Medicine cabinet/storage

[Jodie HummelStudent]

Good morning my lovely friends!

Say, I’m already starting to amass quite the apothecary.  I’m still a beginner, but I’ve dried a lot of herbs I’ve grown (dehydrated and kept in glass jars) and have a few beginner simples.

However, I’m starting to get quite a few of these formulas, and while I don’t mind them on the kitchen counter, the sweetie might get tired of them after a while.  What are some of the clever storage solutions y’all employ to make things easy to see and easy to grab?  Because if I don’t see them, I won’t use them as much (and I rely on my gut going “that one!” a lot) and if I have to pile through them, well, let’s just say I don’t have the greatest reputation for being delicate when on a mission.

I have a tool box that I use for essential oils, and while handy, I don’t use them nearly as much as I’d like because the toolbox is under the counter where I don’t see it often enough (and then the lazy girl shows up and says maaaaannnnn i have to bend over to grab that lol).

Just being practical!  Thanks for anyone who has great ideas!  I’m all about repurposing or using things outside of the box!   Sunny day to y’all, even if it’s just in your heart!

Jodie

Total of 11 users thanked author for this post. Here are last 10 listed.

Michelle Irby, Leslie Boyatt, Margo Nyman, Sue S, Joanne Fletcher, Kathy Cirinelli, Denise Clark, Jennifer McKinnie, Cheryl Loomans, Thaleia Maher

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2 users thanked author for this post.

Joanne Fletcher, Jodie Hummel

[Janine HumphreysStudent]

Hi Jodie. I am not sure this is anything you haven’t considered but this worked for me:  I  bought two 6 foot tall beautiful book cases off FB marketplace. I paid $100 for two of identical dark wood bookcases with cabinets on the bottom half and shelving on the upper half.  I lined them up next to each other like a wall, entering out into the living room, essentially creating a room divider. Then I loaded the cabinets with kitchen appliance’s to hide them, and used the book case area for the jars of herbs, oils, tinctures and herb books. I even added a small amount of home canned goods, old beautiful bottles and two old cast iron Dutch ovens. I even used the top edge of the cabinets to string dried herbs. It loos good. It gave me a lot of accessible storage for medicines in process and dried plants in jars. I love to look at it. It is my apothecary. Everything right in one place right next to the kitchen. Maybe this story will give you an idea that will  help you. Good luck. Janine

1 user thanked author for this post.

Jodie Hummel

[JeanStudent]

Janine, That is an excellent idea.  I sort of did that upstairs, (downstairs is too small) but, if I could, I would do it downstairs as well. My bookshelves were put in line with each other (read: on the same imaginary wall, sort of speaking) but I left a space between them as a passage way. because I needed to be able to get into the small un-heated room beyond them. The ceiling here is such that it limits putting the book shelves up against the wall.  So, behind these shelves there is a space, with a dormer-like wall on the roof line that comes slanting down. (I dont know what you call it but it gets in the way and I cant place the book shelves flat against the wall.) Clear as mud, I know. Mental Gymnastics here.

To improvise for a hoosier cabinet I already have an inexpensive 2’x4′  conference table and will put a “shallow” 3 shelf bookshelf on top of the conference table   Boxes can be stored under the conference table instead of pull out drawers. (there are better ideas then “boxes” out there for this.)

Where there is a Will, there is a Way!

1 user thanked author for this post.

Jodie Hummel

[jennifer troyerStudent]

I repurposed a bookshelf that I keep my labeled jars in and added a curtain rod at the top with a panel curtain to help keep light out. The curtain is easy to move and allow me to see the herbs on the shelf. Plus it helps keep them off the counter. My oils i haven’t figured out a system yet. They tend to end up everywhere, and often where i last used them. Good luck!

3 users thanked author for this post.

Joanne Fletcher, Rachel Borchardt, Jodie Hummel

[Jodie HummelStudentTopic Author]

Great idea, Jennifer!  I haven’t found anything great for my oils yet either.  We own an auto repair shop, so I absconded with an unused toolbox and grab styrofoam as it comes through.  I have a drill bit that I poke holes in the styro so my bottles fit but don’t clank.  However, as I’m a little OCD (read: I’m a freak), the different-sized bottles annoys me.  Love the idea of the bookshelf with the curtain.  If the rod is put a little above each shelf (exc the top), it could also make a barrier so the jars don’t fall off.  Thanks!  I knew peeps had ideas out there!  Be well, new friend!

2 users thanked author for this post.

Karen Vastarelli, Joanne Fletcher

[Vickie DiMambroStudent]

I have a small beverage refrigerator that I store my essential oils in.  I made soaps and lotions, so I have a large supply.  I am just starting to store dried herbs, so I will start with an area in my pantry that has wire shelves, but I have used a heavy shower curtain on hooks to help keep it dark.  I live off grid, so cool is relative, but the room is interior, so not too bad on temperature  swings.

2 users thanked author for this post.

