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Make your own Hand Sanitizer

Make your own hand sanitizer..Really, it is not hard , and for most of you, you may have your own ingredients already …Lets get started!

First of all , I have made this before and was using before this virus thing started, I prefer to know what is in my bath and body products..and I would rather make it than buy it ..if I can. A bottle of sanitizer lasts about 6 months, but since this virus thing..Mine have been depleted, going through a bottle or two a month.

I love to use up my own aloe plants with this recipe, but I have some aloe gel and some liquid 100% aloe too if I need to do it quick. Lets gather the ingredients:

91 %iso propyl alcohol

real aloe or aloe gel/liquid

optional: glycerin

optional: drop or two of essential oils ..I like rosemary, lavender, etc

freshly cut aloe..I do sell these on the farm and market

fresh aloe is not scary to deal with, just be careful it does have thorns as you can see..if you are using fresh aloe…I first cut off the spikes, then slice it in half and scoop the gel out ..that’s it !..can save the tip to replant..these grow easy..the left overs..I stick in the freezer just in case of a burn..sunburn , etc ..aloe has great healing properties!

scooping aloe out
aloe into the measuring cup…cool huh???

you will need 1/3 of a cup of aloe..scoop it in the measuring cup and dump all of the remaining ingredients in to a blender and blend on high for about a minute…pour it in to your favorite dispensing container (i reuse mine) ..also, if using fresh aloe, i keep my sanitizer in the fridge…you don’t have to , I just do ..shake a bit before each use .

that’s it ..easy huh????..

recipe:

2/3 cup 91% isopropyl alcohol

1/3 cup fresh aloe (or aloe gel/liquid)

tablespoon of vegetable glycerin (optional)..I just like it ,,makes it a touch thicker

drop or two of essential oil (again, optional..i use 1 drop lavender, 1 drop rosemary)

my sanitizer….

Thank you so much for checking out my sanitizer recipe..please check us out online at http://www.thelandofmilkandhoneysoap.com to support our little farm.

Jen

Make your own : Vanilla Extract

I decided, since we are quarantined in house and I have been putting off making all the things I have been wanting to in a while, that I wanted to make really good vanilla extract (mine is store bought). I have heard that its better than store bought and possibly synthetic (ewwww…really???)…and they were right!..Its so better ….

How I did this : first , I cleaned a canning jar (new one ..), got some good vodka (you can use any vodka..but if you have good stuff ..why not??..plus I can make a drink for me to sip while I make this ..ha!

A few vanilla beans…I purchased these (believe it or not) at our local store : Major Market..bourbon vanilla beans…

Heres my set up:

Here I use : two vanilla beans per cup of vodka..I put them in a small jar. Now you will want to make sure your liquid does not touch the lid…but other than that ..you place your jar with the beans and the vodka together , and let it sit in a dry, no direct sunlight place , and check it once a week. Seriously, that’s it….easy , right?

Here I had to cut the bean to make it fit…lol
This is a week later (don’t forget to label your vanilla and date it )
This is two weeks ..I give it a little shake and a smell every week ..it starting to smell sooo yummy!

These make perfect gifts too!~

If yours gets low, just add some more vodka…the older it is , the better it is . Use it in all of your recipes…we like to put about half a tsp in our pancake mix …YUM!!!

Please visit us online : http://www.thelandofmilkandhoneysoap.com

facebook page : The Land of Milk and Honey Soap

#dirtyhomesteading

Thank you for reading …let me know how it turned out!

Jen

Easy Way to Dye Wool

I have been racking my brain for an easy, not complicated way to dye wool for my kids fiber class, and I think I have got it ! I started with giving them all a bag of unwashed, raw wool of multiple different animals. This allowed them to see what different textures, animals, breeds, etc felt like..and what a vast amount of differences they found!..We went through , cleaning, washing,.picking..etc ..now , I needed to show them color!

Wool can be dyed using various methods, some can be toxic, some can be from your garden , natural dying , etc..but I thought , if I am teaching kids ..teach something easy, teach with stuff they can get from their house and with stuff they probably already have…so, koolaid was the obvious choice.

Heres what to do , to dye fibers (animal) with koolaid.

first, you need : heat protective gloves or tongs (wool and water get hot!)

