Making My Own Supplements

Southern man has come to me multiple times saying we have to make cuts somewhere. Where? We cut out cable, our cell phones are just for calls, and the cheapest we could buy. I am not going back to GMO junk, and our organic diet is are greatest expense.

Our next biggest expense is our supplements, and I'm not sacrificing that either. So, one day when I was searching the sale items on Azure Standard I came across a capsule maker, and vegetable capsules. Why not make whatever supplements we can it would be cheaper, so we made the purchase.

The directions stunk, but I figured it out. You can make 24 capsules at one time. Just place the bigger end in the base, on the plate, and the smaller end in the part by the box. Here I was making Hawthron  which per another post I am using to control my blood pressure.

I used a 1/2 tsp to put the powder into the capsules. It does not go in easy, but the green flat item in the picture to the right is used to scrap the powder across the capsules pushing the powder into the capsules. The part on top is then used to push the powder down into the capsules. So, you have to scrape and push until the capsules are full. The powder in the picture was enough to fill the capsules.

Once all the capsules are full you take the piece with the smaller ends on them and press it together with the filled pieces. Both pieces have flexible pieces on the bottom which you push together. You do have to push them at various points to make sure all the capsules adhere to each other.

You should carefully separate the two pieces to see if all the capsules adhered to each other. Sometimes you will have a couple that don't adhere just repeat the process.  As you can see the capsules come out nicely. To release the capsules press the flexible piece on the bottom.

Once they are lose gentle take them out one by one, and gently push the larger and smaller pieces together. I purchased the Hawthorn jar at a local organic store for a buck something, and the other one was given to me by a friend which she purchased at the dollar store.

Curios about Valerian, it's a very relaxing herb, aids in pain relief, great for the nervous system, and when used with Hawthorn helps to lower blood pressure.

We had the choice between two different sizes "0", or "00", we chose the "0" which makes a 500 mg capsule. The cost? We paid $17.50 for the capsule maker, and $13.50 for 1,000 capsules, or about that cost. I purchased our herb powder from the Bulk Herb store (affiliate link on right.) However I purchased more herb powder from Mountain Rose Herbs just the other day (affiliate link on right.)

So, basically any herbal supplement that you use which comes in powder form can be made into a capsule. Here is one way we can stay healthy and save money at the same time.

Do you make any of your own supplements?

Making Kombucha With No Starter Tea

 I have read alot of blog posts about making kombucha, but have not seen this information anywhere except Culture's for Health. Even my new book Mastering Fermentation: Recipes for Making and Cooking with Fermented Foods does not include it.

So, as I said in a previous post I was given two SCOBYs, but had no tea to start it with. Let me back up a minute, in order to make kombucha you need a SCOBY, starter tea, and sugar. However, you can still make some if you don't have a SCOBY, or starter tea.

If you have a SCOBY, but no starter tea, all you have to do is add vinegar. The chart above is from Cultures for Health, the starter tea amount is the same amount of vinegar that would be used if you do not have a starter tea. I made a gallon, so I used a 1/2 cup of vinegar. I am going to make a batch with the baby SCOBY in a quart jar.

It is very important not to use any metal tools when making kombucha, look I just made it and already there are bubbles, that is good.

My friend and fellow partner in crime blogger, Mary had no SCOBY, but starter tea stop by her blog to see what she did.

My SCOBY

I have fallen in love with kombucha however, not right away, it is definitely an acquired taste. At the farmer's market there is a woman who sells all kinds of flavors of kombucha. The last time we went I bought half a gallon, and drank from it all week. Man I felt good, I decided that I wanted to make it my self.

I had read plenty of blogs on the topic, and even found someone who was willing to trade me some of my elderby syrup for a SCOBY. Okay I knew I needed a SCOBY, but in everything I read I had never seen one. How would I know if she was really giving me a SCOBY? Off to do some research. I went to Cultures for Health (affiliate link on right) which includes videos, FAQ, troubleshooting, and more geared towards making kombucha. So, here is what I learned.

Photo credit not my SCOBY

So, this is what a SCOBY looks like, this is an older SCOBY. I received one mature, along with a baby. I also learned that SCOBY is an acronym for symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast. This guy is actually alive, and needs sugar to keep on living. I found this out when I realized I had no green, white, or black organic tea. You can not make it with a flavored tea or you can kill the SCOBY. Flavored teas can interfere with the PH levels, which are also important for a healthy SCOBY, and fermentation. You can purchase PH testing strips from Cultures for Health.

Once the kombucha meets your taste you can then added flavor to it. For flavoring you can add any type of juice and drink it right away. Herbs, and fruits can be used to flavor the kombucha as well, but will need sit sealed in a jar for a couple of days.

My SCOBYs, you can see the more mature one on the bottom, and the baby on the top.

My issue was due to the lack of organic tea, I had to find out how to keep it healthy while I ordered some. I learned that you can easily keep the SCOBY alive by just adding a 1/4 cup of sugar per quart of filtered water. This is only a good solution for short term storage. I have both of my SCOBY's in a quart jar with some filtered water (also important) on the kitchen counter, they both appear to be happy. Wow!!! really I have another SCOBY that has formed, even without the tea or vinegar? I wonder if it will survive. You can store a SCOBY in some sugar tea from a previous batch of kombucha, but if you don't have any this is a good option. I love the idea of using a coffee filter and rubber band to cover the jar.

