How to preserve Lemon Balm three ways

[@lmmartin959]

First time viewer here. You are really sweet and I like your easy and practical tips.

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

@@lmmartin959 thank you!!

[@Sellers707]

I have never grown lemon balm. New friend here. Showing you support. I am going to try it. Thanks for sharing this video. Thanks for all the great information 😊

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

Thanks for stopping by!! Lemon balm is so easy to grow. It spreads like crazy, that’s why I put it in a pot to grow. Strangely enough, it’s jumped pots and is growing in at least 3 other pots and two places in a hillside nearby!

[@MrAljackie]

You popped up on my feed and I'm glad you did... Love the presentation. I just subscribed.

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

I’m glad you enjoyed! Thank you for subscribing!

[@jessruhl24]

Love the video Kathy! Can’t get enough tips! Please make more videos of the tinctures ❤

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

Thanks for the request!! It’s great to hear that sort of feedback!

[@moirarussell1950]

Wow that was easy watching. I really enjoyed your presentation. I’m off to dry my lemon balm now. I grew it for 2 yrs but really didn’t have a plan as to what I was going to do with it. You’ve inspired me to make some tea!!❤️👍🇨🇦

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

@@moirarussell1950 great to hear that you got some helpful tips for your lemon balm!!

[@leteasipper6563]

Love lemon balm and sage as a tea. Thank you for the video.

[@RockKnocker17]

I've got sage growing and I just found lemon balm plants at the greenhouse, I'm going to have to try this tes.

[@lianagilbert61]

great voice. great personality. gets to the point with no annoying intro or music. i have tons of lemon balm. wanted it to go away til now. thanks for the video!

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

Thanks for the kind words! Good luck with the lemon balm!

[@hnichol2506]

Thank you so much for your video. I see you're a new channel, so want to wish you much success!

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

Thank you, much appreciated!!

[@robinragan1702]

Found you today. Enjoyed your presentation. First time to grow lemon balm this year. Excited to tincture mine soon.

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

Glad to hear you enjoyed!! Thanks for stopping by!!

[@howsweetitis1343]

Thank you! Great video 🥰 you just showed up on my feed today. I'll check out more. Thanks! 🥰

[@rhondawilks7275]

Thanks so much for your video, I enjoyed your know;edge that you shared❤

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

Glad you enjoyed!!

[@r-familylittlebluefibermill]

Yes a taste of summer in winter! 15:51

[@tamidonnelson3610]

Just found you and am super happy about it!

[@juliafeliciano5372]

Just found your channel and subscribed 🌿🌱❤️

[@foryourhealth4481]

Thank you ! Great video! 👍

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

You’re welcome and thanks to you for watching!

[@MsDari]

Lemon Balm grows wild in my backyard and I have some vodka..... I am going to make some today!

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

It’s so easy to make! Especially when you have all the ingredients like you do. Happy making!

[@venidamcdaniel1913]

Not good to tincture with alcohol in plastic

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

@@venidamcdaniel1913 Thank you for your input.

[@RockKnocker17]

Wild lemon balm would be great to have around! My old town had wild catnip everywhere and when it flowered my bees honey would be a bit minty. I would love to try lemon balm honey!

[@willowwhyte1104]

@@venidamcdaniel1913 U do U sweetie. There are as many ways to do something as there are people on this planet. 💞 I personally wouldn’t put mine in plastic either, but I try not to tell other adults what to do… 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@MrsQueen]

You have a NICE AMOUNT OF Lemon balm 🥰👏🏼

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

Thank you!!

[@MrsQueen]

@@thetravelinghomesteader658 You’re welcome

[@RockKnocker17]

I never had luck starting lemon balm from seed but I just got started plants from the greenhouse, I cant believe how amazing and lemony it really is.... I'm about to pick them bare like a rabbit before they grow.

[@RockKnocker17]

Lemon balm honey would be amazing to try! You would need lots of lemon balm but it could happen. The little town I used to live in had wild catnip everywhere and my bees honey would get just a bit minty during some times of year.

[@sherry-yq6ht]

just love watching and listening to you ❤. thanks

[@jordanallen3078]

Watching her stuff WHOLE lemon balm plants in that bucket, knowing she was making a tincture, gave me so much anxiety. (I needed some lemon balm to get through it!🤣) Anything that isn't submerged in vodka, will mildew and rot, and destroy your entire tincture. So if you've watched this video and plan on making your own tincture, please make sure your plant matter is uniform enough to be fully submerged in your alcohol. (100 proof is best, as it will extract both alcohol-soluble and water-soluble compounds from your plant.)🙏

[@jordanallen3078]

I'm not hating. I liked and subscribed! Just sharing what I've learned over the decades working with plants. 💞

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

Thanks for watching. I did submerge all of the plant matter. Thankfully nothing molded because I regularly moved the mixture around. Since the video I’ve strained and bottled the tincture and it’s all settled into a darker, cool, dry place to wait until needed!!