Joanne Fletcher, Jodie Hummel

[Natashia AtkinsonStudent]

I found an shelf with a door off of marketplace so my apothecary can be contained all in one place. Anything like a hutch, bookshelf, hoosier(my dream apothecary 🙂 ), cabinet in the kitchen, etc can be useful!

May His face shine upon you, Natashia

4 users thanked author for this post.

Robin Quiroga, Joanne Fletcher, Cheryl Loomans, Jodie Hummel

[Denise FlochStudent]

Thanks. These all sound like great ideas for storage, but how important is it to keep them cool and in the dark? Eventually I would hope to have dried herbs, tinctures and oils. Do they have different storage needs?

1 user thanked author for this post.

Joanne Fletcher

[Millicent TennisonStudent]

Thanks for the ideas on the herb storage – just what I was looking for tonight.  I have many oils and I use a wall hung nail polish holder that they would use in a salon.  It has worked great for years now.

4 users thanked author for this post.

Sue S, Joanne Fletcher, HELEENA EVANS, Jodie Hummel

[Margo NymanStudent]

love this idea

[KarenStudent]

I keep my herbs in the bathroom cabinet along with all the bandaids, ace wraps, gauze, towels etc.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Joanne Fletcher

[heartnsoleStudent]

Thanks for opening up this post Jodie. It’s great to see other’s ideas. I too, use a large bookshelf that has some doors on it, to help keep some of my labeled canning jars out of the light. Also, I found plastic trays to line shelves for oils that always leak. Now we are in harvest season, old unused herbs go into compost, and get refilled with new, dried harvest. I usually keep the leaves whole, and crush on use. I thought this might keep them from deteriorating so rapidly. Does any one else powder their herbs? Keep thinking they would take up less space, requiring smaller jars, if they were powdered. I like the toolbox idea for EOs.

3 users thanked author for this post.

Joanne Fletcher, Pj Robertson, Jodie Hummel

[Cheryl LoomansStudent]

Hi! I powder my roots right away after drying them and a few of the herb I know I will be using regularly. All others I’m leaving as whole leaves but some of them are so crunchy they crumble when I put them in my jars.

[Jennifer McKinnieStudent]

This is a great post, thanks!  I have begun amassing dried herbs as well and was wondering how to store them.  I was also looking at getting one of the over the door spice racks for my pantry to see if I could store them in there, that way I can easily see them.  We’ll see if it works!

3 users thanked author for this post.

Ruth O'Riva, Joanne Fletcher, Jodie Hummel

[Ruth O’RivaStudent]

Love the idea of the over the door rack for storage. I have very little space and was wondering where on earth I was going to put things – I think this will work very well. Thanks for the idea!

[Kathy CirinelliStudent]

This is a great thread.  I powder some of my dried herbs but mostly leave the leaves whole until I use them.  I am started to accumulate oils and herbs as well and need to figure out storage.

2 users thanked author for this post.

Jodie Hummel, Joanne Fletcher

[Pj RobertsonStudent]

A great thread. Being prepared for those medical home emergencies and the onset of a sudden illness definitely requires a bit of organization.  The medicine does you no good when you are too sick or injured to find it.

2 users thanked author for this post.

Joanne Fletcher, Jodie Hummel

[SUZANNEStudent]

I read in Dr Jones’ book, “The homegrown Herbalist”, that in most cases he is dealing with dried plants that have been ground up.

I have a lot of dried herbs that I have purchased over the years. There are in the bags they came in and inside bins, so no light gets to them. They take up a lot of room.

So should I grind them up and put them in jars for better storage??

Thank you for any and all replies.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Dry herbs last a bit longer if not ground but not much. None of them are great for more than a year or two dried. For long term storage, tinctures are the way to go.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Leslie Boyatt

[JeanStudent]

Jodie,

Great post.  You are visual.  There are four kinds of organizers. Two are visual and Two are not visual.

Essential oils: I learned recently do not last forever like I had thought. Foil bags: Have end dates on them. Freeze dryers: Keeps herbs for 25 years.  That is an expensive way to go, but seems promising if one can go in that direction.  I dread the thought of having to go in that direction. I am trying to keep life simple and dont want to depend on a power source.  Apothecary layouts: I looked up older versions of apothecaries and got some ideas for that. (Hoosier type cabinets against the wall with narrow tables (parallel) a few feet away to work on) Small house here, but, that is my plan.

 

1 user thanked author for this post.

Jodie Hummel

[Michelle SchuetzStudent]

Thanks for the post. I am just starting, but running into storage concerns. I have a linen closet that has narrow shelves. I like the narrow shelves because it is easy to see what is there. I have been repurposing more shelves in this closet to herbs.

[JeanStudent]

I plan to phase out of essential oils and concentrate on yearly harvests of herbs.  I wish I would have taken a course like this decades ago.

[Joni JonesStudent]

😀 I really appreciate this post! Fantastic feedback for someone starting their apothecary. Ya’ll rock the Casbah! Thank you!

• This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by Joni Jones.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Jodie Hummel

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