Tinctures

We infuse herbs grown only at Orchard Hill Gardens into mid to high proof alcohol in order to extract the compounds from the plant material (mark) into the alcohol (mentruum). This creates a concentrated herbal remedy that may be taken under the tongue, in a sip of water or tea, or mixed into a drink as part of an herbal protocol. 

Balms

Our balms are made with three simple ingredients. A cold-infusion of freshly dried herbs are steeped for six months in oil and combined with deeply nourishing and protective shea butter & beeswax. We infuse herbs grown only at Orchard Hill Gardens into organic jojoba or organic olive oil and use these oils as a base for other herbal skincare such as balms or scrubs. Beeswax (local to Southern Illinois), shea butter, and herbal infused oil work to create a protective barrier on the skin, helping the skin retain its own moisture while keeping inflammation down.

Oils

A cold-infusion of freshly dried herbs are steeped for six months in oil and combined with deeply nourishing and protective shea butter & beeswax. We infuse herbs grown only at Orchard Hill Gardens into organic jojoba or organic olive oil and use these oils as remedies of their own or as a base for other herbal skincare such as balms or scrubs.

Syrups

Syrups are pleasant way to bring herbs into a daily routine. They are sweet concoctions using sugar or honey to help preserve the herb in liquid form. Syrups are a popular way to administer herbs to children because they are so pleasant to drink. Some syrups additionally use alcohol to preserve the liquid.

Scrubs

Our body scrubs are made with epsom salt, organic cane sugar, dried herbs grown at Orchard Hill Gardens, and herbal infused oil. Using this scrub as part of a cleansing routine leaves skin feeling fresh, silky smooth and moisturized while connecting to the plant through physical touch.

Loose Herb

The loose herbs are grown only at Orchard Hill Gardens. When preparing the herbs for storage, fresh herbs are hung up to dry or laid out on butcher paper in a temperature and moisture controlled environment. Once the herbs are dry, they are processed further by garbling (pulling the leaves and flowers off of the stem) and stored in airtight containers away from bright light. The herbs are not broken down any further until they are ready to be packaged. This decreases the amount of air and moisture that can reach the surface area of the plant material, keeping the herb fresher for longer. The loose herbs may be used to make herbal infusions, decoctions, oils, tinctures, or balms of your own.

Drawings

These are original prints made by Bridget Ryan from drawings made from mixed media. Her preferred medium for these small botanical drawings are watercolor paper, pencil, watercolors, pen and ink, and marker. 

Wax Wraps

Every year in the United States alone, we waste between 30-40% of our food. That means that 133 BILLION pounds of food goes to landfills every single year! As conscientious consumers, we can get into the habit a keeping leftovers and reducing plastic consumption by switching to wax wraps. These wraps are made with cotton fabric and 100% beeswax (local to Southern Illinois) to create a sealed cover for leftover containers, bottles, jars and bowls. They can be shaped into sandwich pockets and snack bags for fruit, vegetables, bread & cheese. They are freezer-friendly and may be used to keep bread frozen for up to a month. Beeswax has naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial properties - perfect for storing food.

Smoke Bundles

Many cultures across time have used smoke as an agent of cleansing and purifying. Our smoke bundles are made with herbs grown only at Orchard Hill Gardens. Always use good common sense when working with fire - never leave smoke bundle unattended while in use. Use only fire-safe containers to hold the smoke bundle while it is lit.