101 Easy Homemade Products for Your Skin, Health & Home: A Nerdy Farm Wife's All-Natural DIY Projects Using Commonly Found Herbs, Flowers & Other Plants
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Lavender Laundry Detergent
It’s so easy to make your own laundry detergent! This project calls for the Coconut Laundry Soap recipe found here. If you’re unable to make your own, look for natural laundry soap bars in your local grocery or health store. I like to add a small amount of sweet-scented lavender to my detergent, but you can use another herb, such as lemongrass, instead, or leave the herbs out completely.
YIELD: 16 TO 24 LOADS OF LAUNDRY
1 bar homemade Coconut Laundry Soap
1½ to 2 cups (405 to 540 g) super washing soda
¼ cup (6 g) dried lavender (optional)
½ to 1 tsp lavender essential oil (optional)
¼ to ½ cup (60 to 120 ml) Lavender Fabric Softener per laundry load (optional)
Using an inexpensive box grater, grate the bar of soap. You should end up with about 1½ cups (75 g) of grated soap.
Place the soap flakes in the bowl of a food processor. Add the super washing soda.
Using an electric coffee grinder or mortar and pestle, pulverize the lavender, then rub it through a fine mesh sieve, so that a fine powder results. This should yield around 1 tablespoon (1 g) of powder. Add the lavender powder to the food processor.
Pulse the soap flakes, super washing soda and lavender powder until it’s completely mixed, with no visible flakes of soap remaining. Stir in the lavender essential oil, if using.
Pour into a glass jar, label and close tightly. Use 2 to 3 tablespoons (26 to 39 g) per load of laundry, along with the fabric softener in the fabric softener dispenser, if using. If you don’t have any of the Lavender Fabric Softener made up, you can use plain vinegar as a softener.
Tip: Depending on the size and shape of your soap bar, you may end up with more or less grated soap, and the recipe can easily be adapted to accommodate. For every ½ cup (25 g) of grated soap, you’ll need ½ cup (135 g) of super washing soda.
Fresh Mint Wall Wash
The uplifting smell of mint refreshes and energizes, while natural castile soap lifts and washes away the grime and sticky fingerprints that tend to collect on household walls and doors. If you don’t have fresh mint, try using half as much dried.
YIELD: 2½ CUPS (625 ML)
1 cup (14 g) fresh mint leaves
1½ cups (375 ml) simmering hot water
1 cup (250 ml) cold water
1 tsp liquid castile soap
Peppermint essential oil (optional)
Place the mint leaves in a heatproof jar or pitcher. Pour the simmering hot water over the leaves. Let this steep for 20 minutes, then strain.
Combine the strained mint tea with the cold water, then gently stir in the castile soap and 1 to 2 drops peppermint essential oil, if using.
Use old rags to dip in the solution and wipe down walls, doors and window frames. Make up only enough wall wash that you can use at once; it doesn’t store well beyond 1 day.
Lavender Fabric Softener
Vinegar is one of the most frugal fabric softeners around. It helps to remove leftover detergent and softens your clothing as it does so. While lavender is a favorite at our house because of its tick-repelling properties and sweet scent, try infusing your vinegar with a variety of your favorite flowers, herbs and citrus zest to brighten up your laundry routine.
YIELD: ENOUGH FOR AROUND 6 LOADS OF LAUNDRY
⅔ cup (24 g) dried lavender flowers
1½ cups (375 ml) white vinegar
Combine the lavender flowers and white vinegar in a pint (500-ml) jar.
Cap with a nonmetallic lid and let steep for 1 to 2 weeks, out of direct sunlight. If you have only metal lids, place a few sheets of plastic wrap or wax paper between the jar and lid, to prevent corrosion from the vinegar.
Strain the finished vinegar. It will have turned a pretty shade of pink at this point and carry the faint scent of lavender. If you’d like a stronger floral smell, fill a new jar with a fresh supply of dried lavender flowers and pour the freshly strained vinegar on top. Repeat the infusion process for another 1 to 2 weeks, then strain again.
