Comments on: On late fall non-food harvests http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/2009/11/30/on-late-fall-non-food-harvests/ This is a journal, of sorts, of an organic garden in SW Michigan. "Ut sementem feceris, ita metes: non semper erit aestas." Tue, 29 May 2012 17:42:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Ottawa Gardener http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/2009/11/30/on-late-fall-non-food-harvests/#comment-7513 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:39:22 +0000 http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/?p=3946#comment-7513 I love calendula too but have never tried making balm with it. Normally, I colour rice or something with the petals. I’ll have to try now.

]]> By: Sara http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/2009/11/30/on-late-fall-non-food-harvests/#comment-7501 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:20:14 +0000 http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/?p=3946#comment-7501 I admit, I made a batch from your instructions last time and it was a *little* greasy. Will adjust the next batch! :)

We just picked a few calendulas for our t-giving table last week. Not enough for balm but not bad having fresh flowers in almost-December!

]]> By: El http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/2009/11/30/on-late-fall-non-food-harvests/#comment-7500 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:05:43 +0000 http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/?p=3946#comment-7500 Mike, I should’ve tucked a jar in your seedbox but it was already in the mail! As you know with your soapwort, the garden is a source for more things than just food, pleasure, and exercise.

Amen, Emily!

Stef, I have a couple of posts about it and I tend to bore myself if I do blog posts of step-by-steps, but it’s pretty easy: pick flowers, remove petals, put in pan with oil, low boil for as long as you like. Grate beeswax in interim; find jars. Find shea butter (it’s around here somewhere), likewise lavender essence (it’s probably hiding with the shea butter). Remove oil from heat; strain out petals, pouring oil into another pan. Add beeswax slowly and stir to melt. Add shea butter and a few drops of essence (purely superfluous: the stuff smells great on its own) and then decant into tiny (1/4 cup) jars. Voila!

Sylvie, it’s a deal on that quince paste! You’re on my seed-trade list too. Whee. Does it get too hot for calendula there? It really shines for me in the fall; it kind of wimps out in summer’s “heat” (which of course is nothing like your heat).

EJ, well, you know, I have got to make a fuss or they’d think something was wrong with me :) But you’re quite right: I would rather they tell me than it sits unused…

Amanda, I hardly think YOU would doubt Girl Power when it comes to doing things like making balm! How fun, and what a fun project for them, you know? Hopefully they’ll also remember it, unlike the cheap Chinese trinkets our kid comes home with from birthday parties. Yeah: the lightbulb went off with me when I was spending big bucks on diaper rash ointment with calendula in it (heeyyy I can make this, cheaper). I do swear that with time I will become more acquainted with the huge world of herbs. Baby steps!

]]> By: Amanda http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/2009/11/30/on-late-fall-non-food-harvests/#comment-7499 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:11:02 +0000 http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/?p=3946#comment-7499 We’ve been making various balms for the past 8 years or so, out of various herbs/flowers in our gardens. This year for our daughter’s 10th bday (big slumber party year to celebrate double digits!), we had a Hogwarts themed party. My ginormous pregnant self played Professor Sprout. I had all 10 kids/friends run around with scissors (ha!) to collect herbs from outside. We discussed everything they collected- the herb’s healing properties, etc. and then popped them into the crock pot overnight to stew in olive oil. The next morning I added the beeswax and poured their salves into little glass dishes from the dollar store for the girls to take home. I swear this is the best batch ever! They threw in calendula, lavendar, sage, thyme, mint, comfrey, even a few old dandelions (!). It was a super dense pot herbs and oil. It smells lovely and it kicks butt (and very quickly!) on healing chapped skin, diaper rash, burns, ANYTHING! I wish I had made more!

]]> By: ej http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/2009/11/30/on-late-fall-non-food-harvests/#comment-7497 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:21:58 +0000 http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/?p=3946#comment-7497 I would see it as honest feedback and be honored to have such forthright friends.
They in turn should appreciate being educated on the qualities of different products.

]]> By: Sylvie http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/2009/11/30/on-late-fall-non-food-harvests/#comment-7496 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:05:28 +0000 http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/?p=3946#comment-7496 It’s not that easy to grow calendula in Virginia, let me tell you that. Although this year would have been a good one given how mild it’s been!

I know I’d be very appreciative of your balm and would never complain about greasiness (ssssshhhh!) if you ever want to send some my way. Quince Paste?

]]> By: stefaneener http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/2009/11/30/on-late-fall-non-food-harvests/#comment-7492 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:09:01 +0000 http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/?p=3946#comment-7492 What a great idea. I’d love to see a step-by-step of the process. And I’m not sure complainers would get a repeat offering. . .

]]> By: Emily http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/2009/11/30/on-late-fall-non-food-harvests/#comment-7491 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:55:50 +0000 http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/?p=3946#comment-7491 You gotta love a plant that blooms in Michigan in December.

]]> By: Mike http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/2009/11/30/on-late-fall-non-food-harvests/#comment-7490 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:38:17 +0000 http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/?p=3946#comment-7490 The balm sounds very interesting, we will have to try this next season, thanks for the idea.:)

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