dandelion

Handy Dandelion

~ MKW Publishing ~ 1 Comment

A lovely little flower that is rather useful. I’ve already done a few posts on Dandelions, so this is just bring them all together.

Dandelion – photography

Dandelion Salve – recipe

New Dandelion Salve – more recipes

Homemade Dandelion Moisturiser – another homemade recipe using dandelions for skincare

Edible Garden – a mention for the dandelion as it’s something edible you find in the garden.

Handmade Salve Shop – my range of handmade salves from natural ingredients.

(c) K Wicks

New dandelion salve

~ MKW Publishing ~ 2 Comments

Decided to try another one, this time using the dandelion and rosemary infused olive oil.

Here is my first Dandelion Salve

And the lavender infused coconut oil. Adding in essential oils now I have them, orange and lavender for this one.

32g dandelion olive oil

12g shea butter

10g beeswax

1 tbs coconut oil

10 drops of each essential oil

Melt together in double boiler, add essential oils in after all combined, then pour into containers.

(c) K Wicks

Dandelion salve

~ MKW Publishing ~ 3 Comments

In the quest for learning to make things yourself, I decided to make use of herbs and flowers. A dandelion salve seemed a good choice as we now have an abundance of them popping up. Make sure to always leave enough for the bees. It’s been a cold start to the season and the early ones and other pollinators will need them. Note – don’t pick dandelions that have been sprayed with pesticides, or that are exposed to domestic animals, or kerbside.

They need to be dried, for a day or so (and good to leave them outside for a little while after picking to let any bugs escape). Then put then in a jar and cover with olive oil (or any carrier oil of choice), to infuse for a week or two. Shake lightly every day and put on a sunny sill if available.

Then drain the oil through some cheesecloth to get all the bits out.

Add beeswax, the oil, a small bit of shea butter and essential oils if you want, melt together until the wax is dissolved using a double boiler.

Then pour into containers. Leave to set for half an hour, job done.

I actually put a bit of homemade lavender coconut oil in as well for some extra aroma as I don’t have any essential oils. Also have some rosemary and dandelion infusing currently so will see how that combo turns out next week.

This recipe was

42.2g dandelion infused olive oil

14.8g beeswax

9.2g shea butter

2.5 tps of lavender infused coconut oil

It can be tinkered with and adapted as necessary they say, but it’s a start. YouTube vids are good for tips and techniques as well.

(c) K Wicks

Dandelion

~ MKW Publishing ~ 2 Comments

A very underrated flower in my opinion. I thought they were weeds for quite some time, but now I know they really aren’t – or at least they are a useful one. Bees love them, and one flower seems to keep giving for quite some time. The plant is mostly edible. The leaves can be used for salads or cooked and eaten like spinach, the flower buds are good in omelets apparently, or you can put the flowers in cakes. And of course if can be turned into Dandelion and Burdoch, which I remember as horrible drink that my mother used to drink and love. I didn’t even know what burdoch looked like until I started typing this and looked it up – another fantastic ‘weed’ that is even more special. I shall try and find some and do a post about that one too. 

(c) K Wicks