Soap

Everyone uses soap but rarely does anyone know what's in it. I only just realized the components to soap when it became a solution for our 20lbs of lard from our pigs. I started freezing the lard but I could only make so many pie crusts before lard started taking over our freezer. Now we are avid soap makers and sell it at our farmer's market. We make it with lye, water, lard, and essential oils. It's very interesting to see the public's reaction to our lard soap. I think it's interesting enough to share.

1. “Oh, I don't use lye soap.” said one customer.

Our reaction was to inform her that all soap is made with lye. If there is no lye then it's NOT soap, it's detergent.

2. “Isn't lye bad for your skin?”

Lye mixed with water and fat chemically reacts in a process called saponification. Once that happens the finished product of soap doesn't contain lye because the fat neutralizes the lye.

3. “On an ingredient label of Dove or Irish Spring it doesn't say lye.”

Lye became a word that consumers didn't want to hear so labels now use a different name for it. It is more likely saponified oils or sodium cocoate, which is sodium hydroxide (lye) mixed with coconut oil. Each soap manufacturer has their own recipe which can make it less harsh based on how much fat or oil they put in it. All the recipes start with lye, water, and some sort of fat, oil, or butter.

4. “Why do some soaps advertise no lye.”

Some people use soap melts to make their soap. When they use soap melts, they are using soap chips that they are melting, adding color and fragrance to, and pouring into their own molds. They are finishing the soap making process, but someone else did all the work to make soap chips or melts.

5. “I can smell the lard.”

Yes, plain soap with no fragrance will smell like whatever fat or oil that is used. However, it washes away clean and doesn't leave you smelling like lard. It is also very moisturizing.

We have learned a lot since we started making soap. We were completely unaware of the process or what went into it. Now we have over a year of soap making experience and are happy to educate the public about soap. We enjoy making it, but the best part is using the lard that our pigs give us.

The Good Things

As we go into the 4^th of July weekend, we are reminded that 2020 is half over. Sometimes I think it has flown by and other times I think that it will never be over. 2020 has seen an impeachment trial, a global pandemic, a country wide lockdown, the death of George Floyd, and global protests. With all the devastating events, I like to think of all the positive things going on around our farm.

Here are all the good things:

1. Our local hatcher offered us baby chicks back in March. We hadn't ordered them and weren't ready for them, but we said yes anyway. That was dumb luck because our hatcher wasn't able to get us any more chicks until June.

2. We let Mother Nature do its thing for our broody hen. We gave her some fertilized eggs and she hatched out a chick. That is the first time we have taken a completely hands off approach and let the hen do all the work.

3. Our pig developed a prolapse, which had us making plans to butcher him. Instead, we named him Kermit and put him in a pen by himself. Within a week the prolapse healed and we took the chance of putting him back with the other pigs. Currently, he is happily enjoying life with his brothers and sisters.

4. We built a greenhouse completely out of recycled parts. My husband had a vision and used pieces that he had salvaged over the years. I'm proud to say that all the plants on our farm were started from seed.

5. The pigs are in tractors, which means they are moved to new grass every couple of days. Planting gardens behind them is new this year. Our boys each have their own garden that they planted behind the pigs. They planned it and picked out the seeds from our collection.

6. When our garden showed initial signs of pests, we put the laying hens in their run surrounding the garden. A couple of days eating bugs made a huge difference. Their natural pest control saved our plants.

7. With our kids homeschooling, they had time to help with the animals. They have successfully tamed the pigs. They named them and even give them belly rubs. This makes it much easier for us to work with them.

8. We created a worm farm that is the ultimate recycling center. We dug up red wigglers from last years pig pen and gave them a new home with kitchen scraps. They eat through compost very quickly and in return give us castings.

9. We are lucky to be part of the Cartwright Farmer's Market. It's a great agriculture resource and a great community of hard working people.

10. Our customers are showing up at the farmers market despite the risk. We are grateful to have loyal customers year after year.

It's hard to think of the positive things when there is so much negative. It hasn't always been roses and chocolates around our farm, but the good far out shadows the bad. That is what keeps us going.

Stay safe and healthy.