DIY
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How to Make a Salve for Pain
First of all, how cute are these tiny deodorant sticks? I didn’t realize when I ordered them that they were 15ml sized, but I’m glad about that, because I probably would have looked for something bigger. These are the perfect size for your purse, or glove compartment, or wherever else you like to stash your much-loved salves. This week, I used them to make my Muscle Magic salve for pain. This is the salve I made for our son to take to Alaska for the salmon fishing season. It’s been a life saver for him up there, and he tells me frequently how much it helps. Salmon fishing is…
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How to Make an Herbal Infusion
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Isn’t it wonderful to reconnect with friends from long ago? Cathy — a friend of mine from way back — texted me earlier this week after reading my post about daily art journaling. One of the day’s entries I shared was about how I was making face masks and my Muscle Magic salve for our son to take with him on his trip back up to Alaska for salmon fishing. “How do you make Muscle Magic?” Cathy asked. She told me…
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How to make your own homemade hand sanitizer
” If you’ve read Twig and Feather for any length of time, it’s probably clear that I’m a big fan of homemade first aid, homemade health products and home remedies. So when I overheard a conversation about the lack of hand sanitizer at Costco the other day (while I was braving the crowds to grab some toilet paper from the quickly dwindling supply), I decided it was time to show you how easy it is to make your own homemade hand sanitizer. The crowd at Costco was what you’d normally only encounter on the day before Thanksgiving. You could barely move. And as we elbowed our way through the masses,…
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Herb Love : Fire Cider
Has ever a humble jar of vinegar created such a fuss? Enter … Fire Cider. Yes. It sounds like something your bootleggin’ great grandpa used to make out in his backwoods Tennessee still. It’s not moonshine, though, but a powerful health tonic. And one that has been the subject of outraged-fueled protests, claims of piracy and fraud, petitions, lawsuits, and a denial on Dr. Oz. You can read all the details here. As far as I can tell, Rosemary Gladstar is the original creator of this concoction. She’s been sharing the recipe with her students at the California School of Herbal Studies since the early 80s. I’m content crediting her…
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Wonderful Weeds: Plantain
It’s a bit humbling to discover that the "weed" I've grumbled about so often is actually a powerhouse of goodness. In the old days (circa two weeks ago), I would grit my teeth whenever I saw that “weed” in the driveway, walkway and lawn. It was everywhere.
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Growing and Drying Mint for Winter Tea
From the age of 7-10, I lived in a tiny town in Oklahoma called Heavener. Over the years, I’ve met a number of people who were born and spent their whole lives in Oklahoma, and none of those people except for one ever heard of Heavener. I have a fond memory of attending a Seder Passover dinner at the home of Glen Campbell (and his beautiful wife, Kim) when my son was 8, and at one point during the night, I found myself standing in the kitchen talking to Glen while he ate a plate of food. Knowing he had grown up in Oklahoma, I asked him if he’d ever…
