• wine trail

made with organic coconut oil, local organic sunflower oil, organic ethically sourced palm oil, natural grape seed oil, moroccan red clay, local Bloomer Creek Vineyard Cafe Red & our own goat’s milk

• Brewer's Hop

an all purpose soap made with local Ithaca Brewery seasonal hoppy beer (at the moment I'm using Ground Break). The sugars in beer are a natural source of glycolic acid, which is a powerful antioxidant.

Hops have been used in brewing since the ninth century. Initially they were used widely as a preservative for beer. The brewers recognized that if they included hops, the beer lasted longer. The properties and benefits of hops become a skin blessing when used as the base for soap. Hops is known as a relaxing herb. Other benefits to hops: soothes irritated skin; contains polyphenols thought to account for its anti-bacterial and preservative effects (beer's long life) and skin-softening amino acids.

made with organic coconut oil, natural olive oil, organic local lard, home grown hops blossoms combined with a mixture of locally brewed Ithaca Brewery beer and our own goat's milk.

Note that all alcohol and carbonation is removed from the brew before saponification.

• sugar shack

This maple soap is made with not just maple syrup but also includes sugar sand; a great by product of maple syrup making. Sugar sand consists of all the mineral and sugar deposits which are filtered out during maple syrup production, and is therefor high in natural sugars and manganese, both powerful antioxidants and great for the skin!

made with local organic lard, home made maple syrup, locally produced sugar sand (Sapsquatch Sugar Bush) and our own goat's milk.

 From http://www.purecanadamaple.com/benefits-of-maple-syrup

Health benefits of real maple syrup are far more comprehensive than you might expect. The only product in our diet coming directly from a plant’s sap, this natural sweetener features over 54 antioxidants that can help delay or prevent diseases caused by free radicals, such as cancer or diabetes. In addition, maple syrup features high levels of zinc and manganese, keeping the heart healthy and boosting the immune system.

It is not surprising that an increasing number of health-conscious consumers bypass white and brown sugar, stevia, agave syrup and honey in the grocery store in favor of pure maple syrup for health benefits in their diet. Did you know that pure maple syrup has the same beneficial classes of antioxidant compounds found in berries, tomatoes, tea, red wine, whole wheat and flax seed? The sheer quantity and variety of identified compounds with documented health benefits qualifies maple syrup as the next champion food.

Maple Syrup Nutritional Value:

• Maple syrup is an excellent source of manganese, which plays an important role in energy production and antioxidant defenses, and is necessary for normal brain and nerve function. A portion of ¼ cup of maple syrup contains 100% of the Daily Value of manganese.
• The sweetener provides 37% of the Daily Value of riboflavin, which aids in the metabolic process.
• Pure maple syrup also contains 18% of the recommended Daily Value of zinc, which is essential for a healthy immune system.
• Other minerals found in maple syrup are magnesium, calcium and potassium, decreasing the risk of hypertension or stroke.

• pine tar

Pine tar is a dark vegetable liquid from pine tree trunks that can be combined with various oils to make a gentle, healing bar while also providing anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Pine tar is known for it's therapeutic tendencies for rashes such as psoriasis and eczema. It is also said to heal inflammations caused by poison ivy, poison sumac, sunburn and insect bites.

made with local organic lard, organic coconut oil, local organic sunflower oil, pine tar and our own goat's milk.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/facts_5700249_benefits-pine-tar-soap_.htmlT

Pine tar is a dark vegetable liquid from pine tree trunks that can be combined with various scents and oils to make a gentle, healing soap bar. Pine tar in large quantities can cause irritation to the skin.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/facts_5700249_benefits-pine-tar-soap_.html

Pine tar is a dark vegetable liquid from pine tree trunks that can be combined with various scents and oils to make a gentle, healing soap bar. Pine tar in large quantities can cause irritation to the skin.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/facts_5700249_benefits-pine-tar-soap_.htmlPine

• Pine tar is a dark vegetable liquid from pine tree trunks that can be combined with various scents and oils to make a gentle, healing soap bar. Pine tar in large quantities can cause irritation to the skin.

