Our First Week Living Away From 'Civilization'

If you are like most, you’ve surely uttered the expression “I can’t wait to get back to civilization”, after spending time in the country, away from your IPhone and other gadgets.  You may have even found yourself starting to count down the days before your return to the “civilized” world you left behind.

Our family recently made a permanent move away from what most would consider 'civilization'.  There were many reasons for our wanting to do so, which I plan to get into in another post, but suffice it to say that a desire for a better quality of life was at the core of our decision.  Many of our friends likely consider us a bit odd, if not in-sane, for wanting and actually pursuing such a drastic change.  Maybe we are in-sane.  But what I can tell you with certainty is that we are already experiencing positive side-effects in our lives.

I want to share snippets of our journey in the hopes that it encourages you - not necessarily to do the same thing - but perhaps it will allow you to feel empowered and motivated to take steps towards pursuing your dream(s) and leaving your comfort zone. 

Now that we are mostly unpacked and somewhat settled in, I can take a few moments to share with you my observations and thoughts.  Here they are, in no particular order:

 

1.       We have discovered that in rural areas neighbors are neighborly.  They are not afraid to knock on your door and introduce themselves.  We lived in a relatively small city (over 10,000 residents) where our neighbor’s houses were less than 15 feet away, yet in 20 years I can count with one hand how many neighbors I got to know beyond the usual “good morning” pleasantries.  In fact,the day we left only TWO neighbors approached us as we were loading our truck and expressed that they were sad to see us go.   In sharp contrast, on our second day here, we came home to homemade jam left on our door step with a 'welcome to the community' handwritten note from neighbors, including their telephone number in case we should need anything. 

2.       Everyone is extremely helpful, with no ulterior motives.  Whether you are looking for the best mechanic or a reliable source for raw cheese, grass fed beef or pastured eggs, out here away from civilization, everyone is genuinely helpful and willing to share whatever contacts they have and what they know.   Although we lived in a fairly small town, we only experienced this type of community  with ONE family, before moving here.  There is an “abundance mentality” here that might take city dwellers some getting used to.  The idea here seems to be that if I help you, I help myself and by extension, I help my community.  For me and my family, that is quite refreshing and a beautiful thing to see in action.  Just as a small example:  my husband was asking our neighbor a few days ago where we might be able to rent a truck in order to be able to move my mom’s furniture into her new place which is about 20 minutes away from us.  We were looking for a U-Haul type facility but being out in the country we figured that U-Haul would be hard to find.  The neighbor mentioned how we would be better served using a trailer to haul my mom’s things instead of going through the trouble and expense of renting a truck.  We thought his suggestion was great, except we didn’t have a trailer or a registered truck to haul it with.  Being mentally exhausted from the move, we dismissed the conversation and figured we would just deal with it in the morning.  When we woke up the next day, we found a nice new Chevy truck and a huge trailer (with keys in the ignition) sitting in our driveway.  We both just looked at each other and smiled.  The trailer was big enough for my husband and I to load all of my mom’s things in one trip.  After a few hours, we returned the truck to our neighbor, clean with a full tank of gas and a thank you note.    

3.       You stop looking at your watch.  At least I have.  I haven’t worn a watch in years and even before moving away from civilization, I was always a slave to time.  Every task I undertook was dictated by the clock.  Now I find myself wondering about the time only long after it gets dark.  Now that I think about it, my husband purchased a watch several days ago and it is still sitting unopened.  Go figure!

4.       If you have a home-based business, consider Internet accessibility in the area you are looking to move to, BEFORE you commit to a location.  I am almost embarrassed to admit that this was honestly one of the last things on my mind when we picked this home.  Yet it has proven to be a challenge mostly because we have been cable free for the last 6+ years, for conscientious reasons.  Because our home sits in a valley, we could not get any Internet signal without either:  (1) cable or (2)  a 120 foot tower (which would have had to have been erected on our property).  The idea of having a tower on our property was not something I would even consider, for health reasons.  So we now have cable, BUT fortunately, we are able to block virtually every channel except for a few educational ones.  And so far so good.

