Tag: Month January Week 1

Simple Front Yard Garden Ideas to Revitalize Community – Garden Therapy
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The key to making friends with your neighbours starts with your front yard. Truly! By making your front yard garden a welcoming space, you’ll feel inspired to get outside more, spark conversation, and help to revitalize your community. I have a trove of front yard garden ideas to share with you.

It’s no secret that gardening brings people together. I’ve seen it empower gardeners of colour, give people a place to get outside of the house and make new friends, improve food security, and teach the next generation how to decompress and reconnect to the earth.

Front yard gardens are one of the main areas that people focus on maintaining, even those who aren’t into gardening. After all, it creates the first impression for your home.

Front yard gardens don’t have to simply be a display for the house. They don’t have to be a place you walk through to get to your front door, or the patch of lawn next to where you park your car.

No, front yards can be powerful players in building community…if you’re willing to put in the effort. Even rethinking the value and how you use your front yard can make a huge difference!

Today, I’m going to try to convince you that your front yard is the key to making your neighbourhood thrive, and give you some front yard garden ideas to help inspire you.

A fun house in my neighbourhood! The dots were originally designed to attract hummingbirds.

Since we were all hanging out in our homes (you know when), I’ve been seeing a very gradual change in how the world sees technology. After seeing people only through screens on end, we crave actual, in-person connection.

2026 feels like a major turning point; I’ve been feeling this air of change in the wind. And it’s not just me. In numerology, 2025 marks the end of a chapter as a 9-year (2+0+2+5=9). Meanwhile, 2026 marks the start of new beginnings as a 1-year (2+0+2+6=10, and 1+0=1).

In February, we’ll also see the shift from the Year of the Snake to the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac. The snake sheds its skin, while the horse gallops towards the new horizon.

Can you feel the inkling of change?

The surge in AI this past year feels like the nail in the coffin. People have had enough. They don’t want to get their information from a chatbot. They want to find that knowledge by visiting a library, calling their grandmother, or taking a class from an actual expert. And in the process, losing that loneliness.

Another indicator was when Pantone chose what I like to call landlord white as the 2026 colour of the year. I could practically hear the people in the street shouting, “We want green!”

Add lots of foliage, and your yard instantly feels more welcoming.

The Rise of Gardening

How does this collective shift translate to our gardens? Gardeners are ahead of the curve and are already much more in tune with the world beyond the screen.

Since the pandemic, more young people have turned to gardening. People had more time to get outside, were looking for ways to expand their living space, and wanted safe ways to meet up with people outside the home.

I remember reports about plant sales booming and the increase in searches for gardening-related topics. One report says that in 2019, 33% of adults in the US grew some of the produce they consumed. By 2023, the number increased to 67%.

To me, it’s no wonder that gardening became more popular. We’re part of nature, and this overarching isolation from each other can be regained by connecting to the earth.

The Power of Front Yard Gardens

Centuries ago, front yards were seen as a status symbol. Just look at Stinzen planting! While a beautiful thing to do, it started as a way to show off how many bulbs you could afford to plant in your lawn.

In a way, this idea of the front yard has persevered for a long time. If you close your eyes and picture a front yard, chances are you see a perfectly trimmed turf lawn, some decorative flowers, a walkway to the front yard, and perhaps a driveway.

An archway or trellis is a beautiful way to make your entrance more inviting.

We think of front yard spaces as transitional spaces. When really, they’re underutilized spaces that can easily extend into more living space in your home.

People are leaning away from these beautifully landscaped gardens that fit in with the neighbourhood.

We want gardens, not landscapes, at home! We want individuality and gardens that evoke a feeling. Times are changing, and it’s exciting.

Native perennials are beautiful and low-maintenance, perfect for front yards.

Meeting Your Neighbours

There are fewer people biking, walking, and hanging out in neighbourhood streets. I would say my neighbourhood is not the norm; there’s very much a community feeling! But when I visit other areas, I notice how few people are out and about. Especially compared to my childhood, and I’m sure, many others.

I want to bring back people actually using the neighbourhood. The more people you have outside and bringing liveliness to the neighbourhood, the more successful and safe the community will feel.

By nature, front yard gardens are more public. We meet more of our neighbours when working in our front gardens. It starts with spontaneous conversations, but then it can evolve into more if you’re willing. Ask them to go for a walk, get coffee, have a playdate with the kids, or host a happy hour or BBQ.

Being connected to my neighbours recently came in handy when Ozzie got out of the yard. He’s always escaping, but since he doesn’t go far, it doesn’t bother me much when I’m out in the front yard.

But for whatever reason, I got distracted and forgot he was out exploring the sidewalk. I ended up LEAVING the house, and it wasn’t until ten minutes later that I remembered “Ozzie is still out there!”

I immediately cranked my steering wheel around and called my neighbours. By the time I got home, not only was Ozzie found, but he had a gathering around him of all his favourite neighbours.

ReThink How You Use Your Front Yard

Hopefully, you’re now convinced of the potential power your front yard holds. To start making changes, consider how you are already using the space.

What changes could you make that will encourage you to get outside more often? A few simple design decisions can really make a difference in how you use your yard, and in turn, foster community.

Here are a few examples:
- Extend your porch. Many porches are too small to really hang out in. If budget and space allow it, open it up to make it an extended living space.
- Add a small courtyard or sitting area. Make it cozy and welcoming enough that you’ll actually want to use it!
- Change up fencing. If you have tall fencing that obstructs views and makes your yard uninviting, could changing it open up the space?
- Add a focal point. What can draw the eye of people passing by? Water features, sculptures, bird bath, garden art, unique and bright plants, etc.
Having somewhere to sit and have coffee in your front yard is essential!

Putting work and time into your front yard makes your garden and community feel welcome. This is why I love decorating for Christmas and Halloween. I don’t see it as just décor, but a way to be a part of my community, celebrating.

