Pure-n-Simple Soap

Rosemary officinalis is native to the Mediterranean regions which would limit our growing season here in the Northeast, unless we invited this wonderful plant into our homes for the winter.  Rosemary is famous for its many uses in the kitchen, but also has gained great recognition in the skin care industry as well.  These are the two biggest reasons we wanted to have this herb easily available to us all year round.  We can cut fresh rosemary in the middle of February for spicing up a delicious meal, and also have available for making new batches of soap, such as our shampoo bar, in which one of the ingredients is rosemary, for it stimulates circulation and increases the blood supply to the skin, which is why it is commonly found in shampoos.

Rosemary is one among many herbs such as basil, oregano, sage, lavender and many others that do well in containers placed in windows, that receive plenty of sun; typically a window that receives southern exposure.  Be sure to have your plant in a container that has drainage, and minimally in a 4-6 inch pot using potting soil, rather that soil from your garden.  Potting soil will have fertilizer and all the nutrients the plant should need to get through the winter.  If however your plant looks pale you should fertilize with a diluted house plant fertilizer once every two weeks.  Also make sure not to over water, letting the plant dry out between watering.