5.       E.V.E.R.Y.O.N.E will invite you to their church.  J

6.       Flies and lady bugs will invade your home!!!

I am not sure if it is a country thing or just specific to the are we’ve chosen, but I have never seen anything like it.  Flies gather (ok, correction..... they swarm like bees) by windows(indoors and out) and siding.  Previous to moving here my husband had an abnormal obsession with flies. He’s the type to stop anything he is doing – and I mean ANYTHING-  to kill that ONE fly in the room.  The only difference is that now in our new home he has to contend with hundreds at a time. J We have sprayed a lemongrass essential oil concoction all over the place and he has also caulked areas of the home I am certain were not meant to be caulked.  So we can say they are currently under control (i.e., not swarming like they were before).  The lady bugs are not as gross (or abundant) as the flies.  And to be completely honest, I can actually handle just about anything (even flies), as long as I don't see a cockroach.  Cockroaches are definitely a deal breaker for me... but I digress!   I have since found out that these (pic. to right below)  Osage oranges will deter insects (including spiders) so we have harvested plenty from our land and have strategically placed them on the outside and inside.  I am hoping they help.

 7.       Even if you are not a hunter, you will be forced to become aware of hunting season (and its intricacies) real fast.  I get up pretty early every day and since being here I have been waking at around 5:45 a.m. to take walks in the fields with my small terrier Roxie.  On one particular morning earlier this week I walked farther than usual and my thoughts were interrupted by sudden gun fire.  At first,  I instinctively ignored it since you hear shots go off often in the country even if it’s not hunting season.  But as I walked further, I caught sight of our neighbor and noticed that he was wearing his orange vest with rifle in hand  – even his hunt dog had an orange vest on! Yikes!!! That’s when it occurred to me that it was probably a real good idea for me to start heading back... pronto!  That was the last time I took my morning walk.  Hunting season here goes from the second week of November until November 24^Th   .  Now, whenever we venture out beyond the 2 acre mark we make sure that we all have orange vests on and our children in particular are not allowed to roam our property without supervision.  Another funny incident occurred on our first night here.  A distant neighbor was traveling down our road and her car was struck by a huge buck.  It caused significant damage to the front hood of her car.  She saw the injured buck go back onto our property and after introducing herself along with her daughter, she begged my husband to allow her husband to come back first thing in the morning and look for it.  She offered us the meat in exchange for it's head.  Yep... that is all she wanted...its head as a trophy.  I was quite amused at how she was more concerned with locating the buck than with the serious damage it had caused to her car.  Oh, and her husband did come back around 7a.m. the next morning (with rifle in hand) to look for it.   

8.  You can actually see the stars at night!  I know this isn't a big deal to some, but to us it is HUGE!   On most nights, the sky has been crystal clear, allowing us to see every star cluster.  

 

9.    I have always longed to be in an environment where my children could explore and learn from nature's abundant gifts.  Everyone that knows us knows that we have a Dr. Doolittle in our household.  Seeing both of my children, but especially my daughter, develop her intuitive abilities in a natural setting is beyond rewarding.

There is more to come, as I plan to continue sharing our experiences - the good, the bad and the ugly- on our journey for a simpler and more balanced life-style.

I know what you are thinking... it is too early to tell; but so far, stepping away from 'civilization' has served our family well.

So what are you doing or what have you done to leave your comfort zone?  I would love to hear from you.

 

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Urgency of Building An Herbal Home Apothecary

Before pharmacies and drug stores were created, there were apothecaries. Aphotecaries dispensed medicines, including herbal remedies and often functioned as pharmacists and doctors. Their skills with herbs made  them reliable resources for people seeking healing from any ailment. Apothecary gardens provided herbs to aid healing. The art of apothecary continues in this modern era. Herbalists today grow their own herbs and treat ailments just as their foremothers-and fathers.

In anticipation of how busy our family will be in the coming weeks and months, and in between packing, I have been working on adding to our family's herbal apothecary.  In fact, I spent this past weekend making a few items and thought it would be a good idea to share my progress with you in the hopes that it encourages you to want do the same for your family. 

One only needs to look at the most recent "news" headlines to be reminded of the fact that things are changing very quickly.  Now more than ever families are realizing the need to take concrete steps towards becoming MORE self-sufficient in all areas of life, but especially where our health and wellness is concerned.  And that basically means that we must take responsibility for ourselves and our families because the harsh reality is that no one is coming to save us... no one!  So as we continue see the theater show play itself out, we should not be distracted but rather be focused on what steps we need to take towards self-preservation. Ask yourself "how prepared is my family, not IF but WHEN we have little (to no) access to supermarkets, pharmacies, etc.?"  Your family's future well-being will depend on your response.

