Tag: Month February Week 4

DIY Conditioner – Rosemary Mint Hair Care Recipe – Garden Therapy
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Get healthy and shiny hair with this homemade DIY conditioner recipe. It uses rosehip seed oil, rosemary, and peppermint for amazing results that look (and smell) incredible!

I love all-natural conditioners—they have helped make my hair healthier than it’s ever been. I have thick, wavy hair that is prone to drying out and breaking. So, I need a conditioner that is thick and nourishes my hair while making it stronger at the same time. The natural ingredients in this rosemary conditioner have been essential for transforming the look and feel of my hair in the best way!

When I make my own conditioner, I am able to choose the options that work best for my hair. There are so many ingredients straight from the earth that do amazing things for my hair. I was truly shocked at how much better my hair looked once I switched to a natural hair care routine.

After a few different tries, I perfected a recipe that both smells and feels amazing. It uses a combination of pure essential oils and vegetable glycerin. It’s not overly complicated to make, and you’ll get some aromatherapy benefits from those heavenly oils as you make it, which is always a benefit!

By the way, if you need something to help keep your hair looking nice in between washes, try this DIY dry shampoo recipe too!

What is DIY Conditioner?

DIY conditioner will replace any conditioner that you use in the shower. This isn’t a leave-in recipe, you just use it as you normally would any other kind. This particular version will protect your hair from breaking, and provides some excellent benefits for your scalp too.

Here’s a closer look at the essential oils that I used and what they do for your hair and scalp. It’s fascinating how powerful and gentle they are. All of these essential oils have properties that have been used for skin health for years.

Benefits of Rosemary for Hair

Rosemary essential oil is one of my favorite oils to use in hair care products. I adore the light, clean scent and how it helps with scalp and hair issues too.

Some of the things it helps with includes:
- Increases circulation on the scalp
- Stimulates hair growth
- Relieves flakes and itch
Plus, you just can’t beat the uplifting scent of rosemary. It’s sure to perk you up when you feel drained after a long gardening session.

Read even more about the benefits and uses of Rosemary in this post.

Peppermint Hair Benefits

Speaking of uplifting and energizing scents, peppermint oil is also super beneficial for hair.

Not only is this oil filled with fatty acids that will nourish your hair, but it also has lots of minerals and nutrients too. There is calcium, copper, folate, iron, and vitamins A and C. It’s kind of like a multivitamin for your hair.

There are also antiseptic and antimicrobial properties in it that will cool the scalp and fights dandruff. I love putting it in my conditioner because it makes my hair so shiny!

Rosehip Seed Oil Benefits

Rosehip seed oil also has lots of fatty acids, vitamin A, and vitamin C. It also has antioxidants that will boost your collagen and moisturize your scalp.

It’s known that a healthy scalp means healthy hair, and rosehip oil is so good for your skin. Additionally, rosehip seed oil can also increase the strength of your hair, preventing it from breaking.

Benefits of Macadamia Nut Oil for Hair

The smell of macadamia nut oil reminds me of the beach. It has lots of the same properties as rosehip oil, but it has additional phosphorus and sodium too. It is a very nutritive, reconstructive, and hydrating oil.

What is Biotin?

Another ingredient in this DIY conditioner is biotin. Biotin is a naturally occurring vitamin that is found in eggs, milk, and bananas. It is an important part of enzymes that break down fats. All those natural fats from the oils need biotin so your body can use them effectively.

You can find these capsules online or at any store where vitamins are sold.

How to Make Your Own Conditioner

When you make your own bath and beauty products, it’s very important to disinfect your tools and workspace. Even if all of your ingredients are organic, you can still contaminate your conditioner from your clothes, hands, or even your water. That’s why I use distilled water and disinfect everything very carefully.

There are three phases: the aqueous (water) phase, the oil phase, and the cool phases. Each phase describes when to combine the ingredients.

You will measure all of the aqueous ingredients into one heatproof container. Then, measure the macadamia nut oil, BTM, and cetyl alcohol into another heatproof container. Finally, measure the ingredients that can be damaged by heat – like the preservative and essential oils – into a third container for the cool phase.

Ready? Let’s make some conditioner!

Natural Rosemary Mint Conditioner Ingredients

Makes 1 x 200g bottle

Aqueous Phase Ingredients

Oil Phase Ingredients

Cool Phase Ingredients

Make It!

Before you start, sterilize everything with alcohol. This is extremely important, so be thorough.

Next, use a kitchen scale to measure the oil ingredients in a heatproof container like a beaker.

Then, measure all of the water ingredients in another heatproof container.

Now we’ll heat both of these ingredient sets. Create a double boiler and heat both the oil ingredients and the water ingredients until they reach 160 degrees.

Keep both the water ingredients and oil ingredients at 160 degrees for 20 minutes. Similar to canning, this helps to kill off any bacteria, which is definitely crucial

Add the oil ingredients to a mixing bowl first and then pour in the water ingredients.

In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the ingredients. They should thicken up quickly and cool down.

Once the ingredients have reached 80 degrees, you can add the cool phase ingredients. Remember, these ingredients are heat-sensitive and will break down at higher temperatures, which is why they’re added at this time.

Continue mixing until it’s thick and fluffy. Now you can add it to a sterilized container.

That’s it! You’ll need to use this conditioner within six months.

How to Use DIY Conditioner

Use this in the shower after you use your shampoo. I like to let it stay in my hair for about five minutes to permeate. Then, rinse it off completely and then follow up with your normal hair-drying routine.

More Natural Beauty Recipes with Rosemary
Rosemary Mint Conditioner

Make your own conditioner with rosemary, peppermint, and rosehip seed oil.

Aqueous Phase Ingredients

Sterilize your equipment and workspace with alcohol.

Use a kitchen scale to measure the oil ingredients in a heatproof container like a beaker.

Measure all of the water ingredients in another heatproof container.

Create a double boiler and heat both the oil ingredients and the water ingredients to 160 degrees.

Keep both the water ingredients and oil ingredients at 160 degrees for 20 minutes. Similar to canning, this helps to kill off any bacteria.

In a mixing bowl, add the oil ingredients first and then pour in the water ingredients.

Use an electric mixer to combine the ingredients. In a large bowl, they should thicken up quickly and cool down.

