February 22, 2026

Happy Sunday!

This is going to be a quick note today because it's "bread" day after church. This is the day that happens every couple of weeks where I make enough bread for us, sometimes for the month, in case I miss a session.

I've gotten into milling my own wheat berries for our flour to bake bread because it's been scientifically proven that fresh-milled flour contains 40 out of the 44 nutrients we need! The problem with normal flour, even whole grain, from the stores is that the nutrients deplete within about three days of being ground. This is why the government demanded bread makers to "enrich" bread products a few decades ago.

But...true to "science," only 5 nutrients are generally added back into the flour, instead of all or more of them. This is because many people came down with some mysterious illnesses, and these were attributed to "dead" flour that had these 5 nutrients stripped away, or otherwise depleted from age.

Anyhow....I'll share more on that later, if you're interested in all that.

But the bread's flavor? Unreal. It's delicious! And it has solved our constipation problems, too, among other things we're noticing.

Once again, God's great gift of the REAL plants (in this case, the wheat berries, unprocessed and whole) can do amazing things to solve health issues. Even with simple, REAL, bread.

If you're interested in learning more about bread from me, especially "herbal" bread, let me know by hitting reply and giving me a "yes" or a thumbs up!

************************

What's Best for Moisturizing Skin? Oil or Water?

I get quite a lot of questions from people in my age category (40's and up---I am 62 now) who need and want to naturally moisturize their skin with something that actually works.

We all know that our skin relies on hydration. Getting it from the inside out is the best way, so drinking enough water is the thing to do here. But that's simply not always enough, especially if our constitution tends to run "dry" or if we are experiencing "mature" skin (which is a normal and natural thing).

Lately, I've heard from a few herbalists or aromatherapists that lipids (oils) are all that's needed to moisturize skin, or that they're "BEST".

I disagree.

This is based on my own experience with how I moisturize my own dry skin, common sense, working with clients and students, and also science.

Lipid oils are amazing, with that said. They are 100% necessary in the moisturizing process. Oils and butters seal in surface hydration by forming a barrier on the skin which prevents water from evaporating. BUT they do not add moisture, as there is no water in oil.

Now water is also 100% absolutely necessary for moisturizing. Distilled water or hydrosols are great, but I love adding glycerin and hyaluronic acid to my formulations these days, too. Both of these are considered part of the "water phase" of a formulation as they are soluble in water and not oil. Hyaluronic acid, especially, draws environmental moisture to the skin's surface, and there it gets absorbed into the skin.

So, without oil, water-only products evaporate, sometimes even leaving skin drier. BUT without water, oil-only based products are usually too heavy, slow to absorb, or fail to penetrate well, thereby not allowing water to penetrate either.

But used together? Oil and water in heavier creams offer nourishment, protection, and hydration for our skin.

Here's a video I made a few years ago for my YouTube channel.... This is a thinner lotion/cream (so very helpful for oilier or more youthful skin), and takes a little time to thicken, but it's quite lovely, and you can watch the whole lotion-making process:

​

AND...

If you have dandelions coming up already? Lucky you!

If they haven't been sprayed with anything toxic, forage away and make dandelion infused oil to use in an amazing hydrating lotion! The allantoin in dandelion flowers is incredibly healing and moisturizing for the skin. You can find my Dandelion Cream recipe here:

​Dandelion Infused Body Cream Formulation (Article)

NOTE: Be sure your dandelion flowers are 100% dry before placing them into your oil to infuse.

**************************

Spring Gardening Summit!

Are you excited about growing your garden this year? After moving to a new homestead property, we're starting from scratch. It's a bit daunting, to be honest, as we had full perennial medicinals growing and many trees at the old place. I really miss them. This year, I'm going to do the best I can to get as many perennials in the ground as possible.

Gardening information is so interesting, and if you're ready to get started, the Spring Gardening Summit is starting tomorrow! I wanted to make sure you didn't miss your chance to join us.

​It's a FREE online event where you'll learn from over 20 experienced gardeners who share practical, real-life strategies to help you grow a more successful garden this season.

​All you need to do is register to save your seat!​

​👉 Get registered for FREE here​

Once you're registered, you'll get free access to each day's presentations for 48 hours, with the option to upgrade if you want more time or to have ongoing access.

Here's a tiny sneak peek at just "some" of the many sessions happening this week:

🌱 Your Spring Garden From the Ground Up
​Learn how to set up raised beds or in-ground gardens the right way without perfect soil or guesswork.