To use, add around ¼ cup (60 ml) to the fabric softener dispenser on your machine or use a dispenser ball, available in the laundry section of your local supermarket. You may find that you need up to ½ cup (125 ml) if you have hard water.
All-Natural Pet Care
Pets can enjoy the benefits of herbs and flowers too! In this chapter we’ll make a minty fresh treat to help banish dog breath, along with another tasty, vitamin-rich treat that dogs and cats alike will enjoy.
If your pet is always scratching because of pesky fleas, try making some herbal Flea-Repelling Powder, or soothe their skin with a quick Itchy Skin Rinse after a bath.
I also share the all-purpose first-aid salve recipe that I use on everyone from my goats to my chickens to my dogs. It’s great for using on humans too!
Our pets offer companionship, entertainment and unconditional love. For many households, they’re also valued members of the family. Why not make them their own natural and nontoxic products too?
Herbal Dry Shampoo or Flea-Repelling Powder
This dry shampoo or powder helps dogs feel and smell fresher between baths. It can also be used as an itch-relieving aid for dogs and cats plagued with irritated skin. Ground lavender flowers are added for their calming, flea-repelling aroma, while neem powder contributes a powerful punch against existing fleas. Both herbs are gentle and safe for cats and dogs in their natural, dried form. Lavender essential oil and neem oil are much stronger, though, and are not suitable substitutes in this recipe.
YIELD: ¼ CUP (40 G) HERBAL DRY SHAMPOO
1 tbsp (1 g) dried lavender flowers
¼ tsp neem leaf powder
¼ cup (40 g) arrowroot powder
Using an electric coffee grinder or mortar and pestle, grind the lavender flowers to a fine powder. Stir together with the neem and arrowroot until a uniform consistency is reached. Do not add any essential oils to this recipe, especially if you plan to use it on cats. Store the finished dry shampoo in a tightly sealed jar.
To use, scoop or pinch up a small amount of powder and rub it into your cat’s or dog’s fur. Follow with a thorough brushing. Depending on the size of your pet and their cooperation level, this may get messy! Although it’s easily vacuumed if it gets in your carpet or on your floor, you may want to apply this outdoors.
Animals and their human handlers who are pregnant or nursing should avoid neem.
Variation: If neem powder isn’t available, try finely powdered dried oxeye daisy flowers instead.
Itchy Skin Rinse
This after-bath rinse is designed to help relieve and soothe your dog’s itchy skin. Cats don’t often require or appreciate bathing, so this recipe wasn’t created with them in mind. Dill provides limonene, a compound with flea-killing properties, while calendula, rose and lavender flowers help calm irritation and inflammation. The antiseptic action of yarrow makes it a good addition if your pet has scratched raw spots on their skin. Yarrow may also help repel fleas. While this rinse can offer temporary relief, if your dog has chronic skin issues, you may want to investigate whether something in their diet is the culprit.
YIELD: 2½ CUPS (625 ML)
1½ cups (375 ml) apple cider vinegar
Fresh dill
Calendula flowers
Yarrow
Lavender
Rose petals and leaves
1 cup (250 ml) warm water
Heat the vinegar to a gentle simmer.
Fill a 1-quart (1-L) canning jar halfway with as many of the herbs and flowers that you have on hand. While fresh dill is optimal, it’s fine if the other ingredients are dried, if that’s what’s available to you.
Cover the flowers and herbs with the hot apple cider vinegar. Let cool to a comfortable temperature, then strain into a mixing bowl or pitcher. Add the warm water and pour over your dog as a final rinse after their bath.
All-Purpose Animal Salve
Calendula and plantain speed the healing of c
uts, scratches, burns, scrapes, bug bites, hot spots and other minor skin irritations. This salve can be used on dogs, cats, horses, chickens, cows, goats, sheep, pigs and humans too! Because calendula may contain tiny traces of salicylic acid, which cannot be metabolized properly by cats, it should be used sparingly on them, or cat owners may wish to omit calendula from the salve altogether.
