Simply Natural Nessa

The finished lavender oil can either be used on its own, or used as an ingredient to create other products like natural salves, ointments, or creams. RECIPE: 🌿 1/2 cup (4 oz) dried lavender flowers 🌿 2 cup (16 oz) extra virgin olive oil (or jojoba oil or sweet almond oil) 🌿 Glass quart-sized mason jar 🌿 Cheesecloth or a nut milk bag To Make: 1. Start by crushing the dried lavender flowers gently with the back of a spoon or with a mortar and pestle. This will help to release the aromatic oils found in the lavender. 2. Place the crushed lavender flowers in a glass jar and cover them with the carrier oil of your choice. Ensure that the flowers are completely submerged in the oil to prevent any mould or bacteria from contaminating the oil. Seal the jar tightly with the lid and place it in a cool, dark place to infuse. Allow the lavender flowers to steep in the oil for at least 2-4 weeks, shaking the jar gently every few days to help with the infusion. 3. Once the infusion time is complete, strain the lavender flowers from the oil using a cheesecloth, fine mesh strainer, or a nut milk bag. Squeeze the cloth with the plant material inside to extract as much of the infused oil as possible. 4. Transfer the strained lavender infused oil into dark glass bottles for storage. Amber or cobalt blue bottles are excellent choices as the dark glass helps protect the oil from light exposure, which can degrade the oil over time and cause it to lose its potency. 5. Store the bottles in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight, such as in a cool, dark cupboard or pantry. 6. This lavender infused oil will have a mild aroma to it. It will not be as strong as a true essential oil. To give the oil extra fragrance, you can add a few drops of your favourite organic lavender essential oil if you choose. 7. Over time, oil can become rancid, developing a stale or unpleasant odour. If the infused oil smells unpleasant or has changed colour, it should be discarded and a fresh batch can be made. The shelf life of lavender infused oil is approximately one year. #lavenderinfusedoil #lavenderoil #lavender #herbalrecipes

Bone broth is made from animal bones, in this case, from beef bones containing bone marrow. This broth is a rich source of collagen in the diet. Rather than buying expensive collagen supplements, incorporating bone broth into your diet on a regular basis can be a wonderful collagen boost and it comes in a form the body recognises, and so will use. RECIPE: 🍃 1 1/2 kilograms (4 pounds) beef bones with marrow (or can use organic chicken, pork, lamb etc.) 🍃 4 large carrots, chopped into 2-inch pieces 🍃 2 medium brown onions, quartered 🍃 4 celery stalks, cut into 2-inch pieces 🍃 2 whole heads garlic, halved 🍃 1 tsp sea salt 🍃 2 tbsp whole black peppercorns 🍃 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme (optional) 🍃 3 sprigs fresh rosemary (optional) 🍃 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 🍃 Filtered water To Make: 1. Place the bones in a large stockpot and cover with cold filtered water. Bring the water to a boil over high heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes before draining and rinsing the bones with fresh water. 2. Next, preheat the oven to 230°C (450°F). Transfer the bones and vegetables (carrots, onions, garlic, celery) to a large oven dish. Try to avoid piling them on top of each other. Use two oven dishes if necessary. Roast the ingredients for 30 minutes before gently tossing the bones and vegetables, and roasting for an additional 15-30 minutes more. 3. Place the roasted bones and vegetables into the crockpot along with the peppercorns, thyme, rosemary, and apple cider vinegar. Fill the pot with approximately 12 cups of filtered water, or until the bones are fully submerged. Cover the pot and turn the slow cooker to high to bring to a gentle simmer.  4. Reduce the heat to low and, with the lid slightly ajar, occasionally skim any foam or excess fat that floats to the top. Simmer for at least 8-12 hours, ideally 24 hours. Add more water if needed to make sure the bones and vegetables remain fully submerged. 5. Once the bones have simmered and the broth is ready, strain the bone broth through a fine mesh strainer lined with a nut milk bag or cheesecloth, or fine muslin cloth. Set aside the broth to cool and allow the bones to cool before discarding. #bonebroth #guthealth

