Clearing Spaces - Herbal Bath Teas

Our Herbal Bath Tea Sachets contained different blends of the following ingredients, dried lavender, hops, oats, rose petal, camomile, lemongrass, calendula petals, dried ginger.

we added different combinations of 

the following essential oils peppermint, 

rosemary, eucalyptus, lemon, lime 

and lavender

Kate was with us again to mix up Bath salts

Once the Bath Tea blends were mixed

we filled out hand stamped bags

to use the bath soaks, add them, closed tightly, to a hot bath or allow to steep and add the liquid to the bath

Everyone had lovely herbal goody bags

to take home

Clearing Spaces - Herbal Bath Salts and Lip Balm

Kate Dyer lead us through the process of making a variety of bath salts, as we have quite  a lot of gardeners we looked for recipes that would soothe aching muscles! We decided that we should do one session during the Tuesday Volunteer Day and one on the normal Thursday session so that everyone could either make or receive a bath treat!

Here is kate's step by step guide

Step 1 :- Place half a cup of salt or salts to a glass bowl.

Step 2 :- Mix in 2 tablespoons of carrier oil like jojoba or sweet almond oil.

Step 3:- Add 7 to 8 drops of desired essential oils to the bowl.

Step 4:- Mix all the ingredients together with a wooden spoon.

Step 5:- Add dried herbs, flower petals as you desire. Transfer to an airtight jar. Add to bath as required.

Sore Muscle Bath Soak - Soothes aches and pains

• 1/2 cup of Epsom Salt
• 2 tablespoons jojoba oil
• 4 drops frankinsence
• 3 drops roman camomile

Simple Lavender Bath Salt - Healing and moisturising

1/2 cup of Epsom Salt

2 tablespoons jojoba oil

8 drops lavender essential oil

Energising Bath Salt - refreshing morning blend

• 1/4 cup Dead Sea Salt
• 1/4 cup of Pink Himalayan Salt
• 2 tablespoonssweet almond oil
• 3 drops grapefruit essential oil
• 2 drops  peppermint essential oil
• 2 dropslavender  essential oil

Eucalyptus Lavender Bath Salt - Soothes sinus and respiratory issues

• 1/4 cup of Pink Himalayan Salt
• 1/4 cup of Epsom Salt 
• 2 tablespoons sweet almond oil
• 4 drops lavender essential oil
• 3 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Sleepy Time Bath Salt - relaxing

1/4 cup of Pink Himalayan Salt

1/4 cup of Epsom Salt

2 tablespoons sweet almond oil

4 drops cedarwood essential oil

3 drops orange essential oil

Blissful Bath Salt - Transform your Mind and Body with this relaxing blend

1/4 cup Dead Sea Salt

2 tablespoons jojoba oil

3 drops frankinsence essential oil

2 drops sandalwood essential oil

2 drops bergamot essential oil

Those who wished to added dried 

lavender, camomile, calendula, rose petals

We added a Green Patch Label and a fabric topper

Kate also showed us how to make a lip balm

We had teatree, grapefruit or peppermint

Kate is a wonderful cook, keen gardener and was inspired to try out some of these remedies when she developed a skin condition and found bath salts really helped. She then started making them as presents, which is how Carole knew she was the right person to help with this project.

Branching Out - Kettering Food Festival

As it wasn't possible to make an intervention for the Boughton House walk we decided to create silk paintings inspired by the gardens to hang at The Kettering Food Festival hosted by Groundworks at The Green Patch.

Carole brought three long silks to SWAG in Corby

as many of the group have also been involved 

as members of Back To Books Projects.

They were so inspired that Carole outlined

more designs on hoops for the group to paint.

Everyone found the process relaxing

and produced gorgeous results

Our lovely silks adorning The Real Junk Food Cafe Marquee

Kate Williams greeting Mark Lane, Health, Wellbeing and Community Ambassador Groundwork UK who is also a presenter on on BBC Gardeners World and who is a firm advocate of the therapeutic benefits of gardening and sees it as a doorway to mindfulness and wellbeing.

For more information about the flavour of the Kettering Food Festival read this engaging Post by Mark Lane, Health, Wellbeing and Community Ambassador Groundwork UK 

Mayor of Kettering, Scott Edwards

The painters were very excited to see their work in situ and many came to sample the delights at the Food Festival. They also had plenty of walking that day as there was much to see on site and were able to connect with friends both old and new.

To find out more about food waste projects and cafes in Northamptonshire please visit Fruitful Abundance

More about SWAG  Meeting at Stephenson Way Community Centre every Monday from 11.30am until 1.30pm, the S.W.A.G group get creative! Occasionally, the group have special projects but are open to all types of art during their sessions – you can bring your own project or experiment with club materials. To join S.W.A.G you can just turn up, pay £2 for refreshments and have fun whilst learning new skills. See the group here helping to create panels for the back To Books Brampton Valley Way mosaics 

To find out more about The Green Patch please follow the link

Five garden tweaks that will help health and wellbeing

How walking can help wellbeing

To see more photos follow the link

After the Food Festival the round silk paintings 

became part of the decorations at the wedding 

celebration for Back To Books Chair Meriel White 

and were later returned to the makers to take home or to keep at Stevie Way.