One aspect of self-preservation and self-sufficiency involves taking responsibility for our health NOW.  And one of the ways we can be prepared is by gathering herbal remedies that we can rely on for maintaining wellness now and have them available for when minor illnesses strike.  This is again only one of the many steps towards being self-sufficient, but it is one that is certainly worth taking seriously as so many questionable laws are being implemented at record speed.

I encourage you to become familiar and gain basic knowledge in the preparation and usage of herbs. Having a collection and knowledge of herbs and essential oils will allow you to create everything from remedies for headaches to homemade face moisturizers that not only saves money in the long run but ensures your long term health as you are not assaulting your body with toxic chemicals and hormone disruptors.  You can create herbal teas, salves, tinctures, syrups, liniments, poultices and more.  Some of these herbal remedies can be stored for months and even years, depending on the carrier used.

Basic Herbs and Their Uses
You likely have some of these growing on your yard or land and don't even know it.  If you do not, you can find these herbs at Mountain Rose Herbs or online.  You can use them fresh instead of dried, but you will want to double the amount since dried herbs are more concentrated than fresh.

• Lavender- anti-inflammatory, soothing, insect repellent, soothes headaches, aids sleep and relaxation.
• Peppermint- fever reducer, good for digestion, invigorating.
• Spearmint- aids digestion, reduces bloating, antioxidant, invigorating.
• Milk Thistle- promotes liver function, gallbladder, detox, lowers cholesterol, antioxidant.
• Elderberries- treats flu.
• Fennel- good for digestion and bloating, diuretic, flea repellent, soothes coughs.
• Rosemary- memory, circulation, anti-carcinogenic.
• Chamomile- Soothing, good for digestion, colds, aids sleep.
• Nettle- high in protein, iron and vitamins.
• Ginger- nausea, diarrhea, digestion, arthritis, soothing, treats inflammation.
• Calendula -internally for digestive disorders like gastritis, esophagitis or colitis, rheumatic disorders, gynecological problems, externally for skin disorders like eczema, acne, minor burns, sunburn, fungal infections, thrush .
• Hyssop -for bronchitis, coughs, fevers, flu,  chesty colds, antiviral. 
• Cayenne -circulatory stimulant, tonic for the heart, digestive aid, endorphins releasor, rich in Vit A and C, supports immune system, topical pain reliever for arthritis, bursitis, muscle and joint aches.

 My Favorite Essential Oils
I will be the first to admit that high quality essential oils are not cheap.  But I consider them an investment in my family's long-term health and over the years I have accumulated a diverse selection that I have come to rely on for our family's wellness.  I personally prefer to use Young Living essential oils especially when the essential oil will be used internally.  However a great source for essential oils is Mountain Rose Herbs.  Whatever your choice, just be certain that the essential oils you purchase are of superior quality and that they are therapeutic grade and do not include fragrance oils. 

• Grapefruit- energizing, brightens dull skin and harm dilutes toxic build up, helps with water retention
• Lemon- antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral, astringent, detoxifying, energizing, brightens dull skin
• Orange- antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, aphrodisiac, detoxifies, boosts immunity
• Clary Sage- mild antidepressant, astringent, aphrodisiac, digestive, sedative
• Rosemary- antibacterial, hair growth, mental activity, respiratory problems, pain reducer
• Lavender- antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral, calms anxiety, blood circulation and respiration,
• Peppermint- indigestion, respiratory problems, headaches, nausea
• Spearmint- antibacterial, anti fungal, insect repellent, restorative, stimulant
• Eucalyptus- antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, decongestant, stimulating
• Tea Tree- antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral, insecticide, stimulant, helps with wounds healing, detox, relieves pain
  

Carriers
The carriers noted below are relatively inexpensive and easy to find and with the exception of the Vodka, can be found here.

• Vodka (80% to 100% proof)- for tinctures and aromatherapy mists
• Coconut, Almond or Olive Oil- for salves  and balms
• Vegetable glycerin - for tinctures
• Raw apple cider vinegar - for tinctures
• Raw Honey- for syrups and oxymels
• Beeswax- for salves and balms

Recommended Books To Get You Started

I strongly recommend that you acquire at least one good reference book for learning how to brew and blend your herbs.  There are many available online and at your local library.  I have also found quite a few excellent herbal books at our local thrift store for practically nothing.  Some of my personal favorites that I refer to often are listed below. 