YIELD: 5.5 OUNCES (156 G) SALVE
5 oz (150 ml) olive or sunflower oil
¼ cup (2 g) dried calendula flowers
¼ cup (1 g) dried plantain leaves, crumbled
½ oz (14 g) beeswax
Infuse the oil with the calendula flowers and plantain leaves, using one of the methods here.
Combine the infused oil and beeswax in a heatproof canning jar. Place the jar in a saucepan containing a few inches of water. Set the pan over a medium-low burner until the beeswax is melted. Once melted, you can leave the salve in the jar for storage or pour it into small tins.
Apply to pets as needed. Shelf life is around 9 months.
Variation: Try using violet leaves if plantain is not available.
Peppermint & Parsley Fresh-Breath Dog Treat
This cool treat combines fresh peppermint and parsley to help bust the bad-breath germs that often plague our dogs. Be sure to use plain unsweetened yogurt in this recipe, since sugar isn’t going to help the situation any. It’s important to avoid artificial sweeteners and xylitol as well, since those can be quite toxic to our canine buddies.
YIELD: 12 TO 24 TREATS
1 cup (227 g) plain yogurt
2 tbsp (5 g) chopped parsley
2 tbsp (5 g) chopped fresh mint
1 drop pure peppermint extract (optional)
Blend all of the ingredients together in a small food processor. Divide the mixture evenly between the compartments of an ice cube tray. If you have a small-breed dog, make smaller portions and divide between two trays.
Freeze until solid, then remove from the tray. Store the cubes in a freezer bag and keep frozen until use.
Some dogs might not like the hard texture, but they may like the softness of a treat that’s been thawed in the refrigerator for several hours.
If your dog has persistent bad breath, an examination of their diet and a checkup at the vet are probably in order to rule out any underlying health conditions.
Nettle & Coconut Oil Vitamin Treats
These tasty treats feature nettle, which is loaded with vitamins and trace minerals, and coconut oil, for its ability to reduce itchiness and promote healthy skin and shiny coats. They are suitable to give to both dogs and cats. Grass-fed butter is an optional healthy add-in for pets that might not like the taste of straight coconut oil.
YIELD: 12 TO 24 SMALL TREATS
½ cup (100 g) unrefined coconut oil
¼ cup (3 g) dried nettle leaves
4 tbsp (56 g) grass-fed butter (optional)
Infuse the coconut oil with nettles, using the Quick Method here, and then strain.
Pour the strained nettle-infused coconut oil into tiny silicone molds. Plastic ice cub trays can be used for larger dog breeds, and can be filled halfway, so the treats aren’t too large.
Place the molds in the refrigerator until they firm up. Remove the treats from the mold and store in a tightly closed jar or container in your refrigerator; they get too soft at room temperature. These make perfect bite-size treats that can be given directly from the refrigerator.
If you have a picky dog who isn’t fond of the taste of straight coconut oil, try mixing in ½ tablespoon (7 g) of melted butter per 1 tablespoon (12 g) of coconut oil, and making the treats with that combination instead.
Remember, even though these are healthy treats, you can still overfeed your pets. I give just 1 per day to my miniature dachshund and cats, while my larger-breed dogs get 2 or 3. If your pet has pancreatitis or trouble digesting fats, consult with your veterinarian for their advice.
Resources
While I like to buy local whenever possible, some supplies and ingredients need to be ordered from the Internet. It can be confusing, trying to find reliable and high-quality places to order from, so I’ve assembled a list of online vendors I’ve purchased from and have had good experiences with.
