A New Heartsease...

Beating Inflation: Skin Essential Anti-Aging Facial Serum

It's easy to make your own natural facial serum!

 

    With inflation running away with itself, and consumers struggling to afford even basic needs, making many of one's own beauty care and house cleaning products helps to level the playing field.

    In this post I'll share my favorite, homemade facial serum/moisturizer - Skin Essential Anti-aging Facial Serum. It contains no unnatural chemicals, only nourishing oils and healing/anti-aging essential oils distilled from herbs and plants.

 

Half olive oil and half avocado oil form the base of the serum.

 

    While half of the base requires olive oil you can substitute the other half - avacado oil - with jojoba, grapeseed, or walnut oil, if preferred. This base may be used as is for a natural, nourishing moisturizer.

    The famed actress, Sophia Loren, known for her beautiful, flawless skin, was said to have used pure olive oil as her sole moisturizer. Many Italian women swear by olive oil for beautiful skin.

    Olive oil is safe for sensitive skin, has anti-aging properties, and aids skin tone. It's a great make-up remover, too.

   Avacado oil is moisturizing and nourishing, as well. It helps to dilute the tangy scent of extra virgin olive oil. It moisturizes and heals skin, reduces signs of aging, helps prevent acne, eczema, psoriasis, and inflammation. Avocado oil aids in healing wounds, too.

 

Good things in small bottles. Essential oils have many uses for skin health and a clean home!

 

    The following essential oils add many skin-nourishing and anti-aging qualities. Because some essential oils can be expensive, these can be added to the base oils as one's budget allows.

    Additionally, many essential oils may be used in homemade cleaning products, so they are money well spent. And, since they are used by mere drops, a small bottle of essential oil can last for years.

     Following is a list of essential oils and their properties:

Lavender - this oil is relatively inexpensive and has cosmetic and household uses. If you can afford only one essential oil, it should be this one! Cosmetically, lavender is soothing, anti-inflammatory, calming, wound healing, toning, and helps prevent wrinkles.

Orange - another inexpensive oil. Orange is refreshing, uplifting to the senses, and invigorating.

Frankincense - one of the more expensive essential oils. It is especially good for aging skin and reducing wrinkles. It aids in hormone balance, repairs skin, keeps skin hydrated and helps "plump" the skin. It is relaxing and centering to the mood. Even so, this essential oil is less expensive than that wee jar of costly anti-aging cream that promises much, but delivers little.

Chamomile - reduces inflammation, soothes skin, aids all types of skin conditions, including acne and eczema, and reduces free-radical damage. It accelerates the production of healthy skin cells. It also eases the mind and aids sleep.

Geranium - is stimulating and warming. It tones and tightens the skin, reducing fine lines, and brings a gentle blush to pale skin.

Rose - is uplifting and comforting. It also softens, clears, and reduces irritation. It aids mature skin by reducing age spots, dullness, fine lines and wrinkles. Pure, natural rose essential oil may cost hundreds of dollars for a fraction of an ounce. Instead, I use a "blended" oil by NOW, called "Rose Absolute" which is 5% rose oil in a jojoba carrier oil. This oil is available in most health food stores. Rose blends are far more affordable. To add more rose properties to my beauty regimen, I'll use rosewater as a toner before applying the moisturizing serum mixture.

Clary Sage - reduces skin inflammation, soothes and heals skin. Also, calms and soothes stress and anxiety.

    My recipe for a nourishing, anti-aging, skin serum and moisturizer is one I've used for over 20 years. It's the only one I use!

 

Recipe: Skin Essential Anti-aging Serum/Moisturizer (makes 1/2 cup)

1/4 cup each extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil (grape seed walnut, or jojoba).

15 drops lavender

3 drops orange

5 drops frankincense

5 drops Rose Absolute

5 drops chamomile

5 drops geramium

5 drops clary sage

    Mix the oils together thoroughly. Store in small, two-ounce  plastic squeeze bottles or dropper bottles. The unused portion may be kept in the fridge or pantry. The bottle in use may be kept at room temperature as the oils are natural preservatives. Your mixture will smell divine!

    Excess oil on the palms after applying the oil may be rubbed onto the backs of the hands to keep them looking more youthful. Wipe any excess oil on the arms or a washcloth.

    It's cost effective to acquire the oils over a period of time to save money. Begin with lavender and orange oils, then add in the others.  

    While lavender oil may be applied directly and undiluted to wounds and insect bites, all other essential oils must not be used directly - undiluted - on the skin as they are quite concentrated and absorptive, and may cause irritation in their undiluted state.

    The base oils of olive and almond act as "carrier" oils and fulfill this function of diluting the essential oils so that only their beneficial properties are applied to the skin.

    I think you'll find that with continued use of this oil your skin will greatly benefit regardless of its age and maturity.

 

    *In the next post I'll share my recipes for rose water toners and a simple, non-irritating facial cleanser.

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

Beating Inflation: Disposing of the "Disposables" - Floor Cleaning Sheets and Pads

    Despite all the "flap" that inflation is down - and it is - but generally only in areas that have low or no impact on most Americans' budgets.

    Yes, the economy is strong. The rich are getting richer while the rest of us are paying more money for the things we need...food, utilities, rent, entertainment...and well, everything!

    U.S. households are simply spending more on less food and the same utilities which continue to creep upward in price but not quantity.

    Gasoline is also on the creep and rents are up, too. Just last week two of my neighbors moved from the condos they were renting nearby because they couldn't afford the rent hikes they'd just received.

    It seems we're all held hostage to the two or three mega-companies that own all the supermarkets, the semi-monopolies of utility companies, and OPEC which decides, globally, the prices we all pay at the pumps! 

    If you're planning on doing some home improvement projects, here's another area where prices have increased...materials and labor!

    It can be depressing to believe that we have no control over any of these increasing costs. And we don't, if we continue to do the same things in the same way.

    Sadly, incomes just don't keep pace with the type of inflation that most affects our households and our lives. Thus, budgeting and cutting back on "non-essentials"...entertainment, eating out, staying closer to home, buying only essentials at the supermarket...can only take us so far. What we need is changing up the way we spend money, how we do things, and the habits we've become accustomed to.

    I'm taking steps to rein in expenses and so can you!

    Mostly I'm re-adopting techniques from my years as a homesteader. Then, I made or grew practically everything I needed or ate.

    I live in a condo now, so growing my own food is no longer an option except for the few herbs I've sneaked into the landscaping beds. I have supplanted growing food with some foraging skills that do save me money and lower pharmacy costs to a degree.

    However, there is still much more that I can do and am doing.

    Anyone can "home-make" - rather than buy - most of their own body care and house cleaning products! You'll save money and exposure to harmful chemicals. And, your skin and hair will be clean and nourished and your home sparkly clean and kept, too.

    The first step is to dispose of - not buy - those disposable, single use  products that one "conveniently" uses once than discards. That's like throwing money away! Disposable products are simply manufacturers' ruses to keep you spending money on the same things, like, forever! 