Once the ingredients have reached 80 degrees, you can add the cool phase ingredients. Remember, these ingredients are heat-sensitive and will break down at higher temperatures, which is why they’re added at this time.

Continue mixing your conditioner until it’s thick and fluffy.

Pour it into a sterilized container.

Use the conditioner within 6 months.
More Plant-Based Beauty Recipes to Try

A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
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Stephanie Rose

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February 26, 2026
How to Make a Little Seed Library in Your Community – Garden Therapy

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The love of gardening begins with a seed. Through a seed library, you can encourage others in your neighbourhood to find this love and spread some seedling joy. Rising in popularity, seed libraries have become community hubs to share seeds and extras supplies so everyone can have blooming, thriving gardens. Here’s how to find one in your neighbourhood or start one of your very own!

I’m obsessed with my neighbourhood. It’s been the perfect place to raise my kiddo, between his after-school centre to the lake down the road for daily walks. I know my neighbours well, making wreaths with them during the holidays and talking plants in the summer.

The reason it’s so great is the sense of community here. No one hesitates to buy from the local kid’s lemonade stand or lend out a garden tool if someone needs to borrow it. While I love the community gardens, bulletins, and parks, one of the things I adore the most are seed libraries. They are the combination of two of my favourite things…community and the garden!

Seed libraries are one of the many projects in my upcoming book, The Regenerative Garden. Inside the book, I include many sustainable practices and concepts to employ in the garden as well as over 80 projects and designs to help you implement the ideas.

I dedicated a whole chapter to building community, including seed libraries! Be sure to check it out to see many, many more interesting projects to implement in your garden.

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Seed libraries can be extremely simple, becoming part of your garden.

What is a Seed Library?

Much like Little Free Libraries, seed libraries are tiny places throughout the community where people can find free items. Inside, local members of the community share seeds either purchased in excess or gathered from seeds in their own garden. You can also find easily accessible seedlings, plants, cuttings, and seed-starting supplies all for free.

Seed libraries have a host of benefits. They’re an opportunity to share skills and knowledge with neighbours, bring greater food security, and provide environmental benefits.

I love seeing seeds that come from someone’s own garden best, as you know they come from a plant that has already grown in your microclimate. It’s a sure sign of success for your own garden!

A local seed library can also share heirloom seeds that may be difficult to come by otherwise. These are such special seeds, and sharing them with the community is a treat.

In my neighbourhood, the Zucchini Racer committee donates zucchini seeds to all the community libraries so that community members can grow their own racer for the Fall Fair. It’s something Kiddo and I love to partake in together.

In some areas, the seed library switches to a little free book library in winter that focuses on gardening and nature. This makes them a useful pitstop and gardening hub year-round.

Kiddo ready for zucchini racing.

How to Find a Seed Library Near Me

The boxes are not large and you can find them in the most surprising of places. Most are run by a member of the community in front of their front yard. Others can be found inside community gardens, by community centres, or churches.

A great place to start is actually by searching for a Little Free Library. These tend to be easier to find and are even listed on Google Maps sometimes. Some have accompanying seed libraries or may have seeds and other free items in addition to books.

Some libraries even have seed lending programs. A local horticultural group or Facebook group may also be a good resource when seeking out a seed library near you.

Your best bet? Take a walk through the neighbourhood. Once you are looking for something, you begin to see it everywhere! And if you can’t find one, maybe it’s time to start one yourself.

Some seed libraries are even listed on Google Maps.

How to Make Your Own Seed Library

Besides making the actual seed library, there are a few main components you may not have considered, including managing the space and getting community members to engage.

Build

I have seen seed libraries made of all kinds of materials. They can look similar to a Little Free Library, where they become an art project in itself, or can be as simple as a plastic container on a post. Most are made from recycled or found materials like cabinets or old public newspaper boxes.

Since the structure will be outside, you need to make sure it stays nice and dry inside and can withstand the elements. A weatherproof, sloped roof will ensure that water runs off rather than in. Outdoor paint protects the walls as well. You also want to make sure the door to where the seeds are kept is able to shut securely.

Make sure the library is in an easily accessible public space. You should also check with local bylaws that you’re allowed to build such a structure.

Then, list the location online so that people can search for and find it.

Check your local bylaws before building a seed library.

Stock

Once the structure is ready, it’s time to fill it full of seeds. When first starting, you can reach out to local seed companies for stock that they will need to redistribute to the community before it expires.

Besides seeds, include information on how to plant seeds, tend plants, and save seeds. Stock the shelves with empty seed or coin envelopes and pens. Seed envelopes can also be used to divide seed packages into smaller portions, so everyone takes only what they need.

Manage

A person or a group needs to manage the seed library. Checking on it frequently ensures that there is no weather damage to the structure, the seeds haven’t expired, and whether there needs to be a call out for more materials.

For the most part, these things tend to run fine all on their own from the community members. People are happy to donate their extra seeds and supplies so that fellow gardeners can enjoy what they no longer need.

Encouraging the community to keep the seeds flowing by giving and receiving will refresh the supply enough to circulate plenty of seeds. For all donated seeds, make sure to have a sign encouraging the rules for labelling and providing growing info.

Add some instructions to your seed library to keep management easy.

Educate

Seed libraries are great places for beginner gardeners to start exploring their green thumb. Make sure there are also educational resources in the seed library to encourage successful seed starting.

It’s also a good idea to manage expectations for the seed library. Germination rates will not be as good as they would be if the seed packages had been recently collected and stored in a cool, dry location.

The seed-sharing library will not be an ideal climate for long-term storage; many seeds will come from seed companies that are donating old stock, and community members may donate seeds past their prime.

Make a note of what people can expect from the seeds to curb expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Making a Seed Library

What is the purpose of a seed library?

Seed libraries help to foster community relationships and encourage the love of gardening. They also exist to share heirloom seeds that work well in certain microclimates and protect food security for many people by growing their own food.

Having one in the community is a great place to connect beginner gardeners with experienced gardeners and to get the conversation around gardening going.

Are seed libraries legal?

There are many rules and laws guarding the exchange of seeds. Seed libraries enter into a bit of a legal grey area. Most commercial seeds are patented hybridized or GMO seeds. Under the law, farmers cannot save and replant seeds and must buy ones every year.

