Moving Day at the Annisquam Herb Farm

Lavender Moving Day -

This is one of my first lavender plants. It will be moved to a more suitable location in the garden. Two were moved before the massive rains and the root systems were quite small which led me to check the requirements before digging this larger plant and removing the plants that have moved themselves into its space.

This website has useful information on lavender roots: https://greg.app/lavender-roots/

The Annisquam Sewing Circle is working on a project for the Annual Christmas Fair that involves a substantial amount of lavender blossoms we hope to gather from gardens in Annisquam! The Fair is held on the first Saturday in December in the newly renovated Annisquam Village Hall.

https://theannisquamsewingcircle.org
http://www.annisquamherbfarm.com/

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Lavender harvest . . .

Lavender is the most asked for massage oil!

Lavender in the garden

Lavender blossoms are also used in The Lavender Eye Pillow, a wonderful hostess gift.

Lavender eye pillow . . .

Lavender: Relaxing, calming, sleep promoting

Filled with lavender blossoms and flaxseeds, this silk covered eye pillow is a thoughtful gift. The gently weighted eye pillow blocks out light and can help relax muscles around the eyes & nose. Can be heated or cooled or used to freshen linens.

Gift packaged in a clear envelope - ready to give.

4" x 8", approx 3 oz. wt.

$16 each

MA 6.25% Sales Tax = $1.00 ea.
Continental US only
1 Pillow $1.90 First Class
2 Pillows $2.58 First Class
3 - 4 Pillows $4.90 Priority Mail

To order by mail:
Annisquam Herb Farm
10 Dennis Court
Gloucester MA 01930-1204
Please send an email to let me know if you would like to use PayPal.

Harvesting medicinal plants . . .

Capturing the essence of each plant to use later in massage oils, body lotions and healing salves

The scents are heavenly, the colors jewel like

From left to right in the front row- valerian blossoms, St. Johns wort and rose petals. In the back there are lavender blossoms, clary sage blossoms and clary sage leaves. All of these are being infused in oils.




In the back is lavender being dried for eye pillows and "Lavender", a doll filled with lavender blossoms and seeds. Both make wonderful gifts, especially for those who are facing challenges.

Harvest lavender . . .

For those of you who have lavender blooming, it's time to gather blossoms for an infused oil.
Click here for a suggestion of what the blossoms should look like for the best outcome. Infused lavender oil can be used alone, as a massage oil, in a healing salve and in body lotion.

Interested in learning how to make salves and lotions, what oils to select, what plant materials to use? To receive notices of up-coming Classes, just send an email to annisquamherbfarm@gmail.com with"'Classes" in the subject line.

Aromatherapy Bath Salts . . .

Epsom Salt is often overlooked for its therapeutic benefits and is principally used in bath salts to relax and relieve sore muscles. It can be used as a stand alone salt for soaking or may be blended with essential oils and plant materials for a soothing bath. Epsom Salt has numerous medicinal benefits and supplies the body with magnesium and sulfates.

Dead Sea Salt is a luxuriant sea salt extracted and solar dried from the saline and mineral rich marshes of the Dead Sea. It is a nutrient rich, extremely fine and partially moist salt perfect for bath products and scrubbing blends. Because of its moisture content it easily mixed with other ingredients. This salt has proven to be one of the best therapeutic salts available.

Sea Salt is an all natural, solar evaporated salt that makes a perfect scrub, bath salt or for inclusion in your custom formulated bath blends. Create your own bath salts by mixing dried herbs and botanicals or add your own essential oils to create an euphoric bathing experience.

If you are going to use botanicals secure them in fine mesh pouches, one per 1/2 c of bath salt mix. You do not want the plant materials to go down the drain. Drop the bag into the water as the tub fills or you can steep the plant materials in 2 c hot water for 20 min. before drawing the tub. Pour the 'tea' in the hot water when you add the 1/2 c bath salt mixture.

Lavender Aromatherapy Bath Salts:

Make on a day with low humidity

1 cup Epsom salts
1/2 cup Sea salt
Epsom salts and sea salt soothe for tired muscles & soften the water
3 T Baking soda
Baking soda will soften the water
1 T Finely ground regular oatmeal (not quick cooking)
Oatmeal will soothe & soften skin.
2 t Glycerin
Glycerin is a skin moisturizer
2-8 drops Lavender essential oil
The aroma of lavender is very relaxing.

List all ingredients on label. Suggest using 2 to 6 tablespoons in bath tub of warm water.
Mix all ingredients well. Fill gift jars. Cap tightly.
Makes 1-1/2 c.

Lavender . . .

Species/Family: Lamiaceae
Scientific name: Lavandula angustifolia


Lavender is the most requested massage oil I use! It is known as an aid to sleep and relaxation and as an anti-inflammatory for its ability to soothe and heal skin irritations, for example, insect bites, cuts and allergic reactions. Infuse fresh lavender leaves and blossom in a carrier oil for several weeks, strain and use as is as a massage oil or in a healing salve.

Here is another use of lavender I wish I had thought of when my children were young. But . . . it is never to late to give a gift of comfort so am making a special pillow for my daughter, a mother herself now.

The Story of The Lavender Cat

by Tina Sams www.essentialherbal.com

My daughter experienced a very anxious time when she entered second grade in our local public school. She would come home - after what perhaps seemed like an endless day - and say that nobody liked her, that she was dumb, and didn't want to go back. She was very insecure. All of my comforting and reassurances during the evening hours didn't help as she stepped onto the bus and began another anxious day. At that time, Beanie Babies were very popular and, with this in mind, I decided to make her very own little baby, in the form of a little cat, stuffed with dried lavender flowers.

I knew the aromatherapeutic benefits of lavender would help ease her anxiety, but not wanting to add to her stress, I thought better of making her cat appear too "babyish". The cat was made out of black satin, although any tightly woven cloth would work, and a pretty flannel would be very comforting. The finished cat was a mere three inches high and two inches wide with string whiskers and a bow tie. She was thrilled when presented with the little kitty, and slept with it that night. The next morning it went right into her backpack and it wasn't mentioned again for a while.

About a week later I was asked to assist in a classroom project. Arriving at her room, I noticed that my child had her head stuck IN HER DESK with the top pulled down over her. Wondering what she was up to, I made my way to her desk and was met with the sweet aroma of lavender.

My daughter finished her school year with success, boundless energy and a smile. The kitty came home, flattened and well used. The lavender flowers had turned to powder, but had done their job well.

When third grade loomed ahead, the sad little kitten landed in my lap with a request for a refill. It was simply a matter of opening a small seam, stuffing in the lavender, and sewing it back up. Off to school it went for another year. Then another. It accompanied her through a couple of moves to new areas and slept under her pillow for years.

Now as she nears the last year of high school, I'm wishing things were as simple to fix.