1. I was born on a Tuesday

2. I am Cancerean

3. My middle name is Janiece

4. I am left handed

5. I dropped out of high school

6. I don't like having long nails

7. I have a cat named Moon Shadow

8. I do not like movies with aliens in them

9. I don't like wearing earrings

10. I don't like Dr Phil

11. I do tartot readings online

12. My birhday fell on a Wednedsay this year

13. I have naturally black hair

14. I love Arum Lilies

15. I have three kids (2 girls and a boy)

16. My mother is a Scorpio

17. My husband has long hair

18. I hate wearing underwear

19. I love kitchens and bathrooms

20. I suck at maths

21. I did modern dance when I was a kid

22. I love Tori Amos

23. My parents are divorced

24. My house number is 16

25. My father comes from the UK

26. I love cheese

27. My favourite colour is purple

28. I love trees

29. I want to learn to tie dye

30. I don't like opera music

31. I don't like going to the doctor

32. I love sushi

33. I fabric paint

34. Whenever I make popcorn it burns

35. I love cheesecake

36. I can talk Afrikaans

37. I took recorder lessons when I was little

38. I love wrapping presents

39. My grandmother is like a mom to me

40. My brother and sil are in the same class at school

41. I used to have a pet rat

42. I have a birthmark on my hip

43. I love receiving letters in the post

44. Even though I am not American I hate Bush

45. I don't like rap music

46. I think Orlando Bloom looks like he belongs in a boy band

47. I have two pet ducks

48. I love reading Douglas Adams books

49. I collect quotes

50. I am a sucky liar

51. I am studying to be a Doula

52. I cannot stand hearing people swallow when they eat or drink

53. I have a fear of being burried alive

54. I have a huge pair of fluffy purple slippers

55. I wear them to the shops

56. I don't like people whispering in my ear

57. I love Jim Morrisson

58. I love the taste of Balsamic Vinegar

59. I love the smell of the earth after it rains

60. I like riding horses

61. I do not like locusts

62. I would never swim in a river or dam or lake

63. I used to collect silk worms

64. I love herbal tea

65. I don't like white chocolate

66. I have had my tonsils removed

67. Dh says my eyes change colour

68. I love the smell of eucalyptus

69. I hate having pics taken of me

70. I want another tattoo (I have three)

71. I love writing

72. I don't shave

73. I have had dreads twice and want them again

74. I love motorbikes

75. I love wearing shawls and ponchos

76. I love doc martens

77. I never make my bed

78. I put Rooibos tea bags in my bath sometimes

79. I ran away from home

80. This is way harder than I thought it would be!!

81. I took typing lessons in high school

82. I bunked school a lot

83. I love playing practical jokes

84. I don't like being anxious

85. I like to read

86. I love chashew nuts

87. I think the word skunk is hilarious

88. I get bored easily

89. I love Celtic knots

90. I had a pet rabbit named Pepsi once

91. I cannot stand the smell of amonia

92. I always pick off nail polish when I wear it.

94. I can lucid dream

95. I was married on National Woman's Day (in south africa)

96. I used to live on an Almond Tree Farm

97. I want a goat

98. I want to make breastmilk bread

99. I had childhood asthma

100. I wish I could draw

101. I love the feeling of soft grass under my feet.

*phew*

Well today we did our first fair!! It was called the Holistc Lefestyle Fair and it was great! I sold a lot of cloth nappies!! I didn't think I would do so well with them as they are very scarce here - as in I have never come across anyone who sells them!

I also sold a bf advocacy shirt for a baby that says "Mmmmmm Mama's Milk!"

I am quite excited about doing more! This particular one is the first Sunday of every month and there is one every Wednesday at an organic co-op (Noordhoek Farm Village) and I really want to do that!!

by Melanie Gosling
September 22 2005 at 11:44AM


It was "simply unbelievable" that the South African government had allowed maize, a staple food, to be genetically modified to contain a poison.

It was clear the government had no idea of the risk this posed to the population.

This was said on Wednesday by best-selling US author Jeffrey Smith, who is visiting southern Africa to raise awareness about the health, environmental and financial risks of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

"Maize has been genetically engineered with a poison designed to kill pests. What impact is there on human health from eating a pesticide? In the US it is simply assumed the pesticide is safe.

But mice fed on it developed an immune response equivalent to that of cholera. And this is being put into mielie meal, which is a huge percentage of the diet here. In the US people get only 3% to 5% of their calorific intake from maize," Smith said.