However, with seed libraries, seeds are not being sold; instead, they are given free to help foster community and the love of gardening. While not completely exempt from seed laws, seed libraries embrace a giving spirit and are usually not a problem in most states and provinces. Be sure to check local bylaws for rules regarding structures such as farm stands.

With all this in mind, I know you’ll create an amazing seed-sharing library for your community to enjoy. If you do set one up, drop it in the comments down below. Someone from your town or city may very well see it!

More Community Building Projects

A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.

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Stephanie Rose

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February 22, 2026
Make a Simple Organic Fertilizer for Healthy Indoor Plants – Garden Therapy
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Without access to all the goodness of outdoor soil, your indoor plants are going to need a good houseplant fertilizer to get their nutrients. 100% natural, this organic fertilizer recipe is one of the 80+ from my herbal garden recipe book, Garden Alchemy. It will keep your houseplants happy, healthy, and blooming for stunning indoor displays.

Do houseplants need fertilizer? While outdoor plants source nutrients found in the soil and their ecosystem, houseplants don’t have the same luxury. Due to the closed system of soil they live in, houseplants are completely dependent on their human plant parents for available nutrients.

There are times when it’s easier to use a liquid fertilizer than a granular one, such as when you are watering houseplants. In the summer, houseplants respond to warmth and light, and it stimulates their growth. Applying this liquid houseplant fertilizer will ensure they are getting all the nutrients they need for this growth period.

Many homebrew liquid fertilizers have microorganisms that support healthy outdoor soil but are not great for indoor soil. Specifically crafted with houseplants in mind, this DIY fertilizer will help them thrive, bloom, and grow.

There are lots of recipes in my book, Garden Alchemy, for the home gardener to apply organic methods in the home and out in the garden. Set up like a cookbook, you’ll find a ton more fertilizer recipes, as well as pest deterrents, potting mixes, and other projects and elixirs to boost your garden. This excerpt on organic fertilizer for houseplants was reprinted with permission by Cool Springs Press. Find the book in your country!

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It can be much more economical (and satisfying) to create your own houseplant fertilizer blend.

What is the Best Fertilizer for Indoor Plants?

Organic vs Synthetic

When it comes to choosing a fertilizer, first we must look at the key differences between organic and synthetic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers are derived from minerals, plants, and animal products, while synthetic fertilizers are synthesized chemicals of nutrients.

Synthetic fertilizer molecules are made to be readily available to plants and, therefore, can be hard to regulate. It’s easy to over-apply synthetic fertilizer and cause plants to take up too much nutrition too quickly, causing fertilizer “burn.”

Organic fertilizers are more forgiving because, often, they are not as readily available for plants. Natural organic fertilizers are broken down more slowly and, therefore, regulate the speed at which the nutrients are available, encouraging the plant to grow stable roots and expand the area in which they collect nutrients.

Liquid vs Granular

You can find synthetic and organic houseplant fertilizer in both liquid and granular form. Liquid fertilizer is the easiest to use, as you can add it to your watering can while watering the plants. It does need to be done more frequently than granular, but you are minimizing the potential for fertilizer burn.

Granular fertilizer comes in either spikes or pellet forms. You either sprinkle or push the fertilizer into the soil, and the nutrients are slowly released. You can find natural and organic granular fertilizers by checking the ingredient list. If there is none, it is a synthetic fertilizer.

My houseplant fertilizer recipe is an organic liquid formula. In my opinion, this is the best fertilizer for indoor plants and the one I use most regularly. It is easy to make and use and provides eco-friendly, natural growth enhancement.

The key to making your own houseplant fertilizer blend is ensuring there is enough variety in your blend of N-P-K, secondary nutrients, and micronutrients.

When Should I Fertilize My Indoor Plants?

Plants are good at letting you know when they need water or more sunlight but not so good at letting you know when they need fertilizer. Stagnant growth is often the biggest indicator and is not as glaringly obvious as a wilted or yellowing leaf.

I primarily use my houseplant fertilizer during the summer. While plants have different needs, these fertilizing guidelines will apply to most houseplants. The plants may live inside, but they grow most in the summer. Since we want to encourage growth, this is the best time to apply fertilizer.

Begin fertilizing in late spring or approximately 8 weeks before the season’s last frost. Start off with smaller doses of fertilizer and work your way up to full strength for the summer. Based on the plant, I use my liquid fertilizer for my indoor plants anywhere from once a week to once a month.

It’s also a good practice to add a slow-release dry fertilizer at planting and again annually. I do this at the beginning of summer.

When summer comes to a close, we want to ease up on fertilizing. Slowly stop fertilizing so that by the first frost, you are no longer adding fertilizer to your indoor plants. They will remain dormant for the winter and will not require any fertilizer.

Like the plants outdoors, indoor plants do most of the growing during the summer months.

Should I Fertilize My Sick Plant?

Fertilizers are necessary for indoor plants to thrive but do not solve all plant health issues. Some well-meaning plant parents over-fertilize plants because they think the plant has a nutrient deficiency.

If you have a sick plant, there may be other reasons for their issues. Fertilizers simply enhance the nutrients, so it will only help if your plant is lacking nutrients. Specific nutrient deficiencies will show up as plant health indicators, such as disease, pests, dieback, and discoloration.

Plants can be sick for many reasons. If you have healthy indoor soil, like this indoor soil mix from my soil recipes, then soil fertility is not likely to be the issue. If your plant has pests, yellowing leaves from over-watering, browning leaves from too much sun, or other indicators, fertilizer will not act as miracle medicine. Make sure you know what problem your plant faces before you start fertilizing it like crazy!

Fertilizer won’t revive a dead plant unless the problem is not getting enough nutrients.

How to Make Fertilizer

Like any good recipe, it’s all about sourcing quality ingredients. These are my must-have ingredients for creating a fertilizer for indoor plants:

Alfalfa Meal

Alfalfa meal is a source of nitrogen and potassium, plus a broad spectrum of other minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and the growth hormone triacontanol. It helps to improve the soil structure and helps plants access nutrients.

Blood Meal

Blood meal is a by-product of cattle and hog farming that is very high in nitrogen and full of trace minerals. It comes in a dried powder form and can be included in certified organic soil mixes (although this doesn’t necessarily mean that the animal or farm was certified organic).

