Specialist hand crafted tinctures made from organic herbs.

SandRa Timmins · August 3, 2018

Specialist hand crafted tinctures made from organic herbs.

A super easy way to take your herbs as a health boost or to facilitate your healing.

Are you familiar with tinctures? Have you tried tinctures? Have you been finding what you’re looking for?

For me personally, tinctures are the way forward for taking herbal medicine. Herbal teas are wonderful and are best for chronic conditions. But if you’re offering me a hot drink I’d be hoping some good strong coffee is on the menu! (Black, no sugar if you’re asking..)

Sweet Violet to be tinctured

Tinctures are highly concentrated liquid herbal extracts which keep for many years. The chosen herb is macerated (soaked) in alcohol, usually vodka, for two to four weeks, shaken twice daily, strained then taken by the drop or dropper-ful. Tinctures are good for acute situations and are taken in a small amount of warm water, tea or juice. It’s a minimal amount of alcohol that you are having, the most would be three teaspoons (for an adult) over the course of a day. Tinctures can be made with an apple cider vinegar base which keep for a year, more if stored in the fridge.

So I’m telling you all this for good reason, because I’ve started making tinctures using my organic herbs here at Stoney Ground Herbs home base. I make small batches to ensure quality and strength. It’s fun and feels like the way forward for SGH. So far I have available…

Calendula, Calendula officinalis ~ Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, lymphatic cleanser and nourisher…. $25
Chaste Berry, Agnus castus ~ Hormonal balancing, particularly for women (not recommended if pregnant or breast-feeding)….. $25 (berries are organic but outside sourced)
Feverfew, Tanacetum parthenium ~ Migraines and headache relief…. $20
Nettle, Urtica urens ~ Spring tonic, cleansing, boost and enrich breast milk (definitely recommended if pregnant or breast-feeding)…. $20 (available in non-alcohol form too)
Peppermint, Mentha x piperita ~ Wonderful carminative, particularly for digestive issues…. $20 (available in non-alcohol form too)
Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis ~ Improve concentration and memory, circulatory stimulant…. $20
Sage, Salvia officinalis ~ Drying; mothers milk, heavy periods, night sweats, premature ejaculation, excessive saliva…. $20
Sweet Violet, Viola odorata ~ Dispel anger, affinity with the throat, cancer supporter…. $20
Yarrow, Achillia millefolium ~ externally for bruises and wounds, internally for indigestion and cramp…. $20

As more plant material becomes available more tinctures will become available. On my website you can find my tinctures under the “Products” drop down menu. Or you can be instantly taken there like magic here.

They are also taken to flavour cocktails, either by the drop or spritz. Take you bartending skills to another level! (I’m thinking lemon verbena, vietnamese mint…)

If I don’t have something you’re after please ask~

SandRa Timmins · December 20, 2017

Whom loves red wine but sometimes on these wonderfully hot days feels as though it’s a bit, hmmm, heavy and winter-y?…

It was my birthday the other day and I decided to give it a herbal flavour. When I got back from a super hot day at the markets I put some red wine in a carafe with wedges of orange, several texas tarragon flowers plus some lemon balm and mint that I bruised in my mortar and pestle.

Texas Tarragon, Tagetes lucida

Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis

Winter mint, Mentha sp.

After leaving it in the fridge for a couple of hours and a more acceptable time to indulge, (ie. not 2pm…which actually is probably ok on a birth anniversary!) I took a sup and it was delicious! That Texas tarragon really gave it something else, even hubby quite enjoyed it when I forced him to try it, fortunately for me not enough to want a whole glass, te-he!

My birthday brew

Texas tarragon is lovely in a jug of water with lemon on a hot summer day too, leaves and flowers. If you don’t have this plant let me rest assure you that I will be selling it next season.

I really hope that I’m not the only one that has to make their own birthday cake (despite other capable people in the house), ach well, at least I’m also the only one in the house that drinks red wine and doesn’t have to share whilst baking said cake!

My favourite cake is lemon cake, beauts as is, but this year I added thyme from my new silver posie thyme (Thymus vulgaris ‘Silver Posie’).

Thymus vulgaris 'Silver Posie 'for sale, New Zealand

Was really nice, should’ve added more thyme though..

