My first Botanical Study is focused on blending different herbs through experimentation. I have provided three herbs to play with. There is a provided notebook for you to record your thoughts. The idea is to try each herb individually and observe the effects. Then try combining them together in different quantities. How does each herb make you feel or affect you? How do they in combination? Is one better for morning sipping, or as a before bed treat?
Nettles
Nettles might feel a little out of left field. But as I've been learning more about herbs, nettles actually has some surprising properties. This study is not meant to help solve any medical issues, but nettles may have a few herbal medicinal properties. If you do a google search, you'll find that it has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and natural antihistamine properties. Test this out for yourself and record your own experiences. Now nettles should be used carefully, especially if you are pregnant or have underlying health conditions, so consult with a doctor prior to use if you fall into one of these categories.
Lavender
Lavender is one of my favorite herbs. I love the scent and I find it has a calming property. As I was testing this for myself, I tried out a cup of tea before bed, and actually found I slept more deeply that night. Was it a coincidence? Test it out for yourself!
Peppermint
Peppermint purportedly has a wide range of effects on the body. Test it out in combination with the other herbs - do the effects combine for you? Peppermint has a bright, cooling flavor profile. I am typically not a mint-flavored fan, but for this one I would make an exception.
Box Debacle
Building this study may sound simple, but I had the most difficulty with the wooden boxes that I am using to house all of the items. I first ordered some boxes that seemed great - I tested them out to make sure they would fit all of the items. I even ordered the notebooks based on this size - they would fit perfectly on top of the windowed surface.
I did want to do something about the surface of the wood though - it looked so raw and I wanted a little more of a darker look. I decided to try out painting the wood with a well-brewed tea. The results weren't crazy, but it did darken the wood to a point that I was happy with.
This created two new problems however: The dampness started making the hinges stain the wood, and the wood expanded.
I don't know if it was the wood expanding or if I only tested a single box, but when I was ready to triumphantly package up the first box, I filmed it for an Instagram reel, and quickly realized the last item was not going to fit no matter what I tried.
I felt very defeated. So I took a few days away from the whole project until I was ready to look for a new box. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find another that was larger with the windowed front for a reasonable price, so I ended up ordering one that was solid wood.
I had tested a box earlier to see if the new stamp of my logo would work on the wood, and it had. So I decided to stamp each box on the top with my logo to customize them a little bit.
The stamp ended up bleeding over time, making them look pretty bad. 
After a few more days to take another break, I was able to sand away the first attempt, add a layer of matte finishing paint, and try again. This time it worked for the most part, and I was able to at least get a few boxes that I could use for this study series.
Who would have thought the most difficult part of this study series would be the boxes? My next study series will likely not come in the same type of packaging. Lessons were learned.