In one of my previous gardens, I had a circular design with a bench in the center of it. The shape of it was incredibly welcoming, so I would often find people sitting out on my bench or enjoying my garden as if it were a public space.

Rather than shoo people out, I would invite them in. “Want to try my chocolate mint?”

The sharing economy is such a huge component of community building. Sure, you can ask your neighbour for a cup of sugar, but you can also ask them for hedge shears.

I love seeing little libraries or seed libraries, encouraging people to share what they have in excess.

I’ve seen all kinds of versions of this, from mini art galleries, fibre arts sharing, tool lending, magazine collections, and more. What do you feel like sharing in your front yard?

Attract those that you have in common with touches to your garden. Love art? Paint your fence with a mural? Looking for doggie friends? Add a “free stick” collection and a doggy bowl. Get creative!

A toy garden is a great idea for parents to connect.

Spend time in your front yard. To be a part of the community, you have to get outside. Add seating or other areas in your garden that you will want to hang out in.

A sitting area in my front yard when I was in my rental house.

Change up what kind of plants you add to your front yard. If you spend a lot of time vegetable gardening, add vegetables to the front instead of just the back. You’ll automatically spend more time out there.

This house features a beautiful dogwood tree that attracts the eye when in bloom.

Decorate your garden. It’s so lovely to stop and see all the little details that people add to their gardens. From actual artwork hanging on fences to intricate bird houses to tiny fairy doors, there are lots of ways you can decorate your garden just like you would the inside of your home.

Fence art is a perfect way to decorate.

Make your garden yours. Adding personality to your garden is a huge way to invite community. Every part of it can become a talking point, and it makes the space feel infinitely more welcoming.

Personality can even be political.

Compare a cookie-cutter community with perfect lawns in contrast to homes that are abundant in greenery and artistic touches. Which feels more homey to you? The answer is clear to me!

The gardener’s son made this outdoor sculpture for her, inspired by Romanesco broccoli.

I feel like I have so many front yard gardening ideas to make your garden feel more personal and inviting. I recently revamped my front yard patio, which I documented in The Wild & Free Garden.

Please share how you’ve revamped your front yard below! People would love to see your ideas as well.

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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January 7, 2026
A Fresh Start: Setting Gardening Goals for Emotional Well-Being

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After the countdown and the New Year’s kiss comes the talk of resolutions and goals. Rather than get a gym membership or recite positive affirmations in the mirror, why not focus on the garden this year? Here’s how you can set some gardening goals to help you focus on self-care, personal growth, and healing.

Gardening is much, much more than a hobby.

For some, it may start as a hobby to get outside more or to grow their own food or perhaps to beautify their home.

But once you start, you quickly learn that you get so much more from gardening than meets the eye. It’s a way to nurture ourselves and find healing through small, meaningful actions. It’s a way to find emotional growth and support ourselves.

The best way to get the most from the garden is to not put too much pressure on it. These benefits will come naturally and do best when we let go of the idea of perfection.

We grow alongside the plants; nurturing plants mirrors the care we give ourselves when we garden.

This year, I want to help you connect deeper with the garden and, in turn, help your overall well-being.

So, let’s set some gardening goals!

This wildflower lawn was a major project for me last year and brought joy not only to myself but also to the neighbourhood.

Create Gentle Gardening Goals

Don’t start by setting goals that look more like a mountain to climb than a hill to take a stroll on. People who have chronic pain will know that we give gentle hugs. Those who are working through personal issues will know that we give gentle reminders.

So, this year, let’s concentrate on gentle gardening goals. One of my favourite things to say is to start small five minutes a day. If you have a whole backyard you want to redesign, for example, start by working for five minutes a day out in the garden as opposed to setting the lofty goal of redoing the entire thing in one year.

Five minutes a day will also encourage you to get out there daily rather than stretch your limits in one long gardening session. Being a weekend warrior, where you try to tackle it all on your day off, sets your body and mind up for fatigue.

Instead, try to incorporate gardening into your daily life. Make it a habit to get out there every day. How long and what you do doesn’t matter, but just getting outside and growing a habit is a gentle way to keep up with gardening.

When I first started gardening, I started with just five minutes a day. When I started writing on the website, I made a goal of doing one weekly project. And now, here I am 15 years later with thousands and thousands of articles.

It all started with the idea of starting small and being gentle to myself and my physical limits.

Now, my garden is one of my greatest sources of peace.

Focus on Self Care

Let this be the year where you put yourself first. I encourage you to think about how to use the garden to help you this year.

Instead of taking on a huge project that will exhaust you, find gardening activities that will calm you. That could be as simple as planting some herbs to grow a healing tea garden or planting some annual flowers to bring you joy every time you step outside your front door.

If you don’t have one already, set up a space outside for quiet relaxation. At my home, that space, for me, has always been my hammock chair. There, I can sit, relax, and enjoy myself. Comfortable seating is really important to have, so you can sit outside and get your garden therapy even when you don’t have the energy to work out in the garden physically.

The hammock chair is a favourite for me and kiddo to relax in the shade.

Embrace the Seasons

Many people think of gardening as a purely summer activity, but we seasoned gardeners know there is always something to be done for the garden in all four seasons.

Some of us are lucky to get these extreme changes in the season. At least, I consider it lucky, as it allows me to frame my gardening goals around these cycles.

If you don’t have distinct seasons, you can still find these moments in the year to use as a timeline. To do so, ask yourself what different activities you want to do?

Winter is known as a time to rest, renew, and plan. During this time, most of the gardening work happens inside of us and in our homes.

Then, in spring, the garden begins to open up. We head outside and see this new birth of burgeoning plants.

Of course, summer is when the plants are in their full glory. So we spend our time tending to it. We harvest, enjoy sitting in those aforementioned comfortable chairs, and enjoy the space.

Finally, in the fall, we begin to slow down once again and close things down for the season. We can take our time to rest and enjoy the fruits of our labours before we do it all over again next season.