Treatments

• Pine tar soap is known for its therapeutic tendencies for rashes such as psoriasis and eczema. It is also said to heal inflammations caused by poison ivy, poison sumac, sunburn and insect bites.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/facts_5700249_benefits-pine-tar-soap_.html

• Pine tar is a dark vegetable liquid from pine tree trunks that can be combined with various scents and oils to make a gentle, healing soap bar. Pine tar in large quantities can cause irritation to the skin.

Treatments

• Pine tar soap is known for its therapeutic tendencies for rashes such as psoriasis and eczema. It is also said to heal inflammations caused by poison ivy, poison sumac, sunburn and insect bites.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/facts_5700249_benefits-pine-tar-soap_.html

• dear hunter

A gallon and a half of deer tallow kick started this soap recipe: I did some google research and found that deer tallow makes a hard bar and very creamy & gentle soap - and also helps to mask human scent! As an extra benefit I also added baking soda as a deodorizer. Coincidentally, this also makes for a good dog soap!

made with all natural deer tallow, local organic sunflower oil, organic coconut oil, baking soda & our own goat’s milk

• half and half

A nice moisturizing bar with the benefits of wheat germ and castor oils. Coffee has excellent skin toning benefits and ground coffee acts as a natural exfoliant. It helps to leave the skin smooth, acne free and revitalized. Plus, coffee is deodorizing and coffee soap can remove smells making it a perfect ingredient in a kitchen soap.


made with natural olive oil, organic coconut oil, organic palm oil, natural wheat germ oil, natural castor oil, local Gimme! coffee triple strength decaf espresso & grounds and our own goat’s milk

• chicken scratch

another one of my made from scratch recipe, no pun intended, as I included pulverized chicken egg shells! The grit of the shells work as a great scrub which combined with the healing action of comfrey leaves makes for one perfect gardening soap.

made with local organic lard, organic coconut oil, local organic sunflower oil, pulverized egg shells, dried comfrey leaves and our own goat’s milk

• ginger root

a truly invigorating milk soap made with a half pound of freshly pulped ginger root. Combined with moisturizing Shea butter and nourishing avocado and rice bran oil this all makes for a lavish bath experience!

made with natural olive oil, local organic sunflower oil, organic coconut oil, rice bran oil, natural Shea butter, organic avocado oil, fresh ginger juice & pulp, and our own goat’s milk

• backyard barnyard

proud to present my made from scratch recipe inspired by my own backyard! And how much fun it was to come up with ingredients that embodied the spirit of our critters and garden :)

because of the powdered alfalfa this soap has a great scrub feel similar to a loofah soap.

made with local organic lard (pigs), organic coconut oil, local organic sunflower oil, powdered alfalfa
(horses), green clay (mud), egg yolks (poultry) and our own goat’s milk

deer tallow Hunter Soap in development

I recently acquired deer fat and used our wood stove to render it down to about a gallon of deer tallow. I did some google research and found that deer tallow makes a hard bar and very creamy & gentle soap - and also helps to mask human scent! And there a hunter soap is born...

The plan is to create two hunter soaps with a large percentage of deer tallow - when I have a more reliable source I'll use 100% deer tallow - and a deodorizer. With one soap I'll add baking soda and with the other I'll add coffee. One of our hunting neighbors, whom is also a professional coffee roaster, offered to test out the bars next hunting season and I am curious to find which one he likes best! I bet it's the one with coffee :)

• the mechanic

the soap with the most ingredients, the mechanic is especially formulated to clean dirty, greasy hands - while using only natural ingredients. With added Shea butter and wheat germ oil to help balance the drying effect hard work can have on hands...