Note: Alfalfa meal is a plant-based alternative to blood meal, so if you don’t want to use it, substitute with alfalfa meal.

Rock Phosphate

Rock phosphate is a slow-release mineralized source of phosphorous for amending soil. Most home gardens have adequate amounts of phosphorous in the soil and, therefore, are not needed. However, it helps fertilize plants in potting soil and encourages flowering in plants.

Rock phosphate

Kelp Meal

Kelp meal has low levels of nitrogen and potassium but works as a soil amendment due to its multitude of readily available trace elements and over 60 naturally chelated minerals. This seaweed extract also improves soil structure, prevents nutrient leaching, and increases soil’s water-holding capacity.

Kelp meal

Rainwater

Tap water that comes from municipal sources is often treated with chlorine to remove and suppress microorganism growth. We want to encourage the growth of beneficial organisms as well as retain a plant’s herbal properties. If you don’t have a large enough supply of available rainwater, then allow water to sit in a wide-mouth bucket for 24 hours to allow the chlorine to evaporate or use boiled (then cooled) water.

Avoid the use of chlorine in your organic houseplant fertilizer.

Organic Fertilizer for Indoor Plants

This DIY fertilizer only takes a few moments to make and will give you plenty of fertilizer to cover all your houseplants for a few months.

Materials

Make It!
1. Measure the ingredients and add them to a glass bottle or jar with a lid. Stir well to combine and shake well before each use.
2. Dilute the fertilizer by adding ½ cup (120 ml) of the liquid fertilizer blend into 4 cups (950 ml) of water in a watering can. Water houseplants with the diluted fertilizer mix monthly in spring and summer and discontinue use in fall and winter.
3. Use the diluted fertilizer immediately. Store the prepared fertilizer in a cool, dark location for up to 3 months. Discard if the liquid shows signs of spoilage, such as discoloration, mold, or an unpleasant odor.
Store for up to three months. Discard if it shows signs of spoilage.

If you’re interested in learning more fertilizer recipes, such as ones for outdoor plants or granular fertilizer blends, be sure to check out my book, Garden Alchemy. With over 80 organic gardening recipes, keep your indoor and outdoor plants thriving and natural.

Organic Fertilizer FAQ

Where can I find these ingredients? Do you have to buy them in bulk?

Many of these ingredients will be available at garden centres or landscape supply stores. I’ve linked to them throughout the article for those I could find available online. It’s difficult to purchase these in small quantities, so getting them in bulk is your best option. They will last for years when stored properly, and you can make your own fertilizer more economically this way.

How do you use coffee grounds for plants?

People will add coffee grounds as a DIY source of nutrients to their plants. Coffee grounds are not a significant source of nutrients, though they contain phosphorous and magnesium. However, many people will add them directly to the soil when it should be composted first. So add your coffee grounds to your compost pile, then once composted, sterilize your compost and add it to your houseplants for a nutrient and soil boost.

How do you know if your houseplants need fertilizer?

If your houseplant isn’t pushing out any new growth or stopped flowering, it’s likely a fertilizer problem. They may also have weak stems or show lighter discolouration in the leaves.

More Tips for Growing Houseplants
Houseplant Fertilizer for Healthy Indoor Plants

100% natural, this DIY houseplant fertilizer recipe will keep your houseplants happy, healthy, and blooming for stunning indoor displays.

Measuring spoons

Airtight jar

Measure the ingredients and add them to a glass bottle or jar with a lid. Stir well to combine and shake well before each use.

Dilute the fertilizer by adding ½cup (120 ml) or the liquid fertilizer blend into 4 cups (950 ml) of water in a watering can. Water houseplants with the diluted fertilizer mix monthly in spring and summer and discontinue use in fall and winter.

Use the diluted fertilizer immediately. The prepared fertilizer can be stored in a cool, dark location for up to 3 months. Discard if the liquid shows signs of spoilage such as discoloration, mold, or an unpleasant odor.
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
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Stephanie Rose

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February 20, 2026
32 Incredible Handmade Natural Soap Recipes – Garden Therapy

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Handmade soap is not only therapeutic and fun to make, but it’s a great way to infuse the healing properties of plants into something that touches our skin daily. Take a look at these beautiful natural soap recipes, and make a batch of your own!

I have been making my own soap for quite a while now. At this point, I have enough natural soap recipes published on Garden Therapy that I thought it was time to give you a post where you can find them all listed in one handy place.

I make all of my own soap because it is fun, great for my skin, and makes beautiful gifts. I absolutely love playing with all the fun add-ins like natural colours and botanicals. In fact, I like it so much that I made an entire book all about melt and pour soap-making, called Good Clean Fun.

If you’re interested in soap making, I highly encourage you to give it a try. I had no idea back when I got started how much I’d love making natural soap.

Looking for a place to start? Here are all of the natural soap recipes that are currently published on Garden Therapy; I even divided them up based on the method I used to make them.

Most people make large bars and cut them to size when soapmaking.

What Are The Benefits of Handmade Soap?

Handmade soaps are made using a variety of natural sources, such as plant-based oils and butters that are rich in nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants. These are the types of ingredients that your skin, hair, and body will love.

You can enhance natural soaps with many other incredibly good ingredients that come straight from the earth, such as botanical extracts and essential oils. With so many different options and combinations, there is truly a perfect natural soap for everyone.

You’ve probably heard of glycerin. Ever wonder what it is? Handmade soap contains glycerin, which is a natural byproduct of the soap-making process. Glycerin is an excellent moisturizer that coats the skin and gives it a silky, soft feeling.

Add your own colours, scents, and toppers to really customize your soap.

How Do I Make Handmade Soap?

Soap can only be called soap if it goes through the saponification process of turning fats and oils, water, and sodium hydroxide into soap. This process makes the most nourishing, gentlest, and healthiest cleanser for your skin.

There are many methods of making handmade soap, including cold process, hot process, milk soap, and rebatching. You can also make melt-and-pour soap at home very easily and skip the lye, as well as the weighing and mixing of the ingredients.

The two main ways I have made soap are cold process and melt and pour. Each produces a very different type of soap, but both are equally useful.