Choose Meaningful Projects

This year, ask yourself what you want your garden to be. Perhaps last year, you grew plenty of vegetables because that’s what most people choose to grow, but you decide that cut flowers are what you feel inspired by. Or perhaps you’ve always wanted to grow grapes and turn them into wine.

You can find so much joy in putting in some hard work and learning something new from the garden.

I did a lot of work redesigning my garden last year. I moved into a new house that needed a total revamp, so much of my time was spent figuring out what I wanted to do with the space.

This year, I finally get to do more planting. I can ask myself what plants I love the most and choose plants with significance. I’ll finally be seeing my design in action.

I want plenty of fragrance at the front door.

There will be low-maintenance and drought-tolerant perennials.

Plants that I can grow and add to my soap-making.

I want to get back to my roots of growing edible plants in my brand-new vegetable garden.

Find the projects that will bring you the most joy, and spend your winter planning them.

Setting Inspiring Garden Intentions

You will also want to set some inspiring garden intentions alongside your goals. Goals are much more specific and are driven by performing actions. Meanwhile, intentions are finding the motivation and purpose behind those goals.

A great intention is to combine wellness and gardening. Through this, you can grow a wellness garden full of herbs that are good for you, such as chamomile, lemon balm, and lavender.

Another great intention is to try growing new things in the garden. Perhaps this is the year you grow plants to stock up on your personal home apothecary or try out some new interesting varieties of stevia (I love these ones from Richter’s Herbs).

This could also be the year for reflection and growth. If you’ve never done any garden journaling before, it’s a great tool to make notes and see how gardening has helped you throughout the year. Practice gratitude and celebrate the small wins you see in the garden. While it can be helpful with gardening, it also can help your emotional well-being.

Another great intention is to dedicate time to enjoy your garden. Go out in the garden (even when you don’t have a to-do list) to listen to the birds and feel the soil under your hands. Spend your summer evenings out there, but also don’t forget to get outside year-round to reap the health benefits of gardening.

All in all, remember that your gardening goals don’t have to be perfect. They don’t need to be like New Year’s resolutions, where they require some lofty, life-changing tasks. Instead, grow alongside your garden at a speed that works best for you.

More Ways to Practice Gardening Wellness

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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January 5, 2026
Biodegradable Soap Recipe: Good for You, Better for the Environment
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When it comes to leaving your corner of the world a better place than how you found it, using biodegradable soap is a must. Today, I want to unpack the importance of using biodegradable products and provide you with an easy soap recipe made from 100% natural ingredients.

When you spend as much time as I do outside in the garden, you know how much your hands can take a beating. I end up washing my hands a ton between coming in and out of the house or even with the garden hose itself.

With all that cleaning, I want to make sure I’m being as kind to Mother Nature as possible with my greywater. Which means using a biodegradable soap!

By using biodegradable soap, I’m making sure that I’m not affecting my garden and local water sources. For years now, I’ve been making my own soaps. From bar to liquid soaps, I always stick with natural ingredients that both my body and the environment love.

And just because my soap is natural, doesn’t mean it is not powerful. This recipe for biodegradable soap can easily remove dirt, grime, and grease from the body. It’s also a wonderful soap for camping, to use for handwashing, on your body, or even the dishes.

This post will cover…

What Does “Biodegradable” Mean?

Biodegradable is a term that gets tossed around often, but many people don’t understand what it truly means for a product or material to be biodegradable. In simple terms, a biodegradable item will break down and go back into the earth with the right conditions and microorganisms and bacteria to help.

Ideally, biodegradable items should not leave any toxins behind as they degrade. However, many items even with the biodegradable label leave behind chemicals and other harmful substances when they degrade.

In a perfect work, everything biodegradable would break down quickly. This means it wouldn’t take up any landfill space and return to the earth. But oftentimes, many items labeled as biodegradable products can take years to degrade.

Why is Biodegradable Important?

Items made of plastic are heading to the landfill by thousands of truckloads a day. It can take centuries for plastic to degrade and even when it does, it leaves behind toxic substances.

Even when we send biodegradable products to landfills, they don’t have the right conditions for biodegradation. They need air, moisture, and plenty of the right bacteria to break down.

When it comes to interacting directly with our gardens and the outdoors while camping, we want to only use products that aren’t adding any toxins to the environment.

That being said, we should also care just as much when it’s running down our sink or going in our trash bins. Be aware of what you’re putting back into Mother Earth as much as possible.

So What About Biodegradable Soaps?

Most commercial soaps have surfactants, which are known as laboratory-made foaming agents. While regulated, many of these surfactants are still unhealthy for the environment and hard to filter through during water treatment processes. An easy switch is making sure you use biodegradable dish soap, hand soap, and body wash.

Since all of my bar soaps are made from vegetable oils, my cold process soap recipes are biodegradable. When bar soap is made (properly), there is no lye left. The fat reacts with the lye to create glycerol and soap.

You can also make liquid soaps if you don’t want a bar soap, especially for washing dishes while camping. Choosing the oil is the most important aspect. You want to source good quality oils (cosmetic grade) that are sourced ethically. For this reason, you will want to avoid palm oil.

As long as all your ingredients are natural and well-sourced, your soap will biodegrade with no problems. My favourite soap for camping or for use in the garden is a Castile-based liquid soap. Castile = olive oil or other plant base oil soaps!

How to Use Biodegradable Soap Outside

When using your biodegradable soap outside, there are a few things you want to keep in mind.

Never use your biodegradable soap in or near a water source. That means no washing directly in lakes, rivers, and streams. While natural, the ingredients in soap can affect the natural ecosystem of the water by adding extra nitrogen or disrupting the surface tension.

When disposing of any soapy water, try to place it in a grey water drain while camping or dig a hole 6-8 inches deep (away from a water source) and pour your water there.

