Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 3 i WellBeing Home Grown Home Made

This homemade ferment makes use of apple scraps, water, sugar and time to create a vinegar similar in taste and purpose to apple cider vinegar [ACV]. Where ACV uses concentrated pressed apple juice, apple scrap vinegar uses water that is infused with apple juice from the waste peelings. Both go through a double fermentation process [first to become alcoholic, and then againg to transform into vinegar] and end up with a live SCOBY or ‘mother’ which adds millions of beneficial bacteria to the solution. Whilst apple scrap vinegar has a lower pH [is less acidic] than ABC, and is therefore less suitable for safe home food-preserving, it’s perfect for using in general cooking, for making infused ‘fire cider’, general household cleaning, and it can even be used as a waste-free…

This recipe is a great use for any glut of bananas you’re lucky enough to have, or for bananas past their prime. Besides that, it’s a healthy yet tasty summery alternative to ice cream that relies on the natural sweetness and creaminess of bananas. Even kids love it. With banana ice cream, presentation is all, so go the extra mile and see the topping ideas below. You can whip this up in an instant — provided you’ve frozen some bananas in advance. Frozen bananas are also great in smoothies and fruit whips. Bananas are a good source of potassium, B6, magnesium and fibre. INGREDIENTS • Three or more ripe bananas EQUIPMENT • Blender, blending stick or food processor• Spatula• Serving bowls• Sealable bag INSTRUCTIONS 1 Remove skins and any stringy bits…

Kompot is a simple, traditional Russian beverage made from stewing fruit. It’s a great way to make use of blemished or rain-damaged stone fruit that might otherwise go to waste. You can use any fruits and fruit combinations including apples, pears, berries and stone fruits like plums, peaches and apricots. For additional flavour, if desired, you may add spices and herbs such as grated ginger, cinnamon, vanilla essence or lemon rind. INGREDIENTS & EQUIPMENT • Fruit• Sugar or honey to sweeten (optional)• Filtered, distilled or spring water• A saucepan• Strainer INSTRUCTIONS 1 Wash the fruit, peel if needed, and place in the saucepan with water at a ratio of one part fruit to four parts water. 2 Bring to boil. Simmer fruit for 30 minutes. 3 Remove from heat and add…

Kombucha has become popular in the West. But its benefits have been enjoyed in the Caucasus and nearby regions for millennia. Kombucha’s history dates back at least 2000 years, originating in the Ural Mountains region in Russia, though some claim China as its birthplace. Whether it did originate in Russia or not, it was certainly embraced by Russians, along with their other favourite fermented drink, kvess, cultured from stale sourdough rye bread. Once, the only way you could get kombucha was to culture it yourself, but these days there are commercially produced bottled and canned kombuchas, often with added flavourings, such as pear and ginger. It’s still far more economical to make your own, plus you can be certain that the all-important probiotic and prebiotic organisms are present. What is…

Many dried plant materials, including seeds, fruit and leaves, can be ground into powders using a mortar and pestle or with electric appliances like coffee or spice grinders, and blenders. Such powders can be made into drinks, elixirs or capsules. An example is dandelion root, commonly ground down into a coarse powder and drunk as a delicious coffee-tasting beverage. The smaller particle size of powders makes them easy for the body to digest. On the downside, this leaves them more vulnerable to oxidisation. Capsules offers a solution to swallowing plant-based remedies that taste unpleasant. Herbs commonly made into capsules include turmeric, cayenne, milk thistle and ginger. Capsules are also excellent for plant constituents that don’t extract well in water or alcohol. Both capsules and powders can be useful for pets.…

After the link was found between vitamin C deficiency and scurvy (in the 1700s), oranges and lemons were taken onboard lengthy sea voyages to ward against the common naval disease. The moral of the story: fresh, edible plants can be powerfully beneficial to our bodies and in this case those humble citrus fruits literally saved many a life at sea. In these modern times we’re more likely to pop a supplement. But there’s nothing to stop us from taking a leaf out of Dr James Lind’s book (Lind was the discoverer of the citrus cure for scurvy). With the rising price of fresh food, it also makes economic common sense to do so. Indeed, obtaining specific vitamins and minerals from Mother Earth can be as simple, free, delightful and delicious…