Nails will absorb whatever is put on them, so using a toxic nail polish can cause the top layer of the nail to dry out, welcoming bacteria, yeast, and mould underneath fingernails. Manicures, nail polish remover, or too much nail polish can also lead to brittle nails. This nail cuticle cream uses: 🍂 Coconut oil: Which offers antibacterial and moisturising properties. 🍂 Sweet almond oil: Rich in vitamin E, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and helps retain moisture. 🍂 Jojoba oil: More of a wax than an oil, it mimics the skin’s natural sebum (oil) that protects the skin and promotes acid mantle production on skin; which protects against harmful bacteria. 🍂 Vitamin E oil: Improves nail growth and promotes healthy nail colour. 🍂 Lavender essential oil: Very healing for the skin due to its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. 🍂 Citrus essential oil: Helps to soften the cuticle and promote nutrients from other oils to be absorbed by the skin better. 🍂 Myrrh essential oil: Great for preventing fungal infection. RECIPE: 🌿 1 tbsp organic beeswax 🌿 1 1/2 tbsp organic shea butter 🌿 1/2 tsp organic almond oil or coconut oil 🌿 1/4 tsp jojoba oil 🌿 5 drops vitamin E oil 🌿 8 drops lavender essential oil 🌿 5 drops lemon essential oil 🌿 2 drops myrrh essential oil 🌿 3 drops tea tree essential oil To Make: 1. Fill a saucepan halfway with water. Bring the water to a boil, then perch a heat-proof glass bowl on top of the saucepan to make a double boiler. 2. Combine the coconut oil, jojoba oil, shea butter and beeswax together in the bowl, stirring occasionally until the wax has completely melted. 3. Remove the bowl from heat and add in the vitamin E oil, lavender, lemon, myrrh and tea tree essential oils, stirring to combine. 4. Immediately transfer the mixture to a small container or glass jar and let it cool at room temperature until firm. 5. Please keep in mind that a little goes a long way, so you only need a pea-size drop to cover both hands. 6. To use this cream, massage the cuticle cream into the nails, cuticles, and skin surrounding the nail. It can be applied over polish or onto bare nails. #nailcuticle #diycream #nailcare #naturalskincare

Each wrap should last about 6-12 months before they lose all their stickiness. Once this happens, you can either revive them by re-waxing the fabric with more beeswax, or compost them. RECIPE: 🍃 100% organic cotton cloth, pre-washed and cut into squares of desired size 🍃 2-3 tbsp sustainably sourced pine resin, powdered 🍃 1/2 cup beeswax pellets or grated beeswax (or organic carnauba wax) 🍃 1 tbsp organic jojoba oil 🍃 Large popsicle stick or other compostable stirrer 🍃 Parchment paper 🍃 Scissors (pinking shears will prevent fraying) 🍃 Double boiler (or a saucepan and mason jar/measuring cup) 🍃 Paintbrush (can only be used for this purpose) To Make: 1. Pre-wash your fabric and cut it into 2 squares with fabric scissors. You can cut more squares to make more wraps, but you’ll just need to increase the amount of each ingredient used accordingly. 2. In a double boiler, add powdered pine resin, grated beeswax, and jojoba oil, and melt until liquified. Mix throughout to ensure the ingredients are incorporated together. 3. reheat oven to 180 °C (350 °F). 4. Lay the fabric squares on some parchment paper set over a baking tray. Once the wax mixture is ready, brush it over the fabric squares with a brush from the centre out, ensuring you coat all the edges and corners. 6. Place the tray in the oven for just 1-2 minutes, to help the wax absorb into the fabric. 7. Being careful not to burn yourself, gently pick up the hot fabric off the baking paper and swing it gently in the air to cool it down and allow the wax to set. 8. Once dry, you can trim the edges of the wraps with pinking shears if need be to remove any loose bits of fabric or clean up the sides. 9. Once set, the wax wraps are ready to use. 10. Wash the wraps after each use in cool soapy water and hang to dry. 11. Compost or re-wax the wraps after 6-12 months of use, or once they’ve lost all their stickiness. 12. Beeswax wraps aren’t as airtight as plastic wrap, so to help with this, you can reinforce the wrap’s ‘cling’ by using a rubber band. #beeswax #reusable #beeswaxwraps #diy #plasticfreekitchen

Potpourri is a mixture of dried flowers, herbs, fruits, pods, spices, and essential oils, and can be displayed in bowls or sachets to add colour and a beautiful natural fragrance to the inside of homes. RECIPE: ⚘️ Baskets, jars, or bowls for display ⚘️ Sachets or handkerchiefs ⚘️ Dried flowers and gathered plant material ⚘️ Essential oils of choice (optional) ⚘️ Orris root powder To Make: 1. Dry out the flowers and herbs you'll be using in your potpourri. Once they’re dried, the flowers and herbs will be dry and crumbly to the touch, so be gentle when handling them. 2. Place the dried plant material into a container that you can seal. The fragile petals may crumble a little, but that’s okay. Don’t worry too much about how this container looks because it won’t be what you’ll be using to display the finished product in. 3. Add in any essential oils of choice you’ll be using to your dried items. This is what will make your potpourri really pop. This step is optional so feel free to skip it if you want purely the natural fragrance of the flowers and herbs you’ll be using. If you do choose to use essential oils, pick a scent that either enhances the fragrance of your dried plant material or a scent that complements the natural fragrance being emitted by the dried herbs and flowers. 4. Seal the container and let it sit for two to four weeks in a cool, dark, dry place. The essential oils will infuse with the dried flowers and make them smell more fragrant. Do not open the container until you’re ready to use the homemade potpourri. 5. Add about one to two tablespoons of orris root powder to you potpourri mix and gently toss to combine. This powder will act as a fixative to prevent the essential oil from evaporating too quickly, so that the scent of your mixture smells fragrant for longer. 6. Let the mixture sit overnight, then arrange your homemade potpourri in a decorative shallow bowl or jar to display or add it to sachet bags to put into drawers, closets, or to give as gifts. 7. For the best results, keep the potpourri out of direct sunlight as this will prevent the colours from fading and preserves the scent of the plant material for longer. #potpourri