7 Smart Ways to Use Garden Scraps for Herbal Remedies and DIY Cleaners

Don’t Toss That! 7 Smart Ways to Use Garden Scraps in Your Apothecary, Kitchen & Cleaning

August is that deliciously chaotic moment when the garden goes a little wild. Maybe your tomatoes are coming in faster than you can eat them. Maybe your basil bolted. Maybe you’re standing in your kitchen with herb stems, squash seeds, citrus peels, and half a dozen "what now?" questions.

Before you toss those garden scraps into the compost, take a breath—and a second look.

These bits and pieces might not look like much, but they hold hidden power. In your apothecary, in your cleaning caddy, even in your dinner routine.

Here are 7 of my favorite zero-waste, witchy homemaker ways to stretch the goodness of your harvest and stock your home with purpose (and a little magic).

🖨️ Grab the Garden Scraps to Apothecary Cheatsheet PDF here

Made for You If...

• Your garden or CSA box is overwhelming your kitchen

• You hate wasting anything that could be useful

• You’re into homemade, low-tox living with herbal roots

• You want simple ways to turn scraps into salves, teas, tonics, or cleaners

What You’ll Come Away With:

• 7 creative, practical ways to use garden scraps

• Tips for drying, infusing, or storing them safely

• Recipes and ideas you can use immediately

• Bonus: A printable Garden Scraps to Apothecary Cheatsheet

• Affiliate product suggestions to help you get started

1. Citrus Peels → Herbal Vinegar Cleaner or Air Freshener

Citrus peels (lemon, orange, grapefruit) are gold for natural cleaning. Save the peels, toss them in a mason jar, and cover with distilled white vinegar. Let it steep for 2–4 weeks, strain, and dilute 1:1 with water for a fresh-smelling, effective all-purpose spray.

Bonus: Add rosemary or lavender stems for extra herbal power.

Use wide-mouth mason jars like these for easy filling and straining

2. Herb Stems & Wilted Bundles → Infused Oils or Bath Tea

Got leftover basil, mint, or chamomile stems? Dry them and steep in olive oil or sunflower oil for 2–4 weeks in a sunny window. These oils are perfect for salves, balms, or massage.

You can also bundle them into muslin bags with a handful of oats for a skin-soothing bath tea.

🧺 Grab a pack of reusable muslin bags here

I often use the ends of calendula, lavender, and lemon balm this way—whatever didn’t get pretty enough for the jar but still has plenty of goodness to give.

3. Overgrown Lavender & Rosemary → Bug Repellent or Carpet Sprinkle

When these herbs get woody or unruly, don’t compost them just yet. Dry the branches, strip the leaves, and save them for:

• Simmer pots (with citrus for a fresh-smelling home)

• DIY insect repellent spray (steep in witch hazel + add essential oils)

• Herbal carpet sprinkle (mix with baking soda and a few drops of oil, shake over rugs, let sit, and vacuum)

  📥 Download your FREE: Printable Simmer Pot Recipes

4. Tomato Skins & Veggie Scraps → Homemade Broth Base

When canning or cooking tomatoes, save the skins and soft bits in a freezer bag along with onion ends, carrot tops, and garlic skins. Once the bag is full, simmer for 1–2 hours for a rich vegetable broth.

I do this year-round, but tomato season makes it especially flavorful.

🧊 These reusable freezer-safe silicone bags are perfect for veggie scrap storage

5. Onion Skins → Natural Dye or Broth Booster

Yellow onion skins make a warm, golden dye for fabric, wool yarn, or even Easter eggs. They also deepen the color and flavor of broths.

Just be sure to rinse well and store skins dry to avoid mold.

6. Squash & Melon Seeds → Roast or Reseed

Don’t toss those seeds! Clean and dry them to roast with olive oil, salt, and herbs for a nourishing snack. Or save the best ones for next year’s planting.

My daughter loves helping rinse and spread them out to dry. It’s a beautiful full-circle moment from harvest to snack or seed packet.

🍴 These silicone baking mats are great for seed roasting with no sticking

7. Spent Chamomile or Tea Herbs → Facial Steam or Compost Boost

If you’ve brewed a big batch of tea or have leftover herbs from an infusion, save them for a second life. Reheat gently for a facial steam or sprinkle into compost to nourish your garden all over again.

Some nights, I reuse sleepytime tea herbs for a calming bedtime steam. It’s like getting two rituals for the price of one.

Final Thought:

This is the beauty of the garden life: nothing has to go to waste. With just a little curiosity and creativity, you can turn scraps into salves, trash into tonics, and leftovers into lasting care.

These practices don’t just save money or reduce waste—they deepen our connection with the land, the season, and ourselves.

And isn’t that what kitchen witchery is all about?

🖨️ Don’t forget to grab your Garden Scraps to Apothecary Cheatsheet for quick-reference tips.