    An easy one I started with years ago was the sheets and pads that I use to clean my floors. My floor cleaner happens to be a Swiffer. I love my Swiffer! It's one of the simple ones that doesn't squirt or vacuum anything. I use it to dust up lint, cat hair, and "bits and pieces", and damp mop my wooden and laminate floors between bigger mopping jobs...but I don't purchase those reusable sheets and pads. I make my own!

    I simply make reusable, re-washable sheets by cutting 11-inch by 12-inch squares from old cotton tee shirts, synthetic shirts, or flannel pajamas...any type of washable fabric that has an affinity for lint, hair, and dust makes a great dusting sheet. Simply cut as many as you think you'll need...usually two to four. A couple in the cleaning cupboard, a couple more in the laundry waiting to be washed and used again, and again, and again.

 

Several unassuming fabric squares that are washable are perfect replacements for floor dusting sheets.

 

    I've probably saved hundreds of dollars on replacement dusting  sheets and pads over the past 15 years!

 

Old cotton tee-shirts, flannel - any fabric that loves to attract lint - may be cut into a 12" x 11" rectangle, attached to your floor duster, and used to clean your floors.

 

    Likewise, I've saved $$$ on "making" my own mopping "pads", too! To damp mop my kitchen and laminate/wood floors I simply cycle old terry face/wash cloths into mop "pads" I use on my Swiffer. When a wash cloth gets a little tatty - too much so for the bath - it gets cycled into my stack of cleaning cloths.

    To clean the floor, I dampen a wash cloth, ring it out, attach it to the mop/duster head as I do with the dusting cloths. Then, using a spray bottle of homemade all-purpose cleaner or liquid wood cleaner, I spritz the area of the type of floor I want to mop.  

    I also use my re-purposed wash cloths to clean mirrors and windows with homemade glass cleaner, and to clean and sanitize counter tops, and more, using a homemade antiseptic cleaner.

    If you use dish cloths, these too, can be re-purposed into floor cleaning cloths when they get too stained or worn for use in the kitchen. The little woven "waffles" trap dirt nicely.

    There's really no need to purchase disposable, single use products, or even spend money on reusable microfiber cleaning cloths. However, these are a better option than disposable cloths. If you have them use them. If they fit onto your brand of floor duster/mop all the better!

    In upcoming posts I'll share - among other things - how to make your own homemade personal care and cleaning products that will save you lots of money.

    It doesn't take much time to mix up a batch of face oil or cream, shampoo, lotion, or laundry soap and other household cleaners. A few minutes spent every few months is time well spent that will keep your dollars in your own pocket!

    In case you missed my posts on homemade shampoo and laundry soap, the links follow...

 

https://www.typepad.com/site/blogs/6a014e8aba6c94970d014e8aba75d7970d/post/6a014e8aba6c94970d02b68539ca82200d/edit

 

https://www.typepad.com/site/blogs/6a014e8aba6c94970d014e8aba75d7970d/post/6a014e8aba6c94970d02c8d39d71fe200d/edit

 

 

 

 

 

        

    

    

    

   

       

 

 

Homemade "Mix and Use" Liquid Laundry Soap

 

The "flap" on how to make your own liquid laundry soap will save you money!

 

    Whether you're irritated or have resigned yourself to high prices at the supermarket, it's an issue that's not going to right itself anytime soon.

    We can blame inflation on the President - who is powerless to lower prices due to our capitalistic system,  or we can complain that Congress is too busy infighting (and won't act because the price-gouging companies/CEO's donate liberally to their re-election campaigns), or we can actually do something about it through self-empowerment.

    Here's the flap on how to save money by making your own "mix and use" liquid laundry soap!

   Recently, I've decided to revisit the days when I was a do-it-yourself kinda gal and made all my own body care and household products while living on my Utah homestead.

    Older, and now living in a condo in Idaho, I'm re-empowering myself - and saving money - by making my own laundry soap as well as other products most of us purchase at the market.

    In my homesteading days I made bath soap, and my grandmothers laundry soap which I grated, melted, added few more ingredients thereby creating my own laundry soap powder which worked well and everything subtly smelled of lavender because of the lavender essential oil I added to the mixture.

    These days most folk are just too busy to make soap from scratch, grate it and turn it into laundry powder, so I've engineered an easy-to-make laundry liquid that will get your clothes clean and save you lots of money!

    You'll need a few supplies, but the initial outlay is likely to be less than a large box or bottle of laundry detergent, and your supplies will make many gallons of laundry liquid! The list of needful items is as follows...

    Dr. Bonners lavender or peppermint liquid castile soap (in a pinch you can use any liquid soap you already have...dish soap, liquid handsoap, etc., and baking soda,washing soda, borax, essential oil/s of peppermint and/or lavender.

    Borax and washing soda are found in the laundry/household cleaning aisles of most supermarkets. I've also found them at hardware stores.

    Buy a large bag or box of baking soda (you'll be able to use this in other cleaning products I'll show you in future posts.

    Water is the remaining ingredient.

    There's no making or grating or melting of soap. We simplify the process by using liquid soap products.

    I try to match the essential oils I use to the scent of the liquid soap. If you use an unscented liquid soap you can use lemon, orange, or other essential oils you prefer...just use 50 drops instead of 40.

    You'll need a clean, empty one gallon jug, or two or three smaller jugs for storing your laundry soap.

 

Easy-to-make laundry soap.

 

Recipe: Liquid Laundry Soap (makes slightly less than one gallon)

1/2 cup Dr. Bonner's lavender, peppermint or plain liquid soap

1/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup washing soda

1/4 cup Borax

40 to 50 drops of essential oil of choice (lavender or peppermint)

Scant 1 gallon of water

    Heat a quart of water in a microwaveable container to boiling, or boil the water in a pan on the stove.

    Add borax, washing soda, and baking soda and stir until dissolved. Allow to cool.

    Pour a quart of plain, cool water into your gallon container. Add the borax and soda mixture. 

    Add the liquid soap and essential oils. Stir or gently swirl the jug to mix the ingredients.

    Top off the jar with plain water - leaving about 8oz headroom. Leaving headroom allows you to shake the jug to remix the ingredients before each use.

    You'll use...

1/4 cup for small loads

1/3 cup for medium loads

1/2 cup for large loads

    If you have an HE (high efficiency) washer, use half the recommended amounts shown above.

    *A mess proof solution for avoiding a sticky measuring cup is to toss the laundry liquid and the measuring cup into the washer. I use and re-use the large plastic measuring cap of previously purchased laundry detergent for this. Of course, whatever measuring cap or cup you use must be plastic! Both laundry and cup come out of the wash clean!

    I use empty, clean one-gallon vinegar jugs for my homemade liquid laundry soap. You can use clean, well-rinsed bleach jugs, or you can simply use an empty laundry detergent jug. 

    Your laundry room will smell so good on wash day that you'll actually enjoy the task! However, the scent may dissipate in the heat of the dryer.

    You can toss a clean cotton cloth, scented with a few drops of essential oil, into the dryer at the end of the drying cycle. Then allow the clothes to tumble on the "no heat" cycle for a few minutes.

    By making your own liquid laundry soap you'll empower yourself and enrich your own pocketbook instead of companies that are overcharging for their products and getting even richer by doing so.

