Review: Make Your Place by Raleigh Briggs
Each topic is treated quickly, in usually no more than a page or two. I’m still a newbie to herbal remedies and household products, so I can’t vouch for the accuracy of the information, but there are cautions and safety tips sprinkled liberally throughout. The writing is engaging and frank, the illustrations are cute, and the book seems to cover all the basics for taking care of your home and family naturally.
The book starts out with an Introduction, followed by Safety Protocols, and is then broken down into three main sections: Health & First Aid, Non-Toxic Cleaning & Body Care, and Gardening. I found the Health & First Aid section the most interesting; Briggs gives an overview of methods of making tinctures, infusions, salves and similar, explains the uses for many different herbs (unfortunately, this book tells me that because I’m allergic to ragweed, I can’t take chamomile, which is in almost every destressing or soothing recipe in the book), breaks down an herbal first aid kit, and details remedies for specific problems such as headaches, the common cold, and more. There are even a couple of pages devoted to PMS and related issues!
The Non-Toxic Cleaning & Body Care section begins with a list of supplies needed for making your own home-brew cleaners, which includes castile soap, an ingredient I want to learn more about. Most of the recipes for the household cleaners require differing amounts of the same ingredients, with various essential oils added to the mix, so it’s clear you don’t have to break the bank buying a ton of different supplies. There’s a handy chart explaining which herbs work best for which skin types, and I can’t wait to try making the Rose & Honey Face Wash and the Super Precious Face Oil (”This is the stuff I use on my face every day. I love using it: the bergamot, lavender and clary sage oils make me feel happy and relaxed, and using a dropper makes me feel like a scientist.”)
I found the Gardening section slightly less helpful, but that may be because I’ve done a little gardening already and the information is very basic. However, the Plant Anatomy chart in the front is totally brilliant, and there were some interesting tips throughout (for instance, a chart of “plant buddies” to help you figure out which plants grow best together and which should be kept apart). Also, I finally understand compost! I’ll be trying that when I have a garden again for sure. This section is helpful for new gardeners.
This is a great little book with a little price that provides much-needed help for beginning herbalists, DIYers and homesteaders. I highly recommend it to anyone just starting out (like me!)
Buy Make Your Place: Affordable and Sustainable Nesting Skills by Raleigh Briggs.
Grace is an aspiring fantasy writer living imaginatively in Far Northern California.