Body wash, the type typically available at the supermarket, commonly contains many unhealthy ingredients such as synthetic chemical fragrances, triclosan and parabens (used as preservatives). This simple liquid body wash will have you squeaky clean and smelling good minus the chemicals. Liquid castile soap can be purchased at health food stores, food co-ops, and sometimes, in the health aisle of the local supermarket. INGREDIENTS • 2 cups liquid castile soap• 20 drops of essential oil of choice (such as lime, peppermint, lemon, lavender) EQUIPMENT • Reuse an old, castile soap bottle. Ideally, you need the pump type that squeezes the liquid out into an easy to lather and use foam. INSTRUCTIONS 1 Put ingredients together in the bottle. 2 Give a good shake to mix well. 3 Use in the shower…

Pure rose oil is rich, hydrating, moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, soothing and balancing. It also smells divine. If you find rose essential oil too expensive, an alternative is to use rose geranium oil, rosehip oil or your own rose infused oil. As rose oil is highly concentrated, you will need to use more of any rosehip or infused oil you use. If you like, add a pinch or so of beetroot powder (or a splash of beetroot juice) for a pink tone to your cream. For a thinner cream, reduce the amount of beeswax just slightly. INGREDIENTS • ¾ cup sweet almond oil (alternatively use your own rose infused oil)• ¼ cup coconut oil or cocoa butter• 1 cup rose water• 30 g beeswax, grated• 5 drops rosemary oil or contents of…

Beeswax sheets are the ultimate in instant candles and decoration. The wax is available in seven different colours and can be made into any sized candle. There are some good ideas here, but you can very quickly master the technique and design your own. Do you have a candlestick that only holds a specific-sized candle? It will never be a problem again when you can roll your own pure beeswax candles to suit exactly — and at a fraction of the cost of buying beautiful candles. If you’re ever stuck for an activity or gift for the children in your life, this could be the answer. All they need is scissors, cookie cutters and some ideas. There is no heat involved, no melting and minimal supervision is required. EQUIPMENT •…

Greenhouses can be used to extend the growing season, protect cold and frost sensitive plants, and rear young seedlings in trays. Another advantage of greenhouses, is that they offer plants protection against many garden pests, like birds, possums, rats and mice. Providing they follow the basic principles of greenhouse design, they can be tiny or gigantic, simple or complex. The idea of a greenhouse is to use the sun to warm and light a space, and barriers to trap and hold in the warmth. It’s similar to the idea of a window. It also needs airflow — to prevent things wilting inside, and the growth of moulds, viruses and bacteria. It’s that simple. With that in mind, it’s easier to see how many things could be used to create the…

Comfrey fertilizer A hardy, high-yield herb, comfrey is a valuable source of green fertiliser. Its large, deep roots mine nutrients from the soil, which are then stored in its fast-growing leaves. Comfrey leaves contain two to three times more potassium than farm manure, making them an excellent source of this essential plant nutrient. • Apply as a mulch A 5cm mulch of comfrey is ideal for potassium-hungry crops such as potatoes. Simply scatter comfrey leaves around the bed.• In the compost heap Comfrey adds nitrogen and heat. Avoid using too much, as it can quickly break down into a dark, sludgy liquid.• Making comfrey tea Weight the leaves down in a container — such as a capped plastic drainpipe, for instance, with a collection vessel under it — and allow…

EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS • An old kids plastic pool (at least about 30 cms deep, the deeper the better). Ideally, it should have a flat bottom and a shallower edge.• Gravel or pebbles and/or washed sand• Aquatic plants• Land plants• Rocks, logs, sticks or tree branches INSTRUCTIONS  1 Choose a spot for your pond in a space away from falling leaves. If you’re in a hot climate ideally locate it so that the pond gets shade for two-thirds of the day; in a cold climate it needs more sun. The smaller your pond the more affected it will be by temperature fluctuations. If you’re able, position the pond where it can receive regular rainwater top ups.  2 Dig out the soil roughly corresponding to the size of your pool. Insert the…

Once you’ve made the big decision to go the next step with growing food and bring chickens into your haven, there are many decisions to make, so you’ll need to do your homework. How do you decide which are the best hens to keep or do you just settle on the first fowls you come across? With 40-plus breeds to choose from, why accept second best? There may be a fun fowl or two that are perfect for your needs and set-up. When considering introducing poultry into your garden system, there are a number of issues to think about. First and foremost what is your plan for incorporating the birds into the garden or backyard? Will they be primarily for companionship & waste management, or are you hoping to obtain…