 

*Notes:

    If you have smelly gym or work clothes wash those with the peppermint soap/essential oil liquid mixture. Your clothes will not smell like peppermint, but subtly clean and fresh.

    For bed linens and bath towels, I use the lavender mixture, dry the linens, then add a lavender-scented cloth to the dryer and run it on the "no heat" cycle for about five minutes.

    In future posts, I'll share other products you can make that will get your home clean, save you money, and prevent exposure to harsh chemicals.

    The next post is my most recent forest walk and what I found there to gather and enjoy!

    

    

 

    

 

 

 

 

    

    

 

 

   

    

To Go A'Walkin' In the Woods - Walk #2

 

A steep, narrow path branching off my main forest trail eventually leads to a road that leads to a lake.

 

    There's good reason to occasionally take this steep path...there are more black raspberries growing down there! It's also less trodden by other hikers and there are species of plants that don't grow along the main trail.

 

This young mullein hasn't completely sent up its tall, sturdy flowering stalk.

 

    Mullein grows on both trail and path, and I harvest its yellow blossoms to steep in olive oil. I only gather a few flowers from each plant.

    After six weeks, I strain off the oil to use as an earache remedy. I also make a tincture by steeping the leaves, roots, and stalk for six weeks in vodka. 

    The tincture may be taken by the dropper full for lung and respiratory issues and for strengthening the bladder, and as a wound healer. 

    I've recently learned that mullein's stalks and roots may be tinctured to alleviate backaches, as well. I've made a tincture just for this purpose and am interested to see if it works!

    Some herbs are "multi-talented", meaning they heal more than one health issue. Mullein seems to be one such herb.

    Another more "down to earth" use of mullein is as Nature's toilet paper. For this, the big soft, slightly hairy leaves are used. I've never used mullein for this purpose - and hope not to - as it seems disrespectful of the plant. However, in an emergency situation...

 

 

Oxeye daisies are related to our garden daisies! They grow all along the forest path, seeding in gardens, and popping up in road verges.

 

    I haven't gathered any of the daisies yet as they grow all season and into Autumn. They're usually steeped in olive oil and made into a salve to rub onto achy muscles and joints similarly to their other daisy family counterpart - arnica. 

    My store bought arnica salve is nearly gone and now that I've learned that Oxeye daisy works similarly, I'll save some money and make my own salve hence forth. To that end, I'll gather some and dry them for future use.

 

A welcome sight along the trail are the Oxeye daisies!

 

    The rose hips aren't ripe yet and neither are the huckleberries and elderberries. The black raspberries are done for the season, but coming along nicely are the Oregon grapes - also called, Mahonia. 

    Mahonia berries are now turning from green to dark purple and almost ready to harvest.

 

Preceded by fragrant, yellow flowers, these berries make delicious wine, jam and jelly, sauce, and syrup. Notice the holly-like leaves?

 

    Like elderberries, Mahonia aren't sweet or particularly tasty when eaten raw. Sweeten them, however, with sugar or honey and their "berry-licious" flavors become deliciously evident.

 

 

Last year I made a delicious sauce to adorn cream cheese schmeared Ritz crackers! A perfect "tasty bite" for guests.

 

    The yellow roots of Mahonia are a rich source of an antibiotic and antimicrobial substance called, berberine. As pharmaceutical antibiotics lose their efficacy against bacteria and microbes developing an immunity against them, berberine is being studied as an alternative.

    Here in Idaho two types of Mahonia grow. One is ground-hugging, and the other grows into tall shrubs. Both types grow useful berries and medicinal roots.

    I use elderflowers to make cordial, elderflower sugar, syrup, and mead. Elderflowers combined with in-bloom wild mint and yarrow - all dried - yield a healing soothing tea formula for colds, flu, and allergies.

    From the elderberries which ripen in a few weeks, I'll make wine and mead, a syrup, and dry some of the berries for winter use.

    I make my own Sambucus elixer to strengthen my immune system rather than buying the expensive health food store's version. Sambucus is simply the botanical name for elderberry.

    Here in Idaho, the elderberries appear blue, instead of almost black, due to a "bloom" similar to that which grows on grapes.

 

Elderberry trees can become quite tall.

 

    Earlier this season I gathered plantain...not the banana-like fruit of the tropics...but the low-growing herb that's common to wild places and sometimes lawns. It comes in a broad-leafed variety and a narrow-leafed form, called ribwort.

 

This is the broad-leafed variety. It's edible and medicinal.

 

This ribwort is in bloom!

 

    Both varieties are edible and medicinal. The broad-leaf variety is a more tender choice for a salad, but both work equally well as medicine for treating wounds and as a drawing salve.

    A few weeks ago I dried the plantain leaves I'd gathered. When they had dried I ground them finely and infused them in olive oil just to cover. I waited six weeks for them to steep.

    Then I measured out two tablespoons of the infused olive oil into a heatproof measuring cup, added 3/4's teaspoon of beeswax granules. I didn't strain out the herb but left it in the oil.

     I heated up this mixture until the beeswax melted and stirred the mixture thoroughly, then poured the liquid into a small, clean tin and allowed it to cool. 

    As the mixture cools it hardens into a salve that I'll use as a drawing salve when I get a splinter or to soothe insect bites and irritated skin. 

 

My herbal notebook of herbal medicines and the newly made and labeled plantain salve.

 

    The forest is a rich source for wild edibles and medicines all season long. My forest trail and adjoining path are not only a verdant feast for the senses, but pantry and medicine chest, too!

    In addition, studies have shown that spending time in nature reduces stress and strengthens the immune system simply by walking or sitting, camping, fishing, hiking, etc. 

    Stay tuned to this blog for our next forest walk to see what's going on as the Season matures toward Autumn!

 

 

    

   

    

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

    

 

 

 

 

 

Foraging For Herbal Medicines: Elderflower, Yarrow, Oregano and Field Mint

White Yarrow is hung to dry between oregano.

 

    Each year towards the end of spring and beginning of summer, I forage along the forest trail near my home for a variety of edibles and medicinals.

   A couple of weeks ago I gathered elderflowers, yarrow, and oregano. These have since dried, but the wild mint wasn't in bloom yet, so I wasn't able to gather that until last week. It's now dry so I can now strip the leaves and blossoms from the stems for adding to the dried elderflower and yarrow.

 

The wild mint is now dried. I'll add the leaves and blossoms to the previously dried elderflower and yarrow in the canning jar. Once mixed together I'll add the completed Winter Cold Tea mixture to a larger jar and label it so it will be handy at the first signs of sneezes, sniffles or a scratchy throat.

 

   With the elderflowers, yarrow, and wild mint I make an herbal tea that will soothe winter colds and flu, and more.

    Elderflowers relax coughing and reduce congestion. As an infusion (a strong tea) it tones the mucus membranes making them less prone to infection and drying up excess mucus.

    Elderflower causes mild perspiration helping to reduce a fever. It also aids arthritis suffers by removing toxins through increased sweating and urination, and reducing inflammation. If taken as a tincture a few weeks ahead of hay fever season, it will lessen the severity of attacks. Elderflowers have a mild taste in a tea mixture.