🍅 How to Grow Great Tomatoes
​Finally understand what tomatoes actually need to thrive and produce consistently.

🐛 Natural Pest Management for a Successful Vegetable Garden
​Learn how to manage pests effectively without harsh chemicals or constant frustration.

🌿 5 Easy Healing Plants for Every Garden
​Discover simple medicinal plants you can grow at home and actually use.

🥬 Small Space, Big Harvests
​Proven strategies to grow more food, even if you’re short on space.

🍎 Planning and Planting Your Home Orchard From Scratch
​Learn how to confidently plant fruit trees and avoid the most common mistakes.

🌼 Growing a Skincare Garden! (This is my talk) Learn about why these are some of the BEST herbs to grow to support healthy skin and more!

And that’s just a small sampling. There’s so much more included throughout the week.

I hope to see you there!

****************************

Encouragement and Inspiration

I had this dream the other night, and I woke up with my mind swirling all over the place. I can't remember it, but I do remember the question I got from it....

"What if my sin isn't what I think it is?"

Without going into details, I realized that my biggest sin is often my anxiety. My worrying about everything and anything.

So that is what I've been trying to turn over to God these days....the act of being worried or anxious and trying to live in a state of peace and joy, no matter what.

We were traveling last week, and the first plane was late, and we had only a very short layover between flights. One of my biggest nightmares and worries is being stuck in an airport overnight.

I worried and worried and worried....and prayed and prayed and prayed that we would 1) get to the second airport quickly; and 2) that the second plane would wait for just a few minutes....neither of which I had any control over.

As I was literally attempting to run through the airport to the next gate, I realized two things:

• I am SUPER out of shape when it comes to running anywhere (yikes) and...
• Also? I was being tested.... and I had failed BIG.

I had spent the last several hours in a state of anxiety, worry, even anger at the situation, and fear that we would be stuck.... I am certain that Mr. V. was very tired of me...

When I SHOULD have just said my prayers then turned it all over to God so I could stay calm and operate in contentment and joy. That's what we're supposed to do.

Nothing we can do can stop God's love for us, and yet, I was living as though my (very tiny) problem was bigger than He is. And I was also forgetting that He works every single thing together for our good if we are believers. And I was forgetting, too, that by worrying and fretting, I was harming my body/mind!

If it's true that I trust God, and if I believe that His love is greater and stronger than anything...then I sinned a great sin that day. So, I prayed and repented (once again), and let it all go.

I am trying to remember this lesson.

If there is something going on in your life that's hard, remember that no matter what it is, God is higher and His love is greater by far. No matter the outcome. No matter what happens.

For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds." Psalm 108:4

Hugs, Health, Peace, and Herbs,

Heidi

P.S. My popular guide, Herbal Salves, Oils, Butters, and Balms, which is no longer for sale by itself, is my FREE gift to everyone who registers for the Spring Garden Summit!

And for those who decide to purchase the upgrade to VIP (which is lifetime access so you can take your time to watch), I'm sharing my Botanical Skincare workshop free, too. It's perfect for a spring skincare upgrade!

​Register here for the FREE Spring Garden Summit!​

​
​*******************************

**************************************

This note is proudly sponsored by The Confident Herbalist Tribe!

If you:

• Are ready to start or to upgrade your herbal learning journey
• Desire better health and more choices about what to do
• Are tired of Big Pharma treating your family's health like a cash machine
• Are all set to join a revolution of like-minded people learning to use the very plants God gave us for our health and wellness....
• Want a personalized PATH you can walk in your herbal learning that fits your unique needs....

Then the Confident Herbalist Tribe is for you!

We're opening the Tribe again SOON, and we're doing it at 2025's prices.

We went to Costco the other day (we don't grocery shop very often), and were both aghast at the cost of food. Things are crazy.

So, we're lowing the price back to what it was, for the subscription plans. **AND if you're a student in either Ditch the Drugstore or the Family Herbalist Certification program, you can enjoy 25% off the price too!

More than a course, the Confident Herbalist Tribe is a massive library of researched texts: plant masterclasses (very deep dives) with over a thousand formulations; specialty courses on topics of interest (like Animal Herbalism and more); the BEST herbal learning community out there hands-down; and 3-4 monthly live Q&A or Special Teaching Sessions with me and lots more.

If you want to learn herbalism, and I imagine you do because you're on my email list, then the Confident Herbalist Tribe is an affordable way to do this.