At home, wash your hands wherever you like outside! Just be mindful when dumping a large amount of greywater and don’t dump it directly down a sewer drain.

Many biodegradable soaps are highly-concentrated, so be sure to follow instructions and dilute if necessary.

Lavender Biodegradable Soap Recipe

This is a basic, universal biodegradable soap recipe that works well for washing dishes, hands, and the body. In less than five minutes, you can have some soap for camping or in your backyard!

Equipment

Materials

See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for exact measurements.

Jump to Recipe

Make It!

For my base of the recipe, I use Castile soap that I refill from a local dispensary. You can also buy the same brand, Dr. Bonner’s, online. The soap itself is extremely concentrated so you need to dilute it and scent it before it’s ready for use.

To make your soap, whisk together the olive oil, water, and castile soap until it’s homogenous. Then, add in your lavender essential oil and whisk again.

With a funnel, pour it into your container of choice. For hand soap, a glass container with a pump works well.

How to Use Biodegradable Soap

Before you use the soap, give it a good shake. You’ll have to do this less and less as it combines. The soap is good for 3 months.

Remember, half the battle of good hand washing is the action itself. Scrub and lather for at least 20 seconds and use a bristle brush to clean under fingernails.

Frequently Asked Questions About Biodegradable Soap

Is Biodegradable Soap Necessary?

Most of the chemicals in commercial soaps do not break down naturally and are difficult to filter out. Biodegradable soap does not contaminate the surrounding environment or water systems. If you go camping, have an outdoor sink, or a septic system, it’s highly recommended to use biodegradable soap.

Is Biodegradable Soap Bad for The Environment?

If it’s truly biodegradable then, no! Labels aren’t very trustworthy when it comes to biodegradable soap as many toxins and chemicals can still be hidden in it. Instead, read the ingredient list, buy from brands you trust, or try your hand at making your own biodegradable soap.

What is the Purpose of Biodegradable Soap?

Biodegradable soap completely degrades after one year. Because the ingredients are in pure form and come from nature, without laboratory assistance, they don’t cause harm to the environment. Many commercial soaps can harm aquatic life even after treatment, can affect plants, cause algae blooms, and even can disrupt your septic tank.

How Can You Tell If a Soap is Biodegradable?

Start off by reading labels and looking for the words biodegradable. Then, check the ingredient list. Natural soaps will be made of oils and fats. Anything that isn’t biodegradable will contain petrochemicals, phthalates, surfactants, parabens, and other chemicals. Make sure you know what every ingredient is!

Leave any of your other questions in the comments down below! I hope you enjoy your biodegradable soap. Mother Nature thanks you!
Lavender Biodegradable Soap

This 100% natural biodegradable soap recipe can be used for camping or out in your garden for hands, body, and washing dishes.

Mix together your water, Castile soap, and olive oil until well combined.

Add in your lavender essential oil and mix again.

Use the funnel to add liquid to the soap container.

Shake before use. This soap is good for up to 3 months.
More Soap Recipes

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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January 4, 2026
All-Natural DIY Vapor Rub with Soothing Essential Oils – Garden Therapy
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If you love the healing feel of chest rub, this DIY vapor rub recipe is going to be your new favorite thing to reach for in cold and flu season. This soothing tincture has essential oils that can help you feel better faster—here’s how to make a batch of your own.

Isn’t cold and flu season the worst? Your body is aching and stuffy, trying to rid your body of bad viruses and bacteria. Rather than take a bunch of medications that can also be harsh on the body, I opt for natural solutions.

This chest rub is a natural way to relieve chest pain and feel good about what’s going on your body. It is similar to what you find at the pharmacy, but it’s a homemade recipe that has natural ingredients that you know and can pronounce.

Here’s what I’ll be talking about today…

Prepare for Cold and Flu Season

Although I wash my hands frequently and spend a lot of time indoors, every now and then, I get a pretty rotten cold that puts me out of commission for a few days. While I do enjoy watching about 20 movies in a row (give or take), I do need a little bit of relief from the aches and pain that come from a bad cold or flu.

Every year, I always do a quick inventory of my herbal medicine cabinet. It’s important to make sure I am well-stocked and prepared BEFORE the cold and flu season begins. There is nothing worse than running out of the things that make you feel good while you’re feeling bad!

While I was doing my usual check, I really missed having a vapor rub for my chest. I didn’t want to purchase one, as I always aim to make the natural versions of pretty much everything (check out the Natural Skincare Series for more natural recipes). I thought that making my own DIY vapor rub might be just what the doctor ordered, so I tried a couple of variations until I came up with this perfect replica!

The essential oils in this all-natural chest rub work wonders as a decongestant, so the next time you are so stuffed up that you can’t breathe, reach for a tin of this and rub it on your chest, under your nose, and/or on your feet (being sick is a great excuse to demand foot rubs from your loved ones).

The blend of essential oils in this recipe will help clear the sinuses.

The Power of Simple Ingredients

Like most products sold at the pharmacy, there are a lot of ingredients in commercial vapor rubs that I can’t even pronounce. The base of most recipes is typically petroleum-based and often lists camphor as an ingredient (a synthetic derived from turpentine and menthol oil). I don’t know about you, but I don’t want those ingredients anywhere near my skin!

Moisturize Skin

To start this recipe, I knew I needed a good base. The olive and coconut oils work to deeply moisturize skin, which is often dry if you spend your sick days indoors, where the air is made drier by artificial heating systems.

Plus if you have dry, painful skin under your nose from scratchy tissues, rubbing a dab of this on can help to relieve the discomfort. Coconut oil also has natural antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, which can only help when you’re fighting a cold.

Skin is dry and irritated in the winter, so extra moisture is always appreciated.

Perfect Blend of Essential Oils

To clear the sinuses, I found the perfect blend of essential oils: peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, and lavender.

Due to the menthol in peppermint, it is cooling and soothing, as well as being antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.

