![Tallow Lip Balm: A DIY Solution for Winter Lips](https://909c0d3efc63d4674cb4-62e8289cb2b35d2d929ba8c1b8f1d0d0.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/4242-65933dad17998.jpg)
- 3 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp tallow
- 1 tbsp beeswax
- 1 tsp honey
- 6-8 drops essential oil
- In a double boiler, melt the tallow, coconut oil, and beeswax.
- Once melted, stir in the honey.
- Remove the mixture from heat and stir in the essential oils.
- Carefully pour the mixture into small containers or chap-stick tubes.
- Allow several hours for the mixture to completely harden.
Join the FREE Community
![Tallow: The Secret Ingredient for DIY Hand Cream](https://909c0d3efc63d4674cb4-62e8289cb2b35d2d929ba8c1b8f1d0d0.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/4242-6593380e27af7.jpg)
Join the FREE Community
![Say Hello to Tallow: Your New Lotion-Making Best Friend](https://909c0d3efc63d4674cb4-62e8289cb2b35d2d929ba8c1b8f1d0d0.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/4242-65933042486e9.jpg)
- 16 oz tallow
- 4 T olive oil (or other liquid oil)
- 5 ml essential oil (optional, but make sure to use a high-quality pure oil I recommend Young Living. You can grab some with the link here)
- 2 t arrowroot powder (optional, to reduce greasiness)
- To make the lotion, melt the tallow and allow it to cool to room temperature, but not harden.
- Add the olive oil and stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
- Place the mixture in the fridge until solid, then remove and allow it to warm to room temperature. This will make whipping easier.
- Using a hand-held mixer, whip the tallow mixture until it appears fluffy like whipped cake frosting.
- Finally, add in the arrowroot powder and essential oils.
Join the FREE Community
![Tallow: The Secret Ingredient for Homemade Soap](https://909c0d3efc63d4674cb4-62e8289cb2b35d2d929ba8c1b8f1d0d0.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/4242-6593262d5b618.jpg)
Join the FREE Community
![Basic Bone Broth Recipe and How to Preserve It](https://909c0d3efc63d4674cb4-62e8289cb2b35d2d929ba8c1b8f1d0d0.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/4242-62c36f5892a5d.jpg)
Join the FREE Community
![How to Treat a Foot Abscess in Horses, Cattle, and Sheep.](https://909c0d3efc63d4674cb4-62e8289cb2b35d2d929ba8c1b8f1d0d0.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/4242-62ba8b2ae5945.jpg)
Join the FREE Community
![How to drain an abscess](https://909c0d3efc63d4674cb4-62e8289cb2b35d2d929ba8c1b8f1d0d0.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/4242-62a7c60f4d1ce.jpg)
Join the FREE Community
![How to prune Roses and Berry Bushes](https://909c0d3efc63d4674cb4-62e8289cb2b35d2d929ba8c1b8f1d0d0.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/4242-621d1e1198692.jpg)
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, with NO additional cost to you.
To keep roses, or berry bushes healthy, they need to be pruned every year. This trains the bushes how to grow and makes them more productive. The best time to prune the bushes is actually winter or very early spring. All the energy reserves are in the roots at that time and most of the foliage has dropped making it easier to prune. You want to make sure you prune before they start waking up in the spring.
When pruning, first cut all the dead wood back to the base. You will know it is dead wood by cutting into. The dead wood is all brown, green is alive. If you are unsure, cut high to start then lower if needed.
Next you want to take out the branches that cross, as they can damage other canes (the bush branches) and cause disease. After those, remove any small weak growing canes. These are anything smaller than a pencil in diameter.
Finally prune the remaining canes by cutting ¼ - ½” about an outward facing bud eye. This is the small bump where the leaf would meet a stem. This will encourage the bush to grow outward instead on inward, reducing disease. Be sure to look for a bud at least halfway up the cane. If you cut to low and the bush is a hybrid, you will cut it back to the wild-type base. Make your cuts at a 45-degree angle towards the outside of the plant. This allows water to run off, also reducing disease.
Make sure you clean up all the branches and leaves from the base of the plant. If your feeling generous, add a little compost while your there to feed the bushes for the next year. Most bushes are heavy feeders and require quite a bit of nutrition to bloom properly.
