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DELICIOUS EATS (OR RELAXATION FEATS)

Easy Body Balm from Rubie

Balms have been crafted for centuries from herbs that have unique healing properties. At first, they were likely crudely ground pumices smeared on open wounds or ingested to reduce fever. Personally I enjoy hand grinding fresh herbs with a motor and pastel which allows the green essence to color the base oil. When I craft my balms I prefer utilizing apricot oil as the base as it has nearly no scent of it's own and is light on the skin. I will utilize fresh cut herbs that I will create pumice and place in cheesecloth. Then I will place this pumice into a glass jar with apricot oil and place in the sun allowing it to become infused over 4 to 6 weeks. I personally believe in the magic of intention and time. Finally, I believe healing should be freely shared. In the wisdom of the indigenous, culture is not for sale. Ceremonial and sacred items should be gifted from a shaman or healer. Below is what I call an easy balm that can be made on the stovetop or microwave in under an hour!

2 cups Apricot Oil

1 cup Coconut Oil

4 tablespoons Beeswax

1 tablespoon Essential Oil

In a small pot or microwaveable bowl and 2 cups of apricot oil. Heat on medium for 5 minutes or microwave on high for 2 minutes.

Add 1 cup of coconut oil and continue to heat on medium heat until melted or microwave for an additional 2 minutes, stir until all the contents are unified.

Finally, add the beeswax and lavender essential oil to the mixture, stir continuously on the stove or microwave for an additional minute. Before the contents cool and begin to solidify pour into a jar or cosmetic container.

Let cool on a flat surface in the open air, or place on cooking pan and chill in the freezer for 5-10 minutes. Do not over chill in the freezer as the contents will crack and loose its smooth surface.

— Rubie

CLICKABLE LINKS

Stay up to date on Rubie’s latest projects at First Mother Farms.

In California and interested in farming and food? Check out the Center for Land-Based Learning or Alchemist Community Development Corporation for good places to start.

For more on Michael Madison and his approach to farming, check out this article from 2003.

On some of the complexities of eating locally produced foods in Sacramento.

FANTASTIC READS

You can find a Kindle edition of Rubie Dianne’s newly released book of poems, unsettled: A tribute to living life on the open road, here