To make kale chips you only need kale, salt and oil. Kale, which favours the cold season, is one of the easiest foods to grow. Kale is nutrient dense but low in calories, more so if you don’t cook it with oil. You can cook your chips in the oven or an air fryer. INGREDIENTS • A bunch of kale• Sea salt• Olive oil (if you prefer you can use coconut oil)• Optional seasonings (such as chilli, pepper, sesame seeds, curry powder, garlic or onion powder, seaweed flakes, tamari) EQUIPMENT • Baking tray lined with baking paper• Mixing bowl INSTRUCTIONS 1 Preheat oven to 100°C. 2 Remove the hard stems of the kale and any thick ribs. 3 Wash and dry kale. You can use a lettuce spinner or press down…

Laksa is a great way to enjoy more of your own homegrown herbs and bean sprouts in your diet. The key ingredients in Laksa, a spicy, curried, coconut noodle soup, are easy to grow, especially for those living in warmer environments. They include loads of fresh bean sprouts, and for the paste: lime, garlic, ginger, chilli and lemongrass. Laksa is also typically garnished with coriander and mint. Spring onion, Vietnamese mint, lime wedges and basils can also be used. Most of the herbs used in Laksa and other South-East Asian dishes) favour warm to tropical growing conditions (the region lies within the tropics), with the exception of garlic, which grows well in a cold climate, and bean sprouts (which can be grown in your own kitchen). Coriander also flourishes in…

To make yoghurt you need only milk, bacteria and warmth. Use the warmth of the sun, a fireplace or a low oven, or alternatively, the convenience of a yoghurt maker. The latter are inexpensive to buy but not worth the storage unless you’re using it frequently. This recipe makes an unsweetened, creamy, and rich coconut yoghurt using just two ingredients — the creamy portion of the coconut milk plus probiotic capsules. You can also make it with both the separated liquid and cream of the coconut milk. Then it’s helpful to use tapioca starch (2 tbsp) to thicken it. Live cultures from yoghurt can also be used instead of probiotic capsules. Use about 4 tablespoons of coconut yoghurt for this. Two ingredient coconut yoghurt INGREDIENTS • 2 cans full-fat, high…

Kimchi is a staple in Korea. The Asian version of saukraut, it’s basically a fermented and salted side dish based around pickled vegetables, particularly cabbage and radish. There are many versions of the traditional dish using different vegetables and seasonings. The secret to a great kimchi is fresh ingredients: super crisp, vibrant cabbage, (avoid anything floppy). Kimchi is traditionally made using salted preserved seafood. This more simple version relies on vegetables you can grow in your own garden. While you can buy kimchi in most supermarkets these days, the shop version is likely to contain preservatives, additives, and starter cultures, and may come in plastic. Your own homemade version won’t and will better resemble the authentic kimchi. The original, early versions of kimchi didn’t include chilli, however, it’s a useful…

Kissel is a traditional Slavic dish. For time-poor, low-fuss cooks, the simplicity of Kissel is its greatest appeal. You can use any fruit to make kissel but traditionally berries and/or stone fruits are used. A rustic kind of dessert, Kissel is alternately described as a fruit soup, a custard or drink. It contains only four ingredients: stewed fruit, water, thickener (traditionally potato starch is used) and sweetener. Keep it simple or eat it with whipped cream, yoghurt, ice-cream, coconut cream or custard. Or add some wine to the broth. In the traditional version, the fruit is usually pureed or sieved. In this simpler, quicker version, the fruit is simply stewed. EQUIPMENT • Saucepan INGREDIENTS • Fruit of choice (such as apricots, plums, peaches, berries, apples, gooseberry, cherries)• Purified or spring…

Dandelion root is a traditional tonic for the liver, kidneys and gall bladder. It also supports digestive and gastrointestinal health and is mildly laxative. While it’s easier to buy dandelion root coffee from the shop, you can also make your own from harvested roots. However, be aware, you’ll need a lot of roots to make the effort worthwhile and you need to harvest the root in the right season. More on that below. Harvesting dandelion root Your own harvest begins with correct identification. There are many lookalikes to dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). According to herbalists, the stalks are round, smooth and hollow without any growth branching from them. Taraxacum generally has multiple stalks, never a single, central one. These rise from numerous, serrated, bright green leaves at its base. The plants’…

