If you’ve already mastered homemade nut milk,  now is the time to graduate to the next nondairy milk level – one that involves sprucing up the mix with more interesting ingredients.

Enter: lavender rose almond milk. This recipe is a floral rendition of the vegan milk alternative. It can be used in all the places you’d normally use almond milk – oats, cereal, baked goods, smoothies, and coffee – and will add just a kiss of lavender and rose accents in which a discerning palate will surely luxuriate.

Let this lavender rose almond milk recipe be just the beginning of your trek towards flavored nut milks. Lavender and rose pair very well together and leave a delicate brush of aroma to your otherwise plain almond milk. Feel free to replace the almonds with any other nut, and if want the lavender and rose flavors to be stronger, simply add more of them, a pinch at a time.

For this recipe, I use dried lavender and dried rose petals, but you could use fresh lavender and rosewater if you prefer them. Simply replace the dried lavender with a sprig of fresh lavender and the dried rose petals with a tablespoon of rosewater.

Lavender Rose Almond Milk Recipe

Makes about three cups

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw almonds, soaked in water overnight
• 3 cups water
• 4 Medjool dates, pitted
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of sea salt
• 3 pinches dried lavender
• 3 pinches dried rose petals

Directions

Drain and rinse the almonds. Add all of the ingredients into a blender and blend for 30 seconds, or until the almonds have completely broken down.

Pour the mixture into a nut milk bag over a pitcher or bowl. Squeeze the bag until all of the liquid has been filtered from the pulp. Store the pulp to use later as a base of a vegan and gluten-free cookie or cracker.

Store the lavender rose almond milk in a sealed pitcher and keep on hand for all your milk needs.

Related on EcoSalon
10 Essential Items for a Vegan Pantry
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Should You Be Drinking Goat Milk?

The post Nondairy Milk Goes Floral: Lavender Rose Almond Milk Recipe appeared first on EcoSalon.

These are turbulent times, and when times get tough it’s up to us find a way to allow life to go on and a self-care routine that includes essential oils can help.

How Essential Oils Can Impact Our Emotions

While research lacks when it comes to the use of essential oils, we do know a few things about their benefits. Essential oils can be applied to the skin as well as inhaled. When they’re applied to the skin and absorbed through the body’s largest organ (which is very permeable), they work in much the same way as a nicotine patch. When an essential oil is applied to the skin, massage can increase circulation and therefore improve absorption.

When essential oil are inhaled, odor molecules travel through the nose and impact the brain immediately. And even when essential oils are applied to the skin, they are still inhaled. In both cases, essential oils can have an impact on our emotions.

Essential Oils for Fear and Sadness

A study published in Phytotherapy Research found that bergamot oil
improved anxiety in rats by reducing the release of cortisol in the brain. When the body becomes stressed, we tend to revert back to caveman times by naturally releasing cortisol, our fight or flight response. This hormone release causes a wide range of physiological responses and when too much is constantly flowing, it can cause irritability, depression, and anxiety among a host of others symptoms.

Another study published in Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that lavender essential oils helped with the release of serotonin in the brain when it was inhaled. And another study in the journal of Natural Product Communications found that rose oil used for aromatherapy had some relaxing effects on humans especially those struggling with depression and stress.

Choosing Essential Oils

Whether you want to add bergamot, rose, or lavender (or all three!) to your self-care routine, it’s important to choose high-quality essential oils that are pure, produced sustainably, and don’t contain any unnecessary additives. Plant Therapy ($15) and Mountain Rose ($25) are two high-quality brands to get you started and both can be purchased online.

And once you’ve got your essential oils, you can add them into your routine a number of ways. Inhalation is likely to produce the best results when it comes to calming your emotions, so you may want to consider adding a few drops to a diffuser or to a steamy bath. If you put essential oils on the skin, make sure it’s properly diluted with a carrier oil. Essential oil should have a concentration of no greater than three to five percent. That means in one teaspoon of carrier oil, you would add three drops of pure essential oil. This would make a three percent solution that could be used on a portion of the body. It is not safe to eat essential oils.

Lavender Magnesium Linen Spray

Ingredients
5-6 drops lavender essential oil
¼ tsp. Epsom salts
1/2 cup filtered water
Small spray bottle

Directions
1. Add the salt to your bottle and then add the essential oil.
2. Fill the bottle the rest of the way with water. Shake well before using. Give your pillow a spray or two each and every night for sound sleep.

Sea Salt Exfoliating Scrub with Essential Oils

Ingredients

1/2 cup raw olive oil
1 cup sea salt
5 drops each of Lavender, Frankincense, and Ylang Ylang
glass jar with lid

Directions

1. Measure your salt and pour into a large glass bowl.
2. Add olive oil and mix well with a metal spoon. Add essential oils and continue to stir the mixture. Slowly scoop into a glass pot.
3. Close tightly with a lid and label. Store in a cool, dark place. Scoop out a silver dollar size of scrub and apply to body.
4. Repeat weekly. This is one of the most pampering DIY essential oil recipes.