Originally it had been said that the GM genes were destroyed in the digestive system.

However, a study done in the UK last year on seven volunteers with colostomy bags, had found intact genetically modified DNA which had survived the digestive system, Smith said.

The fear was that these GM genes would be transferred to bacteria in the human gut. Smith's best-selling book Seeds of Deception documents the biotechnology industry's manipulation of research.
Scientists who raised questions about GM food were silenced by the biotech industry with threats of lawsuits or withdrawal of funding.

"There is clear industry manipulation of research and political collusion. If it were not for this clear deception, these foods would not be in circulation," Smith said.

The person in charge of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US, who wrote the FDA's policy on GM foods, was the same person who had been the lawyer for Monsanto, the biggest producer of GM seed in the world.

"One company gave data to the FDA that rats fed on GM tomatoes developed stomach lesions. Seven of the 40 died. They approved the tomato," Smith said.

Twenty-five farmers who fed only GM maize to their pigs subsequently found problems with the pigs' productivity. Some were sterile and some gave birth to "bags of water".

There were fewer than 20 peer-reviewed animal studies on GMOs, he said.

"GM foods have been an economic disaster for the US. The EU is refusing all but 1% of US corn (maize) because they don't trust that the US farmers can keep GM corn out of non-GM corn. Also meat and diary products are endangered. We lost billions of dollars in exports, now we're trying to push open the doors in Africa.

"I've been told by politicians and officials in Africa that they're under enormous pressure by the US government and biotech industry to invest in GM food.

"South Africa is investing in products which will cut out export to entire countries," Smith said.



http://iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=31&art_id=vn20050922071536623C710574

o This article was originally published on page 6 of Cape Times on September 22, 2005

1. Sing the Batman theme incessantly.

2. In the memo field of all your checks, write "for sensual massage."

3. Specify that your drive-through order is "to go."

4. Learn Morse code, and have conversations with friends in public consisting entirely of "Beeeep Bip Bip Beeep Bip..."

5. If you have a glass eye, tap on it occasionally with your pen while talking to others.

6. Amuse yourself for endless hours by hooking a camcorder to your TV and then pointing it at the screen. <

7. Speak only in a "robot" voice.

8. Push all the flat Lego pieces together tightly.

9. Start each meal by conspicuously licking all your food, and announce that this is so no one will "swipe your grub".

10. Leave the copy machine set to reduce 200%, extra dark, 17 inch paper, 98 copies.

11. Stomp on little plastic ketchup packets.

12. Sniffle incessantly.

13. Leave your turn signal on for fifty miles.

14. Name your dog "Dog." 15. Insist on keeping your car windshield wipers running in all weather conditions "to keep them tuned up."

16. Reply to everything someone says with "that's what YOU think."

17. Claim that you must always wear a bicycle helmet as part of your "astronaut training."

18. Declare your apartment an independent nation, and sue your neighbors upstairs for "violating your airspace".

19. Forget the punchline to a long joke, but assure the listener it was a "real hoot."

20. Follow a few paces behind someone, spraying everything they touch with Lysol.

21. Practice making fax and modem noises.

22. Highlight irrelevant information in scientific papers and "cc:" them to your boss.

23. Make beeping noises when a large person backs up.

24. Invent nonsense computer jargon in conversations, and see if people play along to avoid the appearance of ignorance.

25. Erect an elaborate network of ropes in your backyard, and tell the neighbors you are a "spider person."

26. Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with the prophesy."

27. Wear a special hip holster for your
remote control.

28. Do not add any inflection to the end of your sentences, producing awkward silences with the impression that you'll be saying more any moment.

29. Signal that a conversation is over by clamping your hands over your ears.

30. Disassemble your pen and "accidentally" flip the ink cartridge across the room.

31. Give a play-by-play account of a persons every action in a nasal Howard Cosell voice.

32. Holler random numbers while someone is counting.

33. Adjust the tint on your TV so that all the people are green, and insist to others that you "like it that way."

34. Drum on every available surface.

35. Staple papers in the middle of the page.

36. Ask 1-800 operators for dates.

37. Produce a rental video consisting entirely of dire FBI copyright warnings.

38. Sew anti-theft detector strips
into peoples backpacks.

39. Hide dairy products in inaccessible places.

40. Write the surprise ending to a novel on its first page.

41. Set alarms for random times.

42. Order a side of pork rinds with your filet mignon.

43. Instead of Gallo, serve Night Train next Thanksgiving.

44. Publicly investigate just how slowly you can make a "croaking" noise.

45. Honk and wave to strangers.

46. Dress only in clothes colored Hunters Orange.

47. Change channels five minutes before the end of every show.

48. Tape pieces of "Sweating to the Oldies" over climactic parts of rental movies.

49. Wear your pants backwards.

50. Decline to be seated at a restaurant, and simply eat their complimentary mints by the cash register.

51. Begin all your sentences with "ooh la la!"

52. ONLY TYPE IN UPPERCASE.

53. only type in lowercase.