Oat milk Homemade oat milk is super cheap and so simple to make. It’s great with breakfast cereal or porridge, used in baked goods and as an alternative to milk with your cuppa. Rolled oats (as opposed to flaked, steel-cut or quick oats) produce the best nut milk. INGREDIENTS • 1 cup organic rolled oats• 1 litre filtered, distilled or spring water• Pinch of sea salt• 1 tsp vanilla essence• 1-2 dates (for sweetness) EQUIPMENT • Blender• Nut milk bag• Funnel• Sealed storage jar INSTRUCTIONS 1 Place oats in blender. Add water plus optional extras (if desired). Remove pips from any dates used. 2 Blend slightly (about 30-45 seconds, no longer than a minute) until ingredients are well combined but before oats are fully pulverised. Avoid over-blending or the mix…

HARVEST YOUR PLANT MATERIALS 1 Correctly identify plants. Be aware that many species look very similar. 2 Harvest at the correct stage of development of the plant part — when development and vitality is at its peak. 3 Avoid harvesting plants in wet conditions. Ideally, harvest in the mid-morning after the dew has risen from plants.  4 Only use quality, healthy, fresh and vigorous materials. Avoid anything yellowing, discoloured, decaying, disease affected or sub-standard. Do not harvest plants when they are wilting under heat or pests. Avoid harvesting materials that may be contaminated with pesticides, heavy metals or other toxins. 5 Remove contaminants and extraneous matter, such as soil, dirt, stones, weeds and insects. 6 Only harvest as much as you can dry, process or store.  7 Be gentle. Avoid bruising…

TIP Create a stronger infusion by repeating the whole process using new plant materials with the already infused oil. Infused oils use oils to extract fat-soluble ingredients from plants. Therapeutic infused oils are used externally on the body by rubbing into the skin — and like anything applied to the skin, they’re absorbed into the body. They’re great for aches and pains, wound healing and to stimulate circulation, promote relaxation and more. Infused oils are often incorrectly confused with essential oils. However, these are not the same thing. Essential oils are highly concentrated, volatile oils (those that evaporate easily) in plants extracted by steam distillation and other methods. Here’s how to create your own infused oils using the ‘folk method’. INGREDIENTS • A fixed cold-pressed oil (olive is the most…

A first aid kit from nature consists of garden plants, herbs, pantry staples and essential oils you can draw from in times of need. Highly valuable plants for first aid and common temporary health problems include aloe vera, garlic, calendula, feverfew and comfrey and culinary, stalwart herbs like peppermint, thyme, rosemary. Tea tree, eucalyptus oil and apple cider vinegar, kept stocked, are also useful. It can be helpful to make up and keep at hand a few longer lasting remedies of choice, such as dried valerian root, garlic syrup, insect repellent. You can also purchase natural products and keep in a drawer or natural first aid kit as needed. For anything serious or prolonged, you should always see a doctor. Although, with the rising cost of living and healthcare, and the…

Fragrances found in commercial products can contain any of over 3,000 different chemicals, many of which are linked to health issues including allergies, hormone disruption, birth defects and even cancer. Unfortunately, manufacturers are not legally required to list the ingredients in “fragrance”, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) reveal, and fragrance is only one of the toxic ingredients perfumed products may include. Make your own scents and avoid the issue. In the interests of time (who isn’t time poor) we’re keeping it simple and basic. You can make this up in five minutes, provided you have an appropriate bottle and essential oils at hand. Use it as a natural body fragrance under the arms and elsewhere. Source only quality essential oils for your products. Roller ball bottles can be purchased from…

Tip For excessively dry skin, try adding one capsule of flaxseed oil or vitamin E oil to ingredients. Yoghurt is rich in zinc and when applied to your skin each day may help to shrink pores and clear blemishes. It also contains lactic acid, which naturally smoothes the skin. Combined with oats, it has been clinically proven to heal dry, itchy skin. Yoghurt is mild on sensitive skin and safe on dry, combination, oily and sallow-looking complexions. This refreshing mask is good enough to eat. INGREDIENTS • 10g finely chopped organic oats• 3 tbsp organic yoghurt• 2 tsp organic raw honey• 1 drop peppermint pure essential oil EQUIPMENT • Mixing bowl• Fork• Glass storage jar INSTRUCTIONS 1 Place all ingredients in a bowl. Mix thoroughly with a fork. 2 Label…

