Guest guest Posted October 26, 2004 Report Share Posted October 26, 2004 I would like to plan ahead for next spring when I can plant things again (and hope we don't get 18 " of snow on New Year's Day, like we did last year - and I live on the " desert " side of Washington state!). I would like to plant calendula and St. John's Wort. When I get seeds for the calendula, do I get the marigold that says below it " Calendula " ? How do I infuse oil with calendula? I will be infusing jojoba oil. As for St. John's Wort, do I go to a nursery to get this, or can I find seeds somewhere? As for infusing, I put the rinsed flowers and leaves in a warm oil and let sit for how long? I probably will have to shake it several times a day, right? How much oil to how much vegetation? Would a quart canning jar work? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you! Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 26, 2004 Report Share Posted October 26, 2004 Hi Barb If your garden centres use latin names then look for " Calendula officinalis " . It's also called Pot Marigold. It's very different to French or African Marigold and anything with Tagetes in the name. I wouldn't rinse the flowers - in fact I would pick them after sunshine when they're really dry and warm - as any water in the mixture will make it go off. Fill your jar with flowers and then pour in the oil. I don't know how Jojoba will work out as it's a wax and not made up of the same things as an oil. In the UK we like to use organic sunflower or olive but they're readily available over here. Leave the jar in warmth and sunlight for anything from a few days to a month. Turn it every day or whenever you're passing. It's ready when the Jojoba has taken on lots of deep orange colour. Strain it two or three times before using. Jane - Barb Jenson Tuesday, October 26, 2004 7:12 AM Planning Ahead I would like to plan ahead for next spring when I can plant things again (and hope we don't get 18 " of snow on New Year's Day, like we did last year - and I live on the " desert " side of Washington state!). I would like to plant calendula and St. John's Wort. When I get seeds for the calendula, do I get the marigold that says below it " Calendula " ? How do I infuse oil with calendula? I will be infusing jojoba oil. As for St. John's Wort, do I go to a nursery to get this, or can I find seeds somewhere? As for infusing, I put the rinsed flowers and leaves in a warm oil and let sit for how long? I probably will have to shake it several times a day, right? How much oil to how much vegetation? Would a quart canning jar work? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you! Barb Step By Step Instructions On Making Rose Petal Preserves: http://www.av-at.com/stuff/rosejam.html To adjust your group settings (i.e. go no mail) see the following link: /join Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 26, 2004 Report Share Posted October 26, 2004 Hi where on the desert side of Washington do you live we plan on moving there next spring I have two son and lots of granchildren there. They live near the tri city area in a small town called Eltotia. Do you like it there do you live in the country? I thought the people there were so nice and very friendly. Thanks Sandra - Barb Jenson Tuesday, October 26, 2004 2:12 AM Planning Ahead I would like to plan ahead for next spring when I can plant things again (and hope we don't get 18 " of snow on New Year's Day, like we did last year - and I live on the " desert " side of Washington state!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 26, 2004 Report Share Posted October 26, 2004 Barb, When you infuse oils, make SURE that your material is dry, either the dried herb or an herb cut with no visible moisture on it's leaves or flowers. Moisture will bring botulism. Only exception to using fresh herbs is SJW and oils that you slow heat to make salves. C-M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 26, 2004 Report Share Posted October 26, 2004 Dear Barb, If you infuse fresh herb make sure that you re-open the jar after 24 hours and wipe out the moisture off the top of the lid. Cap it, date it and place it in a cool, dark space. Also know the water content of the herb that you are infusing. If the water content is high, then you will definitely have to wipe out the lide. Examples of high water content fresh herbs would be comfrey, lemon balm, rose, muellin, lobelia, catnip. For many years I would have fresh herbs go sour on me but I kept experimenting until I came across the method of wiping out the lid. Herbal oils that are sour are still medically sound for use, but they just smell bad. I prefer fresh herbs to dry herbs because they have a higher oil content but they can be a headache to work with. If you would like I will try to find some old class notes on how to infuse herbs and email them to you but it will take a few days to find them. Email me privately if you want them. Note: There are many ways to infuse herbs and there is no right or no wrong way to do so. I did a paper for the last NAHA Conference on infused oils and I was extremely amazed at the many different methods out there in the many different books. Most producers of infused oils are interested in making a product that only takes a short time to cure but to get really good infused oils, I believe, that they have to sit for a minimum time before use. It appears that very few people use the same method but most use similar methods and the generally accepted time for infusing herbs can range from 3 days to 3 weeks (here is generally where the botulism, fungus, and other nasty stuff start growing), to a little less than 3 months. I allow my infusions to sit for a minimum of one year or longer, generally longer depending upon the herb and smell, & strenght that I am looking for. Short-term herbal infusions are generally used in larger quantities (like an ounce or a half-ounce) while aged herbal infusions are used by the drop as you would an eo. They are not as concentrated but they enlarge the scope and function of your formula greatly with herbal oils that you cannot generally find as an essential oil (goldenseal, comfrey, muellin, lobelia, dandelion) and the more expensive oils that are generally reserved for the most treasured essential oils (such as rose, melissa, helichyrsum, etc.). I hope that this information helps. Rhavda Emison Scents of Success (http://www.scentsofsuccess.com) Texas Grown American Made Rose Oil Products Rose, Helichrysum, Oak Moss, Melissa, & Other Aged Infused Oils >Barb, >When you infuse oils, make SURE that your material is dry, either the >dried herb or an herb cut with no visible moisture on it's leaves or >flowers. >Moisture will bring botulism. >Only exception to using fresh herbs is SJW and oils that you slow heat >to make salves. >C-M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 26, 2004 Report Share Posted October 26, 2004 When I infuse fresh herbs, I let them wilt a day before putting them in the oil. I fill canning jar about half full of herb and add enough oil to cover by 1 inch. Be sure to leave room between the top of the oil and the top of the jar for the oil to expand when it's warm. I let the jars set in the sun for at least 2 weeks and give them a shake when ever I remember to. I only use the blossom of the calendula for infusing or drying. Paula ........in Michigan Coming soon Farm Fresh Soaps & Candles paula - Barb Jenson Tuesday, October 26, 2004 2:12 AM Planning Ahead I would like to plan ahead for next spring when I can plant things again (and hope we don't get 18 " of snow on New Year's Day, like we did last year - and I live on the " desert " side of Washington state!). I would like to plant calendula and St. John's Wort. When I get seeds for the calendula, do I get the marigold that says below it " Calendula " ? How do I infuse oil with calendula? I will be infusing jojoba oil. As for St. John's Wort, do I go to a nursery to get this, or can I find seeds somewhere? As for infusing, I put the rinsed flowers and leaves in a warm oil and let sit for how long? I probably will have to shake it several times a day, right? How much oil to how much vegetation? Would a quart canning jar work? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you! Barb Step By Step Instructions On Making Rose Petal Preserves: http://www.av-at.com/stuff/rosejam.html To adjust your group settings (i.e. go no mail) see the following link: /join Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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