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Our witch hazel shown here on the far left
Our witch hazel is a double decoction. First soaked in organic grain alcohol for 6-8 weeks, then simmered in pure water. Unlike the clear drugstore variety, ours is full of color and tannins and goodness! It is used in many cosmetic products for its light astringent and firming properties. It has mild antibacterial properties, making it excellent to treat acne and skin problems.
As Mother's Day approaches, we wanted to highlight our Goddess Body and Face Mist Spray. A calming blend of essential oils to balance emotions and cool the skin. This light mist can be used on your face, body, and even in a room for a divine pick me up. It comes in three sizes: a to-go pen spray, a two ounce bottle, and a four ounce bottle.
Ingredients: water, organic witch hazel extract, Epsom salts, essential oils of bergaptene-free Bergamot, atlas cedar wood, clary sage, lavender, cypress, ylang ylang, geranium, sage, and blue chamomile.
Long Beach peeps!!! We'll be at the upcoming Spring 2017 Patchwork Show in Long Beach on June 11th from 11am-5pm. Patchwork Show is Dear Handmade Life’s bi-annual, makers festival showcasing local emerging artists, crafters and designers alongside artisanal food, DIY craft workshops, gourmet food trucks and indie music. Grab the fam, come by and say hey!
Event Time: 11am-5pm
Location: Long Beach Marine Stadium
5255 E Paoli Way,
Long Beach, California 90803
Ticket Price: FREE
For more information, click here (https://dearhandmadelife.com/patchwork-show/) for the Dear Handmade Life's official website.
Southern California is in bloom right now and we couldn't be happier. We love that the rains have led to the green coming back to our landscape! And here are Ann's roses in bloom that we wanted to share with you all!
Maker and Founder, Ann Braden, will be selling Lovetree Essentials bath and body products at the Westlake Farmers Market this Sunday from 10am-2pm.
New products available:
Come stop by and say hello!
It is the oil pressed from seeds and nuts that have high concentrations of Vitamin E. It is a powerful antioxidant that is excellent for preventing scarring, healing burns, and revitalizing aged skin. It works wonders with excessive dryness and is also beneficial on skin and nails. And because of this, Vitamin E oil is found in many creams and lotions, especially anti-aging moisturizers and skin brighteners. And safety note- always use diluted Vitamin E Oil on your skin- it's best to just add a few drops to your moisturizer (it's all you need)!
Want soft and kissable lips? Try out our Lime Lip Scrub! This amazing sugar scrub exfoliates your lips with a hint of Shea butter to moisturize.
NO parabens. NO animal testing. NO synthetic fragrances or dyes. No creepy stuff because we love YOU!
Ingredients: Organic Shea Butter, Organic Chamomile Infused Jojoba Oil, Organic Sugar, Lime Essential Oil, Non-GMO Vitamin E Oil
Suggested Use: Gently rub a small amount with finger on your lips, let sit for a few minutes and then rinse or wipe off with a warm cloth. It's non-toxic so it's okay if you lick it off!
Net Weight: 0.5 ounces
1. What is foraging?
Foraging is just the act of searching for food--most people think of foraging as searching for wild food, but, technically speaking, I go foraging in my refrigerator every day.
2. Why do you forage?
First, I'd like to say that I've planted many of the edible and medicinal plants that I wild forage in my garden. Living in a city of 10 million people, our presence already has a big impact on the ability of other animals to survive and thrive. When I do wild forage plants and mushrooms, I practice ethical harvesting. That said, I forage because it deepens my connection with nature. The forest is my church, and I like to take communion with the ecological web of life on a regular basis. Plus, who doesn't love free food?
3. Can you forage in Los Angeles?
If yes, where? It depends. State Parks and some of the surrounding hills are totally off limits. Private land is always an option, so long as you have permission from the land owner of course.
4. Can I forage in my neighborhood? Is it safe?
Urban foraging is a great way to connect to the community of plant friends in your neighborhood. That said, safety depends on where you're picking, and what you're picking. Some plants do a terrific job of cleaning up our messes--taking in toxins that we use and spill, like oil that drips from our cars and poisons we spray on our lawns. Generally speaking, if a lawn is full of ""weeds"" it's probably safe to eat the dandelions growing in it. After all, if it was sprayed with a biocide, there would likely be no weeds.
5. Where can I learn more?
Come for a walk with me! You can check out my recent TEDxUCLA talk and a list of upcoming walks and workshops at: www.ericawohldmann.com - You can also learn more about the 5-month Rewilding Immersion Series that I co-teach with Nadine Flowers, a wild woman and practitioner of wilderness therapy and nature-based healing techniques.
Epsom Salts do wonders for sore muscles. Espom salts are a natural magnesium salt. In water, it breaks down into magnesium and sulfate. The theory is that when you soak in an epsom salt bath, these get into your body through your skin. That hasn't been proven, but just soaking in warm water can help relax muscles and loosen stiff joints.
People use epsom salt baths as a home treatment for: arthritis pain and swelling, bruises and sprains, fibromyalgia (a condition that makes your muscles, ligaments, and tendons hurt, and causes tender points throughout your body), Ingrown toenails, Insomnia, psoriasis, sore muscles after working out, sunburn pain and redness, tired, swollen feet. For a muscle soak bath, use 1-2 cups of epsom salts in very warm water. (source: WebMD)
Are you looking for a lightweight and super moisturizing body butter that will leave you radiant and soft all over? Our delicate and beautiful Himalayan Rose Shea Body Butter works two ways, jojoba oil makes it easily absorbed and shea butter creates a protective barrier around your skin to soften and restore your skin's natural elasticity. Shea Butter has a remarkable capacity to protect and soothe and is used for healing damaged or scarred skin as well as dry and rough skin.
