Simply Natural Nessa

How to dry fresh, cut flowers using the air drying method. Whether it’s your bridal bouquet, an anniversary or Valentine’s Day gift, or a particularly beautiful bunch of flowers you’ve gathered from the garden, drying your flowers will help in preserving them for longer. When it comes to air drying flowers, avoid flowers with a lot of water content. They tend not to dry all that well, and rot before they finish drying out properly. The best types of flowers for air drying include: ⚘️ African marigolds ⚘️ Anise ⚘️ Banksia ⚘️ Bottlebrush ⚘️ Billy buttons ⚘️ Cornflowers ⚘️ Celosia ⚘️ Dahlias ⚘️ Everlasting daisies ⚘️ Eucalyptus ⚘️ Gypsophila (Baby’s Breath) ⚘️ Gomphrena ⚘️ Globe thistle ⚘️ Gum ⚘️ Hyssop ⚘️ Hydrangeas ⚘️ Kangaroo paw ⚘️ Lady’s Mantle ⚘️ Larkspur ⚘️ Lavender ⚘️ Love in a Mist ⚘️ Poppies ⚘️ Proteas ⚘️ Roses ⚘️ Starflowers ⚘️ Strawflowers ⚘️ Statice (or sea lavender) ⚘️ Wattle ⚘️ Yarrow ⚘️ Small yellow flowers like buttercups How to Air Dry Flowers: 1. Begin by harvesting the flowers in the morning, when the flowers are at their freshest, and the dew has dried from the petals and leaves. Pick the blooms that are not yet fully open, as they will open more as they dry. To help the flowers retain their colour during the drying process, make sure to remove them from sunlight as soon as they’re cut. 2. Gather the flowers in small bunches by the stem and secure them with a piece of twine, string, or a rubber band. 3. Strip any excess foliage from flowers and cut the stems to your desired length (no shorter than six inches, or 15 centimetres). 4. Hang the flowers upside down in a dark, dry place that receives good air circulation. Keep them away from sunlight to retain some of their vivid colours. 5. Leave flowers to dry for 2 to 4 weeks, or until completely dry. You will notice the flowers start to change colour, going from bright and vibrant to brown or dull yellow. 6. When the stems are easy to snap, they are finished drying. 7. Once dry, remove the flowers from their hangers and, as an optional step, give them a quick spritz with unscented hairspray for protection, to help prevent them from crumbling too easily. #driedflowers #airdry #flowers

Blending beeswax with a softer oil, like coconut oil, can help bring down the melting point of the candle. This creates a more even burn and stops the candle from ‘tunnelling’ as much. If you use only beeswax, it will most likely ‘tunnel” around the wick, and you’ll be left with a ring of wax around the inside of your jar that won’t burn. If this happens, you can re-melt the wax and make it into a new candle. RECIPE: 🍃 1 pound pure beeswax, either in pellets or as a block 🍃 1/2 cup coconut oil 🍃 100 drops essential oils (optional) 🍃 Glass candle jars or metal tins 🍃 Cotton braided wick, cut into pieces, or wooden wicks 🍃 Metal pitcher 🍃 Bamboo skewers, paddle pop sticks, or pencils 🍃 Dried flowers, for decoration (optional) To Make: 1. Pour the beeswax into the pitcher and place in a large pot of water – filled just enough to cover the outside of the pitcher, without spilling over into the pitcher. Bring the water to a boil. 2. Turn the heat down to medium heat and stir the wax until completely melted. 3. Once melted, stir in the coconut oil, then remove the saucepan from heat. Keep the pitcher in the hot water to ensure the wax stays melted. 4. Allow the wax to cool slightly before adding in the essential oils (if using). Stir through, and pour a small amount of the wax into the bottom of each jar or tin. 5. Place a wick into the wax, keeping it to the centre of each jar. You can use a skewer to hold the wick in place while the wax sets; it will take around 5-10 minutes. 6. Fill the jars with the remaining wax, leaving about an inch of room at the top. 7. Wrap the end of the wick around a skewer until taut, then lay it horizontally over the jar. This will keep the wick in the centre while the wax hardens. Decorate the top of the candles with the dried flowers (if using). Please note that the flowers may act as a fire starter and create a bigger flame when burnt. So please be cautious and keep away from any flammable substances as they can be a fire hazard. 8. Once the candles have set, trim the wick to about half an inch, then it’s ready to light. #beeswaxcandles #candlemaking #homemadecandles