Eucalyptus is antimicrobial and acts as an excellent expectorant, perfect for the lungs.

Rosemary has many antioxidant properties and is also an anti-inflammatory.

Last but not least, lavender is a well-known calming oil that can help soothe and promote sleep.

Keep in mind that essential oils are powerful and not regulated like drugs are. Please use common sense with any recipe and know that “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean “gentle.”

This recipe is homemade and works well for me and my family, but you should always test it on yourself before covering your whole body! You may have a reaction.

Also, this recipe is for adults only, as some of the essential oils are not recommended for children.

Together, the essential oils help to soothe and clear.

Homemade Chest Vapor Rub Recipe

This chest rub recipe is an absolute savior during the cold and flu season. I put it on morning, afternoon, and night to get some relief for my nose and lungs. Since it’s all-natural, you don’t have to worry about overdoing it, and it can be reapplied multiple times during the day. You’ll notice the effect it has on your sinuses even as you’re making it!

This recipe makes 3 x 4 oz tins.

Equipment

Ingredients

Make it!

Melt the oils and wax over a double boiler or in a Turkish coffee pot on the stove. Be sure to stir it constantly and do not overheat. It should just melt, not cook.

Add in your essential oils. Once mixed, pour the oil into metal tins and let set. Re-melt to add more essential oils if you want it a bit stronger.

A Turkish coffee pot is ideal for making small batches of items, where you can pour directly from the pot into the container with the built-in spout.

To Use

Rub balm on your chest to help soothe congestion and cough. While designed for the chest, you can also rub it under your nose for a stuffy nose and sore skin from scratchy tissues.

I also like to rub it on my feet (or have someone else do it)—the foot massage and tingling from the essential oils will feel good and distract you from your cold while the strong scent helps to ease congestion.

If you want to gift these vapor rubs, add a custom label.

FAQ About Using Vapor Rub

How do you make menthol rub?

Menthol is naturally derived and found in peppermint plants, as well as other mint plants. People love the qualities of mint because it offers a cooling sensation to the skin when applied, which can help reduce pain and inflammation.

This vapor contains mint essential oil, so it will provide the same relief as menthol rub. If you want just mint, you can replace the lavender, rosemary, and eucalyptus essential oil in this recipe with more mint essential oil.

What can I use instead of vapor rub?

If you don’t like using vapor rub, I recommend a few other DIY recipes. The first is my cold and flu roll-on remedy. It uses the same essential oils (and then some) to give you that decongestion and soothing relief. It’s smaller, so it’s very travel-friendly.

I also like to use eucalyptus shower steamers. Basically a bath bomb for the shower, the steamer slowly releases the powerful smell of eucalyptus, which helps decongest and refreshes you once you’re done with the shower.

Can vapor rub help clogged ears?

No research indicates that vapor rub can help with clogged ears and earaches. It is best to use products specifically designed for the ear. Putting products in your ear can cause more blockage and lead to infection.

More Cold and Flue Remedies to Try
All-Natural Chest Vapor Rub Recipe

Rub this all-natural DIY vapor rub on your chest, below your nose, or on your feet for quick sinus relief during cold and flu season.

Melt the oils and wax over a double boiler or in a Turkish coffee pot on the stove. Be sure to stir it constantly and do not overheat. It should just melt,not cook.

Add in your essential oils.

Pour into metal tins and let set.

Re-melt to add more essential oils if you want it a bit stronger.

Rub balm on your chest to help soothe congestion and cough, under your nose for a stuffy nose and sore skin from scratchy tissues, or on feet.
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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January 2, 2026
How to Make Magnesium Lotion + the Benefits and Uses
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Today, I’m happy to share a recipe that I have been perfecting for a few years. I love this recipe and am thrilled to share how you can make a topical magnesium lotion to help with pain management and improve sleep.

I’ve long been a proponent of Epsom salt baths. Over the years, I’ve shared many recipes for botanical bath salts and tub teas in which the main ingredient is Epsom salts.

I started taking Epsom salt baths when it was recommended to me by a physiotherapist to help treat pain from fibromyalgia and restless leg syndrome.

Over the years, I found that an Epsom salt bath was absolutely essential after a day of hard work in the garden. I would be so sore the next day if I didn’t have a soak the night before. By simply filling up a warm bath and adding Epsom salts and herbs, I would sleep well and wake up the next morning in great shape.

Epsom salt is the common name for magnesium sulphate adopted in Epsom in Surrey, England, where it was first discovered. Epsom is home to lush mineral waters that attracted folks to come and bathe in the healing salts.

Magnesium sulphate has since been packaged andis available in every grocery and drugstore to turn the home bath into a soothing mineral bath.

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What Is Magnesium and How Much do I Need?

Let’s start at the beginning. What is magnesium anyways? This mineral is the 7th most abundant mineral on the planet. You can naturally find it in many foods, but our daily intake is much less than what it once was thanks to changing diets, industrialized agriculture, and the advent of processed food.

Foods with Magnesium

Here are a few of the foods to consume regularly, along with their magnesium content:
- Pumpkin seeds – 1 oz has 168 mg
- Dry-roasted almonds – 1 oz offers 80 mg
- Dry-roasted cashews – 1 oz has 74 mg
- Cooked and shelled edamame – 50 mg per half cup
- Cubed avocado – 1 cup has 44 mg
- Baked potatoes with skin – 3.5 oz has 43 mg
Recommended Daily Intake of Magnesium

To avoid the risk of developing chronic disease, the recommended daily intake for adults is between 300 mg/day and 450 mg/day. Some experts say this is a basic amount but the body may need more to operate optimally.

Paleolithic nutrition from the former hunter-gatherer cultures shows that a normal diet included about 600mg of magnesium every day, which is higher than today. Our basic mechanisms to regulate magnesium in the body were developed millions of years ago. Those mechanisms are still the same, and researchers say this means our bodies are best suited to higher levels.