Do you use essential oils? What are your favorite varieties? And how do you use them? We want to know! Drop us a line via Twitter @EcoSalon.

Related on EcoSalon
4 Totally Doable DIY Aromatherapy Projects Using Essential Oils
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Smell Fantastically Natural and Repel Insects: 6 Essential Oils for Summer

The post Turbulent Times Got You Down? Essential Oils Can Help appeared first on EcoSalon.

Maui’s first lavender farm, Ali’I Kula Lavender, is a sustainable work of art situated in the beautiful upcountry hills of the lush island.

Nestled into the hills of Kula in upcountry Maui sits Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm, an impeccable canvas and feast for the eyes which functions as an herb farm, vegetable and flower garden, and serene sanctuary. With views over the Maalea Bay, this is the perfect place to relax away from the posh imitations of Hawai’i found at most beachside resorts. As a purveyor of Sustainable Aloha, Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm is founded on love, friendship and responsibility, thus demonstrating the importance of our relationship with the land, our community and each other; and representing the legacy of one of Maui’s finest green thumbs.

Ali’i Chang established his Kula farm in 1999 after having owned a successful tropical flower farm on the rainier side of Maui. On his new land he first planted protea, or sugar bush, the South African flower that was known to thrive in the area, and soon began researching other plants that would thrive in the more arid, hilly landscapes. He was given a lavender plant by a friend in 2001, and thus discovered the perfect match for his Kula farm. As a drought resistant plant, lavender does not mind the average 25 inches of annual rainfall, and loves to bask in the full sun of the well-drained, south facing slopes of this Kula hillside.

This herb is in fact one of the most ideal plants for a sustainable and fairly low maintenance crop that provides an impressive yield. The plant needs very little watering, as it seeps in the moisture that often settles on the Kula hills in the late afternoon, and like most herbs, actually thrives in poorer soil. As a rather acidic plant, insects do not like to nibble on lavender, rendering sprays and fertilizers obsolete. As a native of Europe, lavender is also not subject to the gleaning eye of plant thieves, that were often after more colorful and exotic greenery. As the late Ali’i himself put it “I think the lavender chose me. Lavender won’t grow just anywhere. It happens that we’re right here under a lucky star.”

The nine varieties of this aromatic and therapeutic herb grown at the farm are turned into various delicious and healing products that are sold at the AKL’s gift shop, as well as online. These products are completely natural, using organic ingredients whenever possible. Some of their most rejuvenating and delectable products are listed below:

1. Organic Lavender Gardener’s Lotion

Soothing and enriching, this moisturizer acts as a natural insect repellant that quickly soothes dry skin and calms the nerves with subtle aromas of citronella and lavender. Non-greasy, and long lasting moisture make this a favorite among both men and women.

2. Lavender Lip Balm

This amazingly soothing balm heals cracked or dry lips, and also acts as a sunscreen. Leaving lips feeling soft and smooth, the two flavors, Lavender Lemonade and Lavender Honey, blend pure lavender, essential oils and avocado and coconut oils into for totally pampered lips.

3. Organic Lavender Honey Scrub

Treat yourself to a blissful exfoliation with AKL’s lavender honey scrub that heals and polishes your skin into a glowing, satiny smoothness. The natural, gentle and grease-free ingredients make this scrub ideal for the face and body.

4. Lavender Eye Mask

Having a hard time sleeping or getting to a place of deep relaxation? Use this lavender eye mask, comprising solely of lavender buds, to relieve eye muscle stress, headaches or head tension, or to experience a deep, restful sleep. The soothing and calming qualities of lavender will relax and calm your senses.

5. Lavender Herb Tea

Completely herbal, this caffeine-free tea is great for any season, as it tastes wonderful served hot or cold, especially with a wedge of lemon. Alongside its delicious flavor, this tea also aids blood circulation, digestion and encourages mental clarity and heightened memory.

6. Lavender Lilikoi Jelly

Lilikoi, the Hawai’ian passion fruit grown in upcountry Maui, blends perfectly with lavender in this tangy and versatile  spread. An exotic and unique topping for scones, bagels and breads, this jelly also lends itself well to marinades, grilling sauces and other savory dishes such as Avocados Stuffed with Shrimp.

Although lavender is the main crop at Ali’I Kula, it is certainly not the only plant gracing this carpet of botanical beauty. Ali’I took great pride on providing visitors with an ever-changing vista of wonders by planting flora that would thrive with the resources available in his hillsides and by including fascinating artifacts and collectibles from his travels amidst the landscape.

