Herbal Gifts That Children Can Make (and adults, too!)

The holiday season is quickly approaching. What better way is there to celebrate this season of giving than spending precious time making simple herbal gifts with your children. Children love being creative and giving gifts they have made. And these gifts from the heart are wonderful to receive! They use wholesome ingredients, entice all the senses, and create a bond with the natural world.

Herbal pillows have many different uses, depending on the herbs used to fill them. Sew a small pillow and stuff it with an aromatic mixture of rose, lavender and chamomile to use for a relaxing eye pillow and to put by your face while drifting off to sleep. Or try a combination of kitchen spices such as cloves, cinnamon, orange peel, basil, and thyme to use under a hot tea mug or casserole. The heat then releases the scent into the air. Make small sachets of aromatic herbs to place in clothes drawers or linen closets. Fill one with catnip for a fun cat toy.

Herbal potpourris are colorful just sitting on a shelf, and they release a delightful aroma into the air when a handful is put in a pan of hot water on the kitchen or wood stove. A holiday combination can include cut pine needles, red rose hips and hibiscus, aromatic rosemary, pieces of dried orange peel, star anise, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, and small alder pine cones. Put the mixture in a beautiful clear decorator jar, adorn with fancy ribbon, and you have a beautiful gift.

Herb flavored vinegar is a great gift for any cook. Choose a single herb or herb combination. Herbs that are particularly good to use are tarragon, rosemary, basil, dill, garlic, or one of the many flavor varieties of thyme and mint. Pour the vinegar over a handful of herbs per cup and let it steep for 2-4 weeks. To speed up the process, warm the vinegar before pouring it over the herbs, then let it sit in a cool, dark place to brew. When finished, it should smell and taste of the herb. Strain and pour into beautiful decorator bottles and add a sprig of fresh or whole dry herb if available. Clean, reused ketchup and salad dressing bottles make perfect containers. And cut up used holiday cards for labels.

Misters are very quick and easy. Find a colored bottle with a mister spray top (available at many natural food stores or craft stores). Fill with distilled water, and simply add drops of a single or combination of essential oils. Spray into the air to test the aroma. Add drops of essential oil until you have a scent you are pleased with. Essential oils are very strong so be careful that you don.t add too much at first.

So have a fun filled holiday season with the entire family making these herbal gifts which everyone will enjoy throughout the year.

Printed in ecomall.com