The Cultivated Apothecary Management

Yesterday I started a new weekly, perhaps even twice a week, post called the Golden D's Cultivated Apothecary in which I presented my homemade red clover salve. I will be featuring so many different natural remedies, salves, infused oils and homemade items (ie. soaps, tinctures) in these posts, but I was a little concerned with organizing all the information.

From the dates I started the oils and tinctures (yes I could write on the lids what was inside and the date, but sometimes those tend to get smudged) to when they would be done brewing. Most infused oils and tinctures will be done around four weeks, but others need a little more time for a better end result. So the best way for me to keep track of everything is to have it written down. Plus I can add what ailments each tincture, infused oil and salve can be useful for. I'll have all the information together in these notebooks. One will be for the dates and times, the second will be for treatments and uses. (yeah, can you feel the OCD oozing out of me) Right now I have all my little scribbles on a piece of paper; which can easily get misplaced.

So last night after dinner out with Mr Golden D, I picked up these notebooks so I can sit down this evening and start transcribing all the information I have accumulated into the them.

Getting Ready For Some Soap Making Soon

Having my mindset in full overdrive of organizing, this morning I gathered up all my soapmaking supplies to see if I needed anything before I started creating new recipes to make in the coming weeks. I am almost out of my hot process soap and my pour and melt versions.

I have done all three soapmaking processes (hot process, cold process and melt and pour), but lately with my hectic gardening schedule, cannabis grow tents, everyday life tasks and chores and steemit, I have resorted to making the melt and pour soaps. They are time saving, easy and no worries about the lye hazards. While I do prefer the cold process the best, I will make that later in the year after I've harvested most of the garden and completed most of my canning and preserving for the season.

This is ONLY some of my supplies- complete inventory below

A couple of months ago when we went to visit my parents (Mother's Day), we stopped at a cool five and dime like store near their town. I loved walking around the store and I happened upon two silicone molds that would be perfect for making some melt and pour soaps with luffa (which I have growing in the garden right now, but I purchased these online as I wanted them now).

Over the winter I made a batch of Oatmeal Honey Goat Milk's soap and it was heavenly! So I will definitely be making that recipe again.

I am also thinking about making a citrus scented (orange colored) soap with luffa gourd sponges. Keep an eye out for this one soon. I will be making a post; hopefully a video too.

From nine months ago, my first ever attempt at making hot process soap

Soap Making Supplies

• 4-lbs Goats' milk melt and pour
• 2-lbs Shea butter melt and pour
• 2-lbs honey melt and pour
• 2-lbs cocoa butter melt and pour
• 1-lb olive oil melt and pour

Plus I have vitamin E capsules, tea tree oil, coconut oil, four 6-inch luffa gourds, a large variety of essential oils and soap making liquid colors (in primary colors- blue, red and yellow) to use to add some tint to the soaps.

Considering each recipe of melt and pour usually calls for 1-pound each, I will have enough for quite some time to make soap. I also have two bottles of lye to use for the cold and hot processes. So we should be the cleanest household in Michigan once I have made new recipes.

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