Two to three pyrex bowls…This is all food safe. no need to buy separate pans or bowls here

a towel for drying

hot pads

colander

a microwave

koolaid packets in colors of your choice (remember the color wheel , too many different ones will make brown) I used two to three per bowl

cleaned and dried wool of your choice , I had about 4-5 ounces of wool

Take your two pyrex bowl, divide the wool in half and put a pile in each bowl.

Now fill the bowls up with the warmest water you can get out of your tap..remember not to agitate the wool or it will felt. I did not stir it at all, or agitate it at all, even during the dying portion. I wanted it to be varied in color and not even, more artfull and natural ..plus, this eliminates the kids from touching it or getting burned …

But.. do make sure the water covers the wool. Gently, with the tongs, push the wool into the water to cover it . Now, let it sit for at least 15 to 20 minutes..to allow the wool to get up to temp and get fully saturated.

once the 15 minutes were over, I chose one of the bowls and three packets of koolaid. I just sprinkled the koolaid over the top of the wool..again ..not mixing it..but, allowing it to blend naturally….this took about one minute.

first pack on top , then I added the second and third to the middle and other side ..

now, place your bowl in to the microwave..can use the hot pads if the bowl is still hot..and put it on high for 3 minutes. Without opening the door, allow it to site for three minutes. now, put it on high again for three minutes, then let it rest again for 3 minutes.

now , open the door and check it …do not touch it ..it will be hot!!..get your tongs and press the wool away from the side of the bowl..if the water is clear…it done!..If not , keep repeating these steps until the water is clear, or mostly clear …this means that the wool has absorbed the dye…the heat is setting the dye in to the wool..and there is no need for any vinegar, or setting ingredient, since the koolaid has a high amount of citric acid already …

now, once the water is clear…you can remove the bowl with the wool in it …CAUTION..it is extremely hot!!!..be very careful not to burn your self..

Carry it to your sink, with the colander in the sink, carefully pour the hot wool in to it to drain the water….carefully!…once its drained…use your gloves and drop the wool on the towel..now you can allow the wool to remain there until its cooler..or you can gently roll it in the towel…no agitation or you will get felt!…

Now, repeat for the second bowl.

Here I did blue and red …

now, step back and look at your awesome, unique, hand dyed wool!…cant wait to see what you do!!!

Hope you liked my posts, please look at our facebook page : Land of Milk and Honey Soap…we put events up, have freebie contests, soap products, etc

Website: thelandofmilkandhoneysoap.com

and youtube channel :www.youtube.com/channel/UCXNeXRXq3PfmoMPgAAurmmw?view_as=subscriber

Thank you!

Dehydrating Grapefruit for bath Products and more

I love the smell of grapefruit!…And in this season, its Spring here..the grapefruit are at their biggest and best. Grapefruit is revitalizing, can help with softening of the skin, and is said to help with depression, plus it has this awesome scent!

We use the grapefruit in our bath teas, salts , soak and soaps here at the farm..and also in our cooking, teas, waters too..we usually end up with an abundance of them each year and I prefer to dehydrate most of them for use throughout the year.

While you can dehydrate them in the over, or the sun..I prefer to use my dehydrator for this chore…especially , when its not hot or dry, like today. I also, am careful not to over heat them, because I want all the color, the oils..and the benefits..so I chose a low and slow style of dehydrating. Start with ripe, firm grapefruit..not mushy, not green..no parasites or bruises. Wash them and dry them completely before slicing.

When you are ready, very thinly slice them..smaller than 1/4 inch slices, in the round..

I start laying them out on the dehydrator racks , just slightly touching..see above. I do not add or sprinkle anything on them..just natural.

Keep slicing and filling the racks , until your dehydrator is full …I think I ended up using 6 large grapefruits.

Now, place all the racks in the dehydrator…Its going to take a few days …yes days!!!..I put the dehydrator between 110 degree F to 125 degree F..and check them every 12 hours.

This was the second day …They were not crispy enough..too much liquid remains in the veins..so I continued the process another full day…(I think I cut them too thick, lol)..But, Low and slow , keeps those beautiful colors and properties intact , its worth it..be patient. Plus, the entire house smells sooo good!

