Calendula: The Garden Flower That Earns Its Keep
Calendula is one of those flowers you plant once and end up keeping around for good.
It’s bright, cheerful, and easy to grow—but more than that, it’s useful. The kind of plant that pulls its weight without asking much in return.
If you’ve got a little space in the garden, it’s worth giving it a spot.
What It Is
Calendula is a hardy annual known for its bright orange and yellow blooms. It’s been used for generations in simple skin preparations and home remedies, and it’s one of the easiest herbs to grow and use.
How It Grows
Calendula is about as forgiving as they come.
Full sun to partial shade
Average soil
Regular watering, but nothing fussy
Once it gets going, it will often reseed itself year after year.
The more you harvest the flowers, the more it produces—which makes it a good fit for a working garden.
How I Use It Around Our Home
Calendula is one I reach for often when it comes to skin support.
Infused into oil for salves
Added to simple balms
Used for dry or irritated skin
Kept on hand as a go-to herb]
Mix calendula oil with baking soda as a paste to put on areas that itch.
It’s gentle, which makes it one of the more dependable herbs to keep around.
Traditional Uses
Calendula has a long history of use for skin support. Traditionally, it’s been used in infused oils, salves and balms, and other gentle herbal preparations.
It’s known as one of the more mild and widely used herbs for everyday skin needs.
A Simple Recipe: Calendula Infused Oil
This is one of the best ways to keep calendula on hand and ready to use.
Ingredients
1/2 mason jar dried calendula flowers
Enough olive oil to cover herbs even after they expand when hydrated. I usually fill to 3/4 or the top of the jar.
Instructions
Place dried flowers in a clean, dry jar
Cover completely with oil
Let infuse for 6-8 weeks in a dark, warm spot
Strain and store in a clean jar
How I Use It
As a base for salves
Applied to dry skin
Added to simple home remedies
It’s a simple starting point that can be used in a lot of different ways.
How This Actually Gets Used Week to Week
This one sees steady use.
Flowers picked and dried through the season
Oil made once or twice a year
Used regularly in salves and skin care
Kept on hand for everyday needs
It’s not complicated—but it’s dependable.
‘Til next time, keep livin’ that farm fresh life!
~ Megan
👉 Curious how our homestead journey began? Read our story here.
Herbs are helpful, but they aren’t cure-alls.
This is based on traditional use and everyday experience, not medical advice. It’s always worth doing your own research and using good judgment.
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HEY, I’M Megan…
My husband and I are the proud owners of Lucky Duck Acres. While we both have full-time jobs in town that sometimes make it challenging to get everything done, homesteading is all about making the most of what you have. That’s why we started this blog—to inspire you to begin your own homesteading journey from wherever you are, even if you live in town.
If you had told me five years ago that I’d own a small-town home on just half an acre, complete with ducks and rabbits, I would have laughed and called it impossible. Yet today, I can’t imagine life without our feathered and furry little family, or turning our tiny piece of land into something we truly love.
Along the way, our homesteading adventure has grown to include farmers markets. We bring our extra duck eggs to market, and I bake sourdough bread and sweet treats that often sell out before the day is over! It’s been an incredible journey, and we’re excited to see what God has in store for us next.
Because of interest from market visitors, I’ve also started offering virtual sourdough classes via Zoom—including both prerecorded lessons and live one-on-one sessions.
It’s another way to share our passion and help others bring a little homesteading magic into their own homes.
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Inspiring you to start your homestead journey from where you are, with what you have, your way.
info@luckyduckacres.com
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