Thyme, sugar and lemon rind

The next day we were at the Greytown Markets (as stall holders; we being Industrial Fusion at one end and Stoney Ground Herbs at the other) and I bought myself a lino print for my birthday by local Wairarapa artist Joanne Lysaght, Songbird, it makes me so happy!

Songbird by Joanne Lysaght

Yeah, it’s still in its wrapper, I’m going to get a frame for it soon…

Wishing you all a very merry xmas, have a lovely time with your loved ones, keep an eye on your plants and make the most of everything you have in your life, including this lovely summer right now!

xxoo

SandRa Timmins · February 12, 2017

Dried Catnip, Nepeta cataria

Peppermint, mentha x piperita

Dried Motherwort, Leonurus cardiaca

Fresh from the drying racks I now have organic dried Catnip, Peppermint and Motherwort available to sell. Click on the links for info on why you need them in your/your families life, you might be surprised.

SandRa Timmins · September 22, 2016

The flies are circling getting ever closer to the house..apart from living in a chemical fog what else can we do to keep them out of the house..

nemesis

Join me in my research…

Here is proof that last year was really bad for flies (and it wasn’t just our house!) and some tips to not attract them from stuff,co.nz

Did you read that idea about Peppermint and Mint plants being helpful? Got those! (And you can too.. )

This one has some interesting ideas… you’d have to have a lot of cucumber, no harm in having too much Basil though!

Ach! These are just a bit glam, I really like them…

Good for when you’re cooking outdoors with your outdoor cooker or pizza oven! (Gotta plug the hubby!!)

Lemon and cloves seem to be a popular idea, I did actually try this last season…perhaps I needed more than just one half of a lemon!

Or you could get one of these!

This image is from a Fly Trap Care Forum. ‘Aint it a beauty!

It seems the old water in a plastic bag is a common one too, we happen to have hooks around our doors so I’ll try this one this year.

What do you do? Got any great ideas to share? ‘Coz every little bit helps if they’re going to be as bad this year as last year!

SandRa Timmins · June 14, 2016

I know it’s morally wrong to be excited when my husband tells me he thinks he’s broken his toe..

My ~~victim~~ patient

But I have this beautiful patch of comfrey (Sumphytum officinale) growing you see. Comfrey, also known as Knitbone. Knitback. Consound. Blackwort. Bruisewort. Slipperey Root. Boneset. Ass Ear. Apparently. Now I have an opportunity to see if it can live up to its many names, though hoping I won’t make an ass’ ear out of it!

Comfrey AKA Knitbone

Ever since I told my husband about the time I thought I had wild lettuce growing in my garden and made delicious salads out of it… to be told in actual fact it was opium poppy seedlings- he’s never quite trusted me and my herb knowledge. (In my defense; it was my first “adult” garden about 10 or 11 years ago and it didn’t harm me or my pregnant flatmate, eh Ange!)

But he graciously allowed me to experiment on him and even take photos!

Comfrey ready to be mushed

Using about three leaves, I made a poultice using my mortar and pestle.

Comfrey mushed

Then it was wrapped around his toe with a hot bandage holding it in place.

Comfrey AKA Knitbone, knitting bone!

We changed it twice; and that was my man done with experimentation’s.

I’m sure it sped up the healing process, which gets a grumbling concession from Mr Skeptic, so there we go!

SandRa Timmins · March 28, 2016

You’ve enjoyed the fresh summer taste of your herbs and/or enjoyed the lush greeness of the more aromatic/medicinal herbs…

It’s now time to make sure you have enough dried culinary herbs in stock to last you through winter and to divide your clump forming or spreading herbs for fresh plants in Spring and Summer. You can also start taking hardwood cuttings now.

I’m reading a book at the moment called the Resilient Gardener by Carol Deppe. It’s fascinating and there’s some really relevant information in there for us gardeners at this time in this world. She talks about five staple crops to grow (and almost as importantly, to preserve and/or store) for “mega-hard” times; corn, potato, squash, beans and eggs.

I haven’t finished the book yet so there’s still hope that she will mention herbs at some stage. I’m hoping she’s going to say how important it is to grow herbs for “mega-hard” times too. Two reasons; so that you have some darn flavour for your “staples” and so you have some medicinal supplies on hand, here’s a great post on what you can easily grow for the cabinet as such.