Cold process soap

Cold Process Natural Soap Recipes

I like cold-process soap most as my everyday soap. However, there’s quite a bit of work involved in making a cold process soap—there’s quite a bit of chemistry and science involved, as well as some challenging, potentially dangerous ingredients.

If you’ve never made cold process soap, it’s doable, but it will take time and patience. It’s well worth the effort as you can completely customize your soap with natural additives and colours. See how to make cold-process soap here.

Plant-Based Natural Unscented Soap – 3 Recipes!

This unscented soap has three vegan recipe variations so you can choose which is the right one for you. It’s a return to basics and a great way to use the soothing ingredients in soap without any additives. I love how these bars come out looking like scrumptious truffles…they honestly look good enough to eat!

Gentle Rose Soap

Roses have been a staple in my skincare routine, from rose toner to face cream. They’re just fabulous for skin, while being incredibly gentle. This rose soap recipe takes the gentle nature of the flower and combines it with madder root powder and geranium essential oil for a beautiful soap.

Wildflower Soap

This wildflower soap is natural, vibrant, and gorgeous while being nourishing and good for the environment. It reminds me of walking through meadow flowers. This is a soap that you spend the time to create and enjoy, not one that you rush through.

Earl Grey Infused Bergamot Soap

I was inspired by my love of the hot drink known as a London Fog, which is essentially an Earl Grey latte with vanilla, to make this soap. The soap is infused with Earl Grey tea itself, as well as lavender and bergamot essential oils.

Lemon Balm Soap

This lemon balm soap recipe is soft and rich from the high percentage of olive oil. Its bright lemon-mint fragrance makes it a refreshing soap with a clean and energetic aroma that’s perfect for using in the kitchen to cleanse and moisturize hard-working hands.

Swirl Soap Technique

Most of my soaps feature beautiful swirls, and I’ve mastered my own technique for infusing swirls into my soap. In this swirl soap recipe, I break down my technique and provide a must-try scent combo in the process.

Sea Sponge Soap Bars

These sea sponge soap bars are topped with natural sea sponges to make a very gorgeous, organic-looking handmade soap that lathers up beautifully.

Basil and Peppermint Soap

Basil and peppermint might not be your go-to combination, but perhaps it should! This soap is really energizing, sweet and spicy, and super fresh. It reminds me of being out in the herb garden, and I like to use it in the kitchen as a deodorizing soap.

Charcoal Soap

I originally made this charcoal soap back in 2020 when I was suddenly dealing with facial acne, I called maskne. The activated charcoal and bentonite clay help to draw out toxins from the skin, making it super beneficial for oily skin that’s prone to acne.

Matcha Tea Soap

Not to brag, but I was on the matcha train long before it became one of the most popular hot drinks here in North America. I formulated this matcha tea soap in 2021 for a naturally green soap, scented with spearmint and rosemary.

Oatmeal Soap for Dry Skin

Have you ever taken an oatmeal bath to soothe an incessant it? Collodial oatmeal is great for soothing dry, itchy skin and helps to create a protective barrier. I infused some in this oatmeal soap recipe for a moisturizing and soothing soap when you have irritated skin.

Masculine Lime and Cedarwood Soap

I lean heavily toward floral scents in my soap, but sometimes I like something a little woodsy. Lime and cedarwood are a great combination to make a masculine but slightly sweet-smelling soap. Swirled spirulina powder gives it a forest-like feel.

Cheery Sunflower and Turmeric Soap

Usually a side ingredient in my soaps, I wanted to bring sunflower oil to the forefront with this recipe. To make it even more moisturizing, this sunflower soap also contains rice bran oil, cocoa butter, olive oil, and coconut oil. And turmeric brings the brightest natural pigment!

Irish Spring Soap

Irish Spring soap has always had such a strong scent that I shied away from. But when I sought to make my own version of it, I turned into such a fan! It’s a strong scent, using bergamot, lavender, lemon, and eucalyptus essential oils.

Budget-Friendly Lard Soap

While I always have a stash of oils and fancy materials as a serial soap-maker, I do know that buying all these oils can get pricey. So I did some experimenting and worked with lard to create a more budget-friendly, and traditional, soap recipe.

Loofah Soap (Made From a Real Vegetable)

Loofahs are such a fascinating vegetable. They’re a type of gourd with a fibrous inside that acts like a sponge once its dried. Many use them as natural exfoliants in the shower. To make things easy, I added loofahs to natural soap to clean and exfoliate all in one go.

Sweet Orange and Cinnamon Christmas Soap

Every fall, I make a big batch of soap to last me through the winter and to give as gifts for the holiday season. While I argue that any of the natural soap recipes on this list would make great Christmas presents, I wanted to formulate a recipe that reminds me of the holiday every time I smell it. Sweet orange and cinnamon soap is about as festive as it gets!

Lemongrass and Lavender Deodorizing Soap

Lavender is the number one scent I gravitate towards in the soap world, as it feels so clean and uplifting to me. When I sought to make a deodorizing soap, I knew a stronge scent like lemongrass would do wonders to tackle odours. Lavender became the perfect addition to help balance the soap, adding both scent and antibacterial properties.

Chamomile Soap

Yet another entry for gentle soaps, this chamomile soap is extremely calming to the skin. Chamomile herb has antibacterial antifungal, and anti-inflammatiors properties. When infused into the oil used to make the soap, you carry some of those properties to your soap.

Revamp Soap With Confetti Soap

Most soapmakers will make a batch of confetti soap every so often as a clever but beautiful way to use up soap scraps. When making soap, you’ll quickly learn that the ends of the large bars you cut don’t look good. But to keep them from going to waste, you can combine colours to create a fun confetti in a new soap batch.

Liquid Sunshine Orange Soap

While I could never pick a soap favourite, this liquid sunshine orange soap does rank in the top 5. It’s just so stunning and vibrant, and the orange scent is scientifically proved to boost your mood. As an added bonus, I show you how to dry orange slices to place on top of your soaps when gifting.

Rosemary and Peppermint Energizing Soap

Rosemary’s aromatherapy benefits include promoting focus, memory, and mental clarity. Likewise, peppermint boosts energy and enhances mental focus. And both of them smell amazing, which is why I combined them into this delicious energizing rosemary peppermint morning shower soap.

