Saturday, December 4, 2010

Safeteam Challenge

SAFE Team's Christmas Carol Challenge

Is that favorite Christmas song running through your ahead already? Is it Silent Night? Deck the Halls? Santa Baby? Or, I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas?

This month, SAFE team members were given the challenge to create a soap based on their favorite holiday tune. You job is to pick a favorite. Vote by telling which one gets you humming in the comments section and you'll be entered to win the winning bar! Good luck, and Merry Christmas!

Below is my entry:



1. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - Goat's Milk Soap by greensprings0



I choose this song because every Christmas we watch our granddaughter perform the Nutcracker with her ballet school. This year is the first time she will dance on pointe. She has been waiting a long time for this moment.

Wanting a complex sweet scent, I choose lavender, rose, ylang ylang and pettigrain essential oils.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving we put up or decorations, played in the snow and cross country skied today.

For your holiday shopping pleasure, the Green Springs Elves have been busy in the workshop creating lots of new soaps, individual bath scrubs and more!

 As as thank you to all my wonderful customers I am having a sale at www.greensprings0.etsy.com : ♥GREEN SPRINGS BLACK FRIDAY THROUGH CYBER MONDAY SALE♥ Free local delivery with  shipping refunded via paypal.
~ Nov. 26th through Midnight PST on Nov. 29th~
20 % off entire store and a free gift with every purchase. Use coupon code: GREEN4THEPLANETANDU at checkout.

Combined flat-rate shipping on up to 7 soaps is only $4.75 within the US, $11 for Canada and Mexico, and $13 for everywhere else. Shipping overages over $1.00 refunded.

Monday, November 22, 2010

THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY





Located along beautiful Ashland Creek the Ashland Recycling is truly the heart of the community.  Even though most residents (not us we live in the mountains) now have curbside recycling it’s still a happening spot.  Tim Church pictured below has worked here for the past 20 years.  On many occasions he has greeted me at my car and helped me unload my recycling.  Thanks Tim! Tim is also an excellent musician and plays at many different venues.  Tim also saves bubble wrap and packaging peanuts in the building to the left.    Thanks Tim you have saved me lots of $$$$!

Tim brings dogs from the animal shelter to work with him and my husband and I enjoy visiting with them.  Below is an article from the Mail Tribune.


ASHLAND — Christmas came early for Jaxon, a rescued three-legged canine waiting for a prosthetic limb since September.
After weeks of measurements, castings and temporary prosthetics, Jaxon's new leg was shipped just after Thanksgiving by Denver-based Orthopets, which specializes in pet orthotics.
And he's been running on all fours ever since.

The 1-year-old black Labrador-Great Dane mix was rescued from the Jackson County animal shelter in August by Tim Church, an employee at the Ashland Recycling Center, and his wife, Lucinda. Church has helped find homes for more than 200 animals since 1992 by fostering them at the center. Church decided to adopt Jaxon himself and help the dog get a new leg. 
Tim: As far as recycling, it's a good thing to do. It's hard to change the world, but if you work on your little corner of it, doing what you can, it all adds up. My wife and I are volunteers at the animal shelter, and members of FOTAS (Friends of the Animal Shelter). We have fostered and found homes for around two hundred dogs, and a few cats, in the past 15 years. We've recently stopped fostering, but I still take an adoptable dog from the Jackson County Animal Shelter to the recycling center almost every week. Dogs are good people. But please folks, get your pets spayed and neutered. The statistics say that one unspayed female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in six years!
Tim: We've had Huggy Bear for about eight years. I brought him from the shelter in the hopes he would get adopted. He was adopted one day and brought back the next because he was such a pain in the ass. So my wife and I adopted him. He was still a pain in the ass, but has mellowed over the years. His name is Huggy Bear because when we adopted him he looked like a bear and would stand on his hind legs and hug us.

Also located here is the world famous Ashland Free Box.  Here you can see homeless people along side socialites digging for treasures.   Because of Tim and some faithful volunteers this operation runs smoothly.  You will rarely find tattered or stained clothes.  I often find cashmere sweaters and new looking clothes for my five grandkids. 



Tim had this to say in an interview in 2007: I enjoy the freebox dynamics. It's actually kind of famous. I often hear comments like, "We're on our way from L.A. to Seattle, and had to stop and check out this awesome freebox we've heard about!" All kinds of people utilize the freebox: mothers and kids, homeless people, grandparents, people who drive expensive cars .

Right next door is the awesome state of the art Ashland Skate Park.  What a great idea to locate it here because there are always adults nearby to supervise.  I love to sit and watch the skaters especially Keenan my 11 year old grandson.  




Next we have the Backyard Compost Demonstration.  It is here that I learned all about composting 20 years ago.  I still have the free worm bin I was given when I completed the class.  
This plaque is in memory of the man who started it all:  Julian Henry was instrumental in setting up this center.  Unfortunately he died in his 30s and never got to see what a success it became.  Many days you will see a vase of fresh flowers on the chair below. 

