Valuable Resources I Use and Love

5) Wooden spoons

I like to use wooden spoons to stir my soap down. You really shouldn’t use any type of metal (except stainless steel) in your soap making, and wooden spoons are just more traditional.

6) Soap Molds

You’ll need soap molds if you are going to make soap. You can use a variety of different containers, but my favorite is a rectangular silicone mold because the soap releases so easily.

7) Soap Cutter

A large knife works fine, but if you want a straight and even cut, you might want to consider a soap cutter. I like this one, too: Soap Cutter

8) Measuring Cups and Spoons—stainless steel

You’ll want these for measuring out your essential oils and any additives.

Safety Equipment: You can purchase these at any hardware store or even the grocery stores.

Safety Glasses

Rubber Gloves

9) Sodium Hydroxide

You can buy this at many hardware stores, although I personally prefer using food grade lye. You can find out lots more about using lye on the blog or in my course or eBook.

Natural Color and Texture Soap Additives:

French Green & Pink Clays

Moroccan Red Clay

Pumice

Himalayan Salt (pink)

Seeds, such as Poppy Seeds

Here’s a nifty Sampler Pack of Soap Colorants and Textures.

Using Herbs and Essential Oils

Online Courses

I created a course that is a complete guide to Home Herbalism that will help you create and maintain a customized apothecary (natural medicine chest) for your unique family. You’ll make what YOU need, and it’s not a generic course, instead it’s a practical family herbalism course. It’s called Ditch the Drugstore and the upgrade of the Family Herbalist Certification program, and I support you as you work through the materials, which speeds your learning path.

If you don’t think you have time for a longer course, I’ve also created a monthly membership that will help you learn about one plant a month on a deep level, as well as medicinal remedies you can make along with me. In this membership, we have three live trainings every month that include client intake and protocol reviews, plant deep dive chats, and a Question and Answer session. All of these are included as replays and are searchable with transcripts. AND we have over 55 herbal masterclasses that include videos and completely researched text.

Both the long courses and this Confident Herbal Tribe membership come with TONS of student support from me. We’re not a school where you’re going through material alone, unless you want to.

Favorite Herbal Books:

Alchemy of Herbs by Rosalee de la Foret (beginning herbalism)

Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide by Rosemary Gladstar (beginning herbalism)

Herbs for Vital Health by Rosemary Gladstar (beginning herbalism)

Making Plant Medicine by Richo Cech (beginning herbalism)

The Modern Herbal Dispensatory by Thomas Easley (beginning herbalism)

A Modern Herbal (both volumes) by Mrs. Grieve (intermediate herbalism)

The Earthwise Herbal (both volumes) by Matthew Wood (beginning herbalism)

Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy by Kerry Bone and Simon Mills (advanced herbalism)

The Herbal Handbook by David Hoffman (beginning herbalism)

The Complete Herbs Sourcebook by David Hoffman (beginning herbalism)

Medical Herbalism by David Hoffman (intermediate herbalism)

The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra (beginning herbalism)

Herbal Antibiotics by Harold Buhner (intermediate herbalism)

Herbal Antivirals by Harold Buhner (intermediate herbalism)

Herbal and Sacred Healing Beers by Harold Buhner (fun beginning herbalism—home brewing)

Preppers Natural Medicine by Cat Ellis (beginning herbalism)

Alchemy of Herbs by Rosalee de la Foret (beginning herbalism)

Body Into Balance by Maria Groves (beginning herbalism)

Herbal Therapy & Supplements by Winston & Kuhn (intermediate/advanced herbalism)

Adaptogens in Medical Herbalism by Donnie Yance (intermediate/advanced herbalism)

The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety by Mills & Bone (advanced herbalism)

Dr. Jill Stansbury’s 5 volume set on formulation and protocols for medical professionals (I couldn’t generate a link, so please just search her name, and you’ll see her books)

Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy by Mills & Bone (advanced herbalism)

Botanical Safety by the American Herbal Products Association (advanced herbalism)

Herb Books for Identifying, Foraging and Using Wild Herbs:

Foraging and Feasting by Dina Falconi

Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West by Michael Moore

Mountain States Foraging by Briana Wiles

Medicinal Plants of the Desert & Canyon West by Michael Moore (in fact, all of his foraging books are excellent)

Wild Drinks & Cocktails by Emily Han

Botany in a Day by Thomas Elpel

Aromatherapy (Essential Oil) Books

Aromatica by Peter Holmes

The Animal Desk Reference by Melissa Shelton, DVM

Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young

The Healing Power of Essential Oils by Eric Zielinski

The Family Guide to Aromatherapy by Erika Galentin

The Ultimate Guide to Aromatherapy by Jade Shutes

**And there a many more wonderful books on using herbs, some of which I have and didn’t add to this long list. I have all of the resources mentioned here, and I can recommend them if you want to learn about using & foraging herbs!

Where I Purchase My Bulk Herbs

Sometimes you just have to purchase the herbs you need. My favorite place to shop is Starwest Botanicals.

They have a wide variety of culinary and medicinal herbs in different amounts for your convenience. Their herbs are high quality, customer service is great, and shipping is fast! 