So to dry your herbs- and I’m just talking culinary leaf here, medicinal has a few more specifics that I’ll cover another day..

In an ideal world you would harvest just before the flowers bloom, in the morning after the dew has dried on the leaves and during a full moon. Also ideally you would’ve done this all by now! But all is not lost, lemon verbena is still out there, I’m sure your oregano has sprawled left right and centre, thyme, your salvias.

Watch that you don’t cut your thyme back too harshly it needs at least a third of its leaves still attached (learnt that the hard way, twice). Of course all of those woody perennials will still be living through winter but their growth slows right down and it’s kind of mean to pick too much off them and “mega-hard” times might’ve wiped them out…

May as well harvest all of your stevia unless you have it in a pot and are bringing it indoors. Harvest peppermint before it hunkers down for winter.

For home use (and quantities) the hot water cupboard is the perfect place for drying your herb. Lay them evenly on a sheet of newspaper and check daily til they get to the crunchy stage. Store them in labelled dark glass jars- in an ideal world! Clear glass is fine as long as they’re stored in your pantry and not out in the light though. Failing the hot water cupboard you can dry them in a very low heated oven or if you’re fancy pants, a dehydrator.

And of course there are other ways to preserve your herbs, in vinegar, in olive oil, in pesto or in the freezer~ How do you preserve yours?

I’m going to try to be a bit more regular here than I have been of late… so with that in mind, next week I’ll do a post on how to divide your herbs, or, how I divide my herbs!!

SandRa Timmins · December 10, 2015

Lemon Verbena, Aloysia citriodora

Who else loves lemon verbena? Delicious as a tea ever thought of it as a deodorant??!

As the weather warms up it’s time to think of these things!

I came across a simple super recipe in Johanna Knoxs’ book A Forager’s Treasury. All is required is baking soda and dried herb/s of your choice. They must be well dried as baking soda absorbs any moisture.

making lemon verbena deodarant

I made mine in a jar (1/2 cup baking soda) then stuffed it with dried lemon verbena leaves which I then shook anytime I walked past it (in the kitchen) for a good few days.

Though I’ve just re-read the recipe and I should’ve crumbled or pounded the herbs first! Ach well, I sieved mine when I thought the time was right.

So you apply it under your arms with a cotton wall or pad, or like me a home-made pad (it was going to be a breast pad!). But my real genius moment, after having issues with getting it out of the jar on to said pad, was remembering that deep in an un-packed box was one of my grandmothers un-used compacts. Perfect!

SandRa Timmins · November 9, 2015

My lemon balm (Melissa officinallis) is in full flush at the moment.

Lemon balm, Melissa officinallis

Unfortunately it’s not that terrific dried..that lovely lemoney goodness gets lost with the drying process.

So apart from drinking it as a fresh tea or putting it in the kids bath to induce sleepiness (ha!), I’ve made a balm to tackle cold sores (my husband and eldest son are prone to them). Lemon balm with its anti viral properties is highly effective in combating cold sores. I’ve made an infusion of lemon balm before and dabbed it on my poor sons lip and it healed in super quick time. Which is what inspired me to make something that will always be around ~ as lemon balm tends to die back or at least get a bit scrappy during winter.

Using the same method as I did for the baby bum balm I seeped the herbs a wee bit longer and used a bit more oil. This was due to the fact that I was using fresh herbs and not just lemon balm…

Our grand eucalyptus tree

I decided to beef it up with eucalyptus and fresh ginger, I chose these herbs for their anti-viral properties.

Fresh chopped herbs, eucalyptus, lemon balm and grated ginger

It turned out a glorious green colour.

And I’m freakin’ stoked to say that it works really well! It actually seems to be a cure-all as it’s good for athletes foot too!

Quantities of herbs I used were; 110g fresh Eucalyptus leaves, 45g fresh Lemon balm leaves and stalks, approx 2 Tbl fresh grated ginger.

Let me know if you give it a go or leave a comment if you need to know more~

SandRa Timmins · July 6, 2015

Home made baby balm

Chamomile doesn’t just make a great relaxing tea, (it actually has another million and one therapeutic uses but that’s for another post) externally chamomile is an excellent healer. Soothing, anti-inflammatory and with antiseptic properties it has long been used as a wound healer and more recently-ish as an ingrediant in baby balms.

