It’s spring! And here, that means wind (OK, well, we have wind all the time, but in the spring it seems to pick up some). Our cottonwood (Populus deltoides) is starting to bud out and the wind does take down a few branches here and there. A short walk will give me quite a few branches like this:

I want buds that are like this or maybe even a little fatter, but not with leaves showing yet. They will feel sticky and pop right off the branch. I usually carry an empty pint jar with me, and pop the buds into it as I walk. When the jar is full (or even if it’s not), cover them with oil. I tend to use olive oil because that’s what I have available, but you could use other oils like jojoba. Put a lid on it and stick it in a dark cabinet until you remember it – longer is better.

These have been sitting for probably at least 18 months.

The oil will turn orange as it sits. This will make a great salve for pain relief and minor skin irritations. Drain out the buds, warm the oil, and for every 8 ounces of oil, add 2 ounces of beeswax. Stir until melted and well combined and pour in tins or jars. One word of caution: have a dedicated vessel (pot, crockpot, and utensils) for salve making. It is a bit messy and a challenge to not have smells or the wax effect food if you cook in the same pot.

When done, it will look like this:

This will keep really well, and it smells herb-y, but nothing like camphor or menthol. If you have cottonwoods around you, go for a walk after the next windstorm and see what is available. This is a project that can be done in small amounts of time a step at a time. As busy as life is right now – that’s a plus!