I get asked why I no longer recommend Mountain Rose Herbs, and this is simply due to a conflict in belief systems. They have financially supported practices that go directly against my faith in the past. Therefore, I cannot in good conscience promote them any longer. However, if you are interested in Mountain Rose Herbs, here is a link.

There are many other great bulk herb shops, though. In fact, I especially love supporting small herb farmers. My friend, Karen, at Reverie Farm, LLC, grows amazing herbs and she ships. I’m not an affiliate, however, I can personally vouch for the quality of her homegrown and foraged herbs.

Where I Purchase My Essential Oils

For soap making, I get my essential oils from Starwest Botanicals. I like them for making soap because I'm getting a quality essential oil at prices that are not completely off the charts. I've tried less expensive oils, and there's a big difference in quality. 

Excellent essential oil companies I buy myself for using therapeutically with myself, family, and clients:

• Rocky Mountain Oils

• Aromatics International

• Amrita Aromatherapy

• Plant Therapy

• Florihana

• Pompeii Street Organics

You can read more about the criteria I personally use to source my essential oils in this article. There are lots of great companies out there---just do some research! But these three are my favorites.  

NOTE: I just came across the BEST lavender essential oil at Running Springs Ranch. My friend, Steffny Wallace owns and operates this beautiful lavender farm, and she distills the essential oils herself.

She grows two varietals of lavender, and when you smell them both side-by-side, you realize immediately how important the chemistry of the oils is. Her website is beautiful and informative, too. Again, I’m not an affiliate! I just love supporting small farmers. Find out more at Running Springs Ranch.

Herbal/Aromatherapy Books & Resources I Love

Herbal and Aromatic Tools and Bottles:

For Making Lotion Bars: These small silicone molds are perfect for making the right size lotion bars.

For Making Push-Up Lotion Bars, Deodorants, Lip Balms: These small lip balm tubes are the perfect size. It’s easiest when you have a kit because you can make many at one time, and the stand greatly reduces spills.

These larger push up tubes are good for bigger hard balms, such as lotion bars and deodorants.

Storing your tinctures and oxymels is easy. You just need glass containers. However, if you want to be sure they last as long as possible and make the tincture/preparation easy to administer, then amber glass dropper bottles are necessary. You can buy them in different sizes too.

Personal Aromatherapy Inhalers NOTE: These are beautiful metal and glass personal inhalers you can re-use. I do not use the plastic disposable inhalers for sustainability reasons.

Glass Stir Rods I like using these much better than stainless steel utensils, which may interact with some chemicals in the essential oils.

Unscented Lotion Base This is an excellent lotion base if you choose to not make your own, and using a pre-made base is a great way to begin. This link is for a lotion that’s fragrance free, not tested on animals, and free of parabens, gluten, and sulfates.

If you want to make your own lotion, I have two great recipes online: Rose Calendula Lotion and Dandelion Skin Softening Lotion.

Jojoba Oil

Roller Bottles, Amber Glass, 10 ml

Roller Bottles, Clear Glass with Gemstones, 10 ml (These are pretty and fun)

Diffuser 1 This has been my hands-down favorite diffuser. It’s a large one, and is perfect for a larger area, like a living room. It’s what I have going in my office when I work. It’s also beautiful and made with metal. This is an ultra-sonic diffuser, used with water.

Diffuser 2 Many people (myself included) love glass diffusers for their beauty and functionality. You can find many online, like the one in the link. This is an ultra-sonic diffuser, used with water.

Nebulizing Diffuser: These diffusers are for more therapeutic use, and blast concentrated essential oil mist into an area. I like using this kind of diffuser when I need to really clean the air, or for blends I want to inhale in a more concentrated manner. No water is required for this type of diffuser.

Car Diffuser These are wonderful because you can change out the pads as you need to. The diffusion comes from air passing over the clip on device. You can also use a simple cotton ball with a few drops of your essential oil…just be aware that you don’t want the cotton ball touching your dashboard…the oils can actually melt plastic.

Traditional Skills

Links soon to come!

Gardening & Homesteading Books & Resources: (coming soon)

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Emergency Supply Product Links from the article,

140+ Emergency Supplies You Need in Your Home

For Water:

• Waterbob or water storage bladder

• Life straws for filtering

• Berkey filter

For Energy:

• Generators, preferably dual fuel

• Solar generator

• Cookstove

For Cooking:

• Cast iron cookware

• Manual kitchen tools, like this flour grinder

• Manual can opener

For Light:

• Solar powered flashlights

• Oil lamps

For Warmth:

• Propane heater

• Wood burning stove

• Down Comforter

For Cleanliness/Hygiene:

• DIVA cup for feminine needs

• Washboard and large tub for washing clothes

• Compostable toilet

• Sewing supplies

Clothing:

• Muck or rubber boots, like Bogs

• Work clothes, like sturdy Carhardtts

For Building:

• Tools, like this axe/hatchet (it’s amazing!)

For Defense:

• Pepper spray

First Aid:

• First aid kit

Miscellaneous:

• Carbon monoxide alarm

• Whetstone for sharpening knives

• Rechargeable batteries

• Clothes pins

I’ll continue to add to this list, but that should get you going! :-)