When it comes to natural treatments for our hair, useful pantry ingredients include plant oils, rosemary, lemon and cider vinegar. Plant oils, like olive, black sesame, argon, almond and apricot kernel, applied to the hair, can offer moisture. Aloe vera gel, coconut milk and raw egg (whipped up) can also be used to nourish hair. If you suffer from dry hair, it’s equally important to wash it less. Greasy hair can benefit from a rinse with cider vinegar or lemon. Cider vinegar is great for dandruff too. It balances the pH of the scalp, removes buildup of product on the scalp and hair, and improves the softness and lustre of hair. Rosemary, taken internally or applied externally, can promote hair growth: it stimulates circulation to the head. Hair health, however,…

In this project we have chosen to use pure and natural soy wax in glass jars. When starting out, small tins or jugs are great. They take only 10 minutes to melt and you can make your first candle. You can buy pouring pots that have a capacity of about 500g and have a lip and a handle. These can sit in the water and make a very convenient wax pot for small quantities. These tins of wax sit in larger saucepans or soup pots filled with water. EQUIPMENT • Containers of soy wax• Saucepan or a collection of tins for inner pots, to hold the wax• Candle colours• Candle fragrance• 3 x 300ml jars• Pouring tray — baking dish (lined), kitty litter tray etc• Pouring pot — milk warmers…

Walking down the ‘laundry’ aisle of a supermarket can be overwhelming for many reasons, none the least because of the large array of highly perfumed artificial fragrances. It should come as no surprise to you that scented household cleaning products contain high numbers of volatile organic compounds. Alarmingly, according to a study done in 2011, almost none of these harmful chemical compounds are listed on the packaging: rather, they’re lumped under the innocuous title of “fragrances”. Whilst there is a push to improve consumer information on commercially available products, one way you can avoid the minefield of bringing unknown chemicals in your home is by making your own cleaning products. Another ingredient worth knowing about is washing soda. Created by heating bicarbonate soda, washing soda has a higher pH (around…

Key benefits of making your own seed-raising mix include the ability to improve on the commercial mixes and be assured of knowing what’s in your mix. Making your own also allows you to save a bit of money. Why not use commercial seed-raising mix? On his site, Deep Green Permaculture, horticulture and permaculture expert, Angelo Eliades, observes that seedlings grown in commerical mixes often come out spindly and unhealthy. “That’s because seed raising mix has absolutely no nutrients in it,” Eliades writes. Commercial seed raising mixes, are, he notes, excellent for germinating seed, but to keep growing seedlings healthy you need to feed them with nutrients from seaweed solution, compost or some other soil tonic. Most store bought seed-raising mixes and potting mixes contain composted bark, crushed quartz and wetting…

Designed for the kitchen, bokashi buckets are useful small-scale pre-composting systems for people living in units or lacking space for a standard, backyard setup. Unlike standard composts they allow you to partially compost meat and dairy foods, and can be placed conveniently indoors at the source of scraps, such as the kitchen bench or under the sink. The bucket can also be kept in a laundry, garage or shed or elsewhere indoors. What is Bokashi? Bokashi, in Japanese, means “fermented organic matter”. Bokashi is an anaerobic (no oxygen), fermentation process that uses an activator (bran innoculated with specific microbes) to ferment kitchen waste. This produces a liquid fertiliser and fermented solids for compost. The strains used work in anaerobic, acidic conditions and include the yeast Saccharomyces spp, and the bacterias…

Obviously, saving garden seeds allows you to create new plants and continue the cycle of growth and potentially food. But, there are many less obvious benefits to make it well worth your while. To highlight these, we’ve listed them on the next page. When saving seed, it’s important to note that hybrid commercial seeds usually can’t be reproduced true to form. To continue to grow those flashy catalogue F1 hybrids, you’ll need to purchase new seed from the supplier. To save your own seed that grows true to form, you’ll need to use open-pollinated or heritage seeds. There are three basic stages to saving seed: (1) choosing parent plants and allowing them to go to seed, (2) collecting seed, (3) drying and storing seeds. We’ll go through each of the…

Hedges screen out ugly views and noise, add privacy and windbreaks, define boundaries and create garden rooms. Edible plants feed us. Why not combine multiple ideas? From a design perspective, there’s the colour and interest that fruit and flowers give a hedge. Edible hedges don’t have to be straight, vertical walls: they can be circular, flowing, low as well as tall, and used to border trees, garden rooms or beds. 1 Choose hedging edibles For a compact hedge, choose foliage with smaller leaves and denser growth over open branches. If you plan to use trees, pick those with dwarf rootstock. For a hedge that looks spruce year round, avoid deciduous plants in favour of evergreens. On the other hand, many deciduous species (such as blueberries) have flashy autumn foliage. Select plants…