Lemongrass, Ginger, and Coffee Kitchen Soap

One of my very favourite blends in homemade soap is this fresh-smelling kitchen soap that I made using this process. The bright citrus scent is energizing and smells incredible. This bar has a great scent to wake you up and get rid of strong cooking smells from chopping onions and garlic!

Melt and Pour Homemade Soap Recipes

This is the soap-making method I would recommend to beginners or those looking for a simple project. I enjoy melt and pour for quickly making fun, decorative soaps. You can see some examples of in my melt and pour soap idea book, Good Clean Fun.

Lavender Ombre Melt-and-Pour Soap

This attractive lavender ombre soap is lightly scented with lavender and contains moisturizing rich shea butter. It may look like a high-end decorative soap from a fancy shop, but it’s easily homemade.

Rosemary Lemon Soap-On-A-Rope

Soap-on-a-rope is more than just fun to say. It’s really an artistic way to display soap that also effectively keeps it from sitting in a little puddle in your shower. This project comes straight from the garden and is a fun way to combine the stars and bars.

Exquisite Botanical Soap

These botanical soap bars use flowers, herbs, and leaves found in the garden to look almost too pretty to use. This simple project brings the delight of your backyard into your bath or shower. These soaps look much more difficult to make than they actually are.

Lavender Oatmeal Soap Cupcakes

This lavender oatmeal soap is soothing and calming for your skin. And any recipe that uses my garden-grown lavender is a favourite of mine due to the amazing scent and natural beauty that it lends to any recipe!

Homemade Honeycomb Soap

This honey soap is not only gorgeous, but it’s also fun and easy to make too! I love that this soap looks like it comes straight from the honeycomb. It’s really an aloe, cucumber, and carrot soap mixed with manuka honey and scented with citrus. Find out the trick to making the attractive honeycomb texture without buying an expensive mold.

Sakura Cherry Blossom Soap

Similar to how cherry blossoms only bloom for a short time each year, these cherry blossom soaps are not meant to last long. These small ‘blooms’, or personal-sized soaps, will only last for a few uses.

Amber Fossilized Bug Soap

These ultra-fun amber fossilized bug soaps are inspired by the fascinating look of fossilized insects in amber. What a way to make bathtime feel more like an adventure than a chore for little ones.

Winter Forest Soap

This winter forest soap recipe smells like a walk through the forest in the brisk winter air. Scented with essential oils from forest trees that make it both fresh and woodsy, this soap will perk you up and combat the dreariness that comes with the long, cold winter nights.

Embossed Calendula Soap

Embossing stamps are a fun way to personalize your melt and pour soap recipes, and make them look ultra high end for gift giving. Alongside the stamps, this calendula inspired soap uses an oatmeal base and calendula petals for a beautiful, natural colouring.

Liquid and Foaming Hand Soap

I love the silky luxury of foaming hand soap, but I don’t love using chemicals and substances I can’t even pronounce in my products. Since ingredients like that are often listed on the bottles of store-bought foaming soap, I set out to make a fantastic basic foaming hand soap recipe.

The basic version is amazing, and what’s even better is that you can easily customize it to suit your tastes.

Over the years, I’ve tweaked this original recipe for some fun variations. Here are some combinations (that can be used as liquid or foaming soap) to give a try:

Want to Learn How to Make Handmade Soap?

If you’re interested in learning how to become a soap artisan yourself, grab my ebook Good Clean Fun: THE Idea Book for Creative Melt and Pour Soap Projects.

More Tips for Soap-Making

A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.

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Stephanie Rose

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October 30, 2025
Charming Flower Legends & Histories From Around the World – Garden Therapy

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From the flowers carried as a lucky charm to the flowers that became a tourist destination in Arizona, many flowers have a fascinating history. Here are some flower legends that follow some of our most beloved blooms.

When I’m learning how to identify different flowers and their names, I find it always helps if I know the history behind the flowers. Even just one cool fact makes the name stick!

Over time, I’ve heard many legends about flowers, and some are just so fascinating. Whether it’s where it got its name, how it was used, or what it represented, many flower legends come from all corners of the world.

I read A Short History of Flowers: The Stories That Make Our Gardens by Advolly Richmond and absolutely loved the different stories she told about many common flowers you might find in your garden. I wanted to feature some amazing flower legends with the help of Advolly!

Here are the flower legends we’ll be exploring…

Excerpted with permission from A Short History of Flowers (Frances Lincoln, an imprint of The Quarto Group, 2023) by Advolly Richmond. A Short History of Flowers publishes March 7, 2024, and can be purchased wherever fine books are sold. Learn more at quarto.com.

California Poppy

Eschscholzia californica

The California poppy is native to the western United States, and as you can guess, is one of the main wildflowers spotted in California. It became California’s state flower in 1903.

“The plant’s fiery, orange-coloured flowers earned the name ‘copa del ora’, which means ‘cups of gold,’ drawing on the legend that the orange gold petals of the Eschscholzia californica filled the soil with the same precious metal,” says Advolly. “No one could have anticipated just how prophetic this would be when the California Gold Rush came in the 1850s.”

The First Nations peoples of California valued the plant for its medicinal purposes, using it to reduce headaches, as a natural antidepressant, as a sleep aid, to reduce stress, and more.

In most recent history, Meghan Markle as Duchess of Sussex included the California poppy in her new coat of arms after marrying Prince Harry, honouring her heritage and birthplace.

Daylily

Hemerocallis spp.

When I’m walking through the streets of Vancouver, you can’t go a few houses without seeing the brilliant blooms of daylilies in the summer.

“Daylilies were known to the early Roman, Greek, and Egyptian doctors from plants brought from China along the silk routes about 2,000 years ago. Northern Europe only learned of them in the sixteenth centre, with Hemerocallis fulva introduced in 1576,” says Advolly.

Where daylilies originated, no one is quite sure. The theory is that the plant began as a chance seedling that then became cultivated. In China, the flower legend was that eating the blooms could alleviate sorrow.

I myself love daylilies as an edible ornamental. The root tubers can be cooked like you would a potato and the flowers can be eaten in a salad or to garnish a dessert.

English Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

There are few people who don’t love the calming scent of lavender. As a known medicinal herb and aromatherapy staple, lavender is used to scent many home and beauty products and as a decorative element itself when dried.