Magnesium Lotion Benefits

Magnesium is responsible for helping many functions of the body.

Some benefits include maintaining:
- proper nerve and muscle function
- proper immune function
- strong bones
- regular heartbeat
- blood glucose levels
When magnesium is deficient in the body, it can cause heart disease, osteoporosis, and has been associated with type 2 diabetes.

Magnesium also influences bone cells, active vitamin D levels, and the function of other glands that regulate the natural homeostasis and balance of bones. Getting more of this mineral may improve bone density.

Additionally, magnesium deficiency can correlate to increased neurotransmitter release and vasoconstriction. This is associated with migraines.

Magnesium lotion is a topical solution designed to help with aches and pains.

Applying Magnesium to Skin

There’s limited evidence that soaking in an Epsom salt bath helps to raise your body’s magnesium levels. Magnesium flakes, or magnesium chloride, show a stronger ability to be absorbed through the skin. However, there is still a question as to how much is absorbed.

If you are deficient in magnesium, then your best to eat magnesium-rich foods and/or take a magnesium supplement. BUT, if you have aches and pains or fidgety limbs, the topical application of magnesium can be quite helpful.

My Experience

Since finding that magnesium oil has helped me, I have been working on a lotion recipe that feels good on my skin. The final result is this chamomile-infused magnesium cream. I use it to help ease aches and pains and counteract restless leg syndrome.

For anyone who has fibromyalgia, soft tissue pain, or restless muscles, it can be hard to settle those parts of the body down at night in order to get a good sleep. This is what I have found works for me when I use it nightly.

And it’s not just me! A study on fibromyalgia patients found that when they used magnesium spray for 4 weeks, their pain levels improved. The highest improvement was recorded at 2 weeks and again at 4 weeks.

My lotion made with chamomile and magnesium oil helps to calm down the soft tissue and nerves, allowing for a more peaceful sleep. I hope that by sharing this recipe, it helps you as well!

Magnesium flakes are used to make the magnesium oil.

Magnesium Lotion Ingredients

Magnesium Flakes.

Now Foods, Solutions, Magnesium Flakes are what are typically used to make magnesium oil. These highly concentrated flakes contain approximately 19 grams of elemental magnesium per cup.

Chamomile Flowers

While I typically grow chamomile in my garden to harvest for tea and infused oils, I bought a large bag of Frontier Natural Products, Organic Whole German Chamomile Flowers to make this recipe. Chamomile is soothing and calming to the skin, making it a good addition to magnesium lotion.

Grapeseed Oil

Now Foods, Solutions, Grapeseed Oil is a fast-absorbing, dry oil. Magnesium oil is quite greasy feeling, so the oils that I pair with it in this lotion help to combat that, making the overall feel of the lotion very balanced.

Ingredients for my magnesium lotion recipe.

Macadamia Nut Oil

Cococare, Macadamia Oil is another dry oil that doesn’t have a greasy feeling and absorbs quickly.

Shea Butter

Sky Organics, Shea Butter protects and deeply moisturizes the skin. Magnesium oil can burn and be drying, so the shea butter helps to counter this.

Lavender Essential Oil

Now Foods, Organic Essential Oils, Lavender is my favourite essential oil for skin care products because it is subtle and pleasant. The aroma of lavender also helps with sleep.

Chamomile Essential Oil

To add a little extra chamomile to the mix, you can add in some Aura Cacia, 100% Pure Essential Oil, Roman Chamomile. This oil is very expensive per ounce, so it’s optional to add to this recipe. You should get plenty of chamomile benefits from the infused oil.

Magnesium oil is made by mixing distilled water with the magnesium flakes.

How to Make Magnesium Oil

The first step in making the solution is to make magnesium oil. Magnesium oil is made by mixing distilled water and magnesium flakes or magnesium chloride. It produces an oily-feeling, clear liquid.

The general recipe is to dissolve one part magnesium flakes in one part distilled water.

You can then add the magnesium oil to the spray bottle and apply it directly to the skin.

This seems easy enough; however, it can give a prickly, itching, or burning feeling on the skin. If I’m having restless leg syndrome, this is not necessarily a bad thing. The feeling is not damaging the skin; it’s simply a reaction to the magnesium.

Sometimes, the prickly, burning, itching feeling is enough to stop my legs from being so restless. But I much prefer magnesium in a lotion with other ingredients that help to buffer the burn and soothe skin.

I like to make my magnesium oil double-concentrated so I can use less magnesium oil in the recipe. I have made many versions of this recipe and find that with too much of the magnesium oil, it’s prone to separating. I’ve now got a recipe that stays emulsified and feels great on my skin while allowing the magnesium to help calm and soothe my aches.

Magnesium lotion helps to prevent a burning, itchy feeling that magnesium oil by itself can cause.

How to Make Magnesium Lotion

Thankfully, you can make your own magnesium cream at home and reap all the benefits for yourself. This recipe is one I have spent years perfecting, and I can attest to its effectiveness.

Equipment
- Beakers or other heatproof containers
- Kitchen scale
- Double boiler
- Spatula
- Electric mixer
- Mixing bowl
- Alcohol (to sterilize equipment and tools)
Ingredients

Makes 400 g

Aqueous Phase Ingredients
- 242 g distilled water
- 52 g double-strength magnesium oil
Oil Phase Ingredients
- 40 g grapeseed oil (infused with chamomile)
- 20 g macadamia nut oil
- 8 g shea butter
- 15 g ewax (emulsifying wax)
- 12 g cetyl alcohol (thickener)
Cool Phase Ingredients
- 8 g leucidal (preservative)
- 3 g essential oil (optional)
Before you start, there are two ingredients that need to be prepared in advance:

Double-Strength Magnesium Oil Recipe
- 1 cup magnesium flakes
- 1/2 cup distilled water
Stir in a glass measuring cup to dissolve completely.