INGREDIENTS • Starchy, low water, root veg, such as potato, sweet potato, carrot, turnip and beetroot. You can also use zucchini and squash.• Sea salt• Olive oil (optional)• Optional seasonings (such as chilli flakes, pepper, paprika, cumin, garlic or onion powder, seaweed flakes) EQUIPMENT • A mandoline or sharp knife• Baking tray lined with baking paper INSTRUCTIONS 1 Preheat oven to 250°C. 2 Wash/scrub the vegetables. Peel any root vegetables. If using beet, pat dry to avoid it discolouring the other vegetables. 3 Soak potatoes for 15 minutes, then rinse to remove starch. Do this three times. 4 Create thin slices of the vegetables using the mandoline or knife. 5 Lay the slices in a single layer on a paper towel or tea towel to dry out. 6 Mix vegetables…

This recipe is contributed by Teya Brooks Pribac, author of Not Just Another Vegan Cookbook and the founder of a social enterprise focusing on teaching plant-based cooking to the community. The recipe, designed for vegans, uses probiotics. Most probiotic supplements on the market are made from a base of cow’s milk, but you can source vegan ones at health food stores or online. It’s important to use ‘refined’ coconut oil. Standard coconut oil (while healthy) will impart a strong coconut flavour to your cheese. You can buy refined coconut oil at health food stores. According to Teya, the flavour in cheese owes a lot to salt, so add a little extra if you wish. Plant-based, dairy-free cheeses are typically based on nuts or soybean, plant milks, and sometimes seeds. Other…

Tart and tangy, cumquats (or kumquats as they’re known outside Australia) are not to everyone’s liking. One answer is cumquat jam. This recipe is inspired by my sister’s giant cumquat tree and the tasty, glowing orange jam she makes from the hundreds of orange fruits. With its citrus rinds, cumquat jam tastes like a cross between marmalade and jam with an exotic apricot flavour. If you prefer a healthier jam with less sugar, reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe. You can use half the amount or even less. This will result in a tarter jam. INGREDIENTS • 4 cups of sliced cumquats• 4 cups of sugar (raw, white or caster)• 6 cups water (distilled, filtered or spring)• Cinnamon stick• Optional additions to experiment with: lemon juice, vanilla, passionfruit,…

Below are four different options for a delicious, sparkling naturally flavoured water. You can make your own sparkling water with a home carbonation system. These start from around $90. On the upside, having your own carbonation system can spare the environment on plastic packaging and save you money on sparkling water in the long term. Alternatively, use sparkling water purchased from the shop to make your drink. Carbonated water loses its fizz after a few days, so consume it before then. Easy flavoured sparkling water Mix your carbonated water with fruit juice, a squeeze of lemon or lime juice, fruit syrup, cordial, or any of the ingredients you might add to an infused water, like citrus slices or berries. Easy fizzy lemonade or orangeade The summer classic, lemonades cooling sweet…

It might surprise you, but cordials (also known as syrups), originated as medicines and tonics. Sugar preserved the active ingredients (fruits, flowers, herbs, spices and other ingredients) and made the medicine more palatable. To make cordial, use a ratio of roughly 1 part liquid/water to half parts sugar for your syrup, and citric acid (or lemon juice) to preserve. Depending on the type of plant ingredients used, you may use more sugar, up to equal amounts of sugar to liquid. To make a drink from cordial, mix about one part cordial to four parts water. We’ve included a recipe below for you to try out. Elderflower has a subtle musky taste said to resemble a pear or lychee. Elderflower cordial When making elderflower cordial, remove the stems and leaves —…

Turmeric has a long history of use for conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, digestive, bowel, liver and gallbladder complaints. In research, the ‘golden spice’, or ‘golden root’, as it’s known, has been found to be a powerful anti-inflammatory, as well as antioxidant, antibacterial, choleretic (increasing bile secretion by the liver) and carminative (relieving abdominal gas and distension). It’s also been used for respiratory conditions, including asthma, allergies and coughs. INGREDIENTS Turmeric spice blend • 6 tbsp turmeric powder• 3 tbsp cardamon powder• 3 tbsp ginger powder• 3 tbsp ground cinnamon Turmeric milk • 1 cup milk of choice per person• 1 tsp turmeric spice blend per person• Honey, sugar or maple syrup to taste (optional)• 1 tsp vanilla essence (optional) EQUIPMENT • Small saucepan• Storage jar with lid INSTRUCTIONS 1 Place spices…