Lavender has been a European garden staple since the medieval period, used to clean laundry and as an insect repellent.

“When Queen Victoria declared her love of lavender, it incited a cult-like reaction which drove the fashion for all-things lavender, leading to the rapid growth of the English lavender industry,” says Advolly.

To this day, I think the lavender craze still remains strong. The plant is a foundation for many of my own recipes, including lavender linen water and lavender bath salts.

Find all my lavender projects in this post.

Lilac

Syringa vulgaris

Speaking of beautiful scents, we can’t forget the lilac. While traditionally a spring bloom, the rising popularity of lilacs led to the French forcing blooms.

“The art of forcing lilac blooms commercially, especially for the white version, had been practised in France as early as 1774 in caves and cellars,” says Advolly. “Because, remarkably, no matter the natural shade of the flower, when non-white lilacs are forced in the dark, they produce white flowers.”

Today, we can grow white lilacs, but the common purple lilac remains the most popular. They live for decades, often outliving the gardeners who planted them. I inherited my own lilac tree when I bought my first home, and I happily brought cuttings indoors to perfume the whole house.

Lily of the Valley

Convallaria majalis

Longly beloved, the lily of the valley was one of the first flowers to be grown in cultivated gardens. It’s highly beloved in France, where it has its own festival on May 1, ever since King Charles IX became enamoured with the spring bloom.

On this day, families will wake up early and head into the woods to forage for the flowers and bring them to friends and family to symbolize good fortune.

But the king isn’t the only famous Frenchman to be captivated by the lily of the valley.

“Christian Dior often wore the flower in his buttonhole just as his models sported outlandish boutonnieres on the catwalk,” says Advolly. “In order to ensure that he had a constant supply of the flower, Dior’s personal florist, Madame Paule Dedeban, grew it all year round in a heated glasshouse so that the designer was never without his spring bloom.”

Love-in-a-Mist

Nigella damascena

A signature cottage-style flower, the love-in-a-mist has jewel-like flowers that sit atop feathery, fennel-like leaves. Once the flower is gone, a pretty seed pod takes its place, making it a highly decorative flower.

It was a common garden flower in Europe by the 16^th century, even once considered too common and not worth growing by some. But one of the most popular varieties, ‘Miss Jekyll’, was bred by Miss Gertrude Jekyll in the 1800s in her own cottage garden after years of careful selection.

While you might expect the flower to represent love, its name actually comes from the appearance of the flowers floating atop fine foliage.

“Unrequited love and longing also found meaning in the unusual flower – giving someone a bouquet of N. damascena meant ‘you puzzle me’ but it could also indicate doubt, uncertainty, and even embarrassment,” says Advolly.

Snapdragon

Antirrhinum majus

Snapdragons are such a unique flower, and I’m sure I’m not alone in squeezing the flower to make the ‘dragon’s jaws’ open and close. The ‘flames’ of colour and a stamen tongue might even poke out.

And if you’ve ever let your snapdragons go to seed, you’ll see that their dried pods resemble tiny skulls. Because of this, snapdragons were thought to offer protection from witchcraft and even again.

Their appearance alone could bring all kinds of flower legends. “At the height of the Renaissance, new powers were bestowed upon the humble snapdragon,” says Advolly. “If you ever found yourself short on charm, it was believed wearing the flower about your person could miraculously enhance your social standing, as the flowers were said to give you charisma.”

Well, who can say no to a little charisma!?

Snowdrops

Galanthus nivalis

Before the tulips spring, you can find snowdrops. They truly are one of the first hallmarks of spring, albeit a subtle flower that might get missed upon a first look. Snowdrops will naturalize and form a colony, so they can linger for many years after originally being planted.

“Colonies of snowdrops are often found naturalised in many parts of the country at this time of year and, in most cases, in the vicinity of the ruins of ancient monasteries, churchyards, and other religious establishments, relics of past pious spring traditions,” says Advolly.

Snowdrops are used during the Christian festival Candlemas, where candles (and snowdrops for their resemblance to a candle’s flame) celebrate Mary’s purification in the Temple of Jerusalem.

The flower has also been linked to death due to its appearance and being found commonly in graveyards. Their white petals resemble a corpse’s shroud and the drooping heads like sombre mourners.

Sweet Pea

Lathyrus odoratus

Sweet peas are another cottage garden favourite, where the multi-coloured butterfly flowers climb atop fences and trellises. And, of course, cut and brought inside, where their smell fills the room.

In the 1800s, the popularity for the flower rose in Europe and by the late 1800s, desire for the flower had spread to America too.

Davis describes one family, the Nakagawa family, as well as a group of other Japanese-American families who sought to establish new farms in Arizona after they were incarcerated during WWII. The Nakagawa’s flower farm grew many flowers, including sweet peas.

“In early summer, visitors travelled across states to buy bouquets from the flower stands or just to drive past the field,” says Advolly. “The scent was said to carry for miles, and drivers would roll down their windows to make the most of the beautiful scent as they drove by mile after mile.”

The flower farms belonging to these Japanese families were a highly sought-after destination. The farms no longer exist today, the land being sold to developers over time. But how I wish I could have paid a visit!

Zinnia

Zinnia elegans

In comparison to other flowers on this list, it took a while for zinnias to rise to the ranks of a must-have garden flower. By the Victorian age, they were all the rage, and the breeding and cultivation of the plant took off.

Clementine Hunter was a folk artist who found plenty of inspiration in zinnias. Born on a cotton plantation in Louisiana, Hunter picked cotton before becoming a domestic servant at Melrose Plantation, a liberal retreat for artists.

“In 1939, at the age of fifty-two, while cleaning a recently vacated guest room, she came across discarded tubes of paints and brushes left by a visiting artist,” says Advolly. “Hunter, who never learnt to read or write, began to paint. One of her first paintings in that year was on a piece of curated cardboard and titled Bown of Zinnias, a favourite subject that she constantly returned to over the years.”

Little did she know that one of her zinnia paintings would go on to be displayed at the Louvre. And like Clementine, many of us continue to be infatuated with the zinnia flower.

And those are just a handful of some flower legends and amazing histories. For more, be sure to check out Advolly’s book A Short History of Flowers. If you know an interesting story behind a flower, leave it in the comments below.

