Adventures in Soap Making Continued...

I am a bad blogger. No, it's okay. I know that it's true.  When's the last time I updated?  Ah, best intentions and all that, but its easy to get side tracked, busy, overwhelmed.  May I just add that's especially true when you have kids.  And by that I mean goats, but I have heard that the human variety are just as bad.  Always getting into ridiculous situations.  It's as if they are actively looking for trouble.  Although I hope the two legged kind doesn't inspire you to build more fences... Anyway I've also been busy making soap and trying (slowly, painstakingly) to begin a tiny soaps and skin care business!
So although all has been quiet here on the blog, I've actually been very busy!
It's been Cold Process all the way, so a lot of time has been invested.  Here are a few soaps I made

Lemon Balm Soap made with wild lemon balm that grows here and a blend of essential oils I formulated

Autumn Apple Spice Soap made with local apple cider, goat's milk, and a spiced swirl

a simple Soleseife, AKA brine soap

Spiced Orange Clove Soap with naturally colored soap curls

In all this time, I have learned a lot!  I've abandoned following recipes and started experimenting on my own. All of these are originals.  I can tell you that took some "let's see what sticks" mentality. I have a small box of soap that is less than stellar I may re-batch.  I count myself lucky that there have not been any total failures, just disappointments.  I attribute this to learning as much as I could (somewhat obsessively) before gloving up and getting to it.  In the spirit of sharing, for anyone who wants to try soap making, the best resource I learned from had to be Soaping 101.  Her videos are really informative, to the point, and useful.  The first soap I tried to make for practice was her tried and true Bastile recipe.
I've come a long way, and think it's important for every soap maker to develop their own recipes and styles. I'm excited for what the futures holds. ....Especially since I got a package of brand new supplies today!!!
More soon...

Adventures in Soap Making

It took me well over a year to finally take the plunge and start making soaps. I knew I wanted to, I watched countless tutorials, mesmerized by the swirling techniques of expert soapers, and gradually bit by bit I began to amass supplies.  That took a while since living homestead style means I don't generate much in the way of cash income, and what I do make typically goes right back into the farm as animal feed.  But I do make profits here and there, and eventually I had enough to get started. 
My first few soaps were basically just following published recipes, but that seemed like a solid place to start.

Homesteading Bathroom Makeover

Part of homesteading to me is learning to be more self sufficient and environmentally conscious. Many times these things go hand in hand with saving both money and health.  Toiletries are a huge expense when you are paying for each commercial item- $4 for toothpaste, $7 for body wash, $12 for shampoo and conditioner, for detangler, for face soap, for deodorant, for lotion, for lip balm, for shaving cream, the list goes on... 
It seems like paying for the convenience of a pre-packaged item is costly in multiple ways.  Not only do all those items add up, most of the commercial products contain ingredients that are actually not good for you or the water table.  When I started to learn about how to make my own personal care products, I quickly began to realize that buying a special product for each aspect of grooming is completely unnecessary.
As I started learning recipes for all natural toothpaste and deodorant, I was struck by how easy they are to make *and* by the fact that so many of these items have the same common ingredients.  Now instead of paying for each product, I'm paying for a core of materials that have many uses each.  It feels much better to buy a big tub of coconut oil knowing that basic ingredient can be used for a dozen applications for the same price as a single use commercial pre-packaged product.
Versatility!  That is part of homesteading too.

Things on my list for the Homesteader's Bathroom Makeover:

• toothpaste
• deodorant
• body soap
• face soap
• hair care
• shaving
• body lotion
• perfumes
• spray cleaner

and very likely more.  Some of these you can accomplish easily with as few as 2 ingredients.  Some are more complicated and take time like making soap.  I've already been making about half the things on this list- sorry I've been absent from the blog!  But all my busy experimenting is going to benefit you, dear reader.  I will be going down the bathroom makeover list with individual posts to share what I tried, what worked or didn't, and recipes.  Please leave me a comment if there are any specific items you'd like a natural homestead makeover version of, and stay tuned for more.

