Berry Jan - 101 Easy Homemade Products for Your Skin, Health & Home: A Nerdy Farm Wifes All-Natural DIY Projects Using Commonly Found Herbs, Flowers & Other Plants

101 Easy
Homemade Products
FOR YOUR SKIN, HEALTH & HOME

A NERDY FARM WIFES ALL-NATURAL DIY PROJECTS USING COMMONLY FOUND HERBS, FLOWERS & OTHER PLANTS

Jan Berry

FOUNDER OF THE BLOG THE NERDY FARM WIFE

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To my husband and children, who are my best friends and biggest fans. Thank you for always cheering me on and being patient while The Book consumed our lives for a season. Now that its done, I promise more lazy creek days and homemade ice cream, and less computer time and baked chicken (again?!) for supper.

Have you ever surveyed your patch of mint or lemon balm and wondered how that one tiny plant you bought in a fit of spring fever five years ago managed to take over half of your flower beds?

I sure have.

In spite of my jungle of a garden, I still cant resist buying or growing new varieties of flowers and herbs as I discover them. Rather than give up my compulsion, Ive made it my mission to see how creative I can get in using those plants that surround me.

My goal in writing this book is to share that passion and give you a tiny taste of the possibilities that are growing right around you as well.

I want to show you how to grab a rose from your garden, a handful of dandelions from your backyard or a bunch of basil from your local farmers market, and make something beautiful, useful and good for you, your family and your home.

Because I live on a tight budget and Internet shipping costs a small fortune, its important to me to use as many ingredients as I can source locally. When you live in rural America like I do, the store options are slim, but Im still able to find most of my ingredients within a 30-mile (48-km) radius. For the things that do have to be ordered online, Ive listed a few of my favorite vendors in the resource section in the back of this book.

I try to keep my recipes and instructions pretty straightforward, but if you run into a question or problem, please email me via my websites contact page, and Ill be happy to help.

Now if youre ready to make some fun stuff with me, turn the page and lets get started!

Our gardens and backyards are filled with flowers, herbs and weeds that have the potential to provide many fun and useful products for home, health and beauty. If you can safely eat a plant, theres a good chance that it can be used in other interesting ways as well.

Although Ive listed details about the ones specifically used to make the projects in this book, this isnt an all-inclusive list of plants with benefits. Explore the Internet, your library and local bookstore to find articles and books about herbs and edible flowers that grow in your locality. Some common plants, such as roses and basil, are easily recognizable, but always be certain of the identification of what youre harvesting before use.

Basil has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial and tick-repelling properties. Taken orally, it has an analgesic (pain relieving) affect on chronic pain conditions and makes a good expectorant in cough syrups. Basil opens up the sinuses, helps headaches, can be used in baths for stress or pain, as a toner for acne, rubbed on bug bites, incorporated in a salve for joint aches and has even been shown in one study to be effective in an antiaging cream. In short, basil is not just for pesto!

Calendula is a well-loved and often used flower thats included in many skin care recipes. Its a classic addition to diaper creams for babies, due to its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and skin healing properties. It may help conditions such as eczema, is a lymphatic (helps relieve congested lymph nodes), good for sore throats and swollen tonsils, helps skin regenerate and is used in formulations to reduce the swelling and appearance of varicose veins. The tea can be used as an antiseptic wound wash. It should not be used internally by pregnant women.

Catnip is a cooling and drying herb. It repels mosquitoes and flies, is a mild analgesic (pain reliever), calms the nerves so a person can rest, is added to bath soaks to relieve stress and can be used in a hair rinse for dandruff. As a tea it may help relieve colds, coughs, upset stomach, nausea, toothache and headache.

Chamomile is antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. Chamomile has been shown to have a mild cortisone-like effect and is often used in lotions, creams, salves and other products to help relieve rashes, irritated or red skin and eczema.