Welcome to Day 14 of the 40 Day Herbalist Challenge! Today’s Challenge is all about herbs and vinegar. Vinegar is another very useful ingredient in the home herbalist’s tool kit and can make a wide range of recipes and concoctions. Read on to learn about vinegar extracts (sometimes called aceta), infused vinegars, and herbal oxymels!…
Welcome to Day 13 of the 40 Day Herbalist Challenge. Herbs + Oil is a useful combination. By infusing herbs in oil you can create flavorful ingredients for your kitchen that allow you to add beneficial herbs to your favorite recipes. You can also create infused oils intended for topical use with herbs that support…
Welcome to Day 12 of the #40DayHerbalist Challenge! Today let’s talk about herbs and alcohol. There are several different preparations that can be made with herbs + alcohol, the most common of which are extracts, elixirs, and cordials. Basic Herbs + AlcoholThe most basic of herbal projects using alcohol is an extract. Home herbalists generally…
Day 11 of the #40DayHerbalist Challenge Herbs + Water is the most basic of herbal preparations, but basic does not mean blah. Herbs + Water is all you need to create teas, compresses, steams, and even herbal baths. Welcome to Day 11 of the 40 Day Herbalist Challenge! Time Needed: 20-30 minutesTools Needed: Small enamel…
Day 10 of the #40DayHerbalist Challenge The herbs and spices in your kitchen cabinet have some uses that may surprise you, so consider today a mini introduction into the magic of kitchen herbs. Next week, we will begin using simple herbal ingredients that you likely can find at your grocery store to make recipes like…
Day 9 of the 40 Day Herbalist Challenge Welcome to Day 9 of the #40DayHerbalist Challenge: What Can You Make with Herbs? How have you used herbs? As a tea or an extract? In tablet or capsule form? There are many creative (and delicious) ways to use herbs that go far beyond these everyday…
Day 8 of the 40 Day Herbalist Challenge Herbs can be used one at a time or blended together. The practice of using single herbs is sometimes called simpling, and blending herbs together is sometimes called formulation or compounding. Both practices can range along a spectrum from uncomplicated to complex, and herbalists eventually find a…
Welcome to Day 7 of the #40DayHerbalist Challenge! Keeping track of herbal supplies and projects can be tricky until you find your rhythm, because some herbal projects and recipes will need a few weeks to mature from the time you put them together until they are ready use. Now that you have a few herbs…
Welcome to Day 6 of the #40DayHerbalist Challenge: Sourcing Your Herbs + Maximizing Freshness & Shelf Life. Dried herbs are one of the most common ways to work with herbs, but it’s important to remember that they won’t last forever. Learn about where to buy herbs and how to store them with today’s Challenge! Time…
Week One of the #40DayHerbalist Challenge debuted on January 2, 2017, but there’s still plenty of time to catch up, or start following along at your own pace. Here are links to the first 5 days of the Challenge! Day 1 – 5 Reasons to Learn Herbs + Types of Herbs to Use EverydayDay 2…