Project: Dandelion oil

Having heard of the many benefits of dandelions, I thought of making use of these 'weeds' in the garden by infusing the flowerheads in oil. 

The process:

Once I'd picked a handful of dandelion flowers from the back garden, I placed them aside to allow for any insects to leave the flowerhead. After an hour or so, I washed them and let them dry near a windowsill for about a week. 

After they had become completely dry, I placed them in a clean glass jar. I decided to use moringa oil, as it would complement the dandelion, being moisturising and suitable for massaging onto tired muscles and joints, among other notable benefits. The oil was then poured to completely cover the flowers in the jar and then a chopstick was used to make sure there weren't any bubbles. 

The mouth of the jar was then covered with a cloth held in place with an elastic band. I used a brown paper bag to cover the entire jar to prevent sunlight reaching the oil (infusions like this would only need the sun's heat).  

I set a reminder 2 weeks from then to notify me when to drain the oil. 

Once the 2 weeks were reached, I drained the oil with a small sieve and used a spoon to push excess oil from the flowers. 

Just look at the colour of the oil! The infusion had been a success, alhamdulillah!

The finished product:

I had poured some of the oil into a spare dropper and added a label for the best before date (approximately a year from now). 

Now, it's ready! The smell of the oil has definitely changed! Moringa oil doesn't smell like anything to me really, so once I'd had a sniff of the oil, I realised that it smelled a lot like chamomile. It was a very subtle scent, slightly nutty, earthy. I use this oil when I feel my hands are dry and peeling, especially after washing them. I also use it as a moisturiser for my face (in addition to shea butter), and as an oil treatment prior to washing my hair.

I hope you consider using dandelions and other useful plants and herbs to improve your health and wellbeing! 

Praise be to Allah who has given us all that we need and more. 

How gardening helped boost my faith...

During these testing times, I'd chosen to take up a (rather fast-becoming) hobby of mine. Gardening! And it's not just the satisfaction of seeing your seeds germinate or harvesting your own food but there has been so much research made to find out why gardening brings calmness and tranquility to our souls and minds. (Psst! Scroll to the end of this post for a link to an article about this!) 

So, I've decided to make a post noting down four points as to how gardening increased my faith (long story short, it was by way of reflection!) : 

1. I realised that our provision truly comes from the sky.

 

This rain comes down so that plants grow and bear fruit. Without this rain, how and what would we be able to eat? We are indeed dependent on the One who sends down the rain. 

"And who sends down rain from the sky in measured amounts, and We revive thereby a dead land - thus will you be brought forth -..." [Surah 43: ayah 11]

2. That each creature has its portion of provision. 

My poppy had been annihilated by hungry birds and one of my bulbs was taken by a squirrel. But however much upset I was that day - I couldn't stay mad for I knew that it was their provision and not mine. 

Say, "Indeed, my Lord extends provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts [it] for him. But whatever thing you spend [in His cause] - He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers." [Surah 34: ayah 39]

3. Certainty in the day of recompense. 

A seed turns into a plant and that plant produces flowers and fruit, which we then harvest. Our actions we do now we will see in the next life. So what we sow now we will reap later. And this has been my motto for everything recently!

"The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing." [Surah 2: ayah 261]

4. That, however morbid the thought, one day I will decompose just as leaves and other organic matter does. 

Being up close to the soil, digging, looking at all the creepy-crawlies, gave me the realisation that one day, this dirt I'm standing on will be around me, on all sides 

"And present to them the example of the life of this world, [its being] like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it[1] and [then] it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allah is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability." [Surah 18: ayah 45]

[1] Absorbs it, growing lush and thick.

Bibliography:

https://quran.com/ 

Image of sky my own

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/why-gardening-is-so-good-for-you_uk_5ba35be2e4b0181540da36ee?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJ2bRqVe6r5p5cPtpUUyH2AFj1IbFMh3kSAdv__H6BE1Joib6cTPeiK2nsMztPxit_zBFK0QcrTv5NRC9PATojbEplR4e4DzJGxgmVKUKbhCi5JMArjs7qZ_pYLUpCpuM3RylZ-wH-UHQmIK5E3stRzrh6rexN2-4sMiyyaXOY49