Herbal Blessing: GARDENERS HAND CARE

Spring is here in Florida and that means spending more time in the garden! Make some wonderful gifts to bless fellow gardeners so they can have both healthy, well-cared-for hands and a beautiful garden. Garden soil and constant washing can rob your hands of precious moisture, especially if, like me, you don’t wear gloves. It’s important to practice preventive maintenance, such using rich hand creams, along with some special treatments to keep your hands clean and moisture-rich.

Here are some easy recipes to create “hand friendly” treatments especially for gardeners using coconut oil and lavender essential oil, which benefits all skin types plus is also a natural insect repellant:

GARDENERS SUGAR SCRUB: Grind 1 cup granulated sugar and 2Tbs dried lavender buds together in a blender until the sugar takes on a purple hue and the lavender buds are no longer visible. Combine 1Tbs of ground mixture with 2Tbs brown sugar, add 2Tbs warmed coconut oil to moisten the mixture plus a few drops of lavender essential oil. Mix with a spoon, cover with lid and allow to sit at least overnight. The mixture should look moistened.
To use: Scoop a small amount on to your hand and rub your hands and fingers gently with the scrub. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. This leaves your hands soft, and is great after gardening!

GARDENERS SALT SCRUB: Combine 2Tbs coarse sea salt, 2Tbs Epsom salt, 2Tbs warmed coconut oil and 2Tbs lavender buds. Mix with a spoon, cover with lid and allow to sit at least overnight. The mixture should look moistened.
To use: Take a handful of scrub and gently massage into the skin, allowing open pores to pull toxins and restore magnesium for 10-15 mins. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. Do not use soap or other cleansers, in order to preserve the moisturizing effect. Store any leftover scrub in a cool, dry place.

GARDENERS HAND CREAM
1/4c petroleum jelly
1/4c baby lotion
1/4c coconut oil
1-8oz jar Vitamin E Lotion
Lavender essential oil
Blend, adding a few drops of lavender essential oil and place in jars!! Most of these ingredients can be found at your local dollar store except for the lavender essential oil.
To use: Keep a jar of hand cream next to all your sinks and outdoors next to the garden hose. Massaging your cuticles as you apply the cream will increase circulation and encourage new nail growth too.

In addition to these treatments, we all can end up with a pair of dirty, stained hands. These simple tips I found really work to remove stains and refresh your hands. Remember to moisturize well afterward, as the treatments can be drying to your skin.

Fresh lemons: Lemons are natural astringents and disinfectants that will leave your hands clean and fragrant. Cut a lemon in half and rub the fresh juice all over your hands. Leave the juice on your hands for 5 minutes, then rinse well with warm water.

Green tomatoes: Working around tomato plants can give the skin on your hands a yellow-green tint. Use a green tomato to remove these stains. Cut the fruit in half and rub the fresh juice all over your hands. Leave the juice on your hands for 5 minutes, then rinse well with warm water.