Making Soap

Soapmaking is must know on the long list of "something from nothing's". A basic soap consists of three basic household ingredients: rendered fat (from cooking), lye (from wood ash), and water. I have always been afraid of using the Lye because of the caustic nature but after a conversation with my Grandma and a story of a traveling soap maker who would come through town once a year during the depression to make soap for the family, I felt compelled to learn. 

So far I have had no fails at the process and I am creating my own calculated recipes.

First batch basic in my hand crafted soap box. 

Curing

Rendered lard recipe old fashion soap

Colorant use

Wildcrafting herbal poison ivy relief soap. My own recipe.

Sweet orange

Patchouli 

Teaching my children the chemistry and process

They want to create.

Peppermint and lavender

Soon my Etsy site will be flooded with soap. I have also had offers with a couple of Venders to make custom soap for the holiday season. We'll see what happens.

Garden update

Garden update

Beautiful flowers

For the first year in this garden  I am convinced raised beds and biodynamics as well as permaculture practice are the way to go. I started all my own seeds using heirlooms and my father in laws saved seeds. I do feel I should have started my seeds earlier. 

So far our major success is in flowers, sauce tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and winter squashes.