Fun Herbal Projects

Are you wondering what to do with your herbs now that summer is coming to an end?  Here are some fun things you can make with your herbs. 

Herbal Bath Teas – Herbal bath teas are small tea bags added to your bath that can be beneficial to your skin, ease stress and help soothe aches and pains.  They are fun and easy to make!  For a relaxing bath, mix ½ cup of lavender buds, ½ cup of chamomile with 1 cup of Epsom salt.  Mix well. Fill a small muslin or organza bag with the mixture.  Be sure to tie the bag tightly so the herbs don’t float out into your water.  Here’s a mixture to utilize all of the herbs in your culinary garden 1/2 cup each: thyme, sage, lavender, mint, bay leaves, and rosemary.  Other additives can be oatmeal, baking soda, powdered milk.  Get creative with it.  You can’t mess up.  Fill a few bags with your mixture and store in an airtight container until you use them.  To use, just throw a bag in the bath with you or you can boil a quart of water, turn off heat, add your bath bag, let steep for 15-20 minutes then add water to your bath.

Sage Sticks – Sage sticks are used by Native American cultures to cleanse and purify their space.  Sage sticks are also fun and easy to make!  Cut sage branches into 7 to 10 inch lengths.  Cut a piece of string about 2.5 times the length of your sage.  Hold 3-4 branches together with the tops pointing down.  Begin wrapping the string tightly around the base of the branches.  When you reach the top, switch directions and work your way back down to the base.  When you reach the base, wrap the string around the base 1-2 times then tie the two ends of the string together.  Take the wrapped bundle and place it in a newspaper.  Roll the newspaper around the stick to tighten your wrap.  Remember to keep it firm but not too tight.  If the bundle is tied too tightly, it will be difficult to dry and to burn.  Dry your sage stick on a screen or flat basket for about a week.

Dream Pillow – Turn your pillow into a dream pillow.  Dream pillows are used for inducing sleep and vivid dreams.  Gather ½ cup chamomile, ½ cup lavender, ½ cup hops, ½ cup rosemary, 1 cup of rose petals and dry thoroughly.  Mix the dried herbs in an airtight container for seven days.  Fill a 4 x 5 muslin bag with the herb mixture.  Fold a 5 x 12 piece of fabric in half, sew around edges leaving an opening to fill the pillow.  Turn the fabric inside out and place a handful of Fiberfil on the bottom, your muslin bag of herb mixture and then place more Fiberfil on the top of that.  You can sew Velcro on the last edge so you can open the bag to replace the herbs periodically.  Place your dream pillow inside your pillow case and see where it takes you.

Melt & Pour Soap – Melt and pour soap is another fun way to use your herbs.  You can buy blocks of melt and pour soap at Michaels.  We also carry them.  Be sure to buy a couple of soap molds as well.  To make melt and pour soap, create a double boiler by filling a 1 ½ quart sauce pan half way with water.  Cover the pan with a metal bowl that’s larger than the pan.  Place over medium heat.  Put the block of soap in the metal bowl and cover with a lid.  Once the mixture has melted, sprinkle dried lavender buds, dried chamomile flowers, dried sage or other herbs to your mixture.  Add essential oil to fragrance it.  Pour the mixture into mold trays.  Put the mold trays in the refrigerator to setup.  Once they are set, the soaps will pop right out of the trays.  It usually takes 1-2 hours to setup in the refrigerator.

Here are just a few project ideas for your herbs.  Visit our website to learn more about harvesting and storing your herbs.  Also, check our online calendar for upcoming classes and events.  I will be teaching another soap making course soon.  I will show you how to make cold pressed soap, lip balm and melt & pour soap.  Also come visit our new store in Germantown .  We are located at 2018 S Preston .  We would love to see you!

Jenny is the owner of Divine Creationz.  She is a Clinical Master Herbalist.  She provides personal health consultations.  She specializes in making customized herbal formulas.  Jenny is also a certified Tibetan Acupressure System Practitioner and certified Reconnective Healing practitioner.  Jenny has been doing energy work for 3.5 years.  www.DivineCreationz.com

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