54. dont use any punctuation either

55. Buy a large quantity of orange traffic cones and reroute whole streets.

56. Pay for your dinner with pennies.

57. Tie jingle bells to all your clothes.

58. Repeat everything someone says, as a question.

59. Write "X - BURIED TREASURE" in random spots on all of someone's roadmaps.

60. Inform everyone you meet of your personal Kennedy assassination/UFO/ O.J Simpson conspiracy theories.

61. Repeat the following conversation a dozen times: "Do you hear that?" "What?" "Never mind, its gone now."

62. Light road flares on a birthday cake.

63. Wander around a restaurant, asking other diners for their parsley.

64. Leave tips in Bolivian currency.

65. Demand that everyone address you as "Conquistador."

66. At the laundromat, use one dryer for each of your socks.

67. When Christmas caroling, sing "Jingle Bells, Batman smells" until physically restrained.

68. Wear a cape that says "Magnificent One."

69. As much as possible, skip rather than walk.

70. Stand over someone's shoulder, mumbling, as they read.

71. Pretend your computer's mouse is a CB radio, and talk to it.

72. Try playing the William Tell Overture by tapping on the bottom of your chin. When nearly done, announce "no, wait, I messed it up," and repeat.

73. Drive half a block.

74. Inform others that they exist only in your imagination.

75. Ask people what gender they are.

76. Lick the filling out of all the Oreos, and place the cookie parts back.

77. Cultivate a Norwegian accent. If Norwegian, affect a Southern drawl.

78. Routinely handcuff yourself to furniture, informing the curious that you don't want to fall off "in case the big one comes".

79. Deliberately hum songs that will remain lodged in co-workers brains, such as "Feliz Navidad", the Archies "Sugar" or the Mr. Rogers theme song.

80. While making presentations, occasionally bob your head. like a parakeet.

81. Lie obviously about trivial things such as the time of day.

82. Leave your Christmas lights up and lit until September.

83. Change your name to "AaJohn Aaaaasmith" for the great glory of being first in the phone book. Claim it's a Hawaiian name, and demand that people pronounce each "a."

84. Sit in your front yard pointing a hair dryer at passing cars to see if they slow down.

85. Chew on pens that you've borrowed.

86. Wear a LOT of cologne.

87. Listen to 33rpm records at 45rpm speed, and claim the faster speed is necessary because of your "superior mental processing."

88. Sing along at the opera.

89. Mow your lawn with scissors.

90. At a golf tournament, chant "swing-batabatabata-suhWING-batter!"

91. Ask the waitress for an extra seat for your "imaginary friend."

92. Go to a poetry recital and ask why each poem doesn't rhyme.

93. Ask your co-workers mysterious questions, and then scribble their answers in a notebook. Mutter something
about "psychological profiles."

94. Stare at static on the TV and claim you can see a "magic picture."

95. Select the same song on the jukebox fifty times.

96. Never make eye contact.

97. Never break eye contact.

98. Construct elaborate "crop circles" in your front lawn.

99. Construct your own pretend "tricorder," and "scan" people with it, announcing the results.

100. Make appointments for the 31st of September.

101. Invite lots of people to other people's parties

What a day! I get a message on my phone from my dad saying he will be putting some money in my bank account today - whoohoo!! I really need it since we had to pay the electrician over R1000 for the job they did 2 months ago because the landlord didn't pay and he hasn't paid us back yet... So anyway, I start getting my shit together so we can walk up to the shop..... and I cant find my bank card.... CRAP!! I call my mom and ask if she can come over and give me a lift to the bank so I can get a new card so I can draw the money. We get to the bank and I wait 20 mins for the teller. We start the procedure only for her to tell me that they need proof of residency... WTF?? They say it's new thing - all account holders have to prove where they live with a bill in their name addressed to the place they live before they make any changes to their accounts. Great. Thanks. To make matters worse, I dont get any bills in my name. Eventually they give me form that my husband must fill out that basically says that I live with him. I have to bring this to the bank along with a bill in dh's name and my original marriage certificate and my ID book. Cool, fine... Luckily the guy who was helping me said he wouln't freeze my account (Thank you!!) so I could draw the money... only problem is - THERE IS NO MONEY!! Thankfully my mom lent me some so I could get some food. When I got home I decided to get my marriage certificate ready and for the life of me its not there!! I keep all my inportant documents together and for some reason my marriage certificate is not there!! I think I'm gonna scream!