Chamomile-Infused Grapeseed Oil

To infuse the grapeseed oil with chamomile, fill a Mason jar 3/4 of the way full with dried chamomile flowers and pour oil over the top.

Chamomile is infused in grapeseed oil.

For this recipe, you only need 40 g of the oil. However, I usually make a large 500 ml to 1L jar of the oil and then have plenty to use in soaps, salves, and lotion bars as well.

It’s easier to infuse a bunch now and store the leftover oil for later use and future batches.

Infuse the oil using one of these three methods, and then strain out the herbs using a nut milk bag or fine cheesecloth.

Store the leftover oil in a sealed jar in a cool, dark location for as long as the expiry date was on the oil packaging.

Store the oil in an airtight jar.

Now, it’s time to make the lotion!

Please make sure that all of your equipment and workspace are sterilized using alcohol. It may be tempting to skip this step, but I strongly encourage you to do this and do it well.

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

Weight provides the most accurate measurements for this recipe.

Next, measure all of the water ingredients in another heatproof container. In this case, I used a Turkish coffee pot.

Having pour spouts on your container is helpful in preventing spills and losing ingredients.

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

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

Heat to 160°F, keeping them separate.

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.

Combine the ingredients once they reach 160°F.

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 lotion until it’s thick and fluffy.

Add cool phase ingredients only once the recipe has fully cooled down to 80°F.

Separation Tip

I get a lot of questions about this lotion separating, so I’d really like to highlight that making this magnesium lotion is tricky, as it’s prone to separating. This recipe has enough emulsifier added to it, but it can take patience to blend it.

The trick is often to use an electric blender (beaters or an immersion blender) until it’s visibly holding together, and then let it cool. You can speed this up by blending over a bowl of ice or by putting it in the fridge and then blending again. If it holds together when cooled, it’s ready!

I also got this tip from a reader who has made the recipe multiple times:

“I followed your recipe completely until mixing it all. Instead, I mixed it with a stick blender for a few minutes. Left it for 10 minutes. Mixed it and left it for 10 minutes. And continued doing this until it just went very thick and set. My husband uses it every night and says it definitely works.”

How to Store Magnesium Lotion

Now you can add it to a sterilized container like a Mason jar with a pump lid attachment.

Make sure your container is sterilized before adding the lotion.

I like using a Mason jar because the opening is large enough to easily fill, but if the opening to your container is quite small, then you can put the ingredients into a piping bag for frosting or a plastic zip-topped bag.

Cut off one of the corners of the zip-top bag, and it should be easy to get all of the lotion into a pump bottle with a small opening.

I like using a pump because it releases lotion without any risk of contaminating the lotion by touching it with your hands.

Use this lotion within six months.

This lotion lasts for six months.

Frequently Asked Questions About Magnesium Lotion

What do I do if my lotion begins to separate?

This likely means that your lotion wasn’t blended enough in order to emulsify. You can shake it well and put it in the fridge to chill. Next, take it out and shake again if separated to use.

You can also try using your immersion blender and blending it some more.

What if my lotion is too thick?

If your lotion is too thick and won’t pump through the dispenser, you can try adding some distilled water and blending it again to thin it out. It’s a fine line to walk on!

I have a nut sensitivity. Are there any substitute oils I can use?

Yes! You can replace the macadamia oil with more grapeseed oil in this recipe.

What is magnesium lotion used for?

Magnesium helps to promote proper muscle and nerve function in addition to a host of other benefits. I designed this magnesium cream to help with my aches, pain, and to ease restless leg syndrome. Applied topically, it works well for those with fibromyalgia, restless muscles, and soft tissue pain to help settle down the body.

Where can I use magnesium lotion?

You can use magnesium lotion anywhere on the body where you have aches and pains. It works the same way as an Epson salt bath, but can be absorbed easier and you can apply it to specific areas of the body.

Does magnesium lotion help you sleep

Yes! The primary reason I used magnesium lotion is to help reduce pain so I can sleep at night. I apply my magnesium cream at night and it calms down my nerves and soft tissues to help me have a more restful sleep.

More DIYs to Try
DIY Magnesium Lotion

Magnesium lotion can be used topically to help relieve restless leg syndrome and pain from Fibromyalgia. I’ve spent a year testing and developing this recipe, and can personally attest to its effectiveness!

Double-Strength Magnesium Oil

Chamomile-Infused Grapeseed Oil

Aqueous Phase Supplies

242 grams distilled water

52 grams double-strength magnesium oil see recipe below

Oil Phase Supplies

40 grams chamomile-infused grapeseed oil see recipe below

20 grams macadamia nut oil

8 grams shea butter

15 grams ewax emulsifying wax

12 grams cetyl alcohol thickener

Cool Phase Ingredients

8 grams leucidal

3 grams essential oil optional

Supplies to Prepare in Advance

Magnesium Oil: combine 1 cup of magnesium flakes with 1/2 cup of distilled water. Stir in a glass measuring cup until dissolved completely. Then set aside.

Chamomile-Infused Grapeseed Oil: Fill a Mason jar 3/4 of the way full with dried chamomile flowers and pour oil over top. You will need 40 grams of this oil for the recipe.

DIY Magnesium Lotion

Sterilize all equipment and workspace area with alcohol to prevent bacteria growth.

Use a kitchen scale to measure all ingredients for the oil phase. Set aside.

Measure all the aqueous ingredients in a heatproof container, such as a Turkish coffee pot.

Using a double boiler, heat both the oil and water ingredients to 160 degrees. Keep them at this temperature for 20 minutes to kill off any bacteria.

Add the oil ingredients into a mixing bowl. Then add the water ingredients. Combine them with an electric mixer until they thicken and cool.

