Homemade Lavender Peppermint Body Scrub - Grace Grits and Gardening

This is my favorite body scrub made with ingredients from my kitchen and garden. Quick and easy, this homemade lavender and peppermint body scrub makes great gifts and will keep for weeks without refrigerating.

...not that it will last that long...

Ingredients

1 cup coconut oil
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
1/2 tablespoon ground fresh lavender
5-6 drops peppermint essential oil
1 cup granulated sugar

Method

Melt coconut oil in microwave.

Mix sugar, lavender and essential oil into coconut oil.

Drizzle grapeseed oil and mix. The grapeseed oil gives the scrub a slight sea green tint. (not that obvious in the picture)

Pour into small containers.

I'm using my Grace Grits travel candle tins (empty after burning the candle down) 

Let harden for a few hours.

The scrub's thick, rich consistency is perfect for using in the bath or shower, and the peppermint oil and lavender combines with steam to open sinuses. This is a great way to start or end your day.

talya

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life

How To Propagate Rosemary - Grace Grits and Gardening

Hi Everyone, today Talya from Grace Grits and Gardening is here to show us how to propagate Rosemary...
 
Rosemary is a disease preventing and health promoting herb, rich in vitamins A, B, C, folic acid and iron. With all these benefits, rosemary is a great addition to your kitchen garden and easy to propagate from an established plant. Spring is the best time for propagation as your plant is actively growing.

the mother plant
Munger Place, Dallas, Texas

Trim 4-5 inch cuttings from the new growth of your established plant. (If you don't have an established plant, feel free to take some of mine...) Make angled cuts to allow more surface area for rooting.

cutting from new growth

Remove the leaves from the bottom half of each cutting. (Reserve these discarded leaves for roasted potatoes...Recipe below.)

remove bottom leaves before planting

Plant cuttings in a mixture of seed starting potting soil (a combination of fine textured compost and sand). Make sure your pots have drainage holes.  

Place in a sunny spot away from drafts. In Dallas, the plants can already be moved outside. In cooler climates, a sunny windowsill is best until the chance of a freeze has passed. 

Water well with root stimulator mixed with the water. Water frequently but do not overwater. 

water mixed with root stimulator

Depending upon the variety, the rosemary should root within 1-2 months. 

May 5... 

One month later, my cuttings have rooted and doubled in size. In June, I plan to transplant them into my Fayetteville yard...✿

Easy Rosemary Potatoes
1 1/2 pounds small white or red-skinned potatoes
1/8 cup olive oil
3 cloves chopped garlic
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons minced rosemary 

Halve or quarter the potatoes. Toss with the remaining ingredients. Spread on a cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees (approximately 45 minutes) until brown and crispy, turning once. Serves 4.

Happy Gardening, Happy Eating!

talya