Ok so I was feeling a little bored... and a little intrigued... so I decided to draw myself a card from my tarot deck... I use the Faeries Oracle cards...

This is the card I drew:

The Faery Godmother
::gifts::talents::grace::helpful lessons::

Interesting....

When this card shows up in a reading it usually indicates that good things are happening that we may not believe we deserve. The Faery Godmother teaches us about unconditional giving and recieving. Whenever I do a reading for someone and this card appears, I feel as though there is still living beauty actively working it's magic in the world. Hardships and negative energy are emotionally noisy and demands our attention whereas real beauty and authentic truth is always there... waiting silently for us to tune into it. And when we do......... wow!


At the moment I am trying to put a website together to promote empowered birth and parenting here in South Africa. When I fist started, I had a vision of sharing information and personal experiences from women who have reaped the benefits of being empowered by their births and who practice attachment parenting.


I began looking for content and emailed people for permission to use their work on my site. One of the people I contacted was Barbara Harper, author of Gentle Birth Choices. ( www.waterbirth.org ) I read her book when I was pregnant with Amber and it totally changed my whole life!! I had no idea up until then that I had a choice in how I birthed my baby or where or with whom. Her book was my diving board into the world of empowered birth with which I am now obsessed LOL


Anyway, she emailed me back and guess what?! Not only has she agreed to help me with content for my site.... she wants to come here - to SOUTH AFRICA - and work with me and my midwife in setting up workshops on water birth!!


So yeah, I guess this card makes a lot of sense! I never imagined such an amazing thing could come from my humble dream.....

RAVEN
R	is for	Radical
A	is for	Articulate
V	is for	Vigorous
E	is for	Entertaining
N	is for	Natural

Some Herbs, Spices and Foods and Their Uses

Herbs:

Basil: Warming digestive. Nerve stimulant and tonic. Helps reduce stress and clear the mind.

Bay: Warming digestive. Locally warming and anesthetic.

Chamomile: Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-allergy. Slightly bitter digestive. Relaxant and sedative. Great for children’s ailments.

Horseradish: Warming, antiseptic, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, decongestant.

Marjoram: Antiseptic, tonic digestive, antidepressant. Slightly expectorant.

Marigold: Antiseptic, anti-fungal. Strengthens immune system.

Parsley: Antiseptic diuretic. Cleanser. Tonic for women in general – not in pregnancy.

Peppermint: Warming calmative. Digestive, antiseptic, anti-spasmodic. Cooling on the skin.

Rosemary: Warming digestive. Circulatory stimulant (stimulates blood circulation.) Hepatic. Tonic.

Sage: Antiseptic astringent. Tonic and restorative. Febrifuge. Balances female hormones – not to be used in pregnancy or during breastfeeding.

Thyme: Antiseptic, bactericide, carminative, expectorant.

Spices:

Aniseed: Antiseptic, antispasmodic, warming digestive. Relaxes stomach chest, especially in children’s ailments. Has a strong licorice flavour.

Caraway: Warming, antispasmodic and digestive.

Cardamom: Aromatic. A warming, balancing digestive. Clears the mind. Expectorant.

Cayenne: Hot, stimulating, antiseptic, antispasmodic. Stimulates circulation and adds heat to other remedies.

Cinnamon: Circulatory stimulant, warming digestive. Astringent for clearing nose and lungs.

Cloves: Antiseptic, warming, germicide, carminative, expectorant, anesthetic. Great for oral irritations and toothaches.

Coriander: Gentle warming antispasmodic and carminative.

Corn silk: soothing diuretic.

Fennel seeds: Warming carminative, balances digestion. Diuretic. Stimulates milk flow. Not suitable for pregnant women.

Ginger: Stimulating, antispasmodic, relaxant, diaphoretic, digestive. Relieves nausea. Warms the whole system.