The Beauty of Diverse Farming: Making Weeds Work for You

It's a beautiful, overcast day perfect for spending quiet time in the garden.  And that's exactly where I've been.  As I worked, I realized how much easier I have it than conventional farmers.  I get the best of both worlds, and then some.  As I go through the garden beds and pull up weeds, I don't see them as a nuisance.  You see most "weeds" are edible.  Dandelions are a powerhouse of nutrition for example, but lesser known weeds are edible too.  I pull grasses, lady's thumb is coming up all over the place right now, and there's clovers, violet leaves, broadleaf plantain, yellow dock, the list goes on.  Of course what grows wild in your yard will vary, but once you start learning to identify what's around you- you may be surprised how much is edible.
So as I tend my garden beds, removing the plants I'd rather not have crowding out my strawberries and vegetables, I gather them into big bouquets and present them to my rabbits. It's an everybody wins situation.
I save money by not buying herbicides.
I save money on rabbit food as well since their diet is supplemented with fresh goodness and I can skip hay.
My garden benefits from getting to stay all natural, and some weeds are great decoys to insect pests.
My rabbits benefit from extra nutrition that's seasonal and fresh.
But isn't that a lot of extra work? You might wonder.  Nope. It's not at all.  Any garden will need tending. The time it takes to gently pull up some weeds can't be any more work than it takes to go through the same amount of space spraying something.  Plus even if you do spray, you will likely have some things to pull anyway.  Weeds are tenacious.  The time and effort it takes to bring what I have in my hands already to the rabbits isn't any more than carrying hay to all of them.  Plus I get a kick seeing how happy my rabbits are with the fresh variety.
So the view from here is that I'm saving money and coming out ahead just by letting nature do what it does and reaping the rewards.  Sometimes some of the weeds make it onto my plate too ;) but that's another post.

 Some things that grow along the borders of the driveway or yard, I just let grow!  Then I have beautiful wild greens like this burdock to pick leaves from and continue having free food.

Ethics in Small Farming

There's something that's been bothering me lately. 
I think my priorities when it comes to farming, even as a small farm, may differ from some.  I've seen animals treated like commodities, kept in over crowded spaces where they don't have adequate resources given.  I've seen places where conditions have been dirty, animals are sick, and some dying from easily preventable maladies like Pasteurella. This gets regarded as an expected loss, just part of business with so many animals coming and going.
Maybe I am soft hearted. Maybe it's my background working as a veterinary assistant, and in animal care.  Whatever the reasons, I'm proud of the fact that everything here begins and ends with my animals' health and comfort in mind.  If that means I will never be as "productive" because I will not attempt to cram as many individuals as possible into the space I have, or that more of my daily routine is given over to their care, I'm okay with that.   If that means I am accused of being "judgemental" when I refuse to do business with anyone who doesn't seem to care about their animals enough to ensure they always have fresh water and enough space to stretch out and stay clean- I'm okay with that.   
I may have burned some bridges by refusing to barter or sell to certain people. It's not a huge community here.  I had some harsh words directed at me a few weeks ago by someone because I wasn't comfortable with any of my animals going to live in the conditions I saw on their property.  It doesn't seem to matter how delicately you try to broach this topic.  People get defensive when they know deep down they are wrong.  You can't look at a rabbit that has half an ear chewed off by its scarred hutch mates in a crowded hutch with no water, and honestly tell me that your animals are getting all they need.
I think the line of assessment should be easy.  Ask yourself, "If I were this animal, would I be happy here?"
If you were under the same care, given the same conditions, space, treatment, etc. would you be as happy as you could be?  If the answer is no- then you may want to evaluate why, and what can be changed.
I know that some people are bound to say, "These are not pets!" when it comes to livestock.  How does that argument justify providing less than 100%?  Just because these animals are being raised to sustain and nourish us, rather than for companionship, they should deserve less?  I don't accept that. 
I believe it is our responsibility to ensure quality of life for any and all animals that we have a partnership with.
I know there are great small farms out there. I've had some really good experiences, and some terrible ones. Speaking out appropriately about poor conditions, holding to higher standards, and supporting those farms that do treat animals with respect and compassion is our way to hopefully inspire change. 

Apple Cider Vinegar

If you aren't already familiar with the many benefits of raw Apple Cider Vinegar, or ACV for short, then you've been missing out!  You can find loads of information and health claims online, but here are just a few facts.  ACV has been used as a health tonic for centuries. I've taken it when I had a bad cough I couldn't shake, and it really helped me clear the gunky feeling lingering in my lungs.  It does inhibit harmful bacteria, and helps balance blood sugars.  You can use it to preserve foods, treat skin troubles, as a hair rinse (which is amazing by the way! I will do a post on that for you soon!), it makes the best salad dressing, and you can enjoy it as a drink.  Bragg's is the go-to brand for real raw ACV that contains "the mother" a beneficial bacteria that gives raw ACV it's punch.  Bragg's even has come out with ACV drinks already mixed and flavored for you.  I'm more of a keep it simple girl, so I make my own drink flavored with a dash of cinnamon.   Animals also benefit from ACV added into their waters.  We do this for our laying hens and goats. They love it.  Imagine my excitement when I learned how to make my own at next to zero cost.
Making vinegar is easier than you might think. It is after all one of the oldest techniques that used to be commonplace in households across the globe.
It's a great homestead skill- anyone can make their own Apple Cider Vinegar.
All you need:

• mason jars
• sugar
• apple
• a coffee filter, dishtowel, or cheesecloth

The Evolution of our Chicken Cottage

I'm really happy with what we have to house our chickens. It provides lots of space, is easy enough to clean, and fits the landscape here in a functional way.  However it took us a while to get here. Allow me to share the stages with you, and maybe I can save you from a few of our mistakes.