Join the FREE Community
![What are some home remedies for homesteaders?](https://909c0d3efc63d4674cb4-62e8289cb2b35d2d929ba8c1b8f1d0d0.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/4242-61c10d98e78b6.jpg)
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, with NO additional cost to you.
At some point you will injure yourself or get sick. It is part of life. You don’t need to run to the doctor for everything, and you don’t have to run out and buy an over-the-counter salve or medicine. There are several remedies you can grow, forage, and make yourself. This will be a brief overview, as each category could be an entire blog itself. Read all the way to the end for my best owie slave recipe.
First prevention is the best medicine. Feeding your body what it needs to fight off and heal itself before you become symptomatic ill. The best way to do this is to eat good food that nourishes your body. Avoiding processed foods and sugar is the biggest tips. Eating a much of a whole food diet as you can is the next.
Herbals are my next line of defense. This includes essential oils. Essential oils are essentially concentrated versions of the herbs. Quality matters here, especially when using them for medicinal purposes. I use the essential oils to help build and support the body fighting off whatever infection and assist in the healing process. A favorite in our house as well are hot teas. Perfect herbal remedies to sip on when feeling sick.
I buy my essential oils. I do not have the knowledge to properly distill them, so they have the most effectiveness. For my top pick on essential oil company for quality and experience, click here. The herbals for tea are a mix of purchased and home grown. Many herbs I simply do not have the ability to grow. So, I just need an easy button an buy a pre-mixed herbal blend. Top herbs to keep on hand for illness, cinnamon, lemonbalm and lemongrass (bonus these also repel bugs when alive), clove, rosemary, and lemon.
Tinctures I often use in conjunction with herbals. A tincture is a plant soaked in alcohol, then strained off. The benefit to these is they last nearly forever, where a dried herb is only good for 1-2 years. To use the tincture, a small amount of liquid is placed under the tongue and then held there for a few minutes. The herbs that are harder to acquire, or spoil quickly are made into tinctures for long term storage and use.
The part I’m sure most of you have been waiting for! My homemade owie salve. I use this salve on all kinds of owies, from cuts, to abrasions, to diaper rashes, to burns (after it has cooled off and the outer skin is healing. The best part is it is easy to make and grow. The two herbs in this salve are Calendula petals and Plantain leaves. You’ll also need olive oil for infusing, and bees wax to make the actual salve.
Step 1: Pick the calendula blossoms and plantain leaves on a warm sunny day (the resin is strongest then). Fill a glass jar with the leaves and blossoms, I like to pick them in about a 1:1 ratio.
Step 2: Fill the jar with olive oil to 1 inch from the top. Run a butter knife around to remove the air bubbles. Place in a sunny spot and let it sit for 3-4 weeks.
Step 3: Strain the oil through cheese cloth and squeeze out into a sauce pan.
Step 4: Warm the oil slightly (DO NOT BOIL). Add most of the grated bees wax to the warmed oil (approximately ¼ c grated beeswax per 1 cup of oil). Stirring to mix.
Step 5: As soon as the wax melts, put 1 Tablespoon of the mix on a plate and into the freezer for 1-2 minutes, until cool.
Step 6: Check for consistency. For a firmer salve, add more bees wax, for a softer salve, add more oil.
Step 7: Put the salve into small jars or tins and allow to cool
Step 8: Once cooled, tighten lids and store in a cool dark place for 1-2 years.
Join the FREE Community
![Homemade canned Salsa](https://909c0d3efc63d4674cb4-62e8289cb2b35d2d929ba8c1b8f1d0d0.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/4242-6108842802bac.jpg)
Wanting a community to lean into? Join the FREE Courageous + Purposeful Mommas group! This community is for the Mommas, mommas to be, in the midst of raising, and kids grown, looking for tips on building your family up and providing for them through natural methods. Tips include: gardening, bulk buying, caning,/preserving, livestock, homesteading, and home remedies. Your family is precious, and this group is to help you gain the knowledge and tools to keep your family well and not reliant on outside professionals. Remedies and tips are easy and simple for the busy momma, time is precious after all, including pregnancy, birth, young kids, and illness. Trust your Momma gut again! This community offers the resources + community you need to help get started on your journey and prepare for whatever future you envision.
Click here to get the stories straight to your email:
For more on wellness tips click here:
For more on homesteading on your budget click here:
For more simple DIY updates click here: