I started at Heart of Herbs Herbal School a year ago enrolling in the Certified Herbalist course, passionate about plants and healing but uncertain how I would put to use the skills I was learning. I had been a soapmaker since 2008, using herbs in my soaps and salves. We grew and used herbs in teas for headaches and tinctures. I will probably add a few new products, but there must be more. How could I use my new herbal knowledge, passion for plants and healing and my longing to help those around me??

I began researching and compiling information for my Materia Medica and was amazed at the wealth growing in my backyard! Prior to enrolling, I knew there were some beneficial 'weeds' growing in my yard (plantain and dandelion for example). But, wow! Clover, chickweed, raspberry leaves, cherry bark, pine, plantain, dandelion, nettles, goldenrod and elderberry! (and probably more I haven't found yet) All growing on our 2 acres. This doesn't even include the cultivated and encouraged lemon balm, peppermint, lavender, mullein, calendula, feverfew, St John's Wort, yarrow, comfrey, echinacea and thyme. I'm teaching our children when to harvest leaves, flowers, roots, bark, to do it with respect and how to properly dry them so the harvest isn't wasted. My friends were very interested in what I was doing, fascinated that health and healing could be found right outside their door, rather than at the store or pharmacy. So, they encouraged me to share some of what I was learning. I started a blog on my business website and featured 'Wildcraft Wednesday' profiling backyard herbs and how to use them. The first way I could share my passion help others.

After than, opportunities began popping up everywhere! The friend with an 8 month old daughter with a croup-y cough. The doctor says he can't do anything until she's bad enough to be hospitalized. So I filled a bag with herbs and wrote up directions and dosages based on the baby's weight (after double checking every herbal I own!). Her daughter sleeps through the night, breathing easily for the first time in days. She calls me a miracle worker, but we know that's not true. I was able to apply the knowledge I was learning at HOH. I am thankful. My best friend's son (who happens to be best friends with my own son) has a nasty rash they thought was poison ivy. He's a shy boy and embarrassed to go to the doctor and show him his hand. They'd rather treat it at home. I pray about the recipe and pray over my now-dwindling stash of herbs I gathered last summer. (I always pray when I'm making something specifically for an individual to best match the herbs and the person.) Chickweed, plantain, chamomile, comfrey, the last of my calendula. Healing salve. His mom applies the salve one night and the rash is gone in the morning. Plants are amazing. And my friend, the waitress and mother of 4 with the disabled husband is able to avoid a doctor's office co-pay.

I never diagnose anything. I am not a physician. I don't have the training. I do offer suggestions that are steeped in centuries of healing tradition, thoroughly researched and applied with caution and respect. At this time I rarely accept payment. On occasion, I'll accept a trade or barter.

Something I did not expect to do with my herbalist training is treat animals. Men, women, children – sure. Colds, rashes, allergies, sprains and pulled muscles – of course. But, surely not animals? I don't know why this came as a surprise to me. We have 6 laying hens, 11 pullets (young hens), and 25 meat birds. 1 large, hairy, and lovable dog. 8(!) hives of bees. All on our 2 acres of suburban homestead. Family, friends, and customers know we make an effort to do 'natural' – the way we eat, the way we feed our animals, and the way we treat our illnesses. When the local raw milk/pastured beef farmer asked me if I had an herbal remedy for pseudo -cowpox, I was stumped. I did not own the necessary herbal reference for that. I asked around, but herbal vet information is hard to come by. Huh. I mentally added the Farm and Stable herbal to my to-be-purchased list. A week later, our 11 year old daughter brought me one of our laying hens. She has an infected toe. Is it bumblefoot (a typical chicken ailment)? * sigh * More livestock health issues. My husband and I work together as a team to soak, clean, cut. Removing infection. I'm tense and in tears. When it comes time to make a poultice and wrap and bandage the foot I'm finally confident. I can do this. Something antibacterial. Something to draw out infection. Nothing to heal the tissue yet. I don't know that we removed all the infection. So comfrey is out. Raw honey from our bees is a good start, along with activated charcoal. This is when I know, without a doubt, that I'm an herbalist. I am not a surgeon. Or a doctor. Or a vet. Or a pharmacist. I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. And an herbalist. Using plants and wisdom to treat those in our care to the best of our ability. Whether they reside in my home, my community, or my farmyard. Is it possible that one year ago I did not know how I would put this skill into practice? Now, rarely a day goes by without the opportunity to use it and I have HOH to thank.

I'm reading a fabulous book about sustainable agriculture, family farms, and farmers markets and was struck by the truth of this statement:

"...in order for people to turn me down, they had to first come to market.  Less than fifty people had set foot in the parking lot that morning.  The market had felt vapid, neglected, devoid of the optimism that had brought all this amazing food together in the first place.  It occurred to me that without customers, a farmers' market didn't really exist. ... Markets had to be more than just parking lots full of farmers and food." 
- Forrest Pritchard in "Gaining Ground"

The truth is, food is planted and grown and crafters plan and create for the sake of selling to a customer who will appreciate and consume the fruits of their labor.  Without customers it is discouraging at best.  At worst, markets shut down.  The small downtown Davison market that I've been participating in for years may experience this fate.  With the larger commercial market booming, our small community run market may not open this season (nothing definite yet).  

So, what's next?  Where do I go?  Drive further out to other community markets in hopes I sell enough to make up for the time and gas money and vehicle wear-and -tear?  Open a stand in our front yard?  Like Pritchard said his book, without customers, we don't exist. 

There will be changes ahead for Hilltop Soaps.  

This year my husband will have honey for sale as our bee yard grows.  I will be selling freezer chickens as we raise more pastured meat chickens.  (more details soon!)  My husband has a passion for increasing local bee populations and the wonders of raw honey.  I long for food raised in timeless tradition, devoid of GMOs, commercial feed, and chemicals.  Foods raised only on sunlight, fresh air, quality soil, and hard work.  

We'll be dreaming, planning, and praying here in our house on the hill.  

For the first time since I opened Hilltops Soaps almost 6 years ago (!), I am raising my soap prices.  Just a smidge. When I began, less than half of my oils were certified organic.  Now, every carrier oil, butter, wax and essential oil I use is certified organic. (pomace olive, coconut, shea butter, castor oil, beeswax, and cocoa butter).  With an increase in quality of the oils, my expense goes up.  Not to mention shipping costs to get the supplies continues to rise. 

 I thought long and hard about raising my prices.  From a business perspective I should have done it last year, but living where I do, it's hard to ask people to give any more.  Our Hilltop home is located a few miles outside Flint, MI.  The folks here work hard to make ends meet (and sometimes, just barely).  I understand and want to keep my products affordable for the folks who live and work in our community.  

Soaps (for local, in-person sales)
Rising from $4 each and 3/$10 to the NEW PRICE OF $5 each or 3/$12
Whole batch is rising from $35 to $50

**website prices are slightly higher to reflect the cost of shipping.  If the difference in shipping is in your favor for greater than $1, I will refund the difference.  Most often, I pay more to ship orders than I charge.**

Thank you for sticking with me. You, my customers, are better than I deserve. 

~Jill

I have been blessedly overwhelmed by my busiest autumn every!  The amazing response to our new soap scents (each selling out in a matter of hours!) and the opportunity to purchase whole batches at a deep discount... in addition to supplying an organic farm store all season!  Thank you, everybody!  We're really feeling loved over here on the hilltop!  

As a result, in my frantic attempt to keep up with orders and keep things in stock, I've embraced an alternative method of soapmaking.  In the past, I have exclusively used the cold process method, which takes 30 days to cure and up to a year to become fully hardened.  The hot process method uses heat as a catalyst to  hasten the chemical reaction and causes the soap to reach the finished hardness in a matter of a day or two.

The oils used determine the hardness of the soap, rather than the process used to make the soap.  I'm using all the same organic botanical oils I've used for some time.  The only difference you may notice is the appearance of the soap.  It make look lumpier on the top of the bar and less smooth.  (this is because it goes into the mold when it's the consistency of vaseline, rather than a liquid)

Thank you for your patience as we try to keep up with orders, schoolwork, potty training, dirty dishes and daily life on the hill!!  <3

~jill

Let me introduce you to this grand little plant that grow all over our yard.  It has a nice, long taproot and is a booger to pull from the garden.  For years I fought it.  I had absolutely no idea that it had value as a medicinal herb and as a food plant!  Sheesh.  I struggled for nothing (like usual, my real struggle is against my ignorance.  The Lord put this neat little gem right where I could see it and I didn't recognize it's true value).

There are a few types of mallow that are found.  I have common mallow in my yard (our yard is dry).  But you can also find marsh mallow near wetlands and ditches.  No mallow in your yard?  Well, do you have hollyhocks?  They are closely related and can be used interchangeably!  (I love learning things like that!)


Mallow:

Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis)
Common Mallow (Malva neglecta)


Parts used: leaves, flowers, roots  (leaves and flowers can be harvested now.  you need to wait until the fall to harvest the roots... right now all the plant energy is going to the flowers and leaves.)