As a community and organization committed to Sustainable Aloha, Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm is committed to nurturing the well-being of the local community and all of its living creatures for generations to come. The farm provides educational stewardship through a scholarship program, and supports the local economy through agri-tourism that demonstrates a sustainable way of gardening and living. Upon visiting, the spirit of Aloha can be felt from the smiles upon faces and through the cared for, but not overly manicured, gorgeous and peaceful grounds. Respect for the earth and the environment is evident and Ali’I Kula Lavender Farm, a paradise that truly nurtures and protects the land and its people.

Images: AKL Maui, Leena Oijala

The post Sustainable Aloha at Maui’s Organic Lavender Farm appeared first on EcoSalon.

I don’t enjoy licking a soap dish, and frankly, that’s what lavender sometimes tastes like when it’s used in culinary applications. After all, lavender’s Latin root is lavare, which means to wash.

I know, lots of people like it and I also know that it’s an essential ingredient in the classic French Herbs de Provence, but I suspect that people are either using it badly, or using the wrong kind of lavender. Or maybe I’m just a crank and I don’t like it. Both are probably true.

The other day, I tasted an award-winning cheese that had been rubbed with coffee and lavender.  This is a really well-made cheese, not some cheap, flavored processed product, but it created a confusing good-bad experience in my mouth. The cheese tasted great. I liked the touch of coffee, but the lavender left me, blech. I suspect this is just my taste.

On the other hand, I have tried poorly executed, overly soapy tasting dishes with lavender that are just wrong. Lavender has an overpowering taste and smell and should be used both sparingly and smartly. But first make sure you use the right type. Any old ornamental lavender that you pick might not be suitable for culinary use. Use culinary lavender.

Here are a few recipes I might try, if I liked lavender.

In this Peach Lavender Ice Cream notice there’s only 1 teaspoon of lavender in this recipe. Also it’s a recipe adapted from David Lebovitz’s book, The Perfect Scoop. I trust David, so this is probably tasty.

This Lavender Marinated Leg of Lamb likewise is from an accomplished chef. In this case, Michael Tusk, of San Francisco’s Quince restaurant. I like that the lavender is in the marinade, not stuffed into the lamb.

Lavender and honey have a natural affinity and these Honey Lavender Cookies sound pretty good.

Also, check out Farmers’ Market Desserts by Jennie Schacht. There’s a Lavender Shortbread recipe in the book that I’ve tasted and liked.

Lavender – if you must eat it, rather than bathe in it, do so cautiously.

Editor’s note: This is a new column by Vanessa Barrington. For the lighter side of all things foodie, read Overcooked weekly. Overcooked: helping you make the most of today’s trendiest ingredient…before it’s overdone. Be sure to catch Vanessa’s original EcoSalon column, The Green Plate, on the environmental, social, and political issues related to what and how we eat.

Image: PossumGirl via Flickr

The post Overcooked: Lavender – Good for the Bathtub, Good for the Brisket appeared first on EcoSalon.

Raise your hand if you a) lack a green thumb, b) care about the environment, c) care about your environment or, d) all of the above. Congratulations! You’re the perfect candidate for xeriscaping.

As a desert dweller, I know firsthand that this eco-friendly method of gardening conserves water, requires minimal upkeep, significantly reduces your water bills and yields stunning greenery and flowers. But, you don’t have to live in an arid region to get into this low maintenance style of gardening. To get you started, here’s a list of the best plants for xeriscaping.

Succulents

Equipped to survive even the driest climates, succulents can retain water and survive dry spells (and forgetful gardeners). Plus, there are hundreds of varieties to choose from.

Lavender

This fragrant flowering plant is popular among amateur gardeners and can grow in a variety of soils.

Tillandsia

More commonly known as air plants, tillandsias don’t even need soil to grow. Instead of receiving sustenance through the roots, their leaves absorb essential nutrients and water.

Fairy Duster

Due to a slow growth rate, these drought-resistant shrubs rarely need to be pruned.

Purple Sage

This low-maintenance perennial releases a sweet aroma when its beautiful buds bloom.

Oleander

Able to flourish in poor soil with little water, these plants produce flowers in an assortment of brilliant colors like red, white, yellow and pink.

Red Bird of Paradise

This flowering shrub thrives in warm shades of red, yellow and orange when exposed to ample sunlight.

Lantana

Since this vining shrub grows rapidly, it’s best used as a ground cover or hanging plant.

California Poppy

The state’s official flower, the California poppy is self-seeding and nyctinastic.

Bougainvillea

Bougainvilleas flower from season to season in vibrant hues like orange, yellow, pink, red, purple and white.

Images: Anika Malone, ILoveButter, eutima, cliff1066, ClatieK, Bill & Mavis, James Gagen, bbjee, jalalspages, The County Clerk

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