• Home Herbal by Susan Curtis
• Medicinal Herbs by Rosemary Gladstar
• Healing Wise by Susun S. Weed
• Holistic Herbal by David Hoffman
• The Herb Book by John Lust
• Practical Herbalism by Philip Fritchey

I accomplished much this weekend, but I still have a few to add to my ever growing list.  I plan to get these done within the next two weeks.  Here is a quick list of the ones I still have to complete:

Chickweed tincture - for cysts (esp. ovarian cysts), infections, dissolves and consumes bacteria.
Stinging Nettle tincture - for adrenals and kidneys.
Oat straw tincture - for the endocrine system.
Burdock root tincture - blood purifier, tonic for liver, lungs, stomach, uterus, joints, kidneys.
Prostate Tonic tincture - I will be using a combination of herbs that nourish and protect the prostate gland
Deep Sleep tincture - This will be formulated using herbs that help relieve insomnia.
Children's Stress tincture - I will use a combination of herbs that are safe for children to produce  a gentle calming remedy for stressful or challenging times.

All of this information may seem overwhelming at first, but the intention is to at the very least get you thinking about it.  Start thinking about the positive effects that doing this can have on your family. To get started all you really need are some basic herbs, essential oils and various carriers that will allow you to take advantage of their healing and soothing uses. Getting started is usually the most challenging part, but I promise you that once you do, you will wonder why you didn't do it sooner. 

NOTE:  This information is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Keep all herbs out of reach of children and pets. Special care should be taken by pregnant and/or lactating women when handling herbs.

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Coconut Butternut Squash Soup

I find that sometimes the most nourishing foods are also the most simple and easy to make. Butternut squash is one of my favorite winter squashes.  Not only is it savory and rich in flavor but its nutritional benefits are note worthy.  It is full of Vitamin A (1 cup of butternut squash provides 160% of the RDA), it is high in Vitamin C, Manganese, Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium.  It is truly the perfect comfort food as the cold weather slowly starts to set in.  I had some butternut squash on hand and wanted to come up with a fuss free meal.  My family was quite pleased with the results. This soup was so creamy and light that everyone couldn't stop at just one bowl.  The addition of ginger made it spicy, warming and healing, while the coconut milk added an amazingly sweet and velvety texture.    

This recipe is VERY forgiving.  Feel free to experiment by incorporating your favorite spices and making it your own!

Ingredients:

Organic Butternut Squash (cubed into medium pieces) - 20 oz.
White onion - 1/2 cup
One large garlic clove
Organic coconut milk* - 1 can
Cumin - 1/4 Tsp
Seal salt - 1 Tsp
Raw butter (if you do not have access to raw butter use regular butter - never margarine!) - 2 Tablespoons
Fresh ginger - 2 Tablespoons

Optional for garnish:

Cilantro (finely chopped)
Coconut (shredded)

This made 4 bowls

Step 1 - Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Cook onion until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add ginger, garlic, sea salt and cubed butternut squash; cook stirring occasionally for about 8 minutes.  Reduce heat and allow to cook until squash is tender.

Step 2 - Allow cooked butternut squash to cool.  Place butternut squash into Vitamix or blender.  Add coconut milk and cumin.  Cover and blend.
(*You can adjust how thick you want the soup by adding more or less coconut milk).

Serve and garnish with freshly chopped cilantro and shredded coconut.  Enjoy and do share your results if you decide to try it!

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Herbal Tonic Rinse for Your Hair and Scalp

I have been experimenting with herbal rinses for the last several weeks and must say that I truly love the results.  Beautiful and healthy hair depends on a healthy scalp.  Herbal rinses are great for every hair type.  They are very simple to make and add extra nutrition that nourish the scalp, while adding to your hair's natural vitality.  Another added benefit is the shine, conditioning effect and healthy appearance they provide to your hair. 

Comfrey for instance, has a conditioning effect on the hair and scalp, as it is rich in an extract, allantoin, that helps to encourage natural cellular regeneration.  Calendula soothes the scalp and is an excellent rinse for hair.  Horsetail is rich in silica and is a traditional remedy used to restore vitality and shine to lackluster hair.    Rosemary is a shine booster and encourages hair growth.

One of my favorite combinations (and the one shown above and to the left) is that of nettle, rosemary, chamomile, calendula and horsetail.

Instructions:
1) I infused my selected herbs with 2 cups of boiling water in a bowl. 
2) I then allowed the herbs to stand and cool for  about 20 minutes, then strained.  Instead of discarding the herbs you can use them in your compost. 
3)I added the strained liquid to my scalp as I used my frizzy hair shampoo bar.  (If you use liquid shampoo you can add the liquid to your liquid shampoo up to a maximum ratio of 50 percent.  Remember that the more you add, the thinner the shampoo will be).
4) I used the excess infusion as a final rinse.