Day Three, its finally done!..Lokk at the color , and it smells amazing too !..These can be stored in an airtight container in the pantry..sunlight can destroy those precious oils and colors, etc..if any part looks like its turning black (mold) please discard. The fruit should be very brittle at this point and break.

You can take the peels and powder them for cooking, teas, etc…

I take them and crumble them when I make bath salts ..like several tablespoons per quart of dried herbs, flowers, etc.

I also, use this mixture on top of special soaps, body soaks, in shower steam or face steam bowls. The recipes are often different depending upon the time of year, availability , and purpose….

The point is , have fun…make your own wonderful bath and teas…above is an example of one of my winter blends bath salts…peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus, rose petals, grapefruit, rose hips….smells devine!

Please visit us online to support our family farm to be able to keep posting awesome things , just for you! http://www.thelandofmilkandhoneysoap.com, we have ,made from scratch soaps, balms, scrubs, wool products, etc..

also see #dirtyhomesteading

On Fridays on our facebook page , The Land of Milk and Honey Soap.. we have a freebie friday contest, where we give away some of our products..we have some fun too!

Thank you!

Jen

Drying Eucalyptus to use in your bath

Eucalyptus leaves, torn and ready for the dehydrator

Eucalyptus leaves are very stimulating for mind and body , they help with de congestion and is soothing at the same time. I use them in my bath teas (a mix of dried herbs, spices, green tea, flowers , citrus ..depends on my need at the time, in a tea bag) and I use them in the tub or in a foot bath. I also make Bath soaks with generous amounts of sea salts, clays and dried Herbs, leaves, etc…One of the most used item is this Eucalyptus leaves.

Eucalyptus is available all year long here in Southern California, and can be harvested by simply snipping a branch or two. While you can dry them by old traditional ways, like hanging them upside down near a window or on your porch…I like doing them in the dehydrator..I get an even dried product in about 8-9 hours, instead of days or even weeks.

Harvest your leaves in the afternoon, when there’s no mist or water droplets on them. I take them inside and separate the best leaves, and toss the not so good leaves in my compost pile. I prepare my dehydrator , and tear up the leaves, placing them near each other on the drying racks (see the picture above). You will love the scent coming from the dehydrator! Set your dehydrator to 135F for 9 hours..mine has a shut off, if yours does not, check it a hour 7. When your leaves are done, you should be able to “crunch” them…there should be no bending, or moisture present at all.

store dried leaves in an air tight jar or bag

I remove the dried leaves and store them in air tight containers or bags, in the pantry. Be sure not to let your leaves get in sunlight, sunlight can destroy some of those awesome properties that you want in your leaves! I store mine in the pantry, and I check them over and move them around weekly..to check for mold, or any thing that looks funny. I do not use any chemical preservatives, and I encourage you to do the same..allot of those chemicals are not good for you!..These last about a year (if you dont use them all like we do!)

Eucalyptus into powder for use

While you CAN use the torn leaves as is..I found that to get that really great scent, oils and benefits from my leaves in my products..I like to grind them up. You can use what ever you like..but I have a special grinding bowl I use for my herbs, I love this bowl for grinding up my herbs…you will like the wonderful scent this creates while you are doing this !…And, you get to use the whole leaf!..

To make a simple relaxing bath tea :

get a medium to large bath tea bag

1 cup of epsom salt

1/2 cup sea salt

Green tea bag …open up tea and mix with salts..optional

1/4 cup baking soda

A Tablespoon of your ground eucalyptus leaves

a sprinkle of : dried rosemary/lavender/citrus slices or peels

optional: 4 drops of each tea tree oil, peppermint, essential oils

put all ingredients in to the tea bag and allow to float in a tub (or for foot bath in bowl) of warm water….you can squeeze the bag, or move it around to get the salts to dissolve

This is the time to make your self a cup of tea, relax, read a book…its wonderful to be able to make your own bath products!

Follow up with some of our natural body balm, available at http://www.thelandofmilkandhoneysoap.com

Bath teas will be available soon at the site above as well .

Thank you and enjoy yourself and enjoy learning…Till next time!

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