ANTIOXIDANTS
Vitamin E and rosemary extract (also called rosemary antioxidant) are two antioxidants that will help your oil-based products, such as salves, lip balms, body butters and lotion bars, last longer. You can buy organic and non-GMO sourced versions from:
Mountain Rose Herbs—http://mountainroseherbs.com
BEESWAX
Support your local beekeeper by buying this locally, if possible. Check the farmer’s market and health stores in your area. You can also buy convenient beeswax pastilles at:
Bramble Berry—http://brambleberry.com
Mountain Rose Herbs—http://mountainroseherbs.com
BOTTLES, TINS & JARS
Small 4-ounce (125-ml) glass mason jars from the canning section of my local grocery or feed store make fantastic containers to keep salves, lotions, creams and bath salts in. Tins, cobalt or amber glass jars and glass spray bottles aren’t available locally, so I purchase them from the following sites:
Mountain Rose Herbs—http://mountainroseherbs.com
Specialty Bottle—http://specialtybottle.com
CANDELILLA WAX
This vegan wax makes a great substitute for beeswax. Since it has a limited growing area and the potential to be overharvested, consider sunflower wax as another vegan alternative:
Bramble Berry—http://brambleberry.com
COSMETIC CLAY
I love to use naturally colored clays in soaps and face masks. You can find a variety of choices at the follow sites:
Bramble Berry—http://brambleberry.com
Mountain Rose Herbs—http://mountainroseherbs.com
DRIED HERBS & FLOWERS
I enjoy growing as many different types of herbs and flowers as I can, but some years may end up with a smaller harvest than I need. When that happens, I supplement my supply with high-quality dried herbs from these two fine vendors:
Bulk Herb Store—http://bulkherbstore.com
Mountain Rose Herbs—http://mountainroseherbs.com
LIP BALM CONTAINERS & SUPPLIES
Making lip balm is such a fun activity for all ages! It also makes a great last-minute gift and stocking stuffer. You can buy lip balm tubes, pots, printable labels and slider tins at these sites:
Bramble Berry—http://brambleberry.com
Rustic Escentuals—http://rusticescentuals.com
OILS & COSMETIC BUTTERS
While you can buy and use oils from your grocery store, sometimes they’re past their prime and may make your products go rancid more quickly. For a wonderful selection of reliably fresh and high-quality oils and butters, try one of the following businesses:
Bramble Berry—http://brambleberry.com
From Nature With Love—http://fromnaturewithlove.com
Majestic Mountain Sage—http://thesage.com
Mountain Rose Herbs—http://mountainroseherbs.com
Nature’s Garden—http://naturesgardencandles.com
PRESERVATIVES
There are several other preservative options at the two sites listed below that you may want to explore. Read descriptions carefully, since some are natural and some are synthetics:
Lotion Crafter—http://lotioncrafter.com
The Herbarie—http://theherbarie.com
SUNFLOWER WAX
This is a pure white, very hard wax processed from sunflowers, making it another great vegan alternative to beeswax:
Nature’s Garden—http://naturesgardencandles.com
WEBSITES
Below, I’ve listed my website, along with several others that you may enjoy reading and learning from.
The Nerdy Farm Wife—This is my site! If you enjoyed the projects in this book, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter so you can get my latest soap-making and herbal-crafting ideas sent to
your email each month. http://thenerdyfarmwife.com
The Soap Queen—This site has lots of fun tutorials for soap making and body care products. http://soapqueen.com
The Mountain Rose Blog—If you love in-depth and helpful herbal project tutorials with accompanying beautiful photography, you’ll love this blog! http://mountainroseblog.com
Bulk Herb Store Blog—This site has more great herbal projects and gorgeous photos.
http://www.bulkherbstore.com/blog
HERBAL EDUCATION
The Herbal Academy—I’ve taken a few online herbal classes from here and they’re fantastic.
They also have a blog with solidly researched and interesting herbal projects.
http://herbalacademyofne.com
Dawn Combs—As an ethnobotanist and author, Dawn offers beginner-level Heal Local™ bootcamps and year-long, long-distance herbal certification programs.
http://www.mockingbirdmeadows.com.
The Bellebuono School Of Herbal Medicine—This school offers local or distance certificate programs, lectures and retreats. http://www.hollybellebuono.com
Acknowledgments
This book would not exist without the encouragement and support generously given to me by readers and subscribers of The Nerdy Farm Wife. For much of my life, I never really felt like I fit in anywhere. Now I know, I just needed to make my own place in the world, where I could visit with a flow of like-minded friends on a regular basis. I love and adore my blog readers because they are simply the best!
Thank you to Will Kiester and the entire Page Street team, for providing the opportunity to write the book that was in my heart. Page Street invests a tremendous amount of time and care into the books they publish, and I’m so honored to be included in their lineup.