If you ever get to Ashland be sure to check it out.  It’s located at Water Street and Van Ness.








Sunday, November 7, 2010

INFUSED OILS MAKE GREAT GIFTS

Sorry I haven't posted in a while.  Fall is my busiest time of the year.  Since I make most of my holiday gifts I need to get started early.  I have also been making new products for my Etsy Shop. After wild crafting herbs and flowers in the fall they are now solar infusing nicely on my windowsills. Besides the multi-herb oil pictured in the previous post, I have also infused the vanilla oil pictured. 

The beautiful calendula was picked yesterday in the garden.  It's unusual for it to still be blooming in November so I am really thankful.  Calendula is an amazing herb.  It is especially good for babies because of it is so gentle and healing.  Some of the other infusions I am making are comfrey, arnica, St. John's Wort, and elderflower.  For holiday gifts I am infusing  rosemary, thyme, fennel, and tarragon in organic olive oil.  

I like the slower solar infused method, only using dried herbs and add Vit E oil to prevent rancidity and to increase shelf life. If stored away from heat and light, your oil should last a year or two if not longer.This is how I do it:
 Dry the herbs to remove all water.  This can be done with a food dehydrator or just by leaving in the sun.  After the flowers and herbs are dry, you can add them to the olive oil.  Whole sprigs of thyme, rosemary, dried peppers, etc. can decorate the inside of the bottle this way. 
The oil will pick up the flavor fairly quickly, in the first few weeks, and then slowly intensify. It is fine to leave the herbs in for a long time; eventually all the flavor leaves the herbs and the oil flavor stabilizes. I like to infuse the herbs in the decorative beer bottles pictured when giving as gifts. For the herbal infused olive oils I like to attach a recipe to the bottle.  For the infused massage oils like vanilla, comfrey, calendula, St. John's wort, arnica I sometimes like to essential oils known for healing or relaxation.  

Happy Holidays and don't forget to visit my Etsy Store for my big Black Friday Sale.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Wildcrafting in the Green Springs

Summer is my busiest time of the year,  but also my favorite.  This is the view that greeted me this morning on my search for arnica, elderflowers, and St. John's Wort.  I get up early and hop on my Mountain Bike with 3 cloth bags and the search is on.  All of these herbs are quite beneficial and I use them in my skin care line.  I infuse the fresh St John's Wort in organic olive oil and it turns this beautiful red color.  I also mix it with the lye to get a reddish orange colored herbal soap. 

Today I also made a new perfume for an online perfume swap I am participating in.  It's a winner so look for it to be listed on Etsy once it's married and mellowed a while.  I will also  be listing affordable samples of my 4 signature perfumes once I get around to taking pictures.  If you are in the Rogue Valley (Or.), please stop by the Growers and Crafters Market and say hi.  I am at the Ashland Armory on Tue. Medford Armory on Thur. and in Ashland on Sat. next to the Post Office.

Have a wonderful summer and don't forget to smell the roses!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

SPRING AND THE COLUMBINES HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED


Spring arrived late this year to the Green Springs but due to all the rain the Columbines are blooming the like crazy.  Columbines have always been my favorite flower and the huge Rocky Mountain Blue Columbine which is the state flower of Colorado is my favorite. It was there that I first discovered the Columbine 30 years ago. They come in many different colors and sizes. I love them for their beauty and also because they  bring my favorite bird, the hummingbird to my windows. Red Columbine,  Aquilegia canadense, is especially valuable in a hummingbird garden because it blooms just when Rufous Hummingbirds are beginning to return from their wintering grounds. Feeding hummingbirds must hover directly beneath the Columbine flower, aiming their beaks straight upward to sample the nectar.  I have actually tasted the nectar and it is delicious. 





Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Sea of Love

This month Etsy Earth Team's theme is the ocean and plastics.  EET Ad Button The blog is chock full of articles, videos, hints and recommendations.  I am  proud of this team which does so much to help save our precious earth.
The team also has a shop where members donate items and part of the money goes to the team treasury and part is donated to causes near and dear to our hearts. http://www.etsy.com/shop/EtsyEarthTeam

I created this organic soap for my Etsy shop called "Sea of Love" in honor of this months theme.  Every month there will be a new theme so for a wealth of information please be sure to check out Etsy Earth. Next month's theme is "Summer Breeze" featuring natural fiber, industrial hemp and farming.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Neroli (orange blossom) Face Food


I finally splurged on some more neroli essential oil to make a Neroli Face Food. This is the same formula as my other Face Foods except neroli is the only essential used, producing a very fragrant, fresh scent. Neroli is one of the most expensive essential oils because it take one ton of orange blossoms to make one quart of essential oil.

