DIY with natural ingredients
Recipes and how-tos for the things people make at home, from balms and soaps to teas, ferments and kitchen staples. Each one gives real quantities, the safety points that matter, and a straight answer on whether it does what people hope.
Hair
Oils, rinses and natural dyes, with what they can and can’t do.
Skin & face
Masks, creams and body butters you can make in a kitchen.
Lips
Balms, glosses and tints.
Soap
Cold-process and melt-and-pour, with lye safety done properly.
Bath & body
Scrubs, soaks and bath salts.
Infused oils
Making herb-infused oils safely, and what they are good for.
Fermented foods
Kombucha, yogurt, kimchi and sourdough, with the food-safety steps that keep them safe.
An unlabelled small glass jar of golden runny honey with small chopped garlic pieces suspended in it, a teaspoon of garlic honey resting beside the jar and a whole garlic bulb nearby, on a bright kitchen counter, bright natural light, iPhone-style photo, no labels or text
An unlabelled large glass jar of cloudy amber homemade apple cider vinegar with a pale jelly-like mother of vinegar floating on the surface, the top covered with cheesecloth and a rubber band, a small clear glass bottle of strained golden vinegar and two red apples beside it, on a bright kitchen counter, bright natural light, iPhone-style photo, no labels or text
An unlabelled glass jar of pale golden, lightly bubbly homemade water kefir with small translucent crystal-like kefir grains settled at the bottom and a dried fig floating, beside an unlabelled swing-top glass bottle and a glass of sparkling water kefir with a lemon slice, on a bright kitchen counter, bright natural light, iPhone-style photo, no labels or text
Teas & drinks
Teas, shots, syrups and homemade drinks, and what they can and can’t do.
An unbranded clear glass mug of hot pale green matcha latte with a smooth layer of milk foam on top, beside a small ceramic bowl of bright green matcha powder and a bamboo matcha whisk, on a bright kitchen counter, bright natural light, iPhone-style photo, no labels or text
A clear glass mug of pale golden chamomile tea with a few chamomile flower heads floating on top, a small ceramic bowl of dried chamomile flowers and a few fresh white-and-yellow chamomile daisies beside it on a bright kitchen counter, bright natural light, no labels or text
An unlabelled clear glass jug of amber cold-brewed black tea with loose tea leaves settled at the bottom, and a tall glass of the tea over ice with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint beside it, on a bright kitchen counter, bright natural light, iPhone-style photo, no labels or text
Kitchen
Extracts, broths and pantry staples from scratch.
Three small bundles of dried rosemary, thyme and sage tied with twine lying beside an open clear glass jar filled with crumbled dried green mint leaves and a few dried chamomile flower heads on a bright kitchen counter, bright natural light, no labels or text
An unlabelled white bowl of creamy homemade cottage cheese with small soft curds and a spoon resting in it, and a colander lined with cheesecloth holding drained white curds beside it, on a bright kitchen counter, bright natural light, iPhone-style photo, no labels or text
An unlabelled glass jar of firm, creamy-white homemade beef tallow with a spoonful scooped out onto a small dish beside it, on a bright kitchen counter, bright natural light, iPhone-style photo, no labels or text
An unlabelled glass jar and a white mug of clear golden homemade vegetable broth, with a few carrots, a celery stick, an onion half and sprigs of thyme and parsley on a board beside them, on a bright kitchen counter, bright natural light, iPhone-style photo, no labels or text
Home
Cleaning and crafts with everyday ingredients.