Juniper Berries: Antiseptic diuretic. Not to be used in pregnancy.

Mustard seeds: Warming antispasmodic. Emetic.

Nutmeg: Antiseptic, analgesic, digestive stimulant. Relaxing in small doses; emetic in large doses.

Turmeric: Antiseptic, aromatic digestive, hepatic.

Foods:

Barley: Cooling, nutritive, soothing and healing.

Cabbage: Cooling and nutritive. Anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, antiseptic.

Carrot: Soothing and nutritive, very easily digested. Diuretic.

Cucumber: Soothing, cooling, anti-inflammatory. Diuretic.

Figs: Nourishing and laxative. Strengthening to the lungs.

Garlic and Onion: Strongly antiseptic and anti-fungal, anti-viral bactericide. Decongestant expectorant. Depurative. Balances circulation and helps lower blood pressure.

Lemon: Cooling. Antiseptic. Soothing, healing, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal. Detoxifying diuretic.

Lettuce: A bitter digestive. Cooling and sedative.

Oats: Soothing, nutritive and strengthening. Nerve tonic. Drawing.

Honey: Nutritive, antiseptic. Soothing, demulcent, expectorant.

Oils: Warming. Soothing, lubricating laxatives.

Salt: Antiseptic, stimulates appetite, soothing.

Vinegar: Cooling, antiseptic, anti-fungal. Clearing and cleansing.


Glossary
Anesthetic: An agent that numbs sensation and so reduces pain.
Analgesic: Has the effect of relieving pain.
Anti-inflammatory: Reduces inflammation (swelling)
Antiseptic: Kills bacteria and prevents infection.
Anti-spasmodic: Relieves spasms or cramps.
Astringent: Drying and contracting, reducing secretions.
Carminative: relaxes digestive tension and spasm. Reduces wind.
Decongestant: Relieves congestion.
Demulcent: Soothes irritated tissues, particularly mucous membranes.
Depurative: Cleanses the blood.
Diaphoretic: Promotes sweating.
Digestive: Aids digestion.
Diuretic: Encourages urination.
Drawing: Draws poisons forms boils and abscesses.
Emetic: Provokes vomiting.
Expectorant: Expels sticky mucous from lungs.
Febrifuge: Helps to reduce fever.
Hepatic: Strengthens the liver.
Sedative: Calms the nerves.
Stimulant: increases activity.



• Water Infusions: water infusions are just like teas. They are made using fresh herbs and hot water. Water infusions are powerful healing technique as they are easily assimilated and digested within the body.
• Decoctions: decoctions are much like water infusions only different.  The method of making decoctions differ in that the herb is actually boiled in the water. This method works best for hard seeds, roots, barks and dry herbs. Decoctions can be made into syrups, honeys, gargles, oils and creams.
• Tinctures: in a tincture the properties of the herb are extracted and preserved in alcohol. For those who cannot take in alcohol, the dose can be left in a cup of water, uncovered for several hrs while the alcohol evaporates. They can also be used as ingredients in non-internal remedies such as creams.
• Vinegars: vinegars can be made from scratch by leaving pealed, cut apples in water for a few days. They are very useful as hair rinses and skin preparations as they keep within the ph balance of the skin.
• Infused Oils: Infused oils take a long time to prepare but last a while and are extremely useful both on their own and in the making of other useful remedies such as ointments, creams and plasters.
• Ointments: ointments are made with infused oils and bees wax. They can be used to alleviate dry skin, sooth itchy skin, calm tired skin – they should not be used on burns or open, weepy skin.
• Creams: Creams are lighter than ointments as they contain water or water-based extracts (herbal teas, decoctions and tinctures). Because oil and water do not naturally mix, an emulsifying agent such as bees wax, lanolin (wool fat) or egg yolk needs to be used. Bees wax seems to be the best as many people are allergic to lanolin and egg yolk doesn’t keep for very long. Creams are suitable for sensitive parts of the body and inflamed or weepy skin conditioned.
• Syrups and Honeys: herbal syrups and honeys are nutritive and pleasant to take. One must be careful of what herbs to use when making syrups and honeys, as taste does play a part in healing effects – bitterness for example stimulates the appetite and sluggish digestive reflexes! They are especially useful for coughs and sore thoughts! (not for diabetics and sugar intolerant people)
• Skin and Body Care: There are many recipes that are good for the skin and hair, nails and teeth!


