Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Herbal Bath Salts

The herbs are thriving this spring!  This winter we transplanted the herbs from the raised beds to a designated herb garden to provide more space for their roots and also to put them on a drip irrigation system.  Many herbs are quite adaptable to the native soils here. In fact we have had to restrain the mint and oregano from taking over the entire garden! 

It's been a  bounty of culinary opportunity and also great habitat for all our pollinator friends in the garden.  Bluebirds nested in the bird box this spring to hatch their young.   Praying Mantis are around to help with the aphid control & the Swallowtail Butterflies have been a delight in the flower beds each dawn and dusk!

Rosemary, Tarragon, Chocolate Mint, Lemon Grass, Sage, Sorrel, Cress, Dill, Lemon Balm, Fennel, Pineapple Mint, Oregano, Holy Basil .....

Recent "Great Clips" Retreat Guests harvesting to make Organic Herbal Bath Salts. Taking home a bit of relaxation to remember their vacation to Little St. Simons Island!





      Chef Matthew Raiford mixing the bath salts.

We used 3 herbs: Mint, Lemon Balm, & Rosemary





Some of the guests brought their salts to the beach for a foot massage and then  took a walk through the tides to rinse off!

Herbal Bath Salts Recipe: 

     2 cups Sea Salt
  1 cup Olive Oil
 5 drops each, essential oils of Lavender, Rosemary, and Peppermint
                             1/4 cup chopped fresh Rosemary
                    1/4 cup chopped fresh Mint
                                  1/4 cup chopped fresh Lemon Balm 

 Put salt into a bowl. Add olive oil, mixing well with a spoon.  Add the drops of essential oil and mix thoroughly.  Add fresh herbs and mix until incorporated.  Put ingredients into a jar and then enjoy with a nice warm bath or shower.