DIY Herbs

RSS Feed Homepage

Herbal Cosmetics
2008-05-03 22:59:00
Easy Project: Cleansing Creams From very early civilization, people caught on to making cosmetics and using them to enhance beauty. The Romans tossed herbs and flower petals into water to make bathers smell sweet instead of ripe. The ancient Egyptians used scarab beetles and minerals to make eyeliners, lipsticks and rouge. Who has seen a picture or model of an ancient Egyptian that didn't have eyeliner? Even the men, the Kings, in fact, wore it with pride. This was made from mineral sources. Lipsticks and rouges were made from insects. Powders were eventually invented to dry out the liquids that were applied to skin. Even then, no one liked a "shiny" look!Homemade cosmetics are an ancient human tradition and it wasn't until society became so large and so furious that women began turning to store shelves for their face and body enhancements. This was probably sometime in the 20th century. That wasn't that long ago so many of the recipes and methods are still available ...
More About: Cosmetics , Herbal

Cooking With Herbs Part I
2008-04-10 03:34:00
Herbal Vinegars and Oils Most people are familiar with some aspect of cooking with herbs. Everybody grew up adding Coriander to Pea Soup or Basil to Tomato Sauce or some other great herb to some family favorite. Mom's recipe books all the way back to Betty Crocker had pages of references to various herbs and spices and what they best accompanied. Everyone knows that the Italian herbs are Basil, Oregano, Garlic and Thyme. Most people also know that Indian spices include Curry, Coriander and Turmeric. And many more know to use "Taco Seasoning" with their Mexican dishes but not too many of us realize exactly what spices and herbs this entails. Still, most of us are more or less somewhat familiar of the art of using herbs and spices in our cooking. But there are also many Americans who prefer plain to spicy and just won't eat anything ethnic. This is like my father, who won't eat Chinese or Thai foods because he thinks they are too spicy or weird for his taste. He like...
More About: Cooking , Herbs , Part

Spring Wreath Project
2008-03-31 22:09:00
Birdnest Wreath This is a very simple, easy to make project that I created for Spring . I make this wreath up in a day and it brightens the wall until September, when it starts to brown a bit and look crispy. But it is cheap enough and easy enough to be made up every March or April. And it's pretty enough to duplicate every year. Wreath Materials: 8" Grapevine Wreath 1 Bag of Natural German Statice 1 Bunch of Dried Yellow Wheat 1 Bunch of Natural Dried Strawflowers 1 Bunch of Dried Bunny Tails 1 Pkg of Wooden Birds w/ Feathers 1 Small Wooden Nest 1 Pkg Medium Floral Wire Small Pkg of Floral Picks Although it might be easier and faster to use a glue gun on a Wreath project like this, I don't recommend it. I think it's thrifty and wise to use picks so that you can just remove the dried stuff in a year, pull out the picks, buy new Dried Flowers and reuse the Wreath Base and the picks. If you don't care about thrifty, just use a glue gun and toss the whole thing when the se...
More About: Project

Herbal Remedies
2008-03-06 17:27:00
Herbal Remedies Part II Now it is time to return to my original posting on Herbal Remedies. As I already said, the oldest use of herbs was to cure various ailments throughout history. Herbs are the foundation of all modern medicine and many chemical pharmaceuticals originated with Herbs even as they are now duplicated artificially. They like to make artificial copies of Herbs so that they can always have them on hand, make them as they see fit, control the cost and development and not have to participate in the growing and tending of beautiful loving Herb plants that might get bugs or not produce enough or otherwise slow down their money machines. But nothing compares to the real thing in regards to expense, safety and quality when you consider the dangers of chemicals and artificial drugs.Americans put too much trust in the pharmaceutical industry. Not because they are scared or stupid, it just makes sense in their world, where they are harried, busy and usually broke. It'...
More About: Herbal

Homemade Potpourri: diy Project
2008-02-22 18:46:00
My current project for you is to make your own homemade Potpourri . If you read this post, follow the instructions and get the right materials for a chosen recipe, you will have your own potpourri in a matter of days. It will be the same quality of potpourri you would purchase in the store. Potpourri is essentially a personal pleasure. You will always choose your floral or herbal ingredients according to your own preferences for fragrance and color. You may like to attempt a blend to match a perfume you wear or a color match to a bedroom or living room scheme. And what more romantic a way to preserve petals from a Bridal or Mothers' Day bouquet?Some of the best scented additions to any Potpourri include Roses, Carnations, flowering Tobacco, Honeysuckle, Sweet Peas, night-scented Stocks, Orange Blossoms and Clove Carnations. Some of the prettiest additions that are nicest when dried: Lily of the Valley, Jasmine, Sweet Violets, Verbena, Hyacinth and Lavender. Always pick off...
More About: Project