    Yarrow is useful for healing wounds when used as a poultice or salve. When dried and powdered it may be applied to nicks, abrasions, and to shaving mishaps as a styptic (or alum) to stop bleeding. For colds and flu it aids in lowering fevers and drying up mucus. Yarrow has a slightly pungent taste and aroma.

    Wild mint and peppermint have similar properties so if you cannot find wild mint (also called "mountain" or "field" mint) you can use peppermint. It should be gathered when the tops begin flowering. Gather the upper five, or so inches - aerial parts - so you get leaves and blossoms. 

    Wild mint is antispasmodic to the digestive system. It soothes the lining of the stomach and colon calming the nauseous feeling that can arise from the post-nasal drip of colds. 

    Mint is cooling, antiseptic, and antibacterial due to the menthol component of its oils. It will soothe headaches associated with colds or flu. Mint also makes any medicinal tea blend taste better.

    

Returning home with fresh yarrow and oregano in one of my collecting bags.

 

    Oregano isn't a native plant here in Idaho, but along the trail where I walk it has escaped/naturalized - likely from a nearby garden. It lines both side of the trail and each year I gather some for culinary and medicinal purposes. 

    Oregano is a powerful antiseptic, antiviral, and antibiotic. It's used to treat respiratory conditions such as colds, flu, bronchitis and asthma. Infused in oil for six weeks, strained, then diluted one to one with plain olive oil, it may be rubbed onto painful joints caused by arthritis. Oregano oil may cause skin irritation hence having to dilute the infused oil with more oil. It is said that this diluted oil will also relieve toothache, although I haven't tried it for this.

    Taken as an infusion it reduces flatulence and stimulates the flow of bile.

    My Winter Cold Tea is made made from equal parts dried elderflower, yarrow, and wild mint. It doesn't generally include oregano. 

    Instead, I'll make a tincture using fresh oregano and brandy or vodka and let it soak (macerate) for six weeks. After straining off the spent herb, the infused liquor is bottled. I'll add a dropper full of oregano tincture to an infusion of my Winter Cold Tea if I feel I  need to add oregano's healing properties to the tea.

    To make a Winter Cold Tea infusion (strong tea) I'll add one heaping tablespoon of the tea mixture to an 8 oz canning jar and pour on 6 oz of boiling water. Top with a lid - I use a canning jar lid - or something flat to keep the steam in. Let it steep for 15 to 20 minutes. Wrap a towel around the jar to keep the heat in.

 

Cover the jar - I use a fitted canning lid - to keep in the steam. Next, I'll wrap a towel around the jar to keep the infusion hot until its 15- to 20-minute steeping time is over.

 

    Strain the infusion into a warmed cup or mug, add a teaspoon of raw, unfiltered honey to sweeten - for its throat-soothing and antiseptic qualities - and a squeeze of lemon juice for some Vit C and to reduce inflammation.

    Inhale the steam rising from the cup. It'll soothe your nasal passages. Sipping the tea will ease the symptoms of a cold or flu and settle the stomach while relieving that stuffy-head feeling. The tea tastes a little bitter, slightly astringent, and pleasantly herbaceous. It's a very comforting brew.

    You can also "toddy" the tea by adding a tablespoon or two of brandy.

 

A steaming cup of comfort!

 

* * * * *

Notes:

    Pregnant women should not use either yarrow or oregano. Mint is generally deemed safe to use, but it's always wise to check with one's physician.

    While I choose to self-treat with herbal remedies, this is a decision one should make for oneself, preferably in consultation with one's medical professional.

    Collect responsibly. Never take more than 10% from any given plant or more than 20% from a grouping of plants. 

    Collect with a grateful heart these gifts of Nature.

 

    

 

   

    

 

Foraging For Herbal Medicines - St. John's Wort Oil, Salve, and Tincture

St. John's wort tinctures, oil, and salve.

 

    The jar on the left is a tincture in "becoming" from St. John's wort gathered today. The jar in the center is the remaining tincture made three years ago. In the dropper bottle is tincture handy for immediate use. In the "Adams" jar on the right is a St. John's wort oil I made several years ago. And, in the small white jar is a salve, just made, from the St. John's oil.

 

The early morning sun at my back casts a long shadow on the forest trail near my condo where I gather an abundance of edibles and medicinals.

 

    Things are growing and blooming! And, it's the perfect time to admire flowers and forage for medicinal herbs that grow along the forest trail. Come with me and I'll show you what I've gathered on today's walk, and what I'm making!

    St. John's Wort!

    It's native to this part of Northern Idaho and is a great bee plant, too. St. John's is used internally in tincture form  to treat mild to moderate depression. Externally, as an oil or salve, apply it to wounds, itchy spots, rashes, external inflammation from scrapes, abrasions, and insect bites.

 

St. John's Wort grows right along the forest path. It's bright yellow flowers exude a red juice when crushed.

 

    I gather the "aerial" parts which are the top four to five inches of the plant - flowers, stems, and leaves. I use St. John's wort to make an infused oil, a salve, and an alcohol-based tincture. 

    When infused in olive oil, the rich, red oil - with a slightly chocolaty scent - may be applied directly to the skin and rubbed in. It may be heated and mixed with beeswax to create a salve.

    In ancient times St. John's wort was used to heal sword wounds. As an oil or salve I apply it to cuts and scrapes. The salve is used similarly and is a easier application than the oil when applying it to one's hinter parts to soothe the irritation of hemorrhoids or the sting caused by bladder infections and other irritations and chafing.

    I use St. John's to reduce the pain of backaches, sore muscles, and arthritic inflammation by applying it in combination with arnica salve or cream. Arnica quickly removes the pain, however, the effect is short-lived. St. John's works more slowly penetrating deeply to the cause of the discomfort. They seem to be synergistic when used together. It's as if the St. John's wort "carries" the arnica cream more deeply into the tissues.

    A great combination for treating my occasional back spasms is to rub the area with a combination of both arnica cream and St. John's salve or oil, and additionally take oral, under-the-tongue homeopathic arnica Montana or a homeopathic backache remedy such as, Hyland's Backache Relief. Relief from back pain is pronounced in 24 hours and usually completely gone in about four days as opposed to the excruciating two weeks  of recovery when using over-the-counter pharmaceuticals.

    While I do visit my doctor, dentist, and vision specialist for regular checkups, I also self medicate my non-serious bumps, bruises, and "owies" with my own homemade remedies. They're way less expensive, and easy and fun to make. They add to my efforts toward greater self-sufficiency, and get me outside and into Nature's abundance and bounty!

   

I will snip these aerial parts into one-inch pieces to make them easier to add to a jar and to provide more access points for the "menstrum: (usually alcohol, vinegar, or glycerin).

 

Recipe: St. John's wort Oil

Fresh or dried St. John's wort, cut into one-inch pieces, if fresh

Olive oil (avacado, almond, jojoba, etc.)

Mason jar

     If using fresh material, fill your jar to just below the shoulders, lightly packing it down. If using dried herb, fill it about half way, pressing it in. 

