We’ve been enjoying an incredible week of warm weather in Ontario, but today everything changed. It’s that time of year when the weather turns colder and my thoughts immediately go to the wood stove and the radiant heat it provides. It’s a perfect opportunity to dry spruce needles and cedar nuts for our Woodsman Cedar Scrub Soap.

Spruce trees provide a number of functions: beauty, a place for the birds to nest, food for us and other little gems.

In the springtime you’ll notice beautiful, light, almost fluorescent green extensions growing from the branches. These are spruce tips, the trees new growth. These tips are plentiful and very versatile, so I sustainably harvest and use them to brighten my salads or steep them to make a lovely refreshing tea. They have a mild citrus taste as well as a hint of resin. 

In the fall, spruce needles provide a beautiful natural ingredient in Thistles and Sticks Woodsman Cedar Scrub Soap. As well as complimenting the intoxicating fragrance, this bar also provides a gentle exfoliation. Just pinching the needles from the dried branches makes me think of Christmas, family and friends!

As always, you can find our products, description, pricing and more on Our Products page.