How to make an antibacterial liquid hand soap in just 5 minutes from start to finish. If you have sensitive skin, it’s wise to use less essential oils as some of the oils can be irritating to sensitive skin. The coconut oil acts as a carrier oil, but still use caution and test a little on your skin before using. RECIPE: 🌿 1 1/2 cups distilled water 🌿 2 tablespoons liquid castile soap 🌿 1 tablespoon fractionated coconut oil 🌿 15 drops clove essential oil 🌿 5 drops rosemary essential oil 🌿 10 drops tea tree oil 🌿 10 drops oregano oil 🌿 5 drops bergamot essential oil 🌿 5 drops cinnamon essential oil 🌿 5 drops eucalyptus essential oil 🌿 5 drops peppermint essential oil 🌿 16 ounce glass foaming hand soap dispenser To Make: 1. To make this foaming antibacterial hand soap recipe, start by adding the distilled water to a 16 ounce glass soap dispenser bottle. It’s important to add the water first, not the soap, otherwise it will create bubbles. Leave about 1 inch of room at the top of the bottle to ensure there is enough space for the soap to be added, and to prevent it from overflowing when the foaming pump lid is placed on top later. 2. Next, add in the liquid castile soap, fractionated coconut oil, and the essential oils, to the glass bottle and place the foaming pump lid on tightly. Lightly swish the solution around in the bottle to combine the ingredients. 3. To use this hand soap, lightly swish the soap in the dispenser before each use. Squirt a small amount of the soap onto the palm of your hands as needed, washing as normal, and rinsing with water. #antibacterial #handsoap #recipe #naturalskincare #naturalsoap

It’s a simple process to regrow leftover vegetable scraps, and a great way to minimise food waste (other than composting). Some things to keep in mind when regrowing vegetables are: 🍃 Only a small amount of water is needed: The veggies don’t need a lot of water, only enough to cover their roots. About 1/2 inch of water is suffice (you can add more if need be), otherwise the plants can become slimy and mouldy. 🍃 Check on your plants regularly: Make sure to check the water every 2-3 days to ensure that there’s still enough water left in the pan, and that there aren’t any pieces of vegetables floating around in the bowl, rotting and building slime. 🍃 Change up the containers depending on what veggies you’re growing: The size and shape of the container will vary depending on what size the food is. Lettuce and celery tend to grow best in shallow bowls, while green onions and lemongrass grow better in tall, skinny glasses. 🍃 Ensure you don’t overcrowd your veggies: Feel free to regrow multiples of the same plant, just don’t overdo it so that they’re overcrowding the area. 🍃 Keep veggies in partial sunshine: It’s important that your vegetables see plenty of sunshine throughout the day in order to grow. For the different methods for growing an array of different vegetables, see my post on my website 🌿 simplynaturalnessa.com/regrow-vegetables-from-kitchen-scraps #indoorgarden #vegetablegarden #regrowveggies #reducefoodwaste

This Homemade Cough Syrup is a honey-spice-cider remedy that’s potent enough to calm and soothe a sore throat or cough. Due to the raw honey, only use this remedy on children who are older than one (due to Clostridium bacteria that may be present). Check with your doctor before using this syrup with kids under two years old. Take this syrup three times a day; in the morning, afternoon, and before bed for best results. Give one teaspoon to children and one tablespoon to adults as needed to help relieve symptoms. RECIPE: 🍃 1/2 cup local raw honey 🍃 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 🍃 Juice of 1/2 lemon 🍃 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 🍃 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped 🍃 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 🍃 2 tablespoon cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil 🍃 Small glass jar To Make: 1. Add all the ingredients to a small glass jar, then place the cap on and shake thoroughly to combine the ingredients inside. Do this every time you’re about to consume the syrup, as the ingredients may separate. 2. Give one teaspoon to children and one tablespoon to adults for each serving. This syrup is best taken three times a day; in the morning, afternoon, and before bed. 3. Store this syrup in the fridge for up to one month, or freeze it in small batches and defrost as needed. #coughsyrup #herbalremedies #homeremedies #naturalremedies #naturalwellness