    Fill the jar with oil up to the shoulders. Use a knife to release any air bubbles caught in the material and oil. Screw on a lid and allow the material to infuse (macerate) for about six weeks. Shake it every so often and check to be sure fresh herb material is submerged in the oil.

    After six weeks strain off the red oil, pouring it into a clean, dry jar, and discard the herb. Store your oil in the fridge or a cool pantry or cupboard.

 

St. John's wort oil after infusing (macerating) for six weeks, then straining off the used herb. I'll use some of this oil made a few years ago to make a salve.

 

    The following recipe may be increased to make make several jars of salve.

 

Recipe: St. John's Wort Salve

1/2 cup St. John's wort oil

3 tsp grated or pelleted beeswax

4 to 5 oz jar

    Pour the oil into a small pan. Add the beeswax. Heat gently until the beeswax is completely melted. Stir occasionally to be sure oil and beeswax are well mixed.

 

Heat the oil and beeswax on medium-low until the beeswax is melted, stirring occasionally. 

 

 

Pour the mixture into a clean, dry jar. Four-ounce Mason jars work well, too. Add a label.

 

    Allow the salve to completely cool. As it cools it will begin to turn opaque and harden. Initially, it will look like it's not going to harden, but it will.

 

Solid and opaque, - shadowing and reflection makes it look loose but it isn't - your salve may be stored at room temperature, and is ready for use.

 

    I seldom suffer from depression, but I do make and keep some St. John's wort tincture on hand when my mood needs a lift. I used it  often during the Covid years.

    I take a dropper full - about .50 to .75 ml - three times a day in tea, water, juice, wine, or directly under my tongue holding it for a few seconds then swallowing. It may take up to a week to notice a lifting of mood. 

Recipe: St. John's Wort Tincture 

Pint or quart jar

Fresh or dried St. John's Wort

Vodka or brandy (vinegar or glycerin, if preferred)

    If using fresh herb, lightly pack it into the jar to just below the shoulder. If using dried herb, press it into the jar filling it halfway. Dried herb is twice as potent because all the water has been removed and it will soak up more of menstrum.

    Pour your menstrum of choice to completely fill the jar to the shoulders whether using fresh or dried herb. When using fresh herb be sure the menstrum covers the herb. Poke with a knife to release any bubbles or air pockets. Add more menstrum, if needed.

    Screw on a lid and place the jar in a dark spot - cupboard or pantry - for six weeks. You may need to add a bit more menstrum as the herb soaks it up. Shake the jar occasionally and check to make sure any fresh herb is covered so it doesn't mold.

 

    In upcoming posts I'll share how I make most of my own household cleaning, medicinal, and cosmetic products!

 

 

Realizing that half a pint jar wasn't going to make enough tincture to last until next spring, I went back out and gathered enough to fill the pint jar to the shoulders. This way I'll be sure to have enough to use and share, if needed.

 

* * * * *

 

Notes:

    St. John's wort is known in many areas as a noxious weed, sometimes called "Klamath weed". A weed is simply a plant whose efficacy and virtues remain unknown to us.

    I only gather as much as I think I'll need of any herb or edible. Dried herbs retain potency for only about a year - unless infused in oil or tinctured then they'll last for years. I simply plan to gather new material each season.

    I always leave some flowers, seeds, roots, leaves to allow the plant to propagate itself and to photosynthesize sunlight.

    I never gather all the plant, but only about 10- to 20% that's present in any patch.

   When using fresh herb, you'll need twice as much as if you're using dried. If you dry the herb it will shrink by about half as the water evaporates away.

    When making an infused oil, I generally use dried herb as the water content of a fresh herb may cause the oil to mold. There is a process by which to extract the water but it's simpler and more natural to simply dry the herb first. Molding isn't a factor when using alcohol as the menstrum.

    I prefer to use olive oil to make my herb-infused oils because I "feel" and "sense" that it penetrates into the skin layers more deeply. Also, olive oil doesn't go rancid as quickly as other nut, flower, or seed oils. I do use almond oil, or in combination with olive oil, for making cosmetic products.

    As the prices increase due to inflation it becomes a real money saver to make as much of your own medicines, body care items, and cleaning products as you can.

 

Making a salve is so simple. All that's needed is infused St. John's wort oil (made with dried herb and olive oil), some beeswax, and a jar!

 

 

 

     

Homemade Horsetail-Rosemary Shampoo and Two Hair Rinses!

 

Horsetail & Rosemary shampoo and Nettle Hair Rinse are natural products you can make yourself. Rosemary herb flanked by basil both of which aid hair growth.

 

    It's springtime! Time to gather and forage for ingredients to make hair- and scalp-healthy shampoo and rinses!

    Commercial shampoos contain chemicals that aren't friendly to your scalp or gentle on your hair. Yes, they get your hair clean, but they also dry your hair and scalp, stripping away natural oils that give shine, body and bounce to healthy hair. We want our hair healthy and clean of dirt, styling products, and excess natural oils, but not stripped and desiccated! 

    If you follow the instructions on some shampoo bottles they'll tell  you to wet your hair, apply shampoo and massage it in, rinse, re-apply shampoo, lather, and rinse again.

    This "twice shampoo' strategy insures that your hair will be dry, brittle, tangled, and lifeless.  It also means that you'll need additional products to moisturize and add body, to de-tangle and meld - temporarily - split ends. Furthermore, commercial shampoos destroy the natural ph balance of hair resulting in a dry, itchy scalp and exacerbating dandruff.

    Chemicals and the intense heat of dryers and hot rollers aren't good for the scalp or the hair. They burn and dry the cuticles at the center of the hair shaft causing your hair to become brittle, the ends to split, and encouraging frizziness. There's some evidence that chemicals and excessive heat may cause hair loss due to weakening of hair follicles under constant assault. Daily use of hairdryers and curling irons was particularly implicated.

    There was a time when I would dilute commercial shampoos by mixing them with an equal amount of water in order to reduce their harsher effects. Some manufacturers caught onto the Internet advice to dilute shampoo to save money and to create a gentler product...and the effect of this was...

...to create a bottle top that couldn't be removed to prevent customers from diluting the product! Not all manufacturers have done this, but the manufacturers of the two brands I used once-upon-a-time have done so.

    I found a way around this bit of chicanery by simply making my own homemade shampoo. As a result my hair and scalp are happier and so is my wallet.

    I've been making my own housecleaning  products for decades, so it seemed reasonable to consider making at least some of my body care products, as well.

    There are several herbs that are good for your hair and smell nice, too. Peppermint, spearmint, lavender, and rosemary add a lovely scent to shampoo. Rosemary and basil have the added advantages of stimulating hair growth by nourishing the follicles.

    Nettle and horsetail strengthen hair as both are rich in hair-, nail-, and tooth-strengthening silica. Chamomile is gentle and soothing for those with damaged hair. 

   While it's satisfying to gather your own herbs to make shampoo and hair rinse, it isn't always possible. I can gather horsetail, but I need to purchase dried rosemary and nettle.

    Living in a condo, I'm subject to gardening restrictions. So, I end up purchasing some of the herbs I use and foraging for others.

    The local health food store sells bulk herbs and I also order from Mountain Rose Herb Co. (see the link below) in addition to foraging.