Once the lotion base reaches 80 degrees, add the cool phase ingredients. Continue mixing until the mixture is thick and fluffy. Then add the lotion into a sterilized glass container such as a mason jar.
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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November 4, 2025
How Gardening for Seasonal Affective Disorder Can Chase the Blues

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With the lack of sunlight, many people suffer from SAD. To say the least, the winter months can be mentally and emotionally challenging for many people. I’ve often turned to the garden, even in the winter, to help chase my blues away. Here are a few ways you can use your love of plants and gardening for seasonal affective disorder.

When the sun sets at 4:30, it can feel like it is up and down in a matter of minutes. Without a doubt, November through February can be some of the toughest months for those of us who live further north and away from the equator.

Our plants become less active when there is less daylight. Yes, many go straight to rest and almost look dead in the winter. But even our houseplants and evergreens slow their growth in the fall and winter, resting up for the warm weather.

In the winter, it’s essential for us to take inspiration from these plants. It’s a time for us to do less and not try to maintain that same busy schedule.

But it’s also essential that we still get outside and enjoy some gardening therapy, even during the cold months.

If you also feel the effects of limited sunlight, these tips for winter gardening for seasonal affective disorder will give you a boost from mother nature.

This post will cover…

Growing herbs indoors is one of the best ways to get some gardening in and enjoy some fresh food in the winter.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression. This perhaps has the best acronym of SAD, because that’s exactly how many people feel this time of the year. People who experience SAD will go through mood changes and have symptoms like regular depression.

SAD typically occurs in the fall and winter months when there is less sunlight. For most, it will go away when spring begins, and there is more daylight. But there are a select few who experience SAD in the summer instead.

Around 5% of adults in the US will experience SAD. In Canada, 2-3% of Canadians experience SAD in their lifetime, while 15% will experience a milder version of SAD.

It’s also believed that SAD is more common among women than men. The Canadian Mental Health Association reports that women are nine times more likely to be diagnosed with SAD than men.

While more research is needed, Pshciatry.org says, “SAD has been linked to a biochemical imbalance in the brain prompted by shorter daylight hours and less sunlight in winter.”

Finding Garden Therapy in the Winter

When I was writing my first book, Garden Made, I divided it into four chapters for each of the seasons. For me, making it seasonal felt important, and I ensured that every season had equal projects.

I went out of my way to ensure that the winter projects were quick, crafty, and engaging. Spending time with plants gives us a reason to get outside, even when wearing a toque. You can smell the pine, the freshness, and even the soil.

Nowadays, I find myself working on more projects in the fall and winter. In the summer, the plants are busy doing their own thing. We can admire them and help as needed.

But in the winter, we need them. All the time we spend huddled in front of the TV and even cozying up by the fireplace can contribute to SAD. We need to remember to get outside still.

I love going on a walk in my neighbourhood or a trail to get some outdoor therapy.

Finding Balance

It’s easy to get lost in hanging out inside when it’s colder and drearier outside. But it’s always a good idea to step outside at least once a day and try to get that natural outdoor therapy in.

But I also want to stress that we naturally slow down in the winter, and that’s okay. When we’re in the winter, we need to do less. We should be working less, sleeping more, feeling cozier, and reducing our physical activity from the summer.

Just like the plants are doing.

Before we had electricity, this was second nature to us. We used fires and candles at night, and things wouldn’t be lit up all the time. The time of year and the amount of natural light dictated what activities they did.

Now, we have light. Everywhere. All the time.

This allows us to keep busy all the time. And it seriously messes with our internal clocks. Just think about how much daylight savings time or jet lag can affect us! We’re essentially doing that to ourselves all the time in the winter.

As the days get shorter, we should follow suit and do less and less. Likewise, we should follow the sunlight and get livelier in the summer.

For me, SAD feels like a result of the demands from society and this constant false sense of daylight we have.

Remember, winter is also a time of year for doing less.

Gardening for Depression

I talked a bit about my experience with depression and how gardening became a beacon for me. As my depression comes and goes, I am constantly reminded that just a few minutes outdoors can have a huge impact.

It’s well proven that greenery, getting outside, and gardening itself can help to relieve the symptoms of depression and anxiety. You can learn more about those studies and my own personal experience in this post.

But I bet you’ve felt the calming effect of nature yourself. Your shoulders are up to your ears with stress, your to-do list swarming in your brain. But when you step outside, even just for a few minutes, some of your worries seem to evaporate right along with the sun.

I’ve never specialized in horticultural therapy or gotten too much into the science behind it all, but I share the many crafty projects and ideas that will help you get outside or more connected to nature.

Getting crafty with my hands is one way to feel more connected during the winter.

Tips for SAD

Now I know it’s difficult to go outside and garden when all the plants are hibernating themselves. SAD typically affects us because it’s so difficult to get outside.

One of the biggest ways to treat SAD is with light therapy. This is where you buy a specialized light that powers you with tons of light early in the day.

But I also suggest trying to get as much natural sunlight as possible. Like the plants in the winter, be by the windowsill as often as possible. Consider moving your furniture so you sit closer to the window.

I also try to surround myself with as many plants as possible. I have plenty of suggestions in my post about plants for low light. These will all be able to handle the minimal sunlight in the winter. But their green leaves will give you a sense of freshness and nature within the home.

Make an effort to get outside at least once a day. Aim for early afternoon when the sun is at its highest, and you can soak in as much vitamin D as possible. And even if the sun isn’t shining, you’ll enjoy the crisp air and sights.

Talking to a mental health professional is the number one way you can help treat SAD. Be sure to consult with a professional if you think you or a loved one may experience SAD.

As you can see, the plants really make this space feel homey at my old rental house.

Gardening for Seasonal Affective Disorder

Here are a few ways to “garden” in the winter and reap the benefits of working with plants and nature.

Grow lights are an amazing tool to truly get your gardening on indoors.

There are so many ways to embrace nature, even without being surrounded by it or puttering in the garden. Just remember that you’re not alone in this, get outside when you can, and that spring is always coming. *hugs*

More Ways to Get Your Garden Therapy

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Stephanie Rose

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January 15, 2024