>>2857256>>2857247Stage 1: Collection - Gather fresh or dried medicinal herbs such as calendula flowers, plantain leaves, yarrow, comfrey, or lavender from your permaculture garden or wild foraging areas. Collect beeswax from your beehives or rendered honeycomb scraps, and carrier oil (e.g., olive oil pressed from your olives, sunflower oil from seeds, or tallow from animal fat if no plant oil is available).
Stage 2: Infusion - Chop or tear the herbs and submerge them in carrier oil in a wide-mouth jar. Place in a warm, sunny spot or gently heat in a double boiler (solar or low wood fire) for 2–4 weeks, shaking daily to extract the active compounds.
Semi-Useful Product: herbal oil (for direct skin application, massage, or further processing)
Stage 3: Straining - Strain the infused oil through fine cloth or mesh, pressing firmly to extract maximum liquid. The leftover solid herb material is fiber-rich.
Versatile Staple Byproduct: plant marc residue (dried herb remnants for mulch, compost activator, animal fodder, or weak tea)
Stage 4: Wax Processing - Melt beeswax from honeycomb in a double boiler (using solar or low-heat wood fire). Filter out any debris.
Versatile Staple Product: beeswax base (plain or infused for candles, balms, polishes, or as a binder)
Stage 5: Emulsification - In the double boiler, slowly melt beeswax, then stir in the herbal oil (typical ratio 1 part beeswax to 3–4 parts oil for a firm but spreadable salve). Add optional essential oils (distilled from lavender or tea tree from your garden) for extra antimicrobial strength. Pour into small containers (e.g., tins or bark vessels) and allow to cool and solidify.
Semi-Useful Product: antibacterial salve (for cuts, burns, insect bites, rashes, or minor infections)
Stage 6: Optional Potency Boost - For a stronger salve, re-infuse the strained oil with fresh herbs for a double extraction before emulsifying. Test texture by cooling a small drop: firm but spreadable = ideal.