Couple chamomile with calendulas prowess in healing the skin, (again, amongst other things; anti-inflammatory, astringent, vulnerary, anti-microbial, cholagogue, emmenagogue, tonic) and you’ve got your classic herbal ingrediants for baby bum balm.

German Chamomile

Which you can buy easy enough, but you can also make it yourself easily enough whilst getting more bang for your buck not to mention satisfaction and pride! And I’m a gonna’ tell you how..

This is how I make my salves and how I made my latest batch of baby bum balm (can also be used where-ever else you wish!)

You need; 1/2Cup olive oil, 1/2Cup of coconut oil, 50-100g of dried herbs (I used 30g chamomile, oh! look, you can buy some here! and 20g approx of dried calendula (my own, hoping to be able to grow enough soon to sell) and 30g beeswax.

Melt oils in a double boiler, add herbs, simmer gently for 30 minutes (add more oil if necessary).

dried chamomile and calendula, making baby balm, in a double boiler

I added more oil, 20g of dried calendula takes a lot of space!

Strain through muslin or tea towel or other fine weaved cloth, squeeze to extract as much oil as possible, don’t burn your hand!

Fave pair of shorts there that had ripped beyond repair, perfect weight for straining though!

Return to the oil to the double boiler and add grated beeswax, stir until melted. Remove from heat.

grated beeswax

As the mixture cools, stir briskly with a whisk to a creamy consistency. You can add any essential oils at this stage, I didn’t. Place in sterilised pots with screw lids but don’t put the lids on til cool.

You should smell it, divine!

And wa-lah! Your own balm that will last ages or be enough to gift some as well~

Of course all organic ingredients are the best and you can get your chamomile through me at Stoney Ground Herbs or to buy online you can go to Annas shop at Love Plant Life (and grab some seeds for this summers gardens while you’re at it!)

SandRa Timmins · June 12, 2015

In the final days leading up to Kierons’ birth I wanted to make a bum spray from a Wendyl Nissen recipe that uses rose water and witch-hazel. And I thought, rose water? Surely that would be easy to make, especially as I have all these roses… Alakaday, with some research I found that it wasn’t all that simple and I actually couldn’t be farked after all. (But I did find a website that had lots of ideas for roses here. For the time when I’m sick of just smelling the roses!

So I got my rosewater and witch-hazel from lotusoils.co.nz. Now I’ve always been meaning to get witch-hazel. Read and natural healing/alternative therapies book and witch-hazel “is a must” in the first aid kit…can I add that it is a fricken goldmine of a gem of a thing to have for mum and babes kit??

With witch-hazels’ astringent properties it is great to put on healing tummy buttons (baby) and blooming wonderful for healing tushes (mums!). I sprayed witch-hazel onto my maternity pads and oh bliss for the coolness and oh fantastic-ness for the quick recovery time. Totally recommended – for yourself or as a gift!

Traditionally used by native North Americans witch-hazel is also good for cuts, grazes and swollen veins (mm-hmm, should’ve got this stuff AGES ago!). It is the (green) leaves and bark that are used to make the astingent.

Hamamelis virginiana (witch-hazel) is a deciduous shrub. It doesn’t actually lose its leaves in winter but the leaves do go brown in-between which spidery yellow flowers bloom in late autumn.

If you’re growing witch-hazel for medicinal purposes do make sure you’re growing the right type! Chinese witch-hazel Hamamelis mollis is most commonly grown in New Zealand and Australia, Hamamelis virginiana is what you’re after.

It grows best in cooler climates. In hotter climates it should have partial shade to save its leaves from getting burnt. Like nice moist soil.

Ah, and by the way ~ the spray for nappy changing time is great!

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Tinctures Now Available!!

Specialist hand crafted tinctures made from organic herbs.

A super easy way to take your herbs as a health boost or to facilitate your healing.

Herby Berdy

New Dried Herbs

The Flies are Circling…

Knit those Bones dear Comfrey

Divide , Dry and Conquer!

Lemon Verbena DIY Deodorant

Lemon Balm my balm

DIY Baby Bum Balm

Witch-hazel and Rose Water