Herbal DIY Archives

Dried berries for herbal winter wellness

Agatha NoveilleDecember 1, 2022November 19, 2022

Dried berries are a staple ingredient in the winter herbal cupboard. They add flavor and bountiful benefits for cold-weather wellness. These three, especially, are good to keep on hand. Learn...

A guide to making herbal tea for new herbalists

Agatha NoveilleOctober 6, 2022November 2, 2022

Herbal tea is one of the most accessible ways to use plants to support wellness. It's easy to make and endlessly customizable. Here's my complete guide on herbal teas, including...

Herbal DIY Learn Herbalism Mullein

An herbalist’s guide to mullein flowers + an infused oil recipe

Agatha NoveilleJanuary 6, 2022December 31, 2021

Mullein flowers have many traditional uses and modern benefits. Here's an herbalist's guide for using them safely and effectively. This article also includes directions for making a simple infused oil...

Herbal DIY Home Herbalists Mullein

How to make mullein tea

Agatha NoveilleOctober 28, 2021October 28, 2021

Mullein leaf and flowers both make excellent herbal tea ingredients. In this article, I will show you how to make mullein tea, explain other herbs that pair well with mullein,...

Gardening Herbal DIY Mullein

When to harvest mullein flowers, leaves, and roots

Agatha NoveilleJune 24, 2021June 25, 2021

Mullein leaves, flowers, and roots are used in traditional Western herbalism. We will talk about how mullein is used in another article, but this one explains the basics for harvesting....

Herbal DIY Home Apothecary Learn Herbalism

Best places to buy dried herbs online

Agatha NoveilleJune 17, 2021June 23, 2021

There are many places to buy dried herbs online, but which ones are the best? Although I am a big proponent of shopping locally whenever possible, sometimes the only way...

Herbal DIY

My 2021 botanical bucket list

Agatha NoveilleJanuary 1, 2021January 4, 2022

A few years ago (in 2014, actually) I wrote a post about setting herbal New Year's resolutions. It ended up becoming a sort of botanical bucket list. I just updated...

Herbal DIY Learn Herbalism materia medica

How to create an herbal materia medica

Agatha NoveilleDecember 3, 2020December 3, 2020

One of my favorite tools is my herbal materia medica. It's a personalized journal and herbal reference that makes it easy to look up herbs that I have studied. Essentially,...

Herbal DIY Home Apothecary Home Herbalists

How to tell the quality of dried herbs

Agatha NoveilleOctober 8, 2020January 4, 2022

Learning to judge the quality of dried herbs can be tricky. It's a skill that's built with experience. Growing your own herbs and drying them at home are the best...

Herbal DIY Home Apothecary Home Herbalists

Alcohol free herbs for the home apothecary

Agatha NoveilleJuly 1, 2020April 11, 2022

Steeping herbs in alcohol is a quick and simple way to extract and preserve their benefits. Alcohol-based herbal extracts are potent and have a good shelf-life, so it’s no wonder...