Handmade. Local. Cruelty Free. Natural. Because we love YOU!
Ingredients: Organic shea butter, organic coconut oil, chamomile-infused jojoba oil, arrowroot powder, beeswax, vitamin E, and a blend of pure essential oils
Suggested Use: Massage into skin anytime to soften & restore skin's natural elasticity. Especially helpful right after a shower or bath so retain moisture.
This rich butter is used for healing damaged or scarred skin, as well as dry skin and rough skin (knees, elbows, and heels). It is also a protective agent in harsh weather. Shea has natural vitamins and fatty acids which makes it super moisturizing and nourishing. It is anti-inflammatory which makes it beneficial for people with acne. It also reduces wrinkles as it softens and strengthens skin to prevent drying and helps the skin’s natural collagen production. This fantastic butter can be used as a face and body moisturizer, a base for home deodorant (like ours!), lip scrub (like ours), skin care, hair care (especially helpful to people with curly hair), and more!
Photo Credit: Kathleen Blakistone, Moonwater Farm
When you add food scraps and yard waste to soil – it’s what is called compost. Compost is added to soil and works as a natural fertilizer to help plants grow healthy and strong. There are many benefits of composting, one of which: sustainability. Making compost keeps organic waste out of landfills where they release methane and lowers your carbon footprint. It also leads to healthier soil as it helps soil retain moisture and helps suppress plant diseases as well as insects.
To get started- create a compost bin and fill your bin with a balance mix of grass and green yard waste and “brown” materials like leaves and paper as well as food waste. Turn your pile regularly as often as you can- it helps it compost faster. It’s important to NEVER add the following to your compost bin: meat, bones, fish, plastic, oil, fat, any kind of feces, diseased plants, diapers, and cat litter. It is not recommended to add grains, nuts, and cooked food as it takes a long time to break down.
When do you know your compost is ready? You’ll find a layer of good compost at the bottom of the bin, add this to your garden weeks before you plant so the soil can absorb all the nutrients. Let us know how your composting goes!
Here is a fantastic recipe that highlights one of our favorite vegetables: Chard. Chard which is a leafy green contains high levels nitrates (which been shown to lower blood pressure), vitamin K, and vitamin A. It can be a tricky vegetable to cook but this recipe takes the guessing out of it: by baking it in a quiche!
Recipe From Farm Fresh to You and Image by Ann Braden.
Caramelized Shallot, Chard and Mushroom Quiche
Ingredients:
1 (12 oz) ball of your favorite pie dough for an 8-9 inch pie plate
8 ounces white cheddar cheese
6 eggs
1 pint half & half
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 large shallot, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 bunch (4 cups) chard, washed, destemmed and coarsely chopped
1 (3.5 ounce) package brown beech mushrooms or maitake mushrooms
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
1/8 teaspoon cracked black pepper
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Spray an 8-9 inch pie plate with nonstick spray or coat with butter.
Roll out the pie dough into a 12-inch diameter circle, approximately 1/8-inch thick. Place the dough into your 8 - 9 inch pie plate, making sure to press the dough into the corners and bottom of the pie plate. Fold the excess dough over the top edge, and using your forefinger and thumb, flute the edges. Chill the dough while you prepare the other ingredients.
Grate the cheese, setting aside 1/2 cup to use later.
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large sauté pan over high heat. Add the shallot and cook until slightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Lower the heat to medium and add the chard. Sauté, stirring frequently, until chard is tender, about 5 minutes. Place the chard mixture into a small bowl and set aside.
In the same sauté pan, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until tender and slightly browned, about 5 to 8 minutes. Stir the mushrooms into the chard mixture and let cool a bit.
In a medium bowl, beat the eggs slightly, then whisk in half & half, cheese (except the 1/2 cup), salt and pepper. Whisk in chard/mushroom mixture. Pour the mixture into the prepared pie shell. Bake for 40 minutes, sprinkle with the remaining cheese and bake 5 to 10 more minutes, until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
Serve warm.
Mother’s Day is next month and our Himalayan Rose Soaking Salts are a great way to treat the moms in your life with natural minerals & pure essential oils that melt away tension and restore the soul. Himalayan Pink Salt naturally contains 84 beneficial minerals for the body. Epsom salts do wonders for sore muscles.
How do I use it?
Add a handful to bath under the faucet and soak for up to 30 minutes or until water cools. For even more muscle-soothing benefit, add 1-2 cups of pure epsom salts to your aromatherapy soak.
Ingredients: himalayan sea salt, epsom salts, baking soda, organic rose petals, essential oils of lavender, geranium, tangerine, and Hawaiian sandalwood.
This is different than our usual posts. But I (Ann here) feel it's important. As a culture, we tend to avoid talking about death, yet it is a reality that no one can escape. This piece was written by my friend Leslie Kazadi after the death of our friend Diana. May it speak to your heart. This is what love looks like...
Here is the link to the poem: http://www.yogapoetica.com/dve/2017/3/1/love-the-soul-survivor
