School of Essential Living Arts Blog

More Life for Less Cash

This is the place to get more life for less cash. The School of Essential Living Arts is a place to share ways of getting more of what we need with our own skills. It’s never too late to learn a natural remedy or practical solution. It’s even better to share your skills with your friends and neighbors. Here you will find essential concepts for healthy living.

Deadly Beauty: Grocery store flowers are more toxic than you think!

“Friendly Flowers” are all the buzz at our Oasis
Botanica demonstration garden in Mack,
Colorado.  Did you know that since flowers are not meant
to be eaten, the laws that control toxic chemicals do not apply?!  Not only does that put hidden toxins in your
home, it also contributes to a world-wide industry that damages the health of
thousands of workers.  We grow our own at
Oasis Botanica.  We don’t want toxins in
our home or in yours.

Fix your "Tension Zones" or "Dead Zones" with essential oils

Do you have a “tension zone”
in your home or business?  It may be the
waiting room of your dental office, or it may be your own computer station as
you pay your bills. You can turn your tension zone into a calm zone with just a
few drops of essential oils.  Maybe you
have a “dead zone” in your staff meeting room. 
It’s exciting when creative ideas replace that stale air after a subtle
application of mind-engaging essential oils. 
Use the stimulating, relaxing and calming power of plants to get where

Hate citronella smell? No problem! You can still repel insects naturally.

Many people prefer a natural insect repellent, but they dislike the smell of traditional citronella oil. 

Give your business a competitive edge with custom essential oil blends

You've worked hard to give your business a distinctive brand.  Why not reinforce that brand when customers visit with custom essential oil blends?  It is easy and cost-effective to create the ambiance you want, from an energizing atmosphere in a sports shop to an air of relaxed confidence in a financial planning office.

Warm Hands and Warm Feet with Black Pepper Oil

Winter sports and outdoor work don't have to mean cold hands and cold feet.  A customer who works winter construction in Colorado recently purchased black pepper oil from us. He mixes it with plain vegetable oil to rub on his hands for winter work. 

Here's how it works. Black pepper brings blood flow to the surface of the skin for that natural warmth from your own body. 

Pimples, Fever Blister and Cold Sores. Nip them in the Bud!

We were pleased to receive a recent post from a customer who uses Crudbuster blend whenever she feels a fever blister coming on. She reports that one tiny drop applied directly to the area prevents a breakout, and quickly resolves any breakouts that have already erupted.

Aromatherapy for Dogs

If your dog is out of sorts, essential oils and herbs may be all the help he needs.

Here's a handy guide to print out and use for common dog ailments. Don't use these suggestions on your cat, canary or any other pets. Each type of animal has special needs. Some, including cats, cannot tolerate essential oils.

I Always Feel Rich in the Garden

"When life wearies and ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden"

Somehow, this old quote seems very contemporary. We have too much bad news around us these days. I finally decided to put myself on a "news fast" and spend the time in the garden instead.

Picky Spider Mites in my Garden

A whole mess of spider mites blew in this summer on the west wind from Utah. They just wiped out the early coneflowers hollyhocks. It was a heartbreaker to have to cut off all those beautiful new buds, but it was the only way to keep the mites from invading even further. Fortunately, the coneflowers and hollyhocks rebounded with even more beautiful, mite-free flowers a few weeks later.