March 31st, I went on the first "death march" hike I have done since my teens. On my journey, I located and harvested a couple hundred grams of Labrador Tea leaves & stems, most of which is now dried and ready to be brewed as tea. The second grade leaves, as well as the stems, I would normally have tossed out into the compost, but this time, I have simmered them in almond oil to make an infused oil, which is something I haven't done in 16 years! Tomorrow, I will make a beeswax lip balm and ointment with this new oil. My lips have been chapped for a while, soon to be a distant memory.

Pic 1/3: chopped, frozen Labrador Tea leaves in almond oil.

* This is a glass double-boiler.