The Basics of Herbal Dyemaking
2008-02-12 23:14:00
Introduction to Herbal Dye making No chemical dye can achieve quite the depth and luster of many plant dyes. Flowers, leaves and roots give subtle variations of tone and color that mellow and soften with time but never lose their natural harmony. This is an ancient skill steeped in tradition. As early as 3000 BC in China there is evidence of this art. By 2500 BC Madder and Indigo were well known in India and plant dyeing was a popular new art. Egyptians discovered and perfected mordants and were dyeing red and yellow from Safflowers and using Indigo and Woad to achieve variations of blue. In the first century A.D. Greek physicians and herbalists were using Woad, Weld and Madder as their principal dyeing plants. During the Middle Ages, large tracts of farming land in England and Europe were turned over to the cultivation of plants used in dyeing. They were already aware of blue, yellow and red dyes but through experimentation with mordants they discovered great variations in ...
More About: Basics , The Basics

The Use of Herbs as Insecticides
2008-02-08 22:46:00
Recipes Included! Many plants produce natural insect repellants as a part of their defense systems and some of these are widely used in prepared powders and liquids in the garden and the home. Derris, commercially known as Rotenone, is a popular organic insecticide extracted from the powdered roots of a Malaysian shrub plant often referred to as "Tuba". In the garden, herbs like Tansy, Rue and Pennyroyal are grown near other plants to deter pests. Many plants have been found to repel Whiteflies and other pests in the Greenhouse. And scientific experiments have proven that some herbs and flowering plants emit volatile chemicals into the air and provide protection from insect attack. Some of these have proven to be toxic to Mosquitos that carry Malaria and Yellow Fever and have been used successfully in ravaged third world countries. It is currently hoped that new generations of insecticides and deterrents can be developed from Herbs .One of the most successful has been the use o...

The Herbal Basics in Perfume Making
2008-02-03 20:28:00
For centuries it has been an art and a science to make body scents that are used as perfumes. In very ancient times people would strew flowers and scented herbs on the floors to reduce smells. They would also place them in a tub and fill it with hot water and use the herb and flower oils to scent their bodies in the absence of soaps. Of course, over time, this lead to the creation of soaps made originally, as well, with flowers and herbs. As civilization became more and more integrated and therefor sensitive to other bodies, people would rub their skin with herbs and flowers to mask their own body odors. Before sanitation and public use of showers, this was a must! And it eventually lead to the process of making herbs and flowers into perfumes.I am going to post recipes for homemade herbal perfumes in the future. For now, I would like to talk a little about the various type of processes that can be used. Some are cheaper and easier than others. None is better than the other...
More About: Perfume , Basics , Herbal

An Easy Fun DIY Project: Herb Wreath
2008-01-29 21:33:00
How To Make Your Own Gorgeous Eucalyptus Wreath! This is one of my special DIY Project s. It is the perfect time of year to make and display a beautiful Eucalyptus and Flower Wreath. The gorgeous scent of fresh Eucalyptus combined with the color of dried flowers makes for a relaxing and warm addition to any cozy winter home. So get ready to go shopping at the Craft store or online at many popular suppliers to put together your fun new project! As you work your way through the project, giving it your own special touch, you can refer to a photo of my own results, posted on the site as "My Eucalyptus Wreath".Supplies you will need:1. 8" Grapevine Wreath Base (see photo above)2. 1 Pkg Dark Green Eucalyptus3. 1 Pkg Gilded Red Eucalyptus (gold sprayed)4. 1 Pkg White Strawflowers5. 1 Pkg of Purple Baby's Breath6. 1 Pkg of Dried Peppers and Pods7. 6 Star Anise8. 1 Pkg of Maroon Dried German Statice9. 1 Pkg of White Dried German Statice10. 1 Pkg of Dark Green Dried Ger...
More About: Easy , Herb

Using Garden Roses Creatively
2008-01-26 15:50:00
Projects For Your Garden Roses Although Roses are not technically Herbs, they are flowers, I like to work with them in Herbal projects and find that they add tremendous color and scent to my favorite crafts. Potpourri must have Roses and so should scented Sachets. Roses add lovely scent, color and beauty to wreaths, swags, braids, stuffed pillows and handmade soaps and perfumes. So get out into your garden and pick the Roses! When they are fading from bloom, dropping their petals and leaves, don't toss them out... pick them all up and set them aside for one of these great projects I am going to outline for you here. A Lovely Rose PomanderYou will need:8oz of dried Rosebuds3 feet of Ribbon or decorative CordMedium Florists' Wire3 inch Florist Foam BallScissorsCraft Glue or Glue GunGreen Cardamon Pods (optional) Instructions:Start by folding your cord or ribbon in half and attaching it to the crown of the foam ball with a length of florist wire. Tack it down firmly. Hold it u...