This herbal hair tonic can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.

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Raw Cheese Sauce Update!

After my raw ginger cookie fiasco, I am happy to report that the raw cheese recipe I said I was going to attempt was a  culinary success.  After looking at what seemed like a hundred different recipes online, I decided to go with this super easy  one.  It was extremely quick to make and I just love how versatile it is.  You can serve this raw cheese sauce as a dip or a spread or you can form the cheese into a ball.  To make a cheese ball, simply refrigferate it for an hour, coat it in chopped nuts, herbs or anything you like. Serve with crackers and enjoy!

I will definitely be making this one again!

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The Raw Ginger Cookie That Almost Was

Don’t you just love those foodie blogs that contain awesome recipes and gorgeous photos? You know, the ones with the images that not only make you drool but give you a jolt of confidence in believing that you too can accomplish such a masterpiece. Truth be told, I love real food.  In fact, I consider myself a culinary enthusiast and love eating real food as much as I enjoy making it.  I have an expansive and diverse palate, but am drawn to recipes that are simple and uncomplicated. And while I love to cook, baking (or in this instance, raw dessert making) is definitely not my forte. But for some odd reason I still like to try, perhaps thinking that it will come to me with time.

Last week, I came across this awesome looking raw cookie recipe. It had all of my favorite things (ginger, cardamom, coconut, flax seeds).  And more importantly, it looked simple - my #1 criteria for attempting anything new in the kitchen.  I was determined to try it with my daughter this weekend. We rarely consume white flour, so I thought this would be the perfect treat for all of us.  I was pleased to see that I had most of the ingredients on hand and only had to venture out to get the Coconut Manna (btw, if you haven’t tried it yet, you should… it is to die for!).

So we get started with the prepping.  Everything was going well. That is, until I realized that I couldn’t find the raw coconut flakes I thought I had. You see, we are moving in a few weeks and everything that is not used daily has been packed away.  I went through at least 5 boxes in an attempt to find them, before I decided to run out and get more.  So I return with my coconut flakes and we continue our adventure.  Then my Vitamix decides to burn out on me.  This usually happens when I am dealing with dry ingredients while using the wet blade. That should have been my que to stop, but I am not a quitter. I gave the Vitamix a few minutes to rest and continued. We finally mixed the dough and proceeded to the next step. We now had the task of flattening out the dough with a rolling-pin and cutting it into pretty little shapes. Easy enough, right?  Then I suddenly remembered that …yep!...the cookie cutters are also packed away. “No problem”, I said to my daughter, “we’ll just improvise”.  And improvise we did, and when it was all said and done we ended up with … um… raw cookie crumb.

My assistant refused to even try the cookies. To her defense, she is very picky and if something does not look “right” (and let's face it, these "cookies" did not look right) she will not try it. But my 3-year-old son is more adventurous. He tried a piece (I mean a crumb) and gave it thumbs up.  Ok, he actually gave it ONE thumb up but that made it all worth it.

There is no moral to this story.  And my outcome is in no way a reflection of the recipe itself.  The raw cookie dough IS absolutely delicious. So good in fact that it is almost all gone and I plan to freeze the rest and eat it with ice cream.  I would like to think that this recipe would have turned out better for me if I had my cookie cutters or if my Vitamix had not behaved so badly, but why kid myself?  And in case you are wondering, no, I probably will not be attempting this again.  I don’t know about you, but I only like repeating recipes I am mildly successful with.  However, if this recipe appeals to you I hope you try it and let me know how it worked out for you.  Considering my huge fail, I can at least live vicariously through your success.

P.S. - I am planning on making a raw cheese sauce tomorrow for dinner.  It is not dessert, so I am quite optimistic.  I will let you know how it goes.

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Why You Should Learn To Make Your Own Hair Gel - Perfect for curly, frizzy, natural hair

In my early to mid 20s I had a long love affair with hair gel and mousse.  They were my favorite go to products when I wanted to get that coveted “wet look” that was so in back then.  I was seriously hooked on Stiff Stuff.  There, I said it.  Unfortunately, I did not become informed on the dangerous ingredients found in styling and beauty products until much later in my womanhood.  I was painfully made aware of their damaging effect on my reproductive health when I decided to start a family. I often think back on the many health sacrifices I made, all for the sake of looking good.

