Hi Goshen, Here are some homemade salve recipes (I have not personally tried any of them) First one from http://www.bushka.cz/archiv/mastEN.html Ingredients: White or yellow (non-refined - better for allergies) Vaseline, leaves and lower buds of cannabis, optionally a pinch of mint crystals or 0,1 l of hempseed oil. Proportions: For 1 kg of Vaseline it is necessary to use 100 g of dried leaves and 50 g of lower buds Preparation: 1. melt one half of the Vaseline in a larger pot 2. add roughly crushed leaves and let them slowly fry during 20 minutes 3. after cooling the mixture pour into the pot 4 liters of water 4. bring to the boiling point and slowly cook during 90 - 120 minutes 5. let it cool and put it into the fridge overnight 6. take out the fatty cake and press it in order to eliminate the rests of water 7. spread the cake into a wider recipient, cover it and let it ferment during 3 weeks in a dark place at room temperature 8. again put the mixture into a larger pot, add the other half of Vaseline and melt it 9. slowly cook the mixture until the disagreeable smell of fermentation disappears 10. drain it through a strainer and pour the resulting light-green colored liquid into a recipient immersed in a water bath 11. add finely crushed lower buds and cook in the water bath during one hour until a light skim forms on the surface (dont forget to stir frequently) 12. let it cool and store it for 1 week in a dark and cold place 13. repeat the cooking in water bath and put the recipient into a cold place again for another week 14. melt and cook the mixture as in the precedent point, drain it first through a kitchen strainer and after through a fine canvas (do not throw the canvas with the drained buds, store it into a freezer - it can be very efficiently used as a warm compress in case of asthmatic problems, bronchitis or joint pains) 15. the salve is now ready to be poured into small cups if you want to use it pure - otherwise you can improve it with a pinch of mint crystals (for muscular and joint pains) or with 0,1 liter of virgin hempseed oil (for dermatologic problems) Pure or mint salve may be stored in a cold place, but they do not deteriorate for at least 6 months even at the room temperature. In the contrary, the salve with the addition of hempseed oil needs to be stored in a cold place and should be used within 6 weeks. And here's another one from http://www.natural-skin-care-info.com/herbal-healing-salve.html Basic Recipe: 1 cup herbally infused oil 1 - 2 oz. Beeswax 10 capsules Vitamin E Oil ½ tsp. each tea tree and lavender essential oils In a small pan, gently heat the herbally infused oil and beeswax until barely melted. Cut or poke the vitamin E capsules open, and squeeze the vitamin E oil into the beeswax/oil mixture. Remove from heat, and add the essential oils. Pour a tiny amount of the salve mixture onto waxed paper or into a container to cool. Test it for thickness - if you'd like it to be harder, add more beeswax. If you'd like it to have a thinner balm, add more oils. When you're satisfied with the consistency, pour the balm into clean, sanitized jars and let cool. This all-purpose salve can be used for cuts, scrapes, splinters, diaper rash, burns, rashes, or for dry skin. To make a herbally infused oil: In a saucepan, combine dry herbs and a vegetable oil (we like extra virgin olive oil, but just about any kind will do). Specific proportions are not important - use a few generous handfuls of herbs and use enough oil to cover them. Heat over lowest possible heat for several hours - three minimum, we usually try for 12 or 15. Alternatively, use a crock-pot on the "low" setting. Strain out the herbs and use your herbally infused oil to make balms, or as a massage oil, bath oil, or as a great winter moisturizer. Some Herbs to try: chamomile, comfrey, sheep sorrell, turkish rhubarb, St. John's Wort, calendula. And one more from http://natural-homemade-skin-care.blogspot.com/2008/02/coconut-and-neem-oil-salve.html Use this salve topically for chronic skin conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. Coconut oil and oregon grape root can also be taken orally for added efficacy. You will need: 78g coconut oil (solid) 20g neem oil 3 x oregon grape root capsules 1ml cedarwood essential oil Method: Melt the coconut and neem oils in a double boiler. Take off the heat when melted, and stir in the contents (herb powder) of the oregon grape root capsules. Add the cedarwood essential oil. Stir until cool and set, and put into a clean, dark glass jar. Keep refrigerated as the oils have a low melt point.

Hi, Would love to trade for a couple bars of lotion, vanilla and plumeria. Also would love to trade for some of your seeds: campsis radicans carolina allspice soap berry tree Brazilian buttons sea holly cat claw vine swamp milkweed penstemon lyllii Would you take a look at my list and see if we could trade. http://members.gardenweb.com/members/exch/amedws I do have more seed / plants available than is on my list. If you would email me, I could give a more detailed list. PLMK Thanks, Alice :)

I know this post is kind of old but I just became a member too. I don't have any of the plants you mentioned (and it's too cold here to send plants now) but would you be interested in handmade candles? I make candles in a variety of shapes (votives, pillars, stars etc) and scents. If you are interested, let me know and I can email you with a list of the scents and molds that I have and we can work something out. Jenell

I trust you have obvious accommodation for guests to dry their hands....otherwise they will use the towels you have. I can't imagine putting anything in my powder room that I wouldn't expect guests to use....I have mouthwash with plastic cups, hand lotion, soap, towels, tissues, spare TP...it's all for them. I've thought about using the paper guest towels, but we are on a septic system and I'm afraid people may try to flush them and cause all kinds of plumbing issues I'd rather not have....so instead I have plenty of towels to be used. Otherwise, as suero suggests, tie them up. Perhaps you can compromise with usable towels...perhaps in white cotton so they can be washed many times without issue... paired with a tied up decorative.