Challenge Update, With Some Extra Ideas to Inspire You to Enter!!! (You Can Win Hive!)

The first week of the OXYMEL challenge is over, and there's been quite a bit of excitement over discovering how to make your very own, very easy herbal extraction with vinegar that's as good for you as it is delicious. By all accounts, there's a lot of research going on and we're looking forward to seeing what people come up with in the coming week!

Winner of the first week's challenge is @buckaroobaby who wins a part beneficiary on this post, as well as being eligible for a prize in week 2. We just love early birds, especially early birds fluttering in their natural habitat looking for wild plants to put in a medicinal oxymel! Here's Buckaroo herself wandering through the veld contemplating what native plants to put in her honey and vinegar concoction, followed by oxymel and plant medicine book in hand. One of the things we love about plant medicine is that it leads us into nature to discover what can heal and nourish us, even if it's unfamiliar. Check out her post here.

@riverflows (yup, that's me - I'm not in the running, but if you don't mind I'm going to use this opportunity to express even more excitement about oxymels) shared her dabblings with a lover's oxymel. It's yet to be tried, but hopefully this post will inspire you a little to get stuffing herbs in jars. Don't be intimidated by the process - it's really that simple. What have you got to lose?

Do you have an oxymel ready to prepare? We honestly can't wait to hear about it! Don't forget to drop your link below the post below.

But if you're struggling, here's some idea to enter the challenge...

• Make your own apple scrap vinegar. We're aware not everyone has apple cider vinegar, so why don't you try making some? Document your process and drop the link on the original contest announcement post.
• Make your own medicinal salad dressing. Honey can be expensive, and herbal medicines intimidating. What about a simple medicinal salad dressing, infusing plants such as garlic, turmeric, basil and chilli into vinegar and/or olive oil? Explain your thinking behind your choices, the taste, and report back in a few weeks time about how the taste improves across time and any benefits you might have noticed.
• Do some research on oxymels. What are they? What would you like to make? How might they help your particular dis-ease or discomfort? For example, you might like to research herbs for lung health, and plan an oxymel to make in the future.

The more entries, the more chances of winning, so do spread the word and get involved!

Check out the prizes and rules pinned to our blog, and have fun! Thanks to the following people for expressing interest, supporting our community, and getting involved with comments, posts and general enthusiasm!

^{@senorcoconut, @edprivat, @deepresearch, @parauri, @gentleshaid, @trucklife-family, @fermentedphil, @mamrita, @buckaroobaby, @kyleana, @opidia, @didivelikova, @jonyoudyer, @alexanderfarm, @stellify, @amy-goodrich, @ninasophia, @blackberryskunk, @auelitairene, @foxfireorchards, @riverflows, @medikatie, @mamrita, @artemislives, @binkyprod, @rubido, @clareartista, @tere.alv, @nellyhope, @trucklife-family, @livinginuktaiwan, @riverflows, @yangyanje, @qwerrie}

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