According to the Environmental Working Group the most toxic styling gels contain cetereth-25, methylparaben, PEG-8 Methicone, PEG-7 Glyceryl cocoate, and fragrance.  Of all the ingredients listed, fragrance is one of the most harmful.  According to Environmental Working Group, fragrance has moderate evidence of human neurotoxicity.  Other ingredients have evidence of neuroticism, allergies or immunosystem toxicity, organ system toxicity and biochemical or cellular level changes. The most toxic hair styling gel on the database is Pantene Pro-V Frizz Control Treatment. One ingredient listed is DMDM Hydantoin, which, among other known hazards, is a human skin toxicant. 

Fortunately for me and my children, I know better now.  And as they say, “when you know better you do better”.  Yes, knowledge (when applied) IS power!  So today, I am going to share with you how you can very easily make your own hair gel using two natural ingredients, <strong>at a fraction of the cost</strong> when compared to toxic commercial gels.  This gel is great for ALL hair types, but especially for those with curly, frizzy or natural hair.

If you are a DIYer you already know that making your own products at home can be very rewarding.   Doing so can have a positive effect on our health and on the environment because as we reduce the amount of chemicals we put into our bodies, we also reduce the amount of chemicals being released into the atmosphere and consequently, into our water supply.  And this is definitely a good thing!  So I do hope you give this simple recipe a try.

What you will need:

¼ organic raw flax seeds*
2 cups of filtered/spring water
white knee-high stocking
small pot
spoon
thongs
glass jar
(optional) herbs (I am using fresh Rosemary here, but you do not have to use herbs at all.  If you would like to use herbs but do not have access to fresh herbs you can use an herbal tea bag of your choice).
(optional) You will note that I am also enhancing my gel by adding 1 tsp of jojoba oil, 1 tsp of castor oil, ¼ tsp Vitamin E, ¼ tsp of Rosemary essential oil. (*Make sure you get raw, unflavored flax seeds that have not been toasted or flavored with spices.)

How to make gel:

Step 1.  Take ¼ cup of organic raw flax seeds  and 2 cups of filtered/spring water and place in small saucepan on stove over medium-high heat. 

Bring to a rolling boil. 

Once it starts to boil stir and turn down low and allow to simmer.

Step 2.  You will notice that the liquid will start to thicken.  Continue cooking for an additional 5 min.  The gel will get even thicker once it cools, so a runny consistency while it's still on the pot works well for me. 

If your hair is extremely curly, you may find it easier to apply a looser gel. Go ahead and take the gel off of the heat while it is still runny. Conversely, if your hair is not curly, let the gel thicken as much as you want. It will provide a stiffer hold if you let it get thick.

Step 3. Affix knee-high around the container you will store gel in (we prefer to use a glass jar)and pour the gel onto the opening of the stocking.

Use thongs to squeeze excess gel through stocking.  If you do not have thongs you can use your clean hands so long as the gel has been allowed to cool a bit for you to handle without burning yourself.  Continue straining until you've gotten as much of the gel through the stocking as you can.  Do not throw away the seeds.  You can (1) get one more use out of them by doing a second batch when this one is done.  Simply place seeds in a small container in the fridge until ready to use,  (2) if you are a foodie, you can make flax seed crackers by dehydrating them in your recipe or (3) you can use them on your compost pile.

Step 4 (Optional) You can customize the gel (as I have done) by adding other healing and moisturizing ingredients.

Not only did I add fresh Rosemary to the pot to infuse the gel, but I added Vitamin E, jojoba oil, castor oil and Rosemary essential oil.  Rosemary is an excellent herb and essential oil to add because it is known to strengthen and condition hair strands, it stimulates hair growth and increases circulation to scalp, softens and increases shine, thickens hair strands, prevents premature graying and baldness, relieves itchy and irritated scalp and dandruff. Other essential oils that we love to use which have beneficial properties for the scalp are tea tree, lavender and eucalyptus.  Make sure that you whisk any additives well into the gel so that they are distributed throughout. 

Step 5.  Place your container in the refrigerator.  If refrigerated, the gel will keep for approximately 2.5 weeks. Use on dry hair or smooth it through wet hair after a shower.

This gel is so gentle and healing that I even use it on my 5 year old with great results. Just knowing that this hair gel contains ingredients you can actually pronounce and virtually consume with no ill effects, should motivate you to make it AND use it with great confidence!

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