MHRB Project Planner

Tell the planner what you want to make and how much of it. It works out how much Mimosa hostilis root bark to order, which form suits the job, what else you need, and gives you step-by-step instructions you can download or print for the day your order arrives.

Quantities at a glance

Dye fabric or yarn: how much root bark you need

Quantity. Deep shade: bark equal to the dry weight of the fibre (100%). Medium: 75%. Light: 50%.

Which form. Shredded bark strains out with a sieve. Powder works faster but needs a fine cloth. Whole bark works if you cut it first.

You also need:

• Natural-fibre fabric or yarn (wool, silk, cotton or linen), washed
• Alum mordant, optional: 12 to 20% of the fibre weight
• Iron (ferrous sulphate), optional, to darken: about 2% of the fibre weight
• A stainless steel pot, strainer and gloves kept for dyeing

Steps:

1. Weigh the fibre dry and wash it with a mild, pH-neutral soap.
2. If you are using alum, mordant the fibre first. It matters most on cotton and linen.
3. Cover the bark with water and simmer gently for about an hour without boiling. Strain out the bark.
4. Add the wet fibre and enough water for it to move freely. Hold just below a simmer for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring now and then.
5. For deeper colour, leave the fibre in the bath overnight as it cools.
6. Optional: dip in an iron bath to shift the colour darker and greyer.
7. Rinse in cool water until it runs clear and dry in the shade.
8. Keep the bark: a second simmer gives a lighter shade.

Where the quantity comes from: Tested by our store, and in line with published natural-dye practice for dried barks (50 to 100% of fibre weight).

Colour cold process soap: how much root bark you need

Quantity. About 1 teaspoon of powder per pound (450 g) of soap. Use half for a pale tint.

Which form. Powder is the only form that blends straight into soap batter.

You also need:

• Your usual cold process recipe and lye safety gear
• A light liquid oil taken from the recipe: about 3 times the volume of the powder
• A small sieve

Steps:

1. Measure the powder.
2. Mix it into about three times its volume of light oil until it looks like thin paint, with no lumps.
3. Make your soap as usual and bring it to light trace.
4. Stir the colour in through a small sieve, then pour.
5. Cure as normal. Judge the colour after four to six weeks, because it shifts as the soap cures.

Where the quantity comes from: Tested by our store. This is the usual starting rate soap suppliers give for powdered colourants.

Colour melt and pour soap: how much root bark you need

Quantity. Up to 1 teaspoon of powder per pound (450 g) of base. Start with half.

Which form. Use powder, and disperse it before it goes into the base.

You also need:

• Melt and pour soap base
• A little glycerin or rubbing alcohol to disperse the powder
• Moulds

Steps:

1. Disperse the powder in a little glycerin or alcohol until smooth.
2. Melt the base gently.
3. Stir in the colour.
4. Let the base cool slightly and keep stirring until it starts to thicken, so the powder does not sink.
5. Pour into moulds and leave to set.

Where the quantity comes from: Same starting rate as cold process. Melt and pour shows specks more easily, so begin lower.

Make an infused oil: how much root bark you need

Quantity. 1 part bark by weight to 5 parts oil by volume: 100 g of bark for every 500 ml of oil.

Which form. Shredded bark strains out cleanly and leaves no grit. Whole bark works if you cut it small.

You also need:

• A stable liquid oil such as olive or jojoba
• A clean, dry glass jar with a lid
• A fine cloth for straining

Steps:

1. Put the bark in the jar and cover it completely with the oil.
2. Warm method: stand the jar in a pan of warm water on the lowest heat for 4 to 6 hours. Do not let the oil get hot enough to fry.
3. Slow method: close the jar and leave it somewhere warm for several weeks, shaking it now and then.
4. Strain through a fine cloth and squeeze out the bark.
5. Store the oil in a dark bottle, labelled with the date. Use it in soap or balm recipes.

Where the quantity comes from: The standard 1:5 ratio herbalists use for dried plant material in oil.