Coincidentally, the degreasing and purifying action of this soap also makes it work great against POISON IVY! Which I know from personal experience :)

made with natural olive oil, organic coconut oil, organic ethically sourced palm oil, natural wheat germ oil, local canola oil, natural castor oil, natural Shea butter, coffee grounds, local corn meal, fuller’s earth clay, activated bamboo charcoal and our own goat’s milk

• bamboo charcoal

activated bamboo charcoal has great absorbing powers and will absorb the toxins and impurities directly from under the skin - plus it is anti-fungal as well as anti-bacterial. I added Shea butter and avocado oil to help with dry, acne and eczema prone skin.

made with local organic sunflower oil, organic coconut oil, organic ethically sourced palm oil, organic avocado oil, natural castor oil, natural Shea butter, activated bamboo charcoal and our own goat’s milk

Milk Soap Bars

art trail • made with organic coconut oil, organic palm oil, natural olive oil, jasmine tea and
our own goat’s milk

backyard barnyard • made with local organic lard (pigs), organic coconut oil, local organic sunflower oil, powdered alfalfa (horses), green clay (mud), egg yolks (poultry) and our own goat’s milk

bamboo charcoal • made with natural olive oil, organic coconut oil, organic palm oil, organic avocado oil, natural castor oil, natural Shea butter, activated bamboo charcoal and our own goat’s milk

bee good • made with organic coconut oil, natural olive oil, local canola oil, soybean oil, organic sweet almond oil, local beeswax & raw honey and our own goat’s milk

calming chamomile • made with local organic sunflower oil, natural olive oil, organic coconut oil, organic palm oil, our own goat’s milk and ground chamomile flowers

chicken scratch • made with local organic lard, organic coconut oil, local organic sunflower oil, pulverized egg shells, dried comfrey leaves and our own goat’s milk

farmer ground • made with local organic sunflower oil, natural olive oil, organic coconut oil, organic palm oil, our own goat’s milk and Farmer Ground Flour bran.

hot breakfast • made with organic local lard, natural olive oil, organic coconut oil, organic cocoa butter, local raw honey & beeswax, organic oatmeal, cinnamon and our own goat’s milk

hot chocolate • made with local organic lard, organic coconut oil, soybean oil, organic palm oil, organic cocoa butter, organic cocoa, organic vanilla extract and our own goat’s milk

lovely lavender • made with local organic sunflower oil, natural olive oil, organic coconut oil, organic palm oil, our own goat’s milk and organic lavender flowers

the mechanic • made with natural olive oil, organic coconut oil, organic palm oil, natural wheat germ oil, local canola oil, natural castor oil, natural Shea butter, coffee grounds, local corn meal, fuller’s earth clay, activated bamboo charcoal and our own goat’s milk

milk and honey • made with organic local lard , local raw honey and our own goat’s milk

oatmeal scrub • made with natural olive oil, organic coconut oil, organic palm oil, local raw honey, organic cinnamon and our own goat’s milk

sunflower power • made with locally grown and pressed organic sunflower oil, organic coconut oil, natural olive oil, organic palm oil and our own goat’s milk

sweet maple • made with organic local lard, New York State grown maple syrup and our own goat’s milk

whey cool • made with local organic sunflower oil, organic coconut oil, organic palm oil, fuller’s earth and whey from our own goat’s milk

winter sunshine • made with organic palm kernel oil, local organic sunflower oil, organic unrefined palm oil, natural Shea butter and our own goat’s milk

• goat milk soap squares

Nursing Goat and Dairy Goat milk soap squares; available in lard, lard & honey or a vegetable oil (sunflower, olive, coconut) base. The Nursing Goat bars are similar in weight as my bars. The Dairy Goat square is larger than my average and available in a gift set with a hardwood cedar soap dish. Both versions are shrink wrapped with a sticky label on the bottom.