 

Horsetail grows wild along one of the forest trails near my condo.

 

 

 I'm snipping the freshly gathered horsetail into more manageable lengths for making shampoo and for drying some for winter use.

 

Recipe: Horsetail & Rosemary Shampoo (recipe may be increased)

2 TBS each of dried horsetail and rosemary/basil (or 4 TBS each for  fresh herbs)

1/3 cup of Dr. Bronner's liquid soap

1-cup distilled water

1/4 tsp oil (jojoba, almond, olive, grape seed)

20 drops of essential oil of lavender, chamomile, peppermint or rosemary, or a combination you like (rosemary & peppermint is my favorite combo)

    Heat the water in a small saucepan. Add the herbs and bring to a boil, then lower heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. 

   

Horsetail and rosemary simmered and ready to drain.

 

    Strain off the herbs reserving the water in a bowl. The used herbs may be added to a compost pile or dug into the garden. Add a bit more distilled water, if needed, to equal one cup of herb liquid and gently stir in the liquid soap. Add the essential oils and the 1/4 tsp of oil (jojoba, etc).

    Mix and pour into a plastic squeeze bottle. 

    To use, gently rock the bottle to remix the ingredients. Wet hair thoroughly, then squeeze a small amount on top, sides, and back of head. Work into the roots and pull it down the length of your hair several times. Rinse out thoroughly.

    Homemade shampoo won't be as pretty or come in lovely colors (chemical dyes) as commercial varieties - and it won't suds up as much either - but it will get your hair just as clean without stripping hair of shine, body, or the natural oils that keep hair healthy and resilient. 

    It's not the volume of suds that get your hair clean! It's the  surfactants in soap - plant oils or animal fats - that are "saponified" in the process of making soap. Or, in the case of commercial detergent shampoos, it's the petroleum-based surfactants. Real soap doesn't create as much lather as detergent-based shampoos and is much easier to rinse out of your hair. 

    When using your own homemade, soap-based shampoo you'll want to follow with a rinse of an herb-infused, undiluted apple cider vinegar, or diluted - one-to-one with water - freshly squeezed lemon juice with a few drops of essential oil

    Soap-based shampoo cleans the scalp and hair and is somewhat alkaline. Following with an acidic rinse conditions hair making it less likely to tangle and nourishes the scalp, as well. This "one-two" shampoo/rinse regimen maintains the proper ph balance of the scalp reducing itchiness and dandruff.

    For the vinegar hair rinse you may substitute other herbs such as rosemary, lavender, chamomile, or mint and add your choice of essential oils. Don't use eucalyptus essential oil ! It is too strong even in tiny amounts!

 

Recipe: Nettle Hair Rinse

1 quart apple cider vinegar

Approximately 4 cups Fresh herbs, or 2 cups dried herbs

10 drops each rosemary and peppermint essential oil 

    Fill a quart Mason Jar completely with fresh herb material...or fill it halfway with dried material.

    Pour cider vinegar into the jar over the herbs until the jar is full. Stir with a chop stick or skewer to remove air bubbles. Add a bit more vinegar, if needed to fill the jar up to the neck. Don't add the essential oils yet.

     Screw on a lid and allow the mixture to soak/macerate for about six weeks. Then, strain off the herbs and add the essential oil to the jar and stir in.

    Pour some of your herb mixture into a plastic squeeze bottle or a spray bottle. Store the rest in its jar in a dark cupboard or pantry until needed to refill your "use" bottle.

   After shampooing and rinsing your hair, pour a palm's worth of herbal rinse into your cupped palm - or spritz it directly onto your hair all over - and massage it in pulling it down the strands of hair. Leave it on your hair and towel dry. The vinegary scent will fade as your hair dries. Your hair will be shiny and nourished and your scalp invigorated!

Recipe: Lemon-Chamomile Rinse

Half of a lemon squeezed and strained

1/3-cup distilled water

5 drops chamomile essential oil

    Squeeze the juice of half a lemon and strain it through a fine-meshed strainer or several layers of muslin or cheese cloth.

    Add the water and essential oil of chamomile. Pour into a plastic cup and massage into hair after shampooing. Don't rinse it out. Towel dry as usual.

 

    With continued use of your natural shampoo and herbal rinse regimen, your hair will recover it's body, bounce, and shine. You'll find that you don't need conditioners, thickeners, repairers.

    If you can avoid hairdryers and hot rollers, do so. Seek a style that doesn't require heat and chemicals to attain. Love the hair Nature gave you. It's part of your unique, personal style.

    Your hair and scalp will thank you!

 

Mountain Rose Herbs

https://mountainroseherbs.com/

 

* * * * *  

  I gather and dry extra horsetail for winter use. It quickly dries on top of my fridge on wax paper lined trays.

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elective Frugality: Floating High On Life - Living On A Boat

Living on a boat is another strategy some have adopted to live un-ordinary lives and thrive within their means. 

 

    For the non-landlubbers among us, living on a boat is another strategy. Power boats, sail boats, house boats, canal boats (very popular in Europe)...as big or small as your budget and comfort allow.

 

In England and France, particularly, many have chosen to live, and ply the old shipping canals, in their restored canal boats.

 

    Docking a boat in a marina in the U.S. can be expensive and the waiting list long, but there are off-the-beaten track spots if one looks that can be money savers. Look to large rivers and lake moorings to save money and the less popular marinas.

    Boats may be purchased used for very little and fixed up to reflect the comfort, needs, and income of their owners.

 

Vintage and restored at anchor on a nearby lake, this boat is a comfy, floating home for one or two. 

 

    Gently rocked to sleep each night on somnolent swells is an idyllic way to nod off each night. Stress from work or a job would simply melt away stepping off the dock or rowing a dingy to your own floating mini-palace.

 

In the U.S. and many other countries a house boat can be an affordable option whether at dockside at a marina, canal, or lake. Many houseboats have no engine making their tie-up a permanent one unless relocated by hiring a tug or tow to a new location.

 

    Seaside and lakeside communities are good spots to look for a mooring. Many boaters simply anchor their floating home off shore. States that have ocean frontage are good spots to look, as well. Check boating magazines for possibilities and places. And, for more information on living on boats and boat builds, books on the subject are a great resource.

 

Can't decide between that home with a picket fence and living on a boat? Well, how about this option...a literal floating house!

 

    A house boat is basically a floating platform with a home built on top. Some enterprising folk have purchased or found a discarded barge, or even a boat hull, made it watertight, and built something to suit on top. 

 

Junk yards near the ocean or a lake are a good spot for finding something for free or ultra-cheap that can be altered to fit your vision of life aboard!

 

     While boating can be expensive, it can also be a very frugal option. Like anything else, the more money one throws at a problem or at a lifestyle, the more it will cost. But, as with anything there are always "back doors" to our dreams. They may involve learning a few skills, not shopping the showrooms and instead visiting Craig's List, junk yards, grabbing a copy of the Penny Saver, etc. 

    If the American Dream seems dead for most of us, it is incumbent upon us to find creative solutions to escaping - and staying out of -the debt trap.

