Have you ever run your fingers over a cottonwood bud and noticed the sticky, fragrant resin left behind? That golden sap is where the magic begins. Balm of Gilead, an age-old herbal remedy, is made by infusing these resinous buds into oil, drawing out their soothing and skin-nourishing properties. I love combining this rich, infused oil with raw beeswax from my hives to create a deeply restorative salve, one that carries the essence of the trees and the work of the bees. It’s a time-honored trad