• sunflower milk soaps

One of my favorite mold soaps in my sunflower soap. Of course I use locally grown and processed organic sunflower oil in the recipe, with a dash of organic unrefined palm oil to get the rich yellow color - and to top them off, quite literally, I use a contrasting brown or black soap to define the sunflower heart. So anytime I make a coffee bar or a hot breakfast recipe I also put out my six sunflower molds and carefully dollop 36 little sunflower centers... I just can't help myself :)

To the left you see some of the chrysanthemum flowers. After careful consideration, and hours of googling, I selected two flower shaped molds and one snowflake shaped mold (we do live in Ithaca). And I'm experimenting with a muffin size bundt mold for rope soaps (soap with a hole in the middle strung on a rope to hang up in bathroom) which will be added this season.

The sunflowers I pour one batch of 32 at a time, the mums & rope soaps I pour leftover from a large batch, a few here, a few there - keeps the inventory always a bit different!

• milk soap bricks

Traditional brick soaps with GOAT MILK lettering on top. Made with our own goat's milk with either a lard based or vegetable oil based recipe. I'm sorry to say for you vegetarians, but the lard & milk version is by far the nicest soap, hypo allergenic and moisturizing - my choice for the little ones and people with sensitive skin and/or skin eczema.

On the other hand, I get the lard locally from Kingbird Farm out of Berkshires NY who specialize in organic heritage breed pigs. These type of pigs come naturally with an abundance of fat, a necessary staple of old as the pigs pretty much provided all the fat needed for cooking, baking and candle & soap making. For quite a while lard had a bad reputation - heart disease, weight gain - especially after hydrogenated oil was invented in the fifties (pro oil, anti lard public campaign). Fortunately lard is making quite the comeback with expanding knowledge of for instance bad and good cholesterol. And the quest for good taste: lard does not just make really good soap, it also makes really good apple pie crust and superior french fries!

One more thing: lard is often considered a waste product to end up on the composting heap as most heritage pig farmers harvest way more lard than the current market bears. And one thing I can't stand, apart from factory farming animals, is wasting a perfectly good resource... so I love making lard milk soap, even if I have to render the local lard myself :)

• sleeping cat or sleeping goat gift set

Now available, sleeping cat or sleeping goat on a recycled cedar soap dish. The soap dishes are untreated (you can varnish, oil or leave au naturel) hardwood cedar, made by a Kentucky artisan from horse farm fencing bits and pieces. The cats and goats are a basic milk soap recipe (oil or fat based) and are tinted naturally with botanicals and spices (pictured here are a paprika cat and a kurkuma goat).

The soaps are shrink wrapped and labeled, and wrapped with the cedar soap dish in a cellophane baggie with business card information. The soap and dish are $8.

• a close shave

Now available for the traditional clean shaven man: our wonderfully moisturizing shaving soap with the prefect close shave! And I love the look of those handmade ceramic bowls, they fit into the hand perfectly and look great on any bathroom counter.

With a 20% castor oil base, extra glycerin, colloidal oatmeal and Bentonite clay plus of course our own goat's milk you can't wish for a better all natural shaving soap! Available in rounds (for refills), in pint mason jars and in locally made hand thrown ceramic bowls.

made with organic coconut oil, local organic sunflower oil, natural castor oil (>20%), organic palm oil, natural olive oil, organic cocoa butter, natural Shea butter, colloidal oatmeal, Bentonite clay, glycerin and our own goat's milk.

• whey cool

an interesting soap made with sunflower oil and whey, the liquid leftover from cheese making. Whey has the vitamins and minerals of milk but not much of the milk fat, which makes this a good soap for people with oily skin. The addition of fuller's earth clay, which because of its enormous drawing capabilities, makes this soap the number one choice for oily skin and those prone to acne. Fuller's earth clay literally draws the oil from the skin and is best known for its ability to be applied as a 'facial bleach'.

made with local organic sunflower oil, organic coconut oil, organic ethically sourced palm oil, fuller’s earth clay and whey from our own goat’s milk

• winter sunshine

special for this dry and mucky winter: a soap heavy with the moisturizing qualities of Shea Butter, Sunflower Oil and of course goat's milk!

made with organic ethically sourced palm kernel oil, local organic sunflower oil, organic ethically sourced unrefined palm oil, natural Shea butter, and our own goat’s milk