Teas are infusions of plant ingredients created by steeping plant parts, including leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds, powders and roots, in hot water. They can also be cooled and enjoyed cold. We’re all familiar with tea. Popular plant teas include mint, lemongrass, chamomile and green tea (made from Camellia sinensis). However, there’s scores of edible plants suitable for teas including honeysuckle, lemon verbena, lemon balm, elder and lavender flowers, fennel, wild strawberries, liquorice root, mulberry, oranges, rosehips, rosemary, raspberry, sage, thyme, red clover, fenugreek, bilberry, eucalyptus, and the list goes on. You can use any safe-to-consume plant part that you like. Most herbal teas have therapeutic properties we can take advantage of. We can also enjoy them purely for pleasure. Importantly, too, we can make tea freely from our own backyard…

Teas use heat and water to extract plant chemicals and flavours. When preparing a tea for therapeutic purposes, allow it to steep in hot water for 10 to 20 minutes (the longer you do so the more strength it will have). If you can’t be bothered timing, just leave it to cool to lukewarm, then drink. If your tea goes too cold for enjoyment, simply reheat it a little or top up with hot water. Medicinal teas (and teas generally) can be made from dried or fresh plant materials including fruits, flowers and roots, as well as powders and spices. INGREDIENTS • One to two heaped teaspoons of dried plant (or the equivalent fresh herb chopped) per cup of water.• Spring, distilled or filtered water INSTRUCTIONS 1 Steep your ingredients in…

The allicin in raw garlic is one of nature’s strongest antimicrobials. It shouldn’t be heated as this destroys it’s properties. Garlic is also a good expectorant, meaning it helps us cough up and clear phlegm. Thyme, rosemary and honey (particularly manuka honey) are also antimicrobial, however, thyme is specific for the lungs. As thyme is also an antispasmodic, it can be helpful for coughs too, whereas rosemary is a powerful antioxidant. INGREDIENTS • 1 head/bulb of garlic• Rosemary and thyme, about 1 tbsp each of chopped herb• ½ cup purified water• 2 tbsp manuka honey (alternatively, you can use raw honey) EQUIPMENT • Broad, dark sterilised jar with lid or stopper• Fine mesh sieve• Small saucepan• Wooden spoon• Measuring cups• Funnel INSTRUCTIONS  1 Chop the thyme and rosemary finely. Place…

Creams are semi-solid, oil and water-based mixtures with an emulsifier (substances that help water and oil to combine) to integrate these two normally immiscible substances. A cream should contain a ratio of about 50 per cent water ingredients to oil ingredients. In the beauty industry creams are applied to the skin as moisturisers. In herbal medicine they’re typically used to soothe skin irritation or inflammation, including sunburn, eczema and itching. One great benefit of creams is that they absorb well into the skin. Creams use a wide variety of emulsifiers, and ingredients. Natural emulsifying agents include beeswax, glycerin and lecithin. Tinctures and tea infusions, oil infusions, aloe vera, gels, plant juices, essential oils, floral waters and other precious ingredients can also be incorporated beautifully into your creams and lotions. INGREDIENTS…

 A compress is simply a cloth bathed in a therapeutic herbal solution — such as an infusion, decoction, tincture or vinegar — and applied topically direct to a part of the body. Compresses can be applied using hot or cold solutions. A hot compress tends to be better at relieving pain and spasm and increasing circulation to the site. A cold compress reduces circulation. A poultice is a wet dressing of moist, softened plant material or whole fresh leaves applied to the body and held in place by a bandage or a compress. Poultices can also be applied hot or cold. In traditional medicine compresses and poultices are used for spasm and pains including menstrual cramps, headaches, arthritis and mastitis, wound-healing including breaks, sprains and burns, skin complaints including infections,…

Dr Renee James, a veterinarian with over 20 years experience, and co-founder of the Natural Vets in Forest Glen, Queensland, uses Chinese herbal medicine, nutrition and vet homeopathy alongside conventional veterinarian work in her integrative vet practice. A leader in her field, she’s one of a minority of integrative vets in Australia, and on a mission to change the face of veterinary medicine. Dr Renee says our pets tend to be exposed to an overwhelming amount of chemicals and toxins over their lifetime. She advocates a more natural approach. Natural diet In the pet health space there’s a lot pressure for pet owners to do the right thing, Dr Renee says. This tends to mean feeding them special designated pet food off the shelf, administering expensive chemical treatments and medications,…