Aniseed Digestive Biscuits

Makes about 60 biscuits

Ingredients:

 8g aniseed
 250g butter
 225g caster sugar (keep 3 spoons separate to sprinkle on top)
 3 drops vanilla essence
 15ml milk or water
 350g plain (all purpose) flour
 beaten egg yolk

Method:

1. Crush the aniseed, leaving a small amount uncrushed for decoration.
2. Heat the butter in a pan until brown, then leave to cool.
3. Beat in 1/3 of the sugar, and then add the remainder with the vanilla essence, milk/water and crushed aniseed.
4. Mix in the flour very well then turn out onto a board and knead well.
5. Shape into long thin rolls and cool in the fridge for 1hr.
6. After and hour, cut into rounds about 30cm thick and place onto a greased baking sheet.
7. Brush with beaten egg yolk and sprinkle with whole aniseed and caster sugar.
8. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees centigrade for 8-10 minutes until golden brown.
9. Allow to cool for 203 minutes before removing from the sheet.
10. Enjoy!



Lemon Skin Balm

Ingredients:

 4 teaspoons lemon juice
 8 teaspoons vegetable oil
 1 ½ - 2 teaspoons clear honey

Method:

1. Mix ingredients together thoroughly by putting them into a screw top jar (such as an empty jam jar) and shaking well.

2. *OPTIONAL* Add and equal amount of water (about 1 – 1 ½ teaspoons). This just makes the lotion smoother. Shake continuously while applying.

This lotion is un-perfumed, apart from the natural lemon fragrance. One drop of essential oil can be added to increase the aroma. Any citrus oil works well.

This is both a healing, soothing and nutritive lotion which moistens and softens dry chapped or tired skin. This simple recipe can’t really be improved upon, other than to use good quality oil, such as sweet almond oil, wheat germ oil or peach kernel oil. This is highly recommended if you intend to use this recipe often as these oils add extra healing properties to the lotion as they enrich the skin.

Thyme Foot Talc

Ingredients:

 10 tablespoon corn flour
 5 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
 5 teaspoon finely powdered thyme

Method:

Grind the ingredients together into a fine powder and store in an empty powder dispenser.

Alternatives:

- For athlete’s foot, rub the skin – especially in between the toes – with lemon peel, releasing the oil, and then dust with a fine sprinkle of the thyme foot powder.
- Parsley foot talc is good for feet which become over-hot and tired.


Mustard Foot Bath

Ingredients:

 2 teaspoons ground mustard powder (can be bought at most supermarkets)
 2.2L hot water

Method:

Mix the mustard and water together in a bowl big enough to accommodate your feet. Soak feet for 20 minutes. Try to relax your whole body by breathing in deeply and regularly. Dry feet well and keep them warm afterwards.

Fresh Onion Syrup

Ingredients:

 1 large or 2 small onions
 450g brown granulated sugar or clear honey

Dose:

Adult: 2 teaspoons 3 times daily or up to every two hours to help fight off a cold

Child: ½ - 1 teaspoon 3-6 times daily

Method:

1. Peel and slice the onions into rings.

2. Put 5cm of onion in the bottom of a clean jam jar and cover with 5cm sugar/honey. Repeat until jar is full, pressing each layer down firmly before adding the next.

3. Cover the last layer of onion with a thick sugar/honey layer, and leave overnight in a cool, dry place. If sugar has been used, it will have liquefied into syrup by dissolving into the onion juice – this is the onion syrup.

4. In the morning, strain off the liquid and throw away the un-dissolved sugar left at the bottom of the jar. Pour into bottles and label with the name, date and dose. Store in a cool dark place. It will keep for up to a week in the fridge.


Infused Rosemary Oil

Ingredients:

Makes approx 300 ml of infused oil

 50 – 75g dried rosemary or 75-100g fresh rosemary (chopped)
 300ml unblended vegetable oil (not sunflower or canola oil)

Method:

1 After chopping the rosemary, put half the herb and all the oil into a container with a lid. (Like an empty glass jar with a lid)

2 Place the container in a pan and fill the pan with water to within 2,5cm of the top of the container. Simmer slowly for 2 hours. This water bath allows the prolonged heating without the danger of spoiling the oil by boiling. To save time and energy costs, 2-3 canisters can be heated together.