Make a balm or salve: how much root bark you need

Quantity. 8 parts infused oil to 1 part beeswax, and 1 part bark to 5 parts oil for the infusion.

Which form. The bark goes into the infused oil first, so shredded is the practical form.

You also need:

• Beeswax pellets or grated beeswax
• A stable liquid oil such as olive or jojoba
• A double boiler or a heatproof jug in a pan of water
• Clean tins or jars

Steps:

1. Make the infused oil first (see the infused oil project) and strain it well.
2. Melt the beeswax into the infused oil in a double boiler, stirring gently.
3. Test the texture: put a drop on a cold plate. Add a little more wax for a firmer balm or more oil for a softer one.
4. Pour into tins or jars and leave to cool before closing.
5. Label with the date and patch test before regular use.

Where the quantity comes from: A standard salve ratio (1 oz of beeswax to 8 fl oz of oil) combined with the 1:5 infusion ratio.

Tannin wash for darkening wood: how much root bark you need

Quantity. 1 heaping tablespoon of bark powder per pint (about 475 ml) of hot water.

Which form. Powder makes the strongest tea in the shortest time. Strain it well before brushing.

You also need:

• Hot water
• An iron solution: steel wool dissolved in white vinegar for about a week, then filtered
• Brushes or rags, gloves and a dust mask

Steps:

1. Stir the powder into hot water and let it steep until cool. Strain through a cloth.
2. Sand the wood and brush on the bark tea. Do not scrub: let it soak in and blot any pools.
3. When the surface moisture has gone, brush on the iron solution. The wood darkens as the iron reacts with the tannin.
4. Once dry, brush on a second coat of bark tea to deepen and even out the colour.
5. Let it dry fully, then seal with your usual finish.
6. Always test the whole sequence on an offcut of the same wood first.

Where the quantity comes from: Adapted from a published woodworking method that uses tannin-rich bark powder before an iron and vinegar solution. It was written for quebracho bark, so test on an offcut first.

Masks and scrubs

Face masks and scrubs use so little powder that there is nothing to calculate: a pinch stirred into a spoonful of cosmetic clay, with water added a few drops at a time, is enough for one mask. The smallest bag of root bark powder covers this many times over. Patch test first, and expect the powder to stain cloths.

What the planner leaves out, and why

We only list projects where the quantity is one we have tested or can point to a published method for. That is why you will not find leather tanning or ink here yet: both are traditional uses of tannin-rich bark, but we do not have amounts we would stand behind. Nothing here involves eating or drinking the bark. It is sold for dyeing, soap making, cosmetic crafts and woodwork only.

Safety, whatever you make

• Keep pots, spoons and jars used for bark out of the kitchen.
• Wear gloves. The bark is a strong dye and stains skin, cloth and worktops.
• Avoid breathing the powder. Wear a dust mask when you measure large amounts.
• Patch test anything that goes on skin, and do not use it on broken or irritated skin.
• Follow normal lye safety when you make cold process soap.

Common questions

Can I buy one form and use it for everything?

Whole bark is the most flexible if you can cut and grind it yourself. Otherwise, shredded bark covers dyeing and infusions, and powder covers soap, masks and wood. Many customers order both.

Should I order extra?

For dyeing, yes: order about a quarter more than the planner shows, so you can run a test piece first and have enough to repeat a colour. For soap and skincare, the smallest bag already leaves plenty to spare.

Do you have lab results for the bark?

Lab results and a certificate of analysis (COA) are available on request.

I need more than 5 kg. Is there a better price?

Yes. See the wholesale page for the price per kilogram from 5 kg to 100 kg.

Sources

• Dye quantities for dried barks: AppleOak FibreWorks, oak bark dye notes, and the KraftKolour natural dye booklet on weight of fibre.
• Infused oil ratio: The Nerdy Farm Wife, herb infused oils.
• Balm ratio: Homestead and Chill, salves and balms 101.
• Bark tea before iron on wood: Popular Woodworking, ebonizing wood.
• The tree and its traditional uses: Camargo-Ricalde (2000), Revista de Biología Tropical.