It is said that white sugar produces the best kombucha because it is the easiest one for the SCOBY to ingest. Due to toxins that  may be present in store bought white sugar Cultures for Health recommends using organic evaporated cane crystals. I plan on using Turbinado raw cane sugar, the site says that using this brand makes it harder for the SCOBY to ingest. However, considering that, that is what was used in my SCOBY to begin with it should be fine. As a matter of fact that is the sugar I used to store it in, and again it is doing fine. If you are given a SCOBY be sure to find out what type of sugar was used.

My organic green tea came, but due to being under the weather I have not been able to start my kombucha. One issue is that I have to make the sugar tea which for a gallon I need 13 -14 cups of boiled water with the sugar, and than let it cool which could take all day. However, one other item I ordered with my tea is a book called Mastering Fermentation: Recipes for Making and Cooking with Fermented Foods. The book states to start it they way they make sweet tea here in the south. Take 3 cups of filtered water, boil it with 1 cup of sugar, take 2 Tbsp of loose tea or 8 tea bags and let it steep for a 1/2 hour.  Pour it into the jar, I use a knife to absorb the hot water so the jar won't break, and add the rest of the water and cool to 98 degrees F.

I'm excited to start making my own kombucha, and creating wonderful healthy flavors.

I shared this post on Wildcrafting Wednesdays.

Tips For Making Body Lotion

About a year ago I started making my own body lotion. I wanted to know what was going into the lotion that I was using. Searching the web I found a recipe, and just with food recipes, I revamped it. The first batch came out great, great texture, looked great, and smelled wonderful.

I like to change out my butters, and oils, and all the sudden I was left with a crumbling mess with liquid on top. Determined I continued to try, with the same results each time except when using the original recipe I started with.

Then one day while on Mountain Rose Herbs' web site I noticed emulsifying wax. Hmm what is this? Turns out it helps to bind the water, and other liquids (oils) together in lotions. I ordered some, and gave it a try yesterday. Not sure if I needed to add less or more I searched YouTube, which inspired me to write this post.

For the most part bees wax can be used to create body lotion, but if you are like me, and want to change it up emulsifying wax works great. Personally since I used the emulsifying wax, I will not go back to bees wax. The texture is way better, and the time involved is alot less.

One of the videos I watched said to heat up the oils first. Well I guess you could if you want to lose the healing properties in them. She also heated up the water, oils, and bees wax separately however, she did get the recipe from a book.

I put the water in with the bees wax or emulsifying wax, and heat them together. I find if you are using bees wax, and add the water later, the bees wax starts to harden. Hardening I feel will create clumps in the lotion that I don't want.

Also if you add essential oils, this should be done last. I put it in after my lotion has completely cooled so not to lose the healing properties.

Do you make your own body lotion?

Chainmaille Jewelry

Since we started eating organic the money goes so fast, especially with two teen age boys. I have been thinking of ways to make money from home seeing as they are both being homeschooled. I'm done with being a consultant with some other company, it just doesn't suit me.

I love the Steampunk style, for those who don't know what Steampunk is, it is Victorian meets sci fi. Below is a picture of a group of people dressed in Steampunk fashion at the Renaissance Fair last year.

The other day I was pinning some Steampunk jewelry, and thought hey why I can't I make some. So, I started watching videos on YouTube, and they were using chainmaille, how cool is that. While chainmaille is often associated with medieval armor it is also used to make jewelry, and clothing. You will also see it spelled various ways all are correct, go figure.

Chainmaille is the art of linking small metal rings (jump rings) together to form a pattern. Those who make jewelry and clothing with it call it a weave instead of a pattern.

I was so excited to get started with this ancient art I went out and purchased some items for my first attempt at making some Steampunk chainmaille jewelry. Because I have never done this before I decided to start simple, and with bigger jump rings.  I also decided to  use a key and was looking for some ribbon, but found some trim that went well with the rest of my items for the choker I wanted to make. So, here is the finished product.



Nope not a choker, I was going to use the trim to tie it around the neck, but there was the issue with the ends fraying. So, back to Hobby Lobby to get some ribbon crimps, and I also picked up this beautiful toggle to close it with.

I linked the jump rings together than wove the trim in and out of the jump rings. At the end of each ring I attached it by just including two weaves verses one. Also the key was not laying right attached to the bigger jump ring, so I bought 2mm jump rings and attached two of them to the bigger one, now that's better.

So, it went from being a choker to a necklace that measures 14 1/2 inches long. The jump rings were not easy to work with, I figure with some time it will get easier. Those on the videos made it look easy, but in reality it is harder than it looks especially when it comes to the smaller jump rings.

Gears are a big part of Steampunk, and I bought some to incorporate into my first piece, but was not happy with the look. Yes, I will be making more, and I already have an idea using just the gears.

Oh I almost forgot I wanted to show you a close up of the key I love the detail in it. I only wish it was on both sides. In the near future my daughter and I will be opening an Etsy store. We will have handmade Steampunk jewelry, along with my homemade salve, organic herbs, and whatever else we decided to create.

Our future store will also feature customized pieces. What that means is you pick the style and the materials to incorporate, and we will create it for you. 








Do you like Steampunk, or make chainmaille jewelry? I would love to hear about and see it.