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Monday, July 02, 2012

Loving lavender

All the lavender in our herb garden is at the peak of bloom right now, so I did the first harvest yesterday.  The flowers smell so fragrant, drying in bunches in our kitchen.  Some of the lavender will go into tea (as a calming, soothing, grounding herb); some has already been packed into mason jars of olive oil to steep into a rich lavender healing oil that is a must for any household herbal first aid cupboard.  Lavender oil can be added into salves (for burns, cuts, scrapes), used as topical oil (for easing migraines, as an antibiotic and antiseptic), or blended with pure essential oils for massage or other healing blends.  Lavender is so important, both for attracting pollinating insects, bees and butterflies, as well as versatile and beautiful as a healing plant that I can't imagine not always having some on hand. 

To make your lavender oil (the solar infused method):

Add large handful of fresh lavender flowers (dry, not damp) into clean dry glass mason jar.
Top up the jar with pure olive oil.   Tighten the lid.
Let oil steep in a sunny window for 4-6 weeks, shaking jar gently each day.
Then strain out lavender flowers and store remaining oil in a dark glass jar. 







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