Action (remember, this is the action the herb has on your body): 
demulcent: soothing to irritated and inflamed body tissues (demulcent herbs will soothe your irritated digestive, urinary, or respiratory tract) (internal)
expectorant: helps break up mucus and get it up and out
emollient (Marsh variety): soothing and softens your skin (eternal)

Preparation/Dosage: Decoction: chopped root, in boiling water. Combines well with coltsfoot or comfrey for cough. With dandelion for digestive. I've used it for digestion, but not for cough.  I'll be pulling a lot of roots this fall for in hopes to comfort little ones when they get those winter coughs.
 Poultice of the leaves can be used for skin inflammation.
I came across this neat use for the flowers while doing my research: An old peasant remedy: flowers boiled in water and oil with honey and salt as a gargle for sore throats. 

The ancient Romans ate Marsh Mallow Root as a delicacy.  (seriously!)  It's been used as a food plant for people and animals for centuries (not strictly a medicinal herb).  So, it's considered very safe to consume it in large quantities without any dangers or side effects (but, use common sense)  The fiber in the root helps control blood sugar spikes after eating. 

So, can you see yourself putting mallow root to use in your home?  

Oh, the mighty dandelion.  It's once of the very first wildflowers to appear each spring and lasts all summer.  Children pick the flowers for their moms and grandmothers; they blow the seed puffs and turn them into wishes.  Children see the fun, the adventure, the imagination and innocence of a dandelion.  Most adults see a nuisance that springs back up moments after you mow it down.  

I'm not including any pictures this week because I'm sure pretty much everyone in North America know the dandelion (or Taraxacum sp. in Latin).  I've just finished researching the finer points of the medicinal uses for dandelion and, really, it's pretty amazing. Here's an excerpt from my Materia Medica I'm working on for my herbalist class:

Dandelion (Taraxacum sp)

Parts used: root (collected at the end of the season) and leaves (collected when 

Constituents: taraxacin (bitter), triterpenes, sugars, vitamins, potassium.

Action: diuretic, tonic, stimulant (to urinary tract – kidneys especially), mild laxative.

Indications: good for kidney stones, urinary tract dysfunction, circulatory system as diuretic.  cleansing to the blood and lymphatic system.

Preparation/Dosage: Strong decoction for kidney stones. Add sliced root, bring to boil, reduce to simmer for 20 minutes. Let set and then strain and cool. Drink 1-2 C/ day. Tea: decoct – 1 tsp dried chopped root per cup of water . Drink 2-3 C/day for digestion or as diuretic.
Leaves: add to salad (they're bitter - more bitter after the plant flowers and less bitter if gathered before)

NOTES:

milk of the root is medicinally beneficial.

*Prescription diuretics typically require a potassium supplement. This is not necessary with dandelion because it is high in potassium.

*supports liver which eliminates toxins for the body – so it can be beneficial for acne.

*sugars and starches in dandelion roots are easily digested and can help diabetics control blood sugar levels. 


*Native Americans used the white milk of the stem to soothe bee stings.  (it can also be used for external use on warts, blisters, hard pimples)


I have some experience using dandelion for urinary tract issues.  In addition to taking cranberry pills and avoiding sugar, I drank a strong decoction of dandelion root and marshmallow (more on this herb soon - which is soothing to digestive and urinary systems).  I drank 2-3 C over a period of 4 days.  It helped stimulate the kidneys and flush my system.  (but remember, if it lasts more than a few days you need to see a doctor.  If the infection moves to the kidneys, that's serious business)

You can also make 'coffee' from roasted dandelion roots.  I don't drink coffee and I've never tried this.  I my adventurous husband said he would try this as an 'experiment' for me.  If we do it this fall, I'll be sure to post about it!!!

What's a decoction, you ask?  Simply put, it's an infusion (like I wrote about previously), but made with either roots, seeds, or bark.  An infusion is made with leaves or flowers (or valerian root, because it's just an oddball).  You slice the root (dry or fresh) and add it to a pot of water.  Set it to boil, then reduce to a simmer for 20 minutes.  Cool for 20 minutes, strain, then drink.  It should be good fro up to 48 hrs or so, but remember to stick it in the fridge.  



So, see?  Dandelions aren't just for kids! 

Chickweed identification details, click here and see what Wildman Steve Brill has to say. (photo credit - Wildman Steve Brill website)  Remember, if you are uncertain about the identification, ask someone knowledgeable or err on the side of caution and do more research before picking the plant.