    Over the last few weeks, we've explored some adventurous and Electively Frugal lifestyles embraced by those who've framed their own dream on their own terms.

    Upcoming will be an exploration of some of the other strategies for living a gracious, joyful, and debt-free life. To Elective Frugality we'll add the strategies of Simple Grace, Natural Abundance, and Easy Elegance.

    These lifestyle tactics, when employed together as a whole philosophy, enable one to live and thrive happily, freely, and abundantly. 

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

Every dream, large or small, begins with an idea that is made real and tangible.

~

Elective Frugality is the genteel recognition of having acquired enough, and that authentic abundance and real wealth are not money- or thing-based, but are instead, Soul-founded.

The Ultimate Motorized, Minimalist Life - Living In A Car!

Motorized minimalism at its most pared down is living in one's car.
   

    What?!!! Are you kidding me?

    No, I'm not kidding. There are happy, content nomads out there that have chosen to live in their sedans and SUV's. 

    Who would do this on purpose?!

    The answer is both surprising and makes a lot of sense.

    There's a variety of reasons someone chooses to live in their car. Those who've opted for the car life are happy, adventurous souls who've made a life on the road. They travel to beautiful, natural vistas of desert, mountain, and seashore. Some are entrepreneurial, operating a business from the driver's seat, the trunk of their car, a park bench, folding table, coffee shop, or library in a town they happen to be passing through. Living, adventuring, and thriving in one's car is the ultimate motorized, minimalistic lifestyle.

     Then, there are those who've been forced by life's exigencies to live in their vehicle because of job or home loss, or some other tragedy. This last category often rues their circumstances and suffers feelings of loss and deprivation...some may even feel shame for their diminished circumstances (they shouldn't).

    A few of those in the "happy" category first passed through the second and discovered to their surprise that they love the lifestyle.

 

 

An SUV is a popular "home on wheels" due to its roominess. A creative built-in allows for maximum storage and a place to have a bed. If you have an SUV and need or want to hit the road, you're well on your way!

 

    Most "roadie nomads" simply have little choice but to live in whatever car they already happen to have and arrange the interior to best fit their needs. Surprisingly, a Prius is one of the most popular cars for making a life on the road. This is because the engine will automatically kick on to recharge the battery. Thus, one can sleep with heater or air conditioning running and not have dead battery issues. Also, the Prius has lots of storage room and a roomy trunk.

    

This "build" allows for a bed and plenty of storage. Some nomads opt to sleep in the front seat in its reclined position or remove the rear seats completely to accommodate another bed arrangement.

 

    The reasons a person chooses to live in his or her car are as varied as those doing it. Often it begins as a lack of money or a desire to save money. It's also a popular option for college students wanting to save money on rent while maximizing their job income.

 

 

Here's a "home" office pared down to its essentials.

 

    The advantages of the car life is that one saves money on rent, taxes, and home maintenance. This allows for the saving of money and a frugal, but monetarily maximized lifestyle. The basic expenditures are auto maintenance, licensing/registration, insurance, gasoline, and food. Forget the rent, the mortgage, property taxes and insurance, maintenance of home and gardens.

    As with other modes of on-the-road-travel-sans-bathroom is that bathing usually consists of public showers,  gym memberships, lakes, rivers, streams, natural hot springs, a daily spritz or wet wipe.

 

    

Nearly all the comforts of home - and companionship - fit into this SUV.

 

    Three decades ago I spent several months getting mileage (before the days of GPS apps) to rockhounding sites in both Southern and Northern California for my book, Rockhounding California. I spent between two and six weeks outward bound at a time mapping and camping/living out of my wee Suzuki Samurai.

 

 

Mapping desert rockhounding sites, I lived in my Suzuki Samurai for up to six weeks at a time.

 

    I slept in my sleeping bag in the reclined passenger seat. My kitchen occupied the small cargo area in back along with a folding chair and my small Igloo Playmate ice chest. A net bag of oranges, potatoes, and onions, some canned foods, eggs, water, seasonings and some olive oil made up my provisions. A skillet, cup, and small pot, a change of clothes, herbal tea bags, and my one-burner Coleman camp stove, rock pick, shovel and a couple rolls of toilet paper,  topo maps, paper and pencils, and a compass filled out my kit.

    I got by just fine with very little and "boondocked" in solitary, beautiful spots with only my self for company and the beauty of desert and forest vistas. In my four-wheel drive "Sooze' I camped out of sight of major highways and wilderness roads. A branch brushed away my tire tracks to my found, but well-hidden camps.

    Most folks who live in their cars have much more than I carried on my mapping expeditions. And while I have no monetary need (i.e. no mortgage) or desire to live full time in my present vehicle, researching for this post and the memory of my days living part-time in my Suzuki, made me yearn to go car camping again. I'm considering in a couple years time of wintering over in the Arizona desert to escape the Northern Idaho winters where I now live.

    I've decided to go with what I already have (thank you, Linda, of Serene and Simple Life on YouTube)...my 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV.

    

My Jeep will seem palatial compared to my Suzuki.

 

    I've been outfitting my Jeep with a cushy 8-inch memory pad (being almost 70-years old requires thicker levels of comfort) that I ordered off Walmart that will assure that I'm snoozing in maxed out comfort.

 

I ordered a 4-inch, full-size memory foam mattress and used an electric knife to cut in in half and trim it around the rear wheel well. The two halves, one atop the other, equal a comfy 8-inch mattress for "Princess and the pea me"! I've left the spare tire bolted in place. Some gear fits inside the pocket on the cover and there's room behind it to store atlases, maps, books and devices, etc.

 

    The only thing I needed to remove after folding away the rear passenger seats was the passenger head rest so as to accommodate my 5'7" head to toe length. The extra thickness of the mattress raises the bed so that my pillows rest evenly on the folded up edge of the passenger seat adding a needed extra three inches to the length of my bed. My kitchen and bathroom bins stack against the back of the drivers seat and double as a side table to my bed and are handy to my kitchen which will be situated at the rear driver-side wheel. I'll be posting more on my setup in the future.

 

I could have removed the rear passenger seats and front passenger seat as was done by this SUV owner, but as I will be car camping instead of full-timing, I needed my car to function as a passenger and cargo carrier, able to carry groceries, goods, and passengers when friends and family come to visit.

 

    My personal philosophy/theory of car camping (and living) was formed when I mapped rockhounding sites. Part of my thoughts were formed by watching how others negotiated their nomadic lifestyle. Another aspect is informed by my age and ability.

    For me, maximizing the comforts/pleasures that are most important for me, or for anyone thinking about this lifestyle, is what makes or breaks the experience. 

    My most needful things are a comfy place to sleep, and to sit, and tasty food to eat. I want a cup of herbal tea upon rising in the morning and a relaxing libation in a lovely spot in the late afternoon. I also want to feel clean and hygienic and secure in my surroundings. These are my "go to" needs. When those are filled all else is negotiable and doable and the "roughing it" aspects of the remaining issues are all part of the challenge and the fun.

    I was inspired by Linda (of Serene and Simple Life on YouTube) - a woman who lives happily and roaming free in her Honda sedan - "to use what I already had" rather than purchase a van or RV.

