and self heal into safflower oil and jojoba.  At the end, I always blend my essential oils into a small amount of jojoba oil before I mix them in to the final batch.  Then I test the ratios and consistency and pour into prepared jars.

As it is: The eclipse, elixirs, and healing

 in Aromatherapy / Distillation / Gardening / Healing Herbs / Markets / Natural Skin Care / Products / Wild Harvest by

As summer comes to a close we have been very busy harvesting the herbs and distilling, learning about our new environment and adjusting.  The herbal teas, the hydrosols, the oils and the resins provide the elixirs.

The ones for illness, the ones for the soul, the ones for the heart.

Last night (the night of Aug 21st and the Solar eclipse in Leo) I distilled the Rose Geranium and when I started to process the plant I got a clear message to slow down and let the aroma seep in, permeate my mind and I felt my heart open up to myself.  I hadn’t known I was closed, I was rushed, busy and tired, and suddenly I felt more acceptance, acceptance of everything.  Love was present.

The distillation is aromatically exquisite.  The oil this morning was the color of the sky.  I hope that others will find healing, love and connection to self through this hydrosol and I will use the Oil in my next batch of Deep Sleep.

 

Rose Geranium oil in the separator

Rose Geranium permeates the room

 

Here are a few more things we have been up to!

In the woods behind the house I found this:
Phaeolus schweinitzii. It can be used as a natural dye

Tulsi Holy Basil as it is about to move into the new tunnel in the beginning of August.

Harvesting Bacopa monnieri

Bacopa harvest will become a tincture for our family.

From the garden daily.

Blue Chamomile essential oil

Butterfly on the Gotu Kola

The Mother. The Source.

Gifts

Speaking of Gifts……That will be the focus for the next months, Energetically aligned and Inspirational aromatic and healing salves and oil blends to get us through the fall and into winter! Whether you are feeling sluggish or need to rest, feeling down or need to channel that enthusiasm? Contact me for any custom blends you might be interested in.

Here is what I am making just now… and will bring to the Midsummer Herbfest in White Lake, Ontario

 in Aromatherapy / Distillation / Healing Herbs / Markets / Natural Skin Care / Products by

Midsummer Herb Fest, White Lake, Ontario

I’m excited to be joining on this market and to meet many people and share my aromas.  Hope to see you there!
http://www.midsummerherbfest.ca/
Sunday July 30,  9-5  Rain or Shine.

I won’t have a lot of plants or fresh hydrosols because we just don’t have them ready yet, but I will share some of the best aromatherapy blends and salves I make.  I just received a very nice order from my supplier of Frankincense and Spruce resins, Dan Riegler from Apothecary’s Garden.  Based in Ontario, Dan travels personally to Africa and the Mediterranean to arrange equal exchange of the resins,  meeting with the harvesters personally.  He specializes in fairly traded and high quality products including his own hand harvested Canadian Spruce resin and extremely unique resins, perfumes, and more.  All of his products are the real deal and are available on his Etsy shop.  I’m glad I discovered Dan; I learn from him more than I can say and the Frankincense and other resins that I am working with are the true teachers, if you listen.

All the goodies from Apothecary’s Garden

Spruce sap dissolved into safflower oil.

 

Frankincense Salve

I recently (last 3 years) began working with Frankincense resins as incense for anxiety and depression. Now I prepare that resin into a salve by dissolving the oleo resin (water content removed) of Frankincense into safflower oil and then creating a salve.  In my most recent salve I used a new granule of Boswellia carterii with a little bit of added Boswellia papyrifera essential oil.  This smells heavenly and carries within it the true Boswellic acids that are so healing to the tissues of the muscular and skeletal body.  I will only have a few of these available at the market but will make more soon.

Spruce Resin Salve

Using spruce sap dissolved into safflower oil I made a few plain Spruce Resin (nothing plain about it really) Salves and then used the remainder of the oil and made many Winter Woods Salves.  The recipe is close to that of last year but always with its own uniqueness.  This respiratory blend is especially targeted for that lingering sinus issue, stuffiness and clogged sinuses with little mucus;  it is a cooling, opening blend to enliven the breath and mind, rejuvenating and boosting.  I use it often when I just want to refresh.

In the fall I will formulate a stronger expectorant type with the Eucalyptuses, Rosemary, and Niaouli.

Custom Aromatherapy

I will also bring two special blends that I make: Deep Sleep and Balance.

Deep Sleep: Jatamansi (an Ayurvedic herb), Frankincense, and Rose Geranium in safflower and jojoba oil.  Strong but effective, rub it into your feet or dab a little on your wrists.  This blend helps many people sleep more soundly through the night.

Balance: clary sage, vetiver, and ylang ylang in jojoba oil.  Grounding, harmonizing and relaxing to the nervous system.  This formula does not make you tired but gives a sense of security and smooth flow (of hormones and energy).

I will also have some of my sun-infused Arnica Body Oils, made using my own organically grown (in Sweden) Arnica montana flowers.

And St. Johns Wort infused oil made with fresh wild crafted Hypericum perforatum flowers harvested by me.

I’ll also have the Deep Nourishing Repair Oil that had become a favorite among my customers in Sweden.  Contains: Rosehip seed oil, Sea Buckthorn, Argan, and Jojoba seed oil, with Immortelle, Carrot seed, Cistus, and Frankincense essential oils.

I strive to keep all my costs and mark ups at a very minimum because I want to make things available to everyone, while using only the very best ingredients and putting the earth and its inhabitants first.  I believe in what I do and the plants that I work with.  I hope that you will feel the same.