[@jordanallen3078]

@@thetravelinghomesteader658 Most excellent! Thank you for letting me know, I was concerned! 💞💞💞💞

[@loril.mangold8160]

​@@jordanallen3078maybe you should make your own videos

[@donnahill-harris1233]

You popped up today and I really enjoyed watching your video. I was wondering if I have to wash the lemon balm after I harvest? Thinking about all the birds, insects, etc..?

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

Great question about washing. It probably would not hurt to wash it, but upon inspection during harvest and while processing, this didn’t appear to need to be washed.

[@RockKnocker17]

Eating birds, insects etc... is no big deal. Lol. Mulching around the plant thick helps keep dirt from the ground splashing up when watering or rain also.

[@willowwhyte1104]

@donnahill-harris1233 It’s really personal preference. Some herbalists do and some don’t. Personally, I almost never wash mine, especially when making tinctures. The alcohol will (in essence) “sterilize” it anyway. And if there are any bugs in it, we’re straining it once it finishes macerating, so. No bugs will be in the final product!😊 Besides. If you eat anything that comes out of a box, bag or jar… you’ve eaten bugs (and probably worse) before. 😂 ❤

[@Eliezer737]

Thank you! I just subscribed to your channel! QUESTION the toxics of the bucket will not be extracted by the alcohol? Is it a special bucket you are using? Making sure I do the same thing safe.

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

Thanks for subscribing and the question!! It is a food grade bucket I got for food so. But you can also use any other non reactive item, like glass.

[@cherylwhite654]

how long does it take for the lemon balm to come back after such a drastic harvest? I only heard 2 ways to preserve drying & tincture. did I miss something ?

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

It took a few weeks, but I also did this towards the end of the growing season. Here in Oregon the end of the growing season is around the time of the fall rainy season, so with the rain it came backwards rather quickly. But I could harvest that bush now ( in June) and probably get another harvest in a few months with watering.

[@jamilemmond3393]

Looking for lemon balm to grow…any suggestions?

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

I found this batch at a yard sale several years ago. You could check out seed catalogs like Baker Creek Rare Seeds or local nurseries in springtime too.

[@willowwhyte1104]

@jamilemmond3393 I get most of my herbal/medicinal seeds from “Strictly Medicinal Seeds”. I love the quality of the seeds & plants, and the scientifically researched knowledge of the gardener/h erbalist/owner. Also… Not sure if Kathy mentioned this but, I grow my Lemon Balm in a pot because it can be invasive… 😮 ❤

[@delgadojmar]

You can get starts from Azure Standard

[@kindredinspirit]

The only bad thing about the bucket stuffing is for safety purposes the entire plant being fresh needs to be completely submerged as the I submerged fresh plant will mold and the spores will taint the alcohol during straining. I’m wondering your not worried about that?

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

I did actually submerge the plant matter all the way under the alcohol. In the end, I took the time to submerge the plant in the alcohol every hour or so until it sat under the liquid on its own.

[@pareshkhan5882]

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@barbaragathers2134]

What about washing the plant before putting in the bucket?

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

Good question, I did rinse it off before putting it in the bucket. But I will admit, the rinse was as I watered it before cutting!

[@kleineroteHex]

I make tinctures, but what are you doing with a bucket full?

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

I was making a bulk amount for the intention of selling or giving away as gifts.

[@kleineroteHex]

@@thetravelinghomesteader658 that makes sense then 😀

[@kellyober9580]

Is there other alcohol that can be used or maybe an oil?

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

Good question! As far as I know you can use a carrier oil of your choice like olive oil or coconut oil, but then it would be an infused oil rather than a tincture. But you may be able to use another clear alcohol but I’ve not tried another as of yet.

[@RockKnocker17]

Any alcohol can be used, but you cant drink isopropyl(rubbing) alcohol. I think vegetable glycerin can be used also but dont take my word for it. Any liquor can be used for tinctures, rum, gin, whiskey.... a whiskey lavender tincture sounds really good,,, my next aftershave???

[@margsimpson]

Hi why don't you wash it before drying it? What about rats and mice passing through it? I look forward to your reply to my question thanks, Thank you

[@thetravelinghomesteader658]

I actually did wash it before processing it, because I realized that there would be issues with it NOT being washed.