3 After 2 hours, allow the mixture to cool slightly and then strain it well. This is now halfway through the process and the oil will have changed colour. At this stage the oil is safe for young children, either as massage oil or as bath oil. Discard the used herbs – they are great for compost in house plants and this completes the cycle by returning the goodness back to nature.

4 Refill the canister with the remaining rosemary, cover with the strained oil and return to the pan. You may need to top the water back up to within 2,5cm of the top of the jar. Simmer gently for another 2hrs. Don’t forget to put the lid back on the jar. It is important that the oil does not boil as this destroys any value the oil contains.

5 When the oil has cooled enough to work with, pour it through a strainer lined with cheesecloth. If you are using fresh herbs, there may be a watery green liquid at the bottom of the oil. This liquid must be separated out and thrown away, otherwise it will spoil the oil.



Onion Poultice

Ingredients:

 1 large onion, peeled

Method:

1. Roast onion whole until soft.

2. Cut in half and apply to affected area

This remedy works well to draw out splinters, cleaning wounds and alleviating earache.


Cinnamon and Ginger Decoction

Ingredients:

 2 ½ cinnamon sticks, broken up
 2.5cm fresh ginger root, sliced thinly
 350ml water
 I teaspoon honey (optional)

Method:

1. Simmer the spices in the water in a tightly covered pan for 10 minutes.

2. Strain and drink hot (add honey if desired)

This remedy is an excellent defense against oncoming colds! It can also be used as a mouthwash for infected gums and unpleasant breath.


Simple Ointment

Ingredients:

 300ml homemade infused oil or cooking oil
 25g yellow beeswax, grated or thinly chopped

Method

1. If you want make a different amount of ointment to that described below, remember the ratio of oil to wax is: 10 quantities of oil to 1 quantity of wax. Place the wax and oil into a heatproof jug.

2. Stand the jug in a larger pan and place on the stovetop. Carefully pour water into the pan until the water level is just below that of the oil in the jug. Bring the water to a gentle boil and then turn the heat down. Simmer until the wax has melted, stirring occasionally with a metal spoon.

3. Remove the jug from the pan and allow the liquid to cool down a little (not enough for it to harden!) then pour it into clean jars. Fill the jars to within 1cm of the top, reserving a little of the ointment for topping up later, and leave open until ointment has set.

Zingy Toothpaste

Ingredients:

 1 teaspoon fresh sage, ground
 6 teaspoons sea salt
 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
 ¼ teaspoon ground cloves (optional)

Method:

1. Grind all ingredients together in a pestle and mortar until they form a fine powder.

2. Pour into a clean 30ml jar and pack down tightly.


To Use:

Put a small amount on a toothbrush and brush in the usual way. Rinse your mouth with plenty of water. This remedy is especially useful when one experiences sore gums as the cloves act as an analgesic.


Simple Toothpaste

Ingredients:

 1 teaspoon fresh sage, ground
 6 teaspoons sea salt

Method:
As above

To Use:
As above

Toothpastes


Ground sea salt (2 table spoons)
Ground Thyme (1 teaspoon)
Ground Mint (1 teaspoon)
Baking Soda (1 tablespoon)

Pound all ingredients in a mortar and pestle then put in a jar and compact it down. Use a little with a toothbrush.



Cornmeal Hands Mask
Mix 1/4 cup corn meal with 3 Tbsp. milk. Heat over low heat until a paste forms. Add 1 drop almond oil. Let cool. Spread on hands, leave on for about 10 minutes. Rinse.


Banana Hand & Foot Cream
Dry hands and feet will become smooth and soft overnight if you mix:
Bananas
Honey
Lemon juice
Natural margarine
Smear on hands and wear white gloves to bed. Wash off in the morning. For dry feet, smear the mixture on and wear heavy socks to bed, wash off in the morning.

Gritty (and I mean *gritty* ) oat wash

Ingredients

4 dessertspoons of oats
1 teaspoon ground rice
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 dessertspoon vegetable oil (or homemade infused oil)

Method

1. Rub the oats thru your fingers until the required texture is reached. Remember the rougher the oats the coarser the eventual wash.

2. Add the rest of the dry ingredients. Mix. Add the oil. Rub well until the mixture and oil have nicely combined.

3. Now pack down into a clean jar.

To use

Take a small amount of the oat wash onto the palm of your hand and blend it gently with some water until you have a creamy mixture. Rub the mixture into the skin (I like to use this as an exfoliating face scrub) using small. circular motions using plenty of water. Rinse well.