Recipe: Cottonwood, Spruce and Cedar Lip balm
The Cottonwood/Spruce/Cedar Lip balm is an anti-fungal, antimicrobial and astringent.
Step 1 – Blend or pinch open the buds, cut up the needles. This will help the medicine release into the oil. Put into a double boiler system or crockpot and cover completely with olive oil.
Step 2 – Gently heat on a very low flame. Do not allow the olive oil to boil. Turn the burner on and off to keep the temperature low. Heat for several days. The oil will turn a deep golden color and become very fragrant.
Step 3 – Press out the oil. Lay a cloth over a strainer that is sitting on a container. Pour a couple of cups of buds and oil into strainer, bundle it up, twist the cloth and squeeze. Once oil stops dripping, empty the buds and continue this process until done. Let the pressed oil rest for an hour.
Step 4 – Beeswax. The recipe calls for 1 part beeswax to 4 parts oil. This will create a nice soft lip balm. Melt beeswax in double boiler and then pour in oil. (Hint: don’t pour all the oil out of the container because there will likely be excess water and debris; either toss outside or into a compost container). Mix together and if you’d like to add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil.
Step 5 – Store the mixture in a glass storage container. I recommend a Mason jar, or if you have lip balm containers, use them. Once you are done filling the containers, remember to label. Let sit for an hour and then they are ready to use!
— Recipe by Raven Madison
Recipe: Rosehip Tea
Rosehip Tea: Use 1 heaping teaspoon of grounded (dried or fresh) rosehips per cup of boiled water and steep 15 minutes. Some people prefer to boil rosehips, which makes a stronger, darker brew. However you will lose vitamin C with boiling.
— Recipe by Raven Madison
Fireweed: How to harvest and use the plant’s shoots, leaves, and blossoms
Cleaning: Wash the plant with room temperature with cool water in a strainer to remove dust and other things. Let air dry.
Store: Store in an uncovered container in the refrigerator.
Drying: Let air dry for approximately 2-5 days. Outside in the sun is best, but if you don’t have that option, then let dry in a room with airflow. Store in a sealed container in a cool and dry cabinet or shelf.
“One of my favorite plants to harvest,” Madison said, “is the fireweed plant, because there’s so many uses throughout its life. Before the plant blossoms, fireweed shoots can be harvested for food. They are a great source of vitamins C and A. They can be eaten raw in salads or cooked up in the pan with some oil and garlic. The leaves and unopened buds can we picked and mixed with a salad. They taste a little stronger and tougher the longer you wait into the season, so they are best to pick in the beginning. Right when the plant blossoms they can be used for vinegar, honey, jelly or are a great addition to a colorful salad.