    I was further inspired by Tristan (SUV RVing on YouTube) who frequently car camps while exploring and hiking the beautiful areas of Utah and Idaho. 

    Both Linda and Tristan are entrepreneurs whose car lifestyles have carried forward into online businesses.

    Check out Linda's "gypsy nomad" life on her YouTube channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG_GabIBd_cIU6mKckySX0g/featured

    Linda operates her business on line and out of her trunk, Say It, Display It, consisting of beautiful, inspirational cards and display stands. 

Say It, Display It

https://www.sayitdisplayit.com/

 

    Check out Tristan's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC07IPCu6BQGWh0Fdk9Q2Z2w

and his business and car camping products at Kamchatka Gear - https://kamchatkagear.com/

 

    Stay tuned for upcoming camping adventures and more tips on how to live an electively frugal, abundant, simple, and grace-filled life while "slaying the monster" of runaway materialism and marketing propaganda!     

 

    

   

 

 

    

Van Life: Whose Doing It And Traveling With Pets

Van life is another strategy for simple living (or simply living) and seeing Nature's wonders.

 

    Another Elective Frugality strategy for living rent and mortgage free is the "van life" movement.  Van life is particularly popular with singles, couples, and seniors who want to travel and experience more while spending less.

    Nor does one have to be spry to opt into van life. People with age-related or other mobility issues simply elect van conversions that enable them to travel. They or a partner needs to be able to drive the vehicle. Lifts and other apparatus aid with mobility issues.

 

A bed/lounging area, a place to prep food, and storage for essentials makes for a minimalist, but comfy lifestyle - and there are many chic and cozy ways to personalize your home on wheels.

 

    Many van lifers camp free (usually a 14-day limit in any one campsite on BLM land), purchase inexpensive park access passes, or find spots to boondock (another free camping strategy).

 

There is a van style to fit every taste and need, both yours and your fur buddy's!

 

    You needn't leave your pet behind, either. Both cats and dogs can be acclimated to living in an RV, be it a schoolie, a van, a trailer, or Class A, B, or C.  When I was in my 30's and spent my vacations gold prospecting and rockhounding, I owned a Class C RV and my cat, Sparkle, traveled with me.

 

Sparkle examines the pumpkins I set out at a campground where we spent the Halloween weekend many years ago. Pumpkins and a black cat was all the decor my campsite needed!

 

    On the subject of traveling with pets, dogs more easily make the adaption because dogs are all about the pack, rather than the place. Most will follow their owners/pack wherever that "place" happens to be on any given day.

    Cats on the other hand, are both person- and place-oriented. They love their human/s, but need the security of "place", as well. However, that place can be a mobile one! A kitten, such as Sparkle, adapts quickly to the RV. An older cat needs more acclimatization to the nomadic lifestyle of her human.

    Presently, I'm adapting my older cat, Junie, to car camping showing him that the car isn't just a mobile device for getting him to the vet, but a safe, comfy space for both of us.

     Cats are adaptable regardless of age as long as they feel secure in their environment. For extra security teach your feline friend to wear a harness and be on a leash at all times when outside the vehicle. I didn't do this with Sparkle and all went well, but I am doing so with Junie for the good of us both.

 

A million dollar view for the price of a tank of gasoline.

 

    Many van lifers work on the road using an area in the van, or a table outdoors, to do on-line consulting or marketing work. In addition to working out of a van using the Internet, others take part-time work encountered on their travels. They may work seasonal jobs such as campground host/ess, act as summer guides, wait tables or short order cooking. Some work on farms at harvest time...basically working whatever comes their way, as need dictates.

    Others may opt to parlay a skill or craft into on-the-road income. Very popular with many are making YouTube videos showcasing their lives on the road AND earning some extra spending money from advertising or being product/company affiliates. There are writers and artists that ply their talent while being nomads.

    For retirees working may be an elective if they have a pension. Certainly their expenses will be greatly reduced without house payments, taxes, or rent, freeing up more money to save and have fun with.

 

    

Van life fits the nomadic minimalist perfectly.

 

    Many van life enthusiasts have discovered that they love the minimalist lifestyle. They embrace having less stuff to care for, clean, and arrange. Having just what they need and use simplifies life in a clear, manageable manner. Yet, there's always room for hiking and backpacking equipment, gold prospecting implements, and crafting supplies. Life and enjoyment aren't lacking because there's room to be had for what's truly important.

 

    

The key to happy van life is to distill out what's truly important and focus on allotting space to make it happen. My take on this van setup is that gourmet cooking and eating are important to the owner, as is backpacking or hiking, and he or she has created a home on wheels that fulfills that need amply.

 

    There are students, who, rather than staying in hostels while visiting Europe, instead rent a van and travel the countryside seeing and absorbing a palate of cultures and experiences. Then, upon returning, miss their van life to the extent that they recreate the van life experience here in the U.S. also visiting Mexico and Canada.

 

Ahhh...the places you'll go!

 

    One of the mentions made by van lifers, particularly the young adult crowd is that not only does van life distill life to its essence by eliminating excess stuff and expense, it also allows them to reduce their carbon footprint. What!?

    What about all that gasoline used to go hither and yon?

    Well, there's an answer to that. Gasoline is used to travel from one spot to another, but then the engine is turned off in order to stay and enjoy to the fullest the beauty, history, vistas, hiking, fishing, hot springs, etc. that an area has to offer. Unlike the commuter who drives miles to work and back each day of the week, less gas may be expended by the travel/camping modality. 

    Furthermore, most van dwellers opt for the solar option to power up cabin lights and charge devices, even running A/C units and fridges/freezers.

    Some opt to carry water, while others carry filters to sanitize water along the way for their bathing, drinking, and cooking needs. A landscape atlas shows locations of streams, springs, creeks, rivers, etc. Your phone can show you where to fill up on water, dump waste water tanks (if you have any), and take a shower...yes, there's an app for that!

    Van life is another lifestyle choice being made by many. There are entire communities of van lifers, so there's no lack of social opportunities. And, surprisingly women are taking to it in greater numbers than men!

    Van life is simply one of many options available to consider when choosing to live outside the "norm" that constitutes the American Dream, which for many has become something of a debt-ridden nightmare. 

    To be a nomad isn't a skill set from the past or only to be indulged in by those in traditional nomadic cultures. Being a mobile nomad is an option allowing one to build their version of the American Dream on their own terms and on their own income.

*  *  *  *  *

 

There's a van conversion to suit every taste, ability, and sensibility! 

 

Happy Trails!

 

    Check out Cheap RVing on YouTube. Bob Wells lives, travels, and promotes the van lifestyle...from his van! He introduces his viewers to others living and thriving on the road and hosts the annual Rubber Tramp Rendezvous attended by thousands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-_Bw83SvYI&t=16s

    

    Also checkout another van dweller on YouTube. Not only does this fellow live in his van, but he travels with his cat, Odin his channel called, Hobotech. Odin's human raised him in a "stick and brick" home. At some point during Odin's adult life, they moved into a van where together they feature and adapt all types of equipment and electronics of interest to modern day nomads on their popular channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UH4qpRfZcY