Neroli Face Food benefits all skin types, sensitive, mature, and oily. Neroli is said to have cell stimulating properties and helps with broken capillaries, neroli oil stimulates new cell growth, heals scars and helps prevents stretch marks. It also benefits sensitive and mature skin while being slightly astringent for oily complexions.
It helps to re-hydrate, soften and boost rejuvenation.

Common Uses: Neroli Essential Oil increases circulation and stimulates new cell growth. It can prevent scarring and stretch marks, and has been found useful in treating skin conditions linked to emotional stress. Any type of skin can benefit from this oil, although it is particularly good for dry, irritated or sensitive skin. It regulates oiliness and minimizes enlarged pores. Neroli Oil helps to clear acne and blemished skin, especially if the skin lacks moisture. With regular treatment, it can reduce the appearance of fragile or broken capillaries and varicose veins. Other properties include being antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, carminative, cordial, deodorant, digestive, stimulant (nervous) and tonic (cardiac, circulatory).

Consistency: Medium

Note: Middle

Strength of Aroma: Strong

Blends well with: Lavender, Lemon, Clary Sage, Myrrh and spice oils such as Nutmeg, Cinnamon and Clove.

Aromatic Scent: Neroli Essential Oil has a sweet, floral citrus aroma. Many aromatherapists refer to Neroli as an exotic and exquisite essential oil.

History: Though Bitter Orange Essential Oil has been around for centuries, Neroli Essential Oil wasn’t discovered until the seventeenth century. It was named after Anna Maria de la Tremoille, princess of Nerola. The oils properties were extremely valued by the people of Venice who used it against plague and fevers.

Cautions: This oil is non-toxic and non-sensitizing.

To purchase this or any of my other Face Food Moisturizers click on my Etsy link.


Monday, April 19, 2010

Green Springs Featured in Eco-Etsy Auction


Bring out the green diva in you and treat yourself to this Health and Beauty bag filled with:

Bath Salts by HerbanLifestyle

Lavender Heart Sachet by Pouch

Spa Goods by HerbFriend

Soap/RoseCream by GreenSprings0

Organic Cotton Washcloths and Makeup Removers by Ecokaren

Felted Wool Pouch by Karen Meyers

These items will be packaged in a reusable T-Shirt Bag by zJayne

Retail Value: $115

The Minimum Bid: $25

Bid Increment: $5

Please leave your bid in the comment section below.

See other categories for bidding:

Baby Home Fashion Jewelry Paper Goods

*Please read the bidding guideline on the bottom of the main page before bidding. All bids are binding, meaning, if you win the item, you must pay for the item.*

Good Luck!

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Sunday, April 11, 2010

Desert Solitude



My dad passed away last month so when I returned from his funeral in Florida I was in need of some solitude. We traveled to Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Park for some r & r. Being out of cell phone
and internet range for one week really helped me to relax and reflect. Our days were spent hiking, climbing, biking, relaxing, and getting in touch with nature. Not many flowers were blooming yet so we were really excited to find this one cactus (pictured) blooming in a vibrant shade of red. After four days camping in Death Valley we headed for Joshua Tree for some rock climbing. Joshua Tree is named after the tree with the large white flower pictured. Look for more pictures to be posted on my Face Book page. Many of these beautiful trees are dying because of Global Warming. We are committed to doing everything in our power to stop Global Warming which we see happening all around us. As Earth Day draws near I hope that everyone will make an effort to help save our precious Earth for future generations.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Skijoring with the huskies

Here is a picture of the dogs taking a break while skijoring at Hyatt Lake yesterday. Hyatt Lake is located outside of Ashland Oregon in the beautiful Cascade Siskiyou National Monument. It is one of our favorite places to play year round. We love to ski around it in the winter, take the canoe on it, bike around it, swim across it, dog sled, hike and run around it. We are sometimes rewarded with a view of ospreys and eagles soaring high above.

Cabin Fever


I have had a serious case of cabin fever since the beginning of January.
We moved to the mountains 20 years ago because we love the snow but hadn't had any snow since Christmas Eve. While the East was getting dumped on, here in the Green Springs all we were getting is rain. Because of Global Warming we have really noticed a difference in our weather. In the past snow would stay on the ground for weeks at a time, but in the last few years it's only a few days. So I have been keeping busy doing things like taking inventory, organizing, ordering supplies, and getting ready for taxes and filling orders. Friday it finally happened! We had a nice snowstorm followed by a sunny Saturday. Hurray for sun! We headed up to Hyatt Lake (pictured above) to ski around it. The views are breathtaking with Mt. McLaughlin visible most of the way. It was an easy 10 mile ski around the lake, and then it was the dogs turn. We love to skijor with them so we hook them up to our waists and they pull us until they are tired. Today we will do it again but this time we will go to Buck Prairie and bring the dogsled. I am off to make blueberry pancakes and coffee, pack a lunch and head up the mountain. Life it good!