How To Grow Your Own Herbs
2008-01-18 21:55:00
Part One Of The Series This is part one of a lengthy series I plan to post here on the art of growing your own herbs. From planning and designing the garden, to providing the best environment, to harvesting your lode, this series will lead you through it. There are a lot of rewards for growing your own herbs. One is that you always have a ready supply of fresh, healthy plants. Even better, you control their environment so you know what chemicals and fertilizers have been used, if any, and what their dangers are. There is no travel time from your own garden, making the herbs as fresh as they could ever be. You clean them yourself, picking through them carefully, ensuring that you get the best part of the plant rather than the high ratio of stems and debris you get when you buy shaker or bottled herbs.So here is the first increment in my series. In part one, I am going to show you first of all of the matters that must be considered in choosing a proper site for your garden. Th...
More About: Herbs , Grow

How Do Herbs Promote Health?
2008-01-15 15:20:00
For centuries mankind has encountered herbs and spices and discovered their assets. Their earliest uses were to make bland and downright awful food taste better. Limited resources and difficult travel made getting foodstuffs not grown locally nearly impossible. Regions of Asia, India and Africa were limited to rice, beans, grains and wild meats. Spices and herbs made all of this more palatable and thereby became a tradition in certain regions. This is where cuisine came from. Also all regional cuisines are based upon the native foodstuffs enhanced with exotic herbs and spices. Another use for herbs and spices was in reducing offensive odors. In the days before toilet paper and ready potties, people wore herb necklaces to reduce the fecal odors. The lack of available plumbing kept people from taking regular showers and places like France developed perfumes based on Lavender, which was and still is a profuse crop of the countryside. You've heard the term "French Bath"? This...
More About: Health , Promote , Herbs

Herbal Refreshment
2007-09-06 21:31:00
Herbs have had a long traditional use in cooking and drink making. Familiar as we all are with their use in cooking, from Oregano and Basil in Italian dishes to the more arcane use of Curry in Indian and Thai foods. However, drink making goes back just as far and is pitifully not as well known. Herbal beers and wines were the first buzz of early men, drinking Metheglin from a large bowl floating with fresh hops. And most of it is super yummy, even if you've never heard of it, even if it doesn't come in a can. Here are some of my favorite recipes for alcoholic drinks. Look for future blog entries for recipes for non alcoholic mixes and other great goodies.HERE ARE SOME GREAT COCKTAILS MADE FROM HERBS:MINT JULEPYou need:1/2 Cup of Water, 4 Tbsp chopped Mint leaves, 2 Tbsp Sugar, Juice of one Lemon, 1 Cup Club Soda, 1/2 cup of Whiskey & Mint sprigs. -- makes 9 oz-10-Minute Instructions:1. Bring the water to a boil and pour over the Mint leaves 2. Stir in the Sugar until it ...

Herbal Remedies
2007-08-29 23:49:00
Throughout history, before medicine and, indeed, during the development of the practice of Medicine, people discovered and used Herbs for healing purposes. Many of our modern "miracle" medicines are merely retooled herbal recipes. Most medicines, in fact, are originally modeled on the properties of plants and herbs. Until they are reformulated into chemicals which make it easier to handle and mass produce, these medicines are nothing more than natures green stuff. I have made many homemade variations of medicines using herbs. Most of them are easy recipes with simple ingredients but work wonderfully well. I want to share with you some of the more elegant and useful of these recipes. Today, I will start with homemade herbal remedies for Arthritis and Bursitis. Yes, I know these are serious and painful illnesses and we should not fool around with any "snake oil" recipes. But I have arthritis, a very painful version of two kinds, in fact, and many of these recipes have had a p...
More About: Remedies , Herbal

Homemade Cosmetics
2007-08-26 02:33:00
Homemade Herbal Cosmetics far outperform mass produced models. Those of us who have made a luxurious glycerin face cream or a spicy herbal toner know that the quality of fresh homemade and the luxury of chemical free ingredients is priceless. Now, it isn't the cheapest product you can obtain; Walmart has a store full of those. But it is the finest, the freshest and the most effective product you can get anywhere for a reasonable cost. And you CONTROL it all. You make exactly what you want! Here are some example recipes for homemade cosmetics. I have tried to make a variety of items here so that you can actually make one of each kind you might need for a battery of basic day to day cosmetic regimes. ROSEWATER TONER This easy as pie and just as enjoyable! Gather up fresh Rosewater, which you can buy in most health food and beauty supply stores; Vegetable Glycerin, also available in health food stores but also in some upscale groceries; and Witch Hazel. Now, before starting...