~ Living a Simpler Lifestyle! ~

My journey begins with reading a book on apothecary and soap making from the 1700-1800’s. I was thrilled to learn the many uses of plants for natural healing (internal & external), skin care benefits and natural fragrances. After reflecting on the years of purchasing retail products and trying to figure out what was in these products; I was sure that I wanted to make a change to a simpler and healthier lifestyle.

So, I began making my own soaps and recognized on the first use that my skin felt silky smooth. After researching this, I was surprised to find out that the natural occurring glycerin that forms in the cold process soaps is what I was feeling.

In the retail produced soaps, the makers take out the natural glycerin and put it into lotions that they sell. Artisan cold process soap making allows the barrier of the glycerin to lock in the moisture and protects our natural skin oils. Skin oils are not bad, dirt and germs that get in our pores are bad.

Don’t get me wrong, lotions are great and have many wonderful benefits – but to create a product that gives you a condition, to make you need to purchase another product to get rid of that condition – is just plain wrong.

From there I decided to plant my own herbal and flower garden, which taught me a whole bunch of stuff and that took me into growing our own vegetable garden.

I have gone on and learned so many more things from those 2 original interest (apothecary and soap making) that I am always excited to learn new things . Once I started finding out the benefits and uses of roots, barks, leaves, stems, flowers, nuts, seeds, and resins my interest kept growing into learning how to make body and bath products, remedies, essential oils through steam distillation, pressing nut for oils, infusing oils, teas, making perfumes, salves, and the best part is cooking and eating healthier.

What a great experience to grow what you use and know that they do not have chemicals sprayed all over them to help them grow or fight bugs through a pesticide.

My garden consist of:

Peppermint, Spearmint, Egyptian Mint, Chocolate Mint, Pineapple Mint, Red Lemongrass, Lemongrass, Lemon Balm (Melissa), Comfrey, Chamomile, Helichrysum, Patchouli, Rosemary, Mormon Tea, Holy Basil, Basil, Lemon-drop Basil, Sage, Valerian, Thyme, Aloe, Oregano, Wild Carrots, Vanilla.

Ginger, Turmeric, and Black Turmeric.

Manuka Tea Tree, Ginkgo, Cypress, Kukui Nut, Bay Leaf, Allspice, Hawaiian Mamaki Tea, Blue Gum Eucalyptus, Green Tea, and Dwarf Ylang Ylang.

Star Jasmine, Stephanotis, Night Blooming Jasmin, Rose, Tuberose, Gardenia, Daisies, Safflower, White/Yellow Ginger, Kahili Ginger, Calendula, French Lavender, Nasturtium, Butterfly Milkweed, and California Poppy.

Lime, Mandarin, Tangerine, Lemon, Guava, Passion Fruit (Yellow & Purple) Vines.

Strawberries, Black Berries and Blue Berries.

Available nearby are: Sandalwood, Orange and Coffee.

Our vegetable garden has Tomatoes, Potatoes, Green Beans, Cabbage, Corn, a variety of Peppers, Onions, Leeks, Radishes, Beets, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Watermelon, Garlic, Melons, Squash, Carrots, Kale, Lettuce, Asparagus, Spinach, Stevia, Zucchini, Camelina, Celery, Parsley, —

These plants are used in several ways, for scents and skin care benefits; plus, herbal teas, salves, soaps and lotions, medicinal purposes and of course food.

I started recognizing how reliant I was on stores – both online and locally for everything; it made me think a little more clearly on possibly taking back some of that dependency from these retailers.

Here is a funny, but true story that happened a few years back: my youngest grandson was eating with a gathering of our family and two of the family members were vegetarians, the discussion began with my grandson asking why they did not like hamburgers and hotdogs – well it then quickly turned into you are eating a dead animals and my grandson was horrified!

I had to laughed. I asked him what do you think you are eating? He said a hamburger. I asked what is a hamburger, he could not tell me. Well that became a learning lesson for him on cows, pigs, fish, and poultry.

The reason why I bring this up, is that we are so divorced from what use to be a natural thing on the farm – raising the animal, killing the animal and eating or selling the animal. Just like the foods and herbs we put in our plates – we do not go through the process of growing our food, how it is processed and how it is used or sold to the markets.

Thankfully retailers do have informational labeling and guidelines – but that is getting so lax especially with food going overseas to be packaged and then sent back to the USA or food grown overseas and sent back here. We may be eating Junk Food that is suppose to be Good Food, in other words, little or no nutritional value these days, possibly genetically altered and full of pesticides.

We have gotten use to the sterile and well packaged store bought foods and sundries that line our grocery stores shelves or the shopping cart that is online. Look at Amazon since 2020, the corporate stores are getting bigger and richer, while the small mom and pop stores are out of business or close to it.

That is why I think if you are able to grow your own food do it, or find a co-op or community garden that has the same visions you have for food. Know your local farmers, and find out if they grow organically or with lots of pesticides.

~ It truly is in our hands and it does take more effort, but it is certainly worth it. ~

So to reflect on this, I started with an idea and which now has flourished, it can be the same for you. It doesn’t matter if you are a vegan or a meat lover, we all have different lifestyles. When I talk about a Simpler Lifestyle – it doesn’t always mean it is simple – It means that you are taking control of what you put in and on your body and knowing exactly what that means and looks like. It can start with simple herbs that you can grow in your kitchen or back porch.

Let’s become a community again and be farmers, artisans, carpenters, hunters, fishermen, metal workers, ranchers, – creators that bless other people.

Thanks for being here and I hope to have you back again. Sharon