The Japanese have been using buckwheat pillow for centuries.  Buckwheat hull pillow provide firm and even support for your neck and back.   It has the ability to perfectly conform to the contours of our head.  Thus resulting in better and sound sleep.

Buckwheat pillows can be expensive.  So I decided to make my own using buckwheat hull and some linen fabrics.  Having a zipper is also helpful as you can adjust the amount of hull for personal comfort.  And with zipper openings, you can remove all the hulls before washing the pillow case.

The list of benefits for using buckwheat hull as pillow filling includes:

grown without pesticides as they are naturally pest resistant

biodegradable (can be composted and even used as mulch)

naturally hypoallergenic (for those allergic to feathers)

odorless, pest and fungus resistant

I used 100 % linen fabric and filled it with 1 lb of buckwheat hull.  The hull is very light but feels substantial once stuffed inside the pillow. It may be a small pillow for most, but it works fine for me.  Maybe it’s more of a travel pillow.

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Linen is the best fabric to wear in the summer.  It’s comfortable and very cooling.  The only down side would be that it wrinkles easily.  Then again, it does iron easily too.

I used to always hesitate purchasing linen clothing because I thought it would be itchy and rough.  My first linen item of clothing was a summer skirt.  It was medium weight and didn’t feel too cooling.  But then I found some light weight navy linen pants that were much more cooler to wear, especially on hot days.

Here is a photo of a simple flax flower and buds that provide us with so much.  From healthy flax seeds to oils and of course, the fabric of summer!

Linen is made from the flax stalks (bast fiber).  The luster of linen comes from the natural wax content.  Linen can be creamy white to light tan as this fiber can be easily dyed.  The color does not fade when washed.  It is best to hang (line) dry them.  Linen, like cotton, can also be boiled without damaging the fiber.

Libeco, a Belgian linen manufactured describes the flax as one of the most ecologically-correct plant.  The seeds provide oil for dyes, paint, cosmetics and floor coverings.  And the by-products of linen production are processed into a pulp used for banknotes or fiberboard.  But most of all, flax is most renowned as the raw material for use as linen fabric.

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