Betacyanin is the deep red pigment found in beetroot. It’s a natural and safe alternative to synthetic red colourings. Also of importance is silica, found in beetroot juice, which helps to utilise the calcium in the body and strengthens skin and hair. Beetroot juice on lips restores dry, chapped lips while providing colour and skin rejuvenation. Wild orange oil fragrance brings happy thoughts to mind. With this sweet-smelling lip balm your mood will be uplifted and this will give you a relaxed feeling. Natural lip balms soften and smooth in minutes. INGREDIENTS • 2 drops beetroot juice (optional)• 2 drops sweet almond oil• 1 drop pure honey• 4 tbsp grated beeswax• 1 drop wild orange essential oil EQUIPMENT • Grater• Small non-stick pot• Wooden spoon• Small storage jar INSTRUCTIONS  1…

Similar to recycling, upcycling is a step up again. It involves creativity and imagination, and a bit of work to transform and repurpose something old into something new. Upcycling saves us money, helps the environment, hones our sense of self-sufficiency, and keeps our brain cells active. Like phoenix rising out of the ashes, it allows old items to be re-born to new life. Below are some ideas to get you started at looking at the old in a new way. New uses for common chuck-out items OLD FABRIC Transform into any of the following: • Gift wrapping• Beeswax wraps• Cotton squares/rounds for removing makeup• Handkerchiefs• Food produce bags• Tea towels• Pillow cases and cushion covers• New clothing• Cleaning rags• Rag rugs• Shredded for use as pillow stuffing• Washable food covers…

Beeswax candles Beeswax is one of my favourite waxes, with its naturally sweet scent and colour. Straight from the countryside, away from pesticides and industry, this would be the most green and pure form of candle wax. It is melted the same as all the other waxes, see the information about using a double saucepan. For a first attempt, using a pyramid shape or a silicon mould is easiest. The beeswax can be removed easily from these moulds. EQUIPMENT • Moulds• Plaited cotton wicks• Blu-tack• Box to hold moulds• Ladle, old teapot or small pouring pot• Skewers ASSEMBLY  1 Prepare the mould: feed the plaited cotton wick through the hole at the top of the mould, then push the skewer through the wick at the other end. As the skewer…

Whenever you have some wax melting for a project it’s a good opportunity to make some tealights with the spare warm wax. Any wax is fine. Tealights are also a great way to use up old candles. EQUIPMENT • Tealight cups• Wicks• Pouring pot ASSEMBLY  1 Melt your wax in a double saucepan arrangement and organise your area, covering your surfaces. Have your cups and wicks on hand.  2 Once the wax is melted, use a small pouring pot. The easiest way to get a good fill is to do the pour in two stages: part-fill each of the cups, adding the stand-up tealight wick as the edges begin to set. The “sticky” wax will grab the wick stabiliser and hold it — you just need to place it centrally. 3…

We all like a clean, sweet-smelling home. But whether it’s a scented candle, bench spray or reed diffuser, we’re likely to be introducing unwanted toxic chemicals into our lives. Sadly, synthetic chemical fragrances are a common source of toxicity for many of us. Fragrance, the key ingredient in those delicious-smelling, products, can be composed from a mix of any of more than 3,500 chemicals, according to the Environmental Working Group. Importantly, fragrance is unregulated. It’s also a common source of carcinogenic, endocrine disrupting, toxic chemicals, with women bearing a heavier load than men. Along with health impacts on us, the chemicals in artificial fragrances are detrimental to the environment and wildlife. For the unaware, labels on our products don’t distinguish between natural and synthetic fragrances, and the chemicals in fragrance…

Let’s be honest, potatoes produce more in open, garden soil. Like most veg they like room to grow. But if you’re short of space or don’t have a garden, a grow bag is a great option. It can be positioned in any sunny spot, such as a verandah, balcony, or courtyard. When you’re not using it, you can fold it up and store till you need it again. Compared to standard garden pots, growing bags are economical. You can buy them at nurseries, hardware stores, and from online nursery suppliers. You can also use any suitable, sturdy bag as a grow bag. They can be made of canvas, burlap, heavy duty fabric, hessian and other materials. You can also use an old, plastic garbage bin or place your grow bag…