7/16/2011 9:30:04 AM
By: Liesl and Myles Petersen
I own gardening gloves. Two pair, I think. They're usually strewn about the yard, left somewhere, forgotten about, rained on. It doesn't matter anyway. Myles and I plant, rip out weeds and tend to the garden with our bare hands (and me, usually with bare feet). When I went shopping a few weeks back, I pulled out my money only to realize I had dirt-stained hands. I mean, really stained. Oh well! The cool dirt running through my fingers is just the way I like it. Oh, and my less-than-perfect manicured fingernails attest to the fact that we grow our own food.
I had come across this recipe for a homemade hand scrubbie, but failed to have the ingredients. I decided then, that I would create my own-- an "everything but the kitchen sink" variety that you or anyone would be able to concoct. I also believe that I might make this for Christmas gifts this year--why not?
gardener's hand paste
Mix together any of the following to form a nice, thick paste. Here are some ingredients to try:
olive oil
handful of sugar
kosher salt
1 tsp dried rosemary or other herb on hand
1-2 dried orange or lemon peels, grated (or zest of fresh citrus if you don't have dried)
2-3 drops lavender oil or any other, if you have it
grated knob of bar soap
smashed up handful of almonds or other nut on hand
1 glob of honey
As with any recipe, except when baking, I never get caught up on measuring. Just throw it all into a canning jar and mix. If it looks too dry, add a bit more olive oil. Too wet, add more sugar or salt. The olive oil and honey leaves your hands so soft. The sugar, salt and bashed up almonds scrub away grime. The citrus peel and lavender oil add such a lovely scent. {For anyone who knows about Arbonne products and have tried their Awaken Sea Salt Scrub-- this homemade concoction rivals that product, hands down, and you don't need to pay a fortune for it}
Keep at the ready, lid off, near your sink. I like to stick a wonton soup spoon in mine to make sure I get a nice, thick blob of it. You will find yourself reaching for this even when your hands aren't full of dirt! Myles does, so I know it's a winner!
HAPPY WASHING!
Liesl and Myles are from Alberta, Canada. You can also check them out on Nest.
Photos: scrub, L + M Petersen; hand fork, flickr/Tim Samoff
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