More Fun Gardening Folklore

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Stephanie Rose

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March 11, 2024
Rare Vegetables and Fruits You Can Only Grow – Garden Therapy
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You won’t find these at the grocery store! These rare vegetables and fruits are hard to come by unless you grow them yourself. Out of the thousands of options of edibles out there, here are a handful of my favourites.

Radish pods

When it comes to the grocery store, produce isn’t selected for its flavour. Fruits and vegetables are chosen based on their size and ability to travel and store well. For instance, you know and recognize orange carrots. But if I grow them, I will grow the red heirloom varieties for their sweeter flavour.

Or tomatoes. The heirloom varieties ripened on the sun have THE best flavour, and those in the grocery store aren’t even close to competing.

Yes, these rare vegetables you can only grow don’t ship or store well. It’s why you won’t see them at the grocery store. But if you don’t grow them yourself, you may never get to taste their splendour.

There are an estimated quarter of a million plants we can use for agricultural purposes. So, of course, I’m only going to name a handful. Use this list of rare vegetables and fruits as a jumping-off point for your own edible garden.

Golden raspberries

The Need for Agricultural Diversity

The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations estimates that we use only 3% of the quarter of a million plants available for agricultural use. Even further, ¾ of the world’s food supply relies on just 12 mega crops, including rice, wheat, and maize.

While our food system is highly productive, it’s extremely fragile. Take a look at bananas, for example. During the later half of the 19th century, the most popular variety of bananas was Gros Michel, known for its taste and resistance to bruising.

However, during the 1950s, a disease known as Panama Disease (banana wilt) swept through and destroyed commercial production of the banana. This forced producers to switch to a new disease-resistant variety, Cavendish. Which now accounts for approximately 47% of the global banana production and could be wiped out by another train of the banana wilt.

Another well-known example is the Great Famine in Ireland. One-third of Ireland’s population relied on potatoes for food, and potato blight infected most crops. An estimated 1 million people died as a direct result, either due to disease or hunger.

We become increasingly vulnerable by focusing on only a few highly productive crops. Climate change makes extreme droughts, flooding, varying temperatures, and disease outbreaks more common, and diversity is the best way to become resilient.

Nettle is actually a super green, but most consider it a weed.

Rare Vegetables and Fruits to Grow at Home

These unusual vegetables and plants are hard to come by, even at a garden centre in some cases. Oftentimes, you can get them from another gardener. Community gardens are great places to share plants!

Sunchokes

Also known as Jerusalem artichokes, these are edible tubers that can be cooked and eaten like a potato. Above ground, they sprout very tall, sunflower-like flowers. They can get up to 5-10 feet tall.

The tubers are very prolific, coming back year after year, even when you think you’ve harvested all of them. They’re very low maintenance.

They have a slightly nutty flavour and should only be eaten in controlled amounts due to causing gas and bloating.

Harvest sunchokes in the fall.

Radish Pods

While radishes may be a very popular vegetable, their seed pods are a lesser-known way of enjoying the vegetable. I came to know radish pods after volunteering at UBC to teach inner-city kids about gardening. Their gardens would be left alone in the summer, meaning the radishes would go unharvested and go to seed.

The radish pods have a slightly spicy taste and an appearance similar to edamame. You can eat them raw like a snap pea or include them in stir-fries, soups, or salads.

Rhubarb

Yes, you can technically get rhubarb at the grocery store. But most people don’t since it’s not the typical kind of plant you seek out. Instead, you usually have a plant in your backyard, or you’re gifted some rhubarb…and realize you’ve got to do something with it!

But I highly recommend we start making rhubarb more mainstream. It’s very prolific, it’s easy to grow, and it’s a perennial.

Only the stalks of rhubarb should be eaten.

Egyptian Walking Onions

This article idea all began with Egyptian walking onions since you can’t really buy them. I inherited my own from a community garden. And once you have them, you’re set.

They get their name from the unusual way they grow. The flowers that bloom at the top of the flower turn into tiny bulbs known as aerial bulbils. As the plant gets heavier, they droop down until the tiny bulbs hit the ground. They plant themselves, slowly walking around the garden.

Ground Cherries

Ground cherries grow low to the ground, with plenty of dark green leaves and small yellow flowers that turn into golden, cherry-sized fruit.

Their taste is similar to tomatillos, with a hint of pineapple flavour. And unlike some other unusual vegetables on this list, they last in their paper husks for up to 3 months. They have built-in storage with their paper husks.

All plants, including ground cherries, in the Physalis genus have papery husks known as calyx.

Luffa Gourds

There’s a chance you’ve had a luffa gourd in your house and didn’t know it. These exotic vegetables are actually most commonly used as an organic shower loofah, but they’re also edible.

They grow on very vigorous vines. When young and tender, you can eat them, and they taste like summer squash. When left to mature on the vibe, they turn fibrous and can dry into these natural shower loofahs.

Tayberry

Tayberries are a cross between raspberries and blackberries. When perfectly ripe, they have a very sweet flavour, but you have to get the timing right, or they’re quite sour.

These berries will turn to mush and fall apart very soon after you pick them. They’re best eaten straight from the vine and won’t ripen anymore once picked.

But in the end, I personally think they’re tastier than both raspberries and blackberries!

These berries take longer to ripen and need to be a bit squishy so they’re not too sour.

Cucamelons

You might know these little green fruits as mouse melons or Mexican sour gherkins. These were a common fruit eaten by the Aztec people and have lost popularity over the years. But they look like little grape-sized watermelons!

Cucamelons taste almost like a citrusy cucumber. I like to pickle them or toss them into salads. Or popped straight from the vine and into my mouth.

Eat a cucamelon in its entirety, popping the skin, seed, and fruit in your mouth.

Honourable Mentions

As I’ve mentioned, I could add many rare vegetables and other edibles to the list. Here are a few unusual vegetables and plants that are worth mentioning:
- Lovage
- Mulberries
- Salmonberries
- Saskatoon berries
- Tomatillo
- Endive
- Winter radishes
- Green amaranth
- Goumi berry
Goumi Berry (Elaeagnus multiflora)

